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My New Dentures Still Affect My Speech After Four Months

Posted on by AllSmiles.

Mature man sitting at a desk portraying frustration over dentures that affect his speechI have new dentures (upper and lower), and after four months, I still can’t speak correctly. It feels like the teeth are in the way, and it sounds like I have a speech impediment. I am not retired yet, and I speak to clients daily. Unfortunately, I must repeat my words throughout the day to many clients. It is frustrating.

My dentist says the speech issue is a normal part of the adjustment period and I will adjust. I’ve had the dentures since early March. Am I still within the adjustment period, or is something wrong with the dentures? – Curtis from Knoxville, TN

Curtis,

Thank you for your question.

How Long Do Dentures Affect Your Speech?

When you get new dentures, they affect your speech for several weeks. It takes time to adjust to eating and speaking with dentures. Speaking slowly can help you adjust, but your speech should gradually improve. If you have had your dentures since March, your comfort in speaking with them should have improved if they fit correctly.

Improving Your Speech with Dentures

If you continue to have difficulty eating or speaking with dentures, it is possible that your dentist made mistakes when taking impressions of your mouth or took shortcuts in fitting your dentures. The placement of the denture teeth can also affect your speech. If your dentures affect your speech for months, your dentist must examine them to identify the cause.

Soft liners can make the dentures fit more comfortably and make it easier to speak. We suggest allowing your dentist to refit your dentures. If your dentist cannot correct them, schedule an appointment with a skilled cosmetic dentist.

Stabilizing Your Dentures with Implants

At least two dental implants per denture will help them fit better. A cosmetic dentist can explain how dental implants can stabilize your dentures and help them feel more like natural teeth. Implants improve denture function and your quality of life.

Dr. Duane Delaune, a Metairie, Louisiana cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

I Can’t Keep My Denture In Any Longer

Posted on by writeradmin.

I have had dentures for over twenty years. Several years ago, they started becoming tricky to keep in. Now they are not staying in at all. What do I do?

Cary

Dear Cary,

Side-by-side profile photos of a middle-aged woman that show the effects of facial sagging and how dental implants can help; from Dr. Duane Delaune of New Orleans.

The Results of Facial Collapse

When your teeth are removed, your body recognized that. Its job is to be as efficient as possible with your body’s resources. Because of that, once you no longer have any tooth roots, your body interprets that as no longer needing a jawbone to keep those roots in place. As a result, it will resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body. This has the result of slowly shrinking your jawbone. Hopefully, your dentist warned you about this before you decided on dentures instead of your other options.

Where you are in this process is known as facial collapse. You now no longer have enough jawbone left to retain your dentures. Unfortunately, just getting new dentures won’t help. You are going to have to have some bone grafting done to build that back up. Once that happens, you have two choices.

Your first choice is to get dentures again. Just bear in mind that you are going to go back through the cycle of losing your jawbone again. Your second choice is to get implant-supported dentures.

How Implant Supported Dentures Prevent Facial Collapse

Implant overdentures work by having four to six dental implants in your jaw and then anchor your dentures to the implants. Having the implants in your jaw serves as prosthetic roots. Your body interprets that as having teeth and leaves your jaw intact.

Not only that, you will find all the problems you had with removable dentures disappear. There is no more slipping. Additionally, you will find your chewing capacity goes up significantly. This is because even your best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by at least 50%. You’ll be so excited to be able to eat whatever you want again.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.