When you have no natural teeth left in your mouth, seeing a tooth doctor—a dentist—may seem unnecessary or even ridiculous. However, even with full dentures, you must continue to go to semiannual checkups. Why? Your dentist can help with so much more than just teeth! Keep reading to learn why you should keep visiting your dentist after you’ve lost and restored all your teeth with dentures.
Reason #1: Your Gums Can Become Infected.
With prosthetic teeth, you never have to worry about cavities again! However, your gum tissue can still be harmed by bad oral bacteria if they are not kept under control. If you allow plaque to form and solidify on your dentures, your gum tissues can become irritated and inflamed, leading to gum disease and faster, irreversible jawbone loss. Over time, this infection changes your facial shape and how your dentures fit and feel in your mouth. Maintaining regular checkups gives your dentist the opportunity to help keep your replacement teeth clean, thereby preventing gum disease—or at least catching and treating it early on.
Reason #2: Your Dentures Will Eventually Not Fit Perfectly.
Even with impeccable hygiene and care, a person with traditional full dentures will realize some day that their dentures don’t fit as well as they used to. This process occurs slowly over time as a result of losing tooth roots, which stimulate new jawbone growth. Unfortunately, traditional dentures do nothing to reverse this natural consequence of tooth loss.
When you meet with your dentist regularly, they can check the fit of your dentures, making small adjustments when necessary, to ensure a comfortable, secure feeling. At some point, they can recommend getting a new set of dentures so that you don’t have to experience slippage or awkward moments without a confident smile.
Reason #3: You Can Talk about Dental Implants.
As one of dentistry’s most complex treatments, dental implants aren’t always easy to understand. It’s okay if you need time to consider and prepare for these comprehensive replacements. At regular visits to your dentist, you can ask additional questions about this permanent alternative to traditional dentures, be examined and evaluated for implants, and perhaps start the process. By securing your prosthetic teeth to the jawbone, you can not only enjoy a more stable bite but also stop the deterioration of the bone, helping you keep your teeth longer.
Full dentures may point to the demise of your natural teeth, but they don’t end concerns about your oral health. Your dentist assists with so much more, so take advantage of this invaluable resource and their expertise!
About the Practice
At Jacksonville Dental Excellence, we give each patient natural-looking smiles they can feel proud to show to others. Dr. Ryan Johnson and Dr. Rose Johnson make up a husband-wife team filled with expertise, clinical experience, and advanced training. Whether you are interested in dental implants or not, we will identify the replacement method that best suits your needs and goals and then help you maintain the results for as long as possible. Do you need to schedule an appointment with us? Reach out online or call our Jacksonville office at 904-895-4536.