Ill-fitting or Loose Dentures
Brief description of condition
Ill-fitting or loose dentures. This may be indicative of stroke or other underlying serious conditions such as malignancy, especially if presenting as an emergency.
Key signs and symptoms
- Pain (general discomfort, localised)
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty eating
Initial management
Determine if there are signs of stroke, e.g. facial weakness or distortion, arm weakness, speech problems; rapid onset of these symptoms (F.A.S.T).
If there are signs of stroke
Send the patient immediately to emergency care via NHS 24 call 999.
If there are no signs of stroke
- Recommend optimal analgesia.
- Advise the patient to remove their denture to ease discomfort
- If the patient experienced discomfort after having the denture fitted following tooth extraction, advise the patient to return to dentist who fitted the denture.
- Advise the patient to seek prompt dental care.
Subsequent Care
Consider:
- Providing temporary relining of dentures.
- Making new dentures.
- Referring to local rapid access pathway to investigate potential malignancy.
Optimal analgesia
The maximum recommended dose of painkillers that takes into account the patient's age and is within the normal safe limits.