Common Upper And Lower Denture Issues
How To Identify And Fix Them
We see these denture issues on almost a daily basis. As we’ve mentioned before, the making of well working dentures is fast becoming a lost art. Hopefully this visual guide can help you consult with your denture provider to find the source of your denture problems and get them resolved.
We have tried to explain each issue in layman’s terms for ease of discussion with your denture provider.
What You May Hear From A Denture Provider
"YOU HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT MOUTH TO WORK WITH"
FIND ANOTHER PROVIDER
"IT IS THE LABORATORY'S FAULT"
IMPRESSION INADEQUATE/ BITE WRONG
"YOU JUST HAVE TO USE ADESSIVE"
IMPRESSION WAS INCORRECT
Common Upper Denture Issues
Pinching And Soreness Above And In Front Of Denture
Front “V” was cut incorrectly. Depth of “V” will vary person to person.
No Suction-Denture Falls Out
Sides in the rear should be flowing up (towards the roof of the mouth), not down.
Denture Is Always Loose
If upper denture is too short in the back, suction for the denture can not be created. Denture won’t stay in place.
Common Upper And Lower Denture Issues
Sore Mouth/Trouble Eating And Chewing
Bite was taken incorrectly. Upper or lower needs to be corrected or possibly a whole new set of dentures. (Problem is exaggerated in photo).
Common Lower Denture Issues
Lower Denture Is Loose
This is an incredibly common problem. Impression was taken incorrectly. The impression is the blue print to the denture. If the impression in incorrect, the denture will be too. Impression didn’t duplicate anatomy. Ask for border-molded clinical reline.
Lower Denture Is Loose #2
No sublingual area to support denture. The sublingual area is what holds the denture in place. It can be easily missed if impression is not taken correctly. Ask for border-molded clinical reline.
Loose Lower/Denture Jumps Around
Impression taken incorrectly. Impression tray may have been short. Ask for border-molded clinical reline. Denture on left has correct retromolar pads (area that curves up behind last molar) and sublingual area. Denture on right is made incorrectly with flat retromolar area and short in the sublingual area.
