Do Dentures Need Adhesive? When Fixodent or Another Denture Adhesive Can Help

Why the Bone Ridge Matters for Denture Fit

When natural teeth are present, the roots are surrounded by bone. After teeth are removed, that bone is no longer supporting teeth and gradually changes shape.

The remaining area is called the residual ridge. That ridge gives a removable denture part of the foundation it needs for support and stability.

The amount of ridge remaining varies tremendously from one patient to another.

Some patients have a broad, well defined ridge that gives us a very favorable foundation for a denture. Others have experienced significant bone loss and are left with a much flatter ridge.

That difference matters.

A denture made for someone with a good residual ridge has more anatomy available to help resist movement. When very little ridge remains, even an accurately made denture has less structure available to help hold it in place.

Residual ridge resorption is a recognized part of what happens after tooth loss, and the changes can continue over time. As the supporting ridge becomes smaller, denture retention and chewing stability can become more difficult.

Some Patients Hold Onto Their Teeth for a Very Long Time

One situation I see is a patient who has worked very hard to keep severely compromised teeth for many years.

I understand why. Most people want to keep their natural teeth as long as possible, and I generally believe in preserving teeth when doing so makes clinical sense.

But there can be a tradeoff.

Advanced periodontal disease and other long term problems can result in significant loss of the bone that once supported those teeth. If the teeth eventually have to be removed, we may have less residual ridge available for the denture than we would ideally like.

At that point, making the denture is only part of the challenge. We are also working with the anatomy that remains.

My Preference Is Still a Denture That Fits Without Adhesive

When I make a complete denture, my goal is to create the best fit, stability, and function possible from the patient’s existing anatomy.

That means paying attention to the shape of the ridge, the extension of the denture, the bite, the surrounding tissues, and how the patient functions with it.

I do not consider adhesive a substitute for getting those things right.

If a denture suddenly becomes loose, moves excessively, develops pressure points, or no longer fits the way it once did, simply adding more adhesive is not necessarily the answer. The denture may need to be adjusted, relined, repaired, or replaced.

Adhesive should support a denture when appropriate. It should not be used to hide a denture that needs professional attention.

When Denture Adhesive Can Be Helpful

Even with a properly made denture, some patients benefit from a small amount of denture adhesive.

That may be particularly useful when:

• the remaining bone ridge provides limited natural retention
• the patient wants a little additional security while chewing or speaking
• anatomy makes retention more difficult
• the patient is adapting to a new denture
• dry mouth or other oral conditions affect denture retention
• additional stability improves the patient’s confidence and function

Research has found that denture adhesives can improve retention and stability for many complete denture wearers and may also improve chewing and patient confidence. At the same time, the results are not identical for every patient or every ridge condition.

That is why I look at adhesive as a tool, not as a requirement for everyone who wears dentures.

Does Needing Fixodent Mean the Denture Was Made Wrong?

No.

A patient can have a properly made denture and still benefit from an adhesive such as Fixodent or another denture adhesive.

The key question is why the denture needs additional retention.

If the denture fits properly but the anatomy provides very little ridge for support, adhesive may provide some additional stability.

If the denture is loose because it is old, worn, damaged, or no longer fits the changing tissues underneath it, covering the problem with adhesive is different. That is when I want to examine the denture and determine what has changed.

More Adhesive Is Not Always Better

If you find yourself using increasing amounts of adhesive just to keep a denture in place, have the denture checked.

A small amount used correctly is very different from relying on large quantities to compensate for a poor fit.

The tissues and bone underneath dentures continue to change throughout life. A denture that fit very well years ago may eventually require adjustment, relining, or replacement.

Could Dental Implants Help?

For some patients with limited ridge anatomy or persistent denture movement, dental implants may provide another option.

If you are considering dental implants as part of your tooth replacement plan, I also wrote about vitamin D and dental implants and why vitamin D status can matter to bone health and implant treatment.

An implant supported denture connects to dental implants for additional support rather than relying entirely on the tissues and residual ridge.

That does not mean everyone who uses adhesive needs implants.

Traditional complete dentures remain a very reasonable treatment for many patients. The right solution depends on the amount of bone available, the patient’s health, expectations, finances, and what they are trying to accomplish.

Dr. Martin’s Advice

I would never consider the need for a little denture adhesive a failure.

There are patients whose anatomy simply does not give us as much ridge as we would like. In those situations, a product such as Fixodent can provide useful additional retention and confidence.

What I do not want is for a patient to assume that more adhesive is the answer to every denture problem.

If the denture hurts, rocks, suddenly becomes loose, or requires more and more adhesive, let us look at it.

