Can I Damage My Natural Teeth With Dentures?

Be it through accidents, aging or dental issues like decay, you can end up with damaged or missing teeth. 

When you have missing teeth, replacing them ASAP is very important. Otherwise, it can be detrimental to your oral and overall health. Enter dentures – a popular tooth replacement solution that does much more than just replace missing teeth by restoring smiles, confidence and oral health. 

At SDG Dental, we help you restore your smile with natural-looking dentures tailored to fit your mouth comfortably. Our range of dentures includes 4 types, each with its unique features: 

• Complete dentures
• Partial dentures
• Immediate dentures 
• Implant-supported dentures

Depending on your needs, our dentists will recommend the best dentures for you. Whether you have just a few missing teeth or have lost all of your teeth, dentures are a solution worth considering. 

Now, you may wonder whether partial dentures can damage your natural teeth. The short answer is- no, if you invest in high-quality, and custom-fitted dentures that are not poorly adjusted to your mouth and relined as necessary, dentures will not damage your mouth. But let’s go into it in further detail and let’s first take a look at why replacing missing teeth is important. 

Why Is It Important to Replace Missing Teeth? 

Replacing missing teeth is not just about aesthetics. The benefits of replacing missing teeth extend well beyond aesthetics to oral health and overall well-being. Here are some common effects of leaving missing teeth untreated.  

1. Missing teeth can affect your oral health

Neglecting the gaps in your smile can cause the teeth adjacent to the gap to shift and tilt. This leads to misaligned teeth and problems with your bite, ultimately needing orthodontic treatment, which can be costly and time-consuming. The risk of gum disease and tooth decay also increases as food particles can get trapped between gaps. 

But that’s not all. Missing teeth can also cause your jawbone to shrink due to a lack of stimulation. This process, known as bone resorption, affects bone density, increasing the likelihood of further tooth loss.

2. Affects the functionality of teeth 

Those seemingly simple functions of chewing and speaking can become challenging with missing teeth. It can affect your smile, eating habits and speech. Difficulty chewing can also lead to avoiding certain foods, which can cause nutritional deficiencies that can impact your overall health. 

3. Changes your facial structure 

Missing teeth can also affect your facial appearance. How? The deterioration of your jawbone can lead to a sunken or prematurely aged look. This can cast a shadow on your confidence, self-esteem and quality of life. 

How Do Dentures Help Replace Missing Teeth? 

• Restores your smile and facial appearance by replacing your missing natural teeth. 
• Restores the functionality of your teeth, allowing you to chew and eat confidently. They also prevent speech impediments, facilitating clear communication. 
• It boosts confidence and self-esteem, making you feel less conscious about your smile. 
• Prevents adjacent teeth from shifting and tilting into the gaps left by missing teeth. 

Can Dentures Damage Natural Teeth?

While dentures are meant to replace missing teeth and enhance oral health, ill-fitting dentures and improper care can cause damage to your natural teeth. Here’s how:  

Ill-Fitting Dentures

The perfect fit of your dentures is the key to unlocking the benefits it has to offer. Ill-fitting dentures can cause trouble for your natural teeth. The gaps left by these ill-fitting dentures can cause food particles to get trapped between the denture and gums, causing gum disease and tooth decay. 

At the same time, with bone resorption, your dentures can become loose. It can affect your bite, leading to misalignment of your teeth. Jawbone resorption can also cause your remaining natural teeth to loosen or cause tooth loss. In addition, biting the inside of your cheek may happen often, leaving your mouth and natural teeth vulnerable to infection. 

Ill-fitted dentures, especially partial dentures, can increase tooth wear. The friction between the denture and natural teeth can lead to enamel wear, chips and cracks, making your teeth susceptible to tooth decay. 

Improper Denture Care 

Neglecting denture care can also cause damage to your natural teeth. Failure to clean your dentures can lead to bacterial buildup and fungal infection on the denture surface. When this bacterial buildup or fungal growth comes into contact with your natural teeth, it can cause gum disease, tooth loss and infections. 

Missing your regular dental check-ups can also damage your natural teeth. Dental check-ups give us the opportunity to assess the fit and condition of your dentures and reline them as necessary. When you miss these appointments, your dentures can become loose. This can then affect your bite and the position of your natural teeth.

How to Care for Your Dentures

Follow these tips to ensure the longevity of your dentures while protecting your remaining natural teeth: 

• Dislodge food particles by removing and rinsing your dentures under water after meals.
• Brush dentures gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove food deposits and plaque.
• Clean your dentures with a soft toothbrush and warm, soapy water when you remove them for the night. 
• Soak dentures daily in a denture cleaning solution to remove bacteria and disinfect them. 

While keeping your dentures clean, taking good care of your remaining teeth is equally important to prevent infections and other dental problems. This includes steps like: 

• Brushing your natural teeth and gums twice a day
• Eating a balanced diet and reducing your sugar intake
• Drinking plenty of water
• Avoiding excess alcohol consumption and smoking
• Visiting the dentist for regular check-ups

Ensuring a proper fit and correct care of dentures will help you avoid damage to your remaining natural teeth and dentures. At SDG Dental, we are here to help you maintain optimal oral health with custom-fitted and high-quality dentures. If you experience discomfort, pain or other issues with your dentures, our friendly team is here to help you!