Why does the prosthesis fit loosely?
In order to ensure that a dental prosthesis does not fit too loosely, the dental technician has to meet high demands with regard to both the prosthesis material and the manufacturing process. Creating an ideal hold in the oral cavity is much more difficult with a full denture than with a partial denture. A well-fitted total denture does not fit loosely, since it is essentially held in place by so-called adhesive forces between the oral mucosa and the denture material.
Contrary to the widespread misconception that a total denture of the upper jaw sits much looser than a denture of the lower jaw due to gravity, the reality is exactly the opposite. Total dentures in the upper jaw have a larger surface area in most patients, which means that greater adhesive forces can be built up between the oral mucosa and the denture plastic. Although precision during the fabrication of the removable denture is probably the most important factor in determining whether it fits loosely, hygienic handling of the denture is also a decisive factor.
Dentures that are seldom cleaned or insufficiently cleaned and therefore show heavy deposits, generally find little hold on the alveolar ridge and sit increasingly loosely. Basically, a well-fitted, properly cleaned denture should not sit loosely but firmly in the oral cavity. However, since this optimum situation cannot always be achieved, especially in patients suffering from severe jawbone recession or other unevenness in the bone structure, additional denture adhesives can be used.
Especially during the acclimatization period, i.e. in the first weeks after the insertion of the denture, the additional fixation of the denture by using a denture adhesive makes sense. In addition, temporary dentures must be worn with the use of special adhesives. Denture adhesives can be purchased in the form of ointments, strips, foils, liquids and as powder in pharmacies or health food stores.
A patient with loose dentures does not necessarily have to resort to the most expensive products. Since the preparations must provide for a firm hold of the removable dental prosthesis within the oral cavity and should nevertheless be removable without residue, not all ingredients are suitable for their production.
