Flat Ridges

The flat ridge, usually the lower ridge, is often considered a burden for the denture wearer. Your ridges are the last vestiges of your once-healthy natural teeth and gums, and are the last remaining dental structure. You require healthy ridges to properly support your dentures. The fuller your ridges, the more stable your dentures will be.

Generally speaking, the upper ridge shrinks about .1 millimetres, and the lower ridge about .4 millimetres, per year. This is partly why most people find the lower denture the more cumbersome of the two dentures.

Ridge loss often means loss of stability; therefore, it is important that your dentures fit your ridges and tissues accurately and snugly. Relines at appropriate times may be required to keep your dentures from sliding.

Soft, rubbery liners are available to cushion the impact of dentures upon flat ridges. These are permanent liners (that you cannot replace) placed on the inside of your denture. To further increase the stability of dentures, surgical implants are an option.

Preserving your ridges is very important. This is one reason you will find that dentures are now often made using quality, plastic teeth instead of porcelain teeth. Over time, porcelain teeth may tend to “pound” your ridges flat.

To keep your ridges at their best, leave your dentures out at night or for a good period of time during the day. This will allow your tissues to breathe. If you constantly wear your dentures, it makes normal physiologic tissue recovery impossible. In addition, a percentage of people who continuously wear ill-fitting dentures find it is a factor leading to a form of inflammatory hyperplasia (a very red palate with small vertical projections).