Removable dentures are used when all natural teeth have been lost due to infections, accidents, periodontal disease or other conditions. As a rule, it features an acrylic base, which replaces the lost hard bone tissue, and teeth that can be made of composite or acrylate, very similar to natural teeth.
The removable denture must restore the masticatory function, improve the physiognomy and not hinder phonation. To fulfill these functions, dentures must be as well adapted as possible.
Among the advantages of mobile prostheses we can list:
– speed of execution;
– supporting the soft parts and improving the aesthetics of the face;
– low cost;
– improving mastication, phonation and physiognomy.
The disadvantages of dentures are:
- hardly accepted at first by the patient;
– reduced comfort due to instability;
– accelerated resorption of the underlying bone and gum due to non-physiological pressure;
– sometimes require special adhesives for stabilization.
One of the most common problems associated with ill-fitting dentures is difficulty in articulating words. When we speak we need space for the tongue, freedom in the movement of the lips and good control of the perioral muscles. A prosthesis with too long or incorrectly fitted edges can interfere with the natural movements of the tongue or lips, causing instability of the prosthesis or poor phonation.
Patients with ill-fitting prostheses may experience physical discomfort and difficulty in communication, leading to a decrease in quality of life. This can be avoided if, at the time of making the prostheses, the doctor pays special attention to the tests performed in the dental office. Among the most important stages in making a dental prosthesis is the "mock-up test", in which the doctor checks that the teeth are correctly fitted and do not hinder the patient's phonation (the patient is asked to say certain key words: tip, Mississippi); if the edges of the prosthesis have the appropriate length so as to ensure its good stability, the interdental contacts are correct and sufficient, so as to help the patient in mastication and if the aesthetic criterion is met. Another important moment in the patient's adaptation to the prosthesis is represented by the first 3 days after receiving the prosthetic piece.
The patient is instructed on how to sanitize it, how to practice mastication and how to practice phonation by reading various newspapers/magazines/books out loud, but is asked to return to the dental office for check-ups and possible touch-ups.
Ill-fitting dentures are a major problem that can affect the patient's quality of life. He must see a doctor if he has difficulties using the prostheses, and the doctor can adjust the old prosthesis or recommend replacing it with a new one.
Although modern digital dentistry allows us to replace mobile prostheses with fixed works screwed on 4 or 6 implants delivered the day after surgery, for some patients this is not possible (due to costs, fear of surgery), the optimal solution for these remaining the mobile denture.
Article written by Dr. Diana Geladin – Dentist, prosthetics & endodontics.
