Problems with dentures fitting uncomfortably is all too common. Especially for those with flat or thick gums.
The good news is that even with thick gums, there is a comfortable, permanent, and natural looking solution to missing teeth.
Here is why your dentures may be extremely uncomfortable and how you can fix the problem with dental implants.
See if you may be a candidate for dental implants with permanent teeth in 24 hours by taking this 60-second quiz:
Why Don’t Dentures Fit When You Have Thick Gums?
Before getting into why dentures don’t seem to fit certain gum types, let’s answer the question, what are flat gums?
They are often referred to as thick gums, which is a little bit more apt description. Basically, flat or thick gums are thicker than average gums.
Thick or flat gum tissue is usually accompanied by teeth that appear to be thick and square. The tooth shape is noticeable because they are shorter and thicker than the average tooth would be.
Where a square tooth sits, you’ll also find that the gums containing those teeth are thicker. (Flat gums also have a tendency to pocket. Pocketing is when your gums are no longer securely attached around the tooth, resulting in space around each individual tooth.
Now that you know what flat/thick gums are, we can discuss why thick gums and dentures don’t mix.
Dentures are a replacement for missing teeth made from gum-colored plastic or acrylic with replicas of your teeth embedded in that gum-colored material. A full set of dentures follows after all of your teeth have been pulled.
Once your gums have healed over, the upper dentures are fitted over your existing gums and consist of a plate that covers the roof of your mouth. The lower dentures fit over your bottom gums and are held in place by gravity and the power of your cheek muscles.
By their very nature, dentures have a tendency to be rather thick and bulky. They can take up much more space in your mouth than your natural teeth.
With all of those things considered, let’s do the math.
Thick Gums + Thick Dentures = Super Thick-Feeling Dentures
As you likely know, dentures already come with their own set of issues. They are inherently thicker than your natural teeth and gums. So you must adjust to this new set of fake teeth in your mouth that causes you to gag, spit, and stumble through your words.
Problems with Thick Gums and Dentures
Although you could try having your dentures relined or try using an adhesive, some of these problems may continue as a result of gums that are too thick:
Jaw Pain: Your jaws hurt on either side with pain worsening throughout the day. The pain may even be coupled with a clicking sound in your jaw whenever you move your jaw. This may result in TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder).
Regular Gagging: Unfortunately, it’s common for your brain to see your dentures as a foreign object in your mouth.
This can make you nauseous and can cause you to gag in an attempt to eject them from your body. To make it worse, the back of the upper denture that covers the roof of your mouth can activate your gag reflex.
Prominent Teeth and Gums: Your new smile with thick gums and even thicker dentures will not be the same as it once was. More than likely, your lips will feel much different wrapping around your new teeth. It can be nearly impossible not to show more of your teeth and gums than you were used to before dentures.
Trouble Speaking: Those bulky dentures can slip and make it hard for you to speak. Your tongue can’t work the way it is meant to because the thick upper denture is in the way.
Fortunately, dentures are not the only way to replace missing teeth, even if you have thick gums.
Dental implants, unlike dentures, are a permanent solution to missing teeth that are incredibly natural-looking and are the closest you’ll get to your natural teeth.
Permanent Teeth in 24 Hours: Your Solution to Replace Missing Teeth Without the Drawbacks of Dentures
Not only are dental implants a permanent solution, you can also get the permanent version of your fake teeth 24 hours after your dental implants are placed.
Traditional methods of providing dental implants typically have patients wear a temporary denture for what may be up to 10+ months before giving them their permanent teeth.
At Nuvia you can get your customized, permanent teeth in 24 hours. No more dealing with the frustrations of dentures or waiting with temporary teeth for months.
Patients also love that they can begin using their permanent teeth on a soft food diet right away. No liquid-only diets here!
How Does Dental Implant Cost Compare to Dentures?
Full mouth dental implants have a higher initial cost than dentures because they require surgery and are a permanent, fixed solution to replace missing teeth.
Although dentures may seem more affordable at first, keep in mind that the cost of replacement dentures, getting them relined, and getting repairs could stack up pretty quick.
Those who wear dentures will experience bone loss over time as there are no teeth to keep the jawbone rigid and strong. If you plan to wear dentures for years, keep in mind that getting them refitted, even multiple times, is highly probable.
To find out how affordable dental implants could be for you and see how their cost stacks up against the cost of dentures, download the FREE dental implant cost guide.
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