What Happens at an Annual Review for Denture Wearers
The review assesses not the denture but the tissue it rests on.
Bone resorption and silent loss of fit
After extraction the jawbone in that area shrinks slowly but steadily, because the stimulus that maintained it — chewing force carried through the root — is gone. The slowness hides the problem: the gap that develops over years is compensated by an unconscious change in biting habit, so the wearer holds the denture in place and feels no discomfort. Meanwhile the ill-fitting denture loads the bone unevenly and speeds up resorption. Comfort shows adaptation, not that the process has stopped.
What is checked at the annual review
- Any gap or movement at the fitting surface
- Redness, pressure marks or ulcers on gum and palate
- Examination of the oral soft tissues
- Checking remaining natural teeth and crown margins
- Deposits on the denture and signs of fungal infection
- Assessing bite height and chewing balance
- Deciding on relining or renewal where needed
Is a visit needed if nothing hurts?
Yes, because the mucosa under a denture adapts to constant pressure and becomes less sensitive, so pressure sores and areas of chronic irritation are often painless until they enlarge or bleed. The second reason is soft tissue assessment: the areas covered by a denture cannot be inspected at home, and early changes give no symptoms. The third is practical — a timely reline is a short procedure, while a delayed one usually means remaking the denture.
Getting Here, Booking and Emergencies from Kumluca Merkez
Route, booking and emergency arrangements for patients from Kumluca Merkez.
Getting here from Kumluca Merkez
Kumluca Merkez lies in the Kumluca district of Antalya; Kumluca is a rural district far from the centre, about 92 kilometres from the clinic. We also see patients from neighbouring areas that share the route from Kumluca Merkez, such as Kasapçayırı, Narenciye, Yazır, Belen. You can ask for the location on WhatsApp when travelling from Kumluca Merkez.
Appointments for Kumluca Merkez
Because a trip from Kumluca Merkez takes a day, the schedule for staged treatment is drawn up at the outset and given to you as a whole. As with patients from Kumluca generally, appointments for families from Kumluca Merkez can be scheduled consecutively.
Emergencies from Kumluca Merkez
Always call before setting out from Kumluca Merkez at night; over this distance the guidance you receive on the phone matters in keeping the situation from worsening. For patients coming from Dental Clinic for Merkez, Kumluca, the clinic is open 24/7 and in an emergency the order is set by severity rather than arrival time. For spreading facial swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or toothache with fever, go to the nearest emergency department.
Salivary Stones: Swelling That Comes with Meals
Swelling that appears under the jaw or in front of the ear while eating and subsides afterwards is a characteristic picture. The cause is usually a small stone blocking a salivary duct.
Why it appears with meals
Saliva production rises sharply when you see food or begin chewing. If the duct is blocked the saliva cannot escape and the gland swells, painfully. When the meal ends production falls, the pressure drops and the swelling subsides. This coming-and-going pattern is the strongest clue distinguishing a stone from other causes of swelling.
How it is treated
The approach depends on the size and position of the stone:
- Small stones: plenty of water, sour foods to stimulate flow, and gland massage
- Stones near the duct opening: removed with a small procedure
- Deep stones: an endoscopