What Really Happens If You Wear Old Dentures for Too Long
As a dentist, I often meet patients who proudly tell me they’ve had the same dentures for 15 or even 20 years. While it’s great that they’ve been durable, dentures—like tires on a car—aren’t meant to last forever. Wearing them far beyond their intended lifespan can cause problems that go well beyond looks. Here’s what I want every denture wearer to know. 1. Your Jawbone Shrinks, But Your Dentures Don’t After you lose your natural teeth, the jawbone naturally shrinks over time. This process, called bone resorption, is normal—but your dentures don’t adjust on their own. 2. Ill-Fitting Dentures Can Damage Your Gums Old dentures often develop uneven pressure points as the fit changes. This can: 3. Your Bite and