My dad is 73. He had so many teeth problems that my mom and sister convinced him to get dentures. Now he has more problems with his dentures than his teeth. He could eat corn on the cob and steak before, but now he is afraid to eat anything that requires a lot of chewing. His dentures keep getting loose or popping out. No matter how often the dentist has tried to refit or reline them, they just aren’t working. What can he do about this? Will he need new dentures? Alan
Alan –
We understand your and your father’s concerns. Eating should be enjoyable, and so many social events involve eating. When dentures don’t fit correctly, they affect a person’s quality of life.
Why Do Dentures Pop Out?
When a denture repeatedly pops out, it could be that a dentist made a mistake while taking the impressions of your dad’s mouth. In that case, the dentures will not fit correctly. A dentist may need to take new images of your father’s mouth and order new dentures.
Some dentists use a two-step impression technique for dentures:
- A rigid material captures the first impression.
- Fluid material captures fine details of the patient’s mouth.
How Can You Prevent Dentures from Popping Out?
Upper implant-supported denture
Dental implants can prevent dentures from popping out. Many people have difficulty wearing dentures that are not stabilized with dental implants. A periodontist will surgically place dental implants in the jawbone. After a healing period, a dentist can attach dentures to the implants.
Your father’s dentures will fit and feel better and won’t slip around and pop out. Two to six dental implants can prevent the dentures from popping out. Stability increases with the number of implants.
Schedule an appointment with a periodontist or a dental implant specialist. The doctor will take necessary precautions to ensure the implants are in the optimal position for comfort and longevity.
Atlanta periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey sponsors this post.
