There are many early signs that a patient may benefit from dentures. These include:
Severe toothaches – Toothaches that won’t go away could be a sign of decay that has made its way to your nerve. While a root canal can often fix this sort of problem, many times, the tooth will have decayed beyond a point of salvage, which will then require dental implants or dentures.
Red and swollen gums – Sensitive gums that are red and swollen are typically the warning signs of periodontal disease. The further gum disease progresses, the worse it will become. And if left untreated, bone loss will begin, and tooth loss will occur. If gum disease advances too far, you will most likely have to resort to dentures as a restorative option.
Loose or moving teeth – Loose teeth will typically signal decay, and since you can’t see below the gums, there may be significant damage occurring out of your sight. Additionally, teeth that move indicate something more severe may be going on. Both may result in the need for tooth removal and dentures.
Difficulty chewing or digesting foods – One symptom that may be a less-obvious indicator of the need for dentures is painful chewing. This is usually a sign that your teeth have significant damage. Another sign of tooth decay that many people overlook is chronic indigestion. When your teeth are not functioning correctly, it becomes harder to chew. This results in larger bites that can lead to stomach pain.
You’re already missing several teeth – If you’ve already lost multiple teeth, dentures or some other form of restorative dentistry will be necessary. The more time you go without dentures, the more likely it will be that you start losing additional teeth.