Following complete teeth loss, one way to replace missing teeth is through full dentures.
Full dentures are removable prosthesis that only sits on top of the bone and gum. Following tooth loss, the bone shrinks and continues to do so throughout life. This in turn cause the denture to become loose.
The top full denture is usually secure as there is suction created between the denture and the roof of the mouth hence it does not move as much during eating and speaking. However, the bottom full denture is a different story, very rarely you will get suction on it and so it is unsecure and moves up and down during speaking and eating. The general advice you will get when facing this usually goes like this “persevere and you will get used to them”. However, some people never get used to denture that flops up and down and they wonder what else is there to do.
If you struggle with an unstable bottom denture and wonder what can be done, there is a way in which it can be improved. Dental implants can be used to support the denture. A minimum of two dental implants can be placed in the chin area and your denture can be fitted with attachments to clip on the implants and remain secure thus preventing up and down movement during speaking and eating. You will still be able to remove your denture for cleaning.
The use of dental implants can also extend to support partial dentures. Partial dentures rely on the teeth to be secure in the mouth. They work better if there is one or two teeth at the back to support it. In some cases, the back teeth may be missing and only the front teeth remain, in this situation a partial denture will tend to lift at the back when chewing. This problem can be addressed by simply placing an implant at the back to support it.