If you have dentures, you may be dissatisfied with the fit. Perhaps they’re also starting to irritate your gums. As you age, your dentist may recommend transitioning to a new set of dentures secured with dental implants. Below are a few signs it may be time to switch to implant-retained dentures.

How to Know You Need Implant-Retained Dentures

Deteriorating Jawbone & Receding Gums 

Tooth loss damages the jaw and gums. Removable dentures can speed up this process because they tear at and press on the gums. Dental implants, on the other hand, help slow recession. Because they replace the roots of missing teeth, implants prevent loss of jaw bone mass while also stimulating regrowth of bone tissue.

Presence of Sores or Other Mouth Irritants

The inside of the mouth is sensitive. When ill-fitting dentures move or shift—even slightly—they can rub the skin, leaving behind uncomfortable cuts, scrapes, and sores.

Implant-retained dentures are as secure as regular teeth. When a dentist anchors dental implants to your jaw, you won’t experience rubbing or irritation.

Trouble Talking or Eating

Sometimes even the best-fitting prosthetic dentures move about or feel unstable when you cough, laugh, talk, and chew. Implant-retained dentures can’t slip. They’re fixed to your jaw and locked into place. In addition to improving the force of your bite, they also boost overall confidence. Nothing enhances self-esteem like the appearance of gleaming white teeth when you open your mouth to smile.

If you think implant-retained dentures may be right for you, contact Susan Kleier, DMD. For more than three decades, Dr. Kleier has been providing affordable cosmetic, pediatric, and general dental care to clients across Lexington, KY, with teeth whitening, veneers,  dentures, and dental implants. Visit her office’s website to learn more about their services, and call (859) 225-1188 to schedule an appointment today.