This article offers practical solutions for common lower denture issues like sore spots, fitting problems, and bite adjustments. It highlights the importance of proper denture fitting, occlusion management, and regular dental consultations to enhance comfort and functionality of mandibular dentures. Discover effective strategies to resolve these challenges and improve your quality of life with dentures.

Practical Solutions for Common Lower Denture Problems

Removable dentures are artificial devices that replace missing teeth, offering flexibility compared to permanent implants. Over time, users may encounter challenges with their lower dentures. Below are typical problems and effective remedies:

Issues with Upper Dentures
When sore spots appear on the lower denture, marking affected areas with a Thompson stick and applying PIP paste helps locate and relieve discomfort.

Difficulty swallowing, gagging, or speech troubles often result from overextension of the denture onto the soft palate. Marking borders with Thompson stick and assessing with the Valsalva maneuver can determine adjustments needed. Re-fitting the denture usually solves these problems. To improve fit and stability, PIP paste can be applied to looseness during speech or yawning.

Managing Vertical Dimension of Occlusion (VDO)
Excessive vertical dimension causes more visible teeth, TMJ pain, or jaw muscle strain. Creating a new denture with a centric relation (CR) bite helps avoid these issues. Insufficient VDO results in fewer visible teeth and TMJ discomfort due to instability. In such cases, rebasement or remaking the denture is necessary.

Lower (Mandibular) Denture Challenges
Problems often stem from inadequate contact between upper and lower teeth, affecting chewing efficiency. Proper adjustments are crucial for optimal function. Regular dental advice ensures comfort, stability, and proper denture performance.

Handling lower denture problems effectively involves understanding these issues and consulting professionals regularly for the best outcomes.