How long do dentures last?
Your dentures will not last indefinitely. The denture teeth and base will wear and stain over time. The tissues of the mouth are undergoing continual change so that the dentures will have to be adjusted, rebased or remade from time to time. This time will vary and depend upon such factors as individual tolerances, habits and the length of time you have had dentures. The average life of a denture is about five to seven years.
A properly fitting denture will remain functional for approximately seven to ten years. When teeth are removed, the jawbone shrinks rapidly at first and then more slowly for the remainder of the patient’s life. When the denture is made, it fits the jawbone at that time. However, as the jawbone shrinks, it changes the fit of the denture. Denture teeth also wear down and become less able to properly cut into food. An inability to bite or cut into food with sharp denture teeth forces the denture to push on the jawbone, causing the jawbone to shrink at a faster rate. Bruxism, or grinding of the teeth, will decrease the life of a denture.
