Dentures are removable dental appliances designed to replace missing teeth and surrounding gum tissue. Understanding the appropriate daily wear schedule is necessary for maintaining oral health and ensuring the longevity of the appliance. Following professional recommendations helps prevent serious complications.
Daily Guidelines for Denture Wear
The total time you can safely wear dentures each day is typically around 16 to 18 hours. This means that for a mandatory period, usually six to eight hours, the appliances must be removed from the mouth. This routine removal is most often scheduled during the overnight hours, when the absence of the dentures is least disruptive to daily life.
This rest period is necessary because dentures sit directly on the delicate gum tissues and underlying bone structure. They exert continuous pressure that restricts the normal flow of blood to these tissues. Giving the gums a break allows circulation to recover, preventing chronic irritation and inflammation.
During the removal period, it is crucial to keep the dentures immersed in water or a specialized cleaning solution. This soaking prevents the acrylic material from drying out, which could cause the denture to warp and compromise its fit. Simultaneously, the soaking process aids in the breakdown of plaque, bacteria, and fungal spores that accumulate throughout the day.
Health Risks of Wearing Dentures Continuously
Ignoring the daily rest period and wearing dentures 24 hours a day leads to specific health consequences. One common issue is Denture Stomatitis, a fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans yeast. The constant presence of the appliance creates a warm, moist, oxygen-deprived environment ideal for this microorganism to thrive, resulting in inflammation and redness, particularly beneath an upper denture.
Continuous pressure also accelerates the natural process of alveolar bone resorption, which is the gradual shrinking of the jawbone after tooth loss. The constant force from the denture base prevents the bone from receiving the necessary stimulation to maintain its density and volume. This process speeds up the rate at which the jawbone recedes, causing the denture to lose its fit more quickly.
The lack of regular removal and cleaning also contributes to a severe buildup of plaque and calculus on the denture surface. This bacterial accumulation irritates the soft tissues, leading to chronic soreness, bad breath, and the development of painful ulcerations. Furthermore, studies indicate that wearing dentures while sleeping increases the risk of aspirating bacteria, which has been linked to a higher incidence of respiratory infections, including aspiration pneumonia.
Long-Term Lifespan and Replacement Timeline
While daily care addresses immediate health concerns, dentures have a finite lifespan. A traditional full denture typically lasts between five and seven years before replacement is needed. Partial dentures often have a slightly longer service life, sometimes lasting up to ten years.
Replacement is primarily driven by two factors: material degradation and changes in the mouth’s anatomy. Over years of use, the acrylic base and artificial teeth suffer wear and tear, leading to chips, cracks, staining, and loss of bite alignment. Significantly, the underlying jawbone continues to resorb, causing the gum ridge to shrink and flatten.
This structural change means the once-snug denture becomes loose, unstable, and uncomfortable. While temporary procedures like relining or rebasing can adjust the denture base to fit the changing contours of the gums, they do not stop bone loss. These adjustments extend the appliance’s life, but a new set is eventually necessary to restore proper function, fit, and facial support.