Sometimes the answer is a small adjustment. Sometimes the denture needs to be relined or replaced. And sometimes, after we have done everything we can to create a good denture on the anatomy available, a small amount of adhesive is simply a practical part of wearing it.

The goal is not to prove that you can wear a denture without adhesive. The goal is to help you eat, speak, and function comfortably.

Frequently Asked Questions About Denture Adhesive

Denture adhesive can provide additional retention for some denture wearers, but whether it is useful depends on the fit of the denture, the amount of supporting ridge, and the individual patient’s needs.

Should a properly fitted denture need adhesive?

Not necessarily. Many well fitted dentures function without adhesive, but some patients benefit from additional retention because of their anatomy or the amount of residual ridge available.

Does using Fixodent mean my denture does not fit correctly?

Not automatically. Denture adhesive can improve retention even with a well fitting denture. If you need large amounts of adhesive or the denture has become increasingly loose, the fit should be evaluated.

Can denture adhesive make a bad denture fit better?

Denture adhesive can improve retention, but it cannot correct a denture that is fundamentally not fitting well.

If a denture is loose because the tissues underneath it have changed, the bite is off, the denture is worn, or the base no longer adapts properly to the ridge, adhesive may make it feel more secure for a while, but it does not fix the underlying problem.

I do not want patients using more and more adhesive to compensate for a denture that needs attention. If the denture is rocking, causing sore spots, becoming harder to chew with, or suddenly requiring much more adhesive than it used to, that is a good reason to have it evaluated.

Sometimes a simple adjustment helps. In other cases, the denture may need to be relined, repaired, or replaced.

Why does a lower denture usually move more than an upper denture?

Lower dentures are often more challenging because they have less surface area available for support and they have to function in a much more active part of the mouth.

The upper denture rests against the palate, which gives us a broader area for support and can help with retention.

The lower denture sits on a narrower ridge and has to work around the tongue, cheeks, lips, and floor of the mouth. All of those structures move during speaking, swallowing, and chewing.

If the lower ridge has also become flatter because of bone loss, there is even less anatomy available to help resist movement.

That is why learning to chew evenly on both sides is so important with a lower denture. Uneven pressure can cause it to tip or lift.

Why does bone loss make a denture harder to keep in place?

The remaining ridge underneath a denture helps provide support and resistance to movement. When that ridge becomes flatter because of bone resorption, there is less anatomy available to help stabilize the denture.

Does bone loss continue after dentures are made?

Yes. The bone that once supported the natural teeth can continue to change after the teeth are removed.

The amount and rate of change are different for every patient, but the residual ridge under a denture can gradually become smaller and flatter over time.

That is one reason a denture that fit very well when it was first made may become looser years later.

This does not automatically mean the denture was made incorrectly. It may simply mean that the mouth has changed.

Regular dental examinations are still important for denture wearers because they allow us to check the fit of the denture, look at the tissues underneath it, and decide whether an adjustment, reline, or replacement may be needed.

Can denture adhesive help with bone loss?

Adhesive cannot replace lost bone, but it may improve retention and stability in some patients whose anatomy provides limited natural support.

How much denture adhesive should I use?

Use the smallest amount needed and follow the product instructions. If you routinely need a large amount to keep the denture in place, have the denture evaluated.

How do I know if my denture needs a reline instead of more adhesive?

One of the biggest clues is that the denture used to fit better than it does now.

The tissues and bone underneath a denture can change over time. When that happens, small spaces can develop between the denture and the ridge. A reline can sometimes improve the fit by adapting the inside of the denture more closely to the current shape of your mouth.

You should have the denture checked if:

• you are using more adhesive than you used to
• the denture rocks or lifts while chewing
• food is getting underneath it more often
• you are developing repeated sore spots
• the denture feels loose even when adhesive is used
• the fit has noticeably changed over time

More adhesive is not always the answer. If the foundation underneath the denture has changed, improving the fit may make much more sense.

When should I have a loose denture checked?

Have it checked if it rocks, causes persistent soreness, suddenly becomes loose, interferes with eating, or requires increasing amounts of adhesive.

Are implants the only solution for a loose lower denture?

No. The denture should first be evaluated for fit, bite, wear, and whether an adjustment or reline could help. For some patients, implants can provide additional support when conventional denture retention remains difficult.

Spring Valley Dental Group provides complete dentures, partial dentures, denture adjustments, relines, and implant supported denture care in O’Fallon, Illinois for patients throughout the surrounding Metro East area.

Sources

American College of Prosthodontists. Evidence Based Guidelines for the Care and Maintenance of Complete Dentures.

Lemos CAA, et al. Does the use of an adhesive improve conventional complete dentures? A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry.