Can Dentures Be Fitted To Receding Gums?

Dentures are one of the oldest types of dental prosthetics, and perhaps this is why they often get a bad rap. However, modern dentures provide a simple yet effective solution to restore a person’s smile.

A common concern patients with gum recession have is that dentures aren’t a suitable solution for them. If that’s you, keep reading to find out if that’s true.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are a type of removable dental prosthetic able to help even patients with severe dental damage feel confident in their smiles again and restore their oral health.

There are two main types of dentures:

Full dentures: These can replace the entire row of teeth on an arch. If you still have some teeth left, they will need to be extracted.

Partial dentures: These can replace a few missing teeth and are held in place by your other teeth using a metal wire frame.

What Is Gum Recession?

Gum recession is a condition where gum tissue pulls back from the tooth and exposes more and more of the root.

It’s usually a cause of gum disease (also known as periodontal disease), a serious infection of the gums that leads to bleeding, loose teeth, and even permanent tooth loss. But it can also happen due to trauma (a direct blow to the mouth), aging, or even certain medical conditions.

Patients with gum retraction are usually good candidates for dentures. But you’ll most likely need additional treatment to prevent the condition from getting worse.

Why Does Gum Recession Affect Denture Fitting?

Usually, gum recession won’t affect your ability to get dentures; in fact, dentures can even replace lost gum tissue.

But if the condition is caused by gum disease, then it’s important to get proper treatment as soon as possible. Gum disease is a progressive condition, and the more time passes, the more it can affect your oral health.

Your gums may continue to pull back even after getting dentures, and the infection can spread to other tissues, such as the jawbone.

How Is the Gum Recession Treated?

First, your Eau Claire dentist needs to determine the cause of gum retraction and establish an appropriate treatment plan.

For example, if the gum recession is caused by periodontal disease, treatment can include:

Deep cleaning, which involves removing all bacteria above and below the gum line
Antibiotic treatment, if the condition is severe, either taken orally or in gel form and applied directly to your gums.
Gum grafts if you need to restore lost tissue, etc.

Interested in Dentures? We Can Help!

Let us help you get back your winning smile through a custom full or partial denture!

Find out if dentures are right for you by requesting a visit to Shook Family Dental online.