Removable Denture Needs to be Changed after a Few Years

A 60-year-old lady has a bottom removable partial denture for 20 years.   There is a metal bar (Fig.1 *) connecting the right and left parts of the denture, which appears to be associated with an ulcer in the floor of the mouth (arrowhead). 

When the denture is removed, the metal bar has pressed into the gum tissue to form a ditch (Fig.2 *), which is continuous with the ulcer (arrowhead).  The latter may turn into cancer if left untreated.

The removable partial denture is partially supported by the remaining teeth and partially by the gums.  When some of remaining teeth are lost (including a front tooth (Fig.2 M), the denture sinks into the gums.

Therefore after wearing a denture, the patient should return to a dental office for exam and cleaning regularly.  The denture usually needs to be changed every 5 years.

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Xin Wei, DDS, PhD, MS 1st edition 07/09/2015, last revision 07/11/2015