Sillim-dong Dental Clinic - Can You Get Dentures Even Without Gums?

Hello. I’m Kang Dong-ho, the chief director of Yonsei Uline Dental Clinic, Sillim Branch, near Sillim Station in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu.

“Is it possible to get dentures even if there is almost no gum tissue left?”

I get this question very often.

To give you the conclusion first, dentures themselves are possible.

But whether they can be used comfortably is a completely different issue.

When the jawbone has been significantly resorbed,

there is almost no foundation to support the dentures,

so they can move and come loose easily,

and pain may also occur.

Especially when the gums have become flat,

it is hard even to tell where pressure is being applied and where gaps are forming,

so no matter how precisely they are made,

retention will inevitably be reduced.

In cases like this, when we look at dentures the patient has been using,

it is often the case that long-term use has already caused them to deform

and no longer match the condition of the gums.

At this stage, many people consider implant-supported dentures.

Placing implants to help hold the dentures

certainly can be helpful.

However, what is important here is that

this does not suddenly make them “comfortable dentures.”

When the jawbone has already been severely resorbed,

even if some fixation is provided with implants,

the overall support base is still weak,

so discomfort can still remain.

The treatment process itself is also not easy.

It requires multiple visits, the adjustment period is difficult,

and at first it may actually feel more painful

and uncomfortable.

Especially for older patients,

this can place a greater burden not only on the patient

but also on their caregivers.

That is why the most important thing is

to intervene “before the condition gets worse.”

If treatment begins while there is still some jawbone left,

a much more stable result can be expected,

but once it has completely and severely resorbed,

there are limits no matter which method is chosen.

And for those who are already using dentures,

management is extremely important.

If you keep using dentures that no longer fit,

the jawbone will resorb faster,

and the condition will continue to worsen.

So you should have a checkup at least once a year,

and it is better to consider remaking the dentures

every five years or so.

Also, relining the inner surface of the dentures

should be done once every 2 to 3 years

so they can be adjusted to match the changed gums.

In conclusion,

dentures are possible even when there is almost no gum tissue left,

but even including implant-supported dentures,

it is difficult to expect a completely comfortable state.

So before it gets too late,

choosing the treatment direction while the condition is still somewhat better

can make a major difference in the outcome.

That is why, before the condition worsens further,

it is more important than anything to establish a treatment plan

at the right time.

This has been Yonsei Uline Dental Clinic, near Sillim Station in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu.