Limitations to denture wearing

Your dentist will have made your dentures specifically to fit your mouth. Nevertheless, however well fitting they are, they can never perform as natural teeth. There are a number of limitations to denture wearing starting with the natural changes in the mouth due to bone resorption. Once teeth are extracted the shape of the mouth will change making dentures less well fitting. Additionally all dentures will move slightly in function; If you imagine trying to ride a horse without the saddle being strapped on you would certainly slide around. The same is true for a denture. There are many interwoven factors affecting denture retention and stability. With dentures only 1/3 of natural biting force is retained, making eating more difficult and in some cases restricted.

How can a denture fixative help ?

A denture fixative is a most useful aid to denture retention and stability. Fixatives can deliver a host of benefits to all denture wearers, even those with well fitting dentures. The benefits of denture fixative use are immense and range from physical benefits to the immeasurable psychological advantages their use can bring.

1. Fixative use can also be an aid to individual confidence. If you are confident about your dentures performance and assured that they won’t let you down, you will undoubtedly feel more confident in social situations. Denture fixative use will enable you to eat different kinds of food more easily, speak more freely, enjoy sports and generally socialise with renewed confidence. Many denture wearers find they have to adapt to or cope with wearing dentures. Using a denture fixative should enable you to live your life with the minimum disruption.
   
   
2. Increased retention - Fixatives improve the physical fit of the denture in the mouth so reducing the natural movement of the denture on the soft underlying tissues. They also provide improved artificial adhesion.
   
   
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   Improved overall stability - This is important as it can help denture wearers to master bilateral chewing (chewing on both sides of the mouth). Under normal circumstances people tend to chew unilaterally (on one side of the mouth). With dentures, chewing of this nature can result in the denture becoming dislodged on the opposite side of the mouth (tipping). Bilateral chewing also decreases the chance of food particles getting trapped under the denture plate as it minimises the chances of tipping.

   
   
4. Fixative increases biting force. Eating problems are one the major issues facing denture wearers. Denture fixatives can increase bite force by up to five fold by preventing dislodgement of the denture plate, particularly when vertical pressure is applied such as when biting into an apple, crusty bread or similar tough foods.
   
   
5. Fixatives form a seal between the denture and the mouth. If unilateral chewing is maintained, the risk of food getting under the plate is increased. This can be a painful or embarrassing irritant. Fixatives typically expand under the dentures to fill any gaps so providing a cushioning and protective seal. This not only blocks food particles from getting trapped but also, by providing a protective layer that distributes pressure evenly over the mouth, minimises potential effects of rubbing and soreness.

How do denture fixatives work ?

Cream and powder fixatives work by reacting with saliva in the mouth to develop adhesive properties. The key ingredients then work together to hold the denture in place and provide a strong, lasting hold.