Kids and Teeth from Babyhood to University

If your dentures rub against your gums and mouth, then you can develop sores and ulcers. In some cases, people get a harder callus from their false teeth. This is called an epulis. What is a denture epulis and what can you do to get rid of it?

What Is a Denture Epulis?

When you first had your dentures fitted, you may have had a few problems with general ulcers. These occur as your mouth gets used to wearing dentures. They usually clear up, and your gums harden under your teeth. Sometimes, however, dentures rub on an area or areas of your mouth so much that you get a hardened callused area. This is usually made up of folds of tissues that are rubbed together until they create a lesion.

New denture wearers generally don't get this problem. It typically happens if you've been wearing false teeth for a long time. Denture fit degrades over the years, and a badly fitting denture can rub or put pressure on your gums enough to create the epulis.

How Do You Fix a Denture Epulis?

An epulis can make wearing dentures very uncomfortable and, sometimes, virtually impossible. So, you need to get this problem fixed — an epulis won't fix itself and may get worse as time passes. Treatment for a denture epulis varies depending on the extent of the problem. If you have a small epulis that is just beginning to form, then you may be able to prevent it from getting worse by having your dentures adjusted or replaced.

For example, your dentist can realign the dentures to give them a better fit. If this isn't likely to work, you may need a new set of teeth entirely. If the epulis is well-developed, then adjusting your teeth or getting new ones won't fix the problem. The epulis may make it extremely difficult to wear dentures at all.

In this case, your dentist may recommend that you have the epulis removed. This can be done surgically or by a laser treatment. After that, your dentist is likely to want to adjust your dentures or fit new ones to prevent the problem from happening again in the future. If you think you have a denture epulis, then make an appointment with your general dentistry clinic. Your dentist can check out the affected area of your gums, look at your dentures and talk to you about treatment options.