Why do I need my mouth checked regularly if I don’t have any teeth?

Oral health means more than just an attractive smile, even for denture wearers. More than 90% of all systemic diseases have oral manifestations, meaning for denture wearers your Clinician may be the first health care provider to recognise a health problem.

The incidence of oral cancer is increasing and poor oral hygiene may be a contributing factor. In many Western countries oral cancer takes more lives annually than cervical or skin cancer. Recent reports show that infections in the mouth can also affect major organs including the heart and heart valves. In addition, poor oral health affects the digestive process. This may lead to intestinal failure, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other problems.

Many diseases can be diagnosed in their early stages through an oral examination. These diseases may be characterised by swollen gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth and/or excessive gum problems. Some of these diseases include diabetes, leukaemia, cancer, heart disease and kidney disease.

An old or ill-fitting denture can also exacerbate the natural process of resorption. When teeth are removed, our body assumes there is no need for the bone that supported the teeth. Over time the bone slowly, yet progressively diminishes. This process, called resorption, occurs at a more rapid rate if all teeth in the jaw are missing. Left untreated, the loss of jawbone can progress so far that even the best quality denture will no longer function satisfactorily.

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