Everyone knows that dental checkups are important for keeping your teeth healthy. However, does that mean you don’t need to visit your dentist if you’ve replaced all your natural teeth with full dentures? While this may make some sense at first, it’s important to remember that your dentist cares about a lot more than just your teeth! Whether you have a partial denture to complete your smile or are sporting a full set of dentures, here are four reasons why you should visit your dentist twice a year.
Maintain Great Oral Health
Dentures may not be vulnerable to cavities like natural teeth, but they still accumulate plaque just by being in your mouth. This soft, invisible biofilm contains bacteria that feed off the sugars in the foods you eat. It’s essential that these harmful particles are cleared away regularly to keep them from attacking your soft tissues and causing issues like gum disease or oral infections. During your routine checkups, your dentist can give your dentures a thorough, professional clean to help you maintain great oral health and a sparkling smile.
Detect Issues Early
There’s much more than just teeth in your mouth. When you visit your dentist for regular checkups, they also check your gums, tongue, jawbone, and other tissues to get the big picture of how your oral health is doing. They’ll be on the lookout for all manner of problems, including infections, oral cancer, teeth grinding, and much more. In fact, they’ll even be able to spot early signs of health conditions like osteoporosis, acid reflux, kidney issues, diabetes, and heart disease. The earlier oral and overall health problems are detected, the easier it is to successfully treat them.
Adjust Your Dentures for Maximum Comfort
Without the roots of your missing teeth, your jawbone will naturally begin to change shape after tooth loss. These gradual changes will inevitably cause your denture to lose its close, comfortable fit, which can lead to discomfort and an increased risk of oral health issues. When you visit your dentist every six months, they’ll check the fit of your denture and make any minor adjustments necessary to keep your smile healthy and comfortable.
Prolong the Life of Your Dentures
As your dentist cleans and readjusts your dentures during your routine checkups, they’ll also be inspecting them closely for signs of damage or other issues that you may not have noticed yet. This will help them take preemptive or early action to address these problems before they cause your dentures to break. They’ll also be able to give you personalized tips for at-home denture care that will help you extend the lifespan of your dentures.
Don’t be fooled: it’s just as important to take care of your oral health when you have full dentures as it is if you have a full set of natural pearly whites. Make sure to visit your dentist every six months to keep your smile and dentures in tip-top condition!
About the Practice
Dr. Steven Feit is dedicated to improving the quality of life of his patients in Boca Raton and the surrounding community through optimal oral health and a beautiful smile. With over 30 years of experience and specialized training as a prosthodontist, he has helped rebuild countless smiles that were missing teeth with custom-made solutions like bridges, dentures, and dental implants. No matter how many natural teeth you have left, he would be happy to help you maintain the happy, healthy smile you deserve! To learn more, he can be contacted online or at (561) 338-7535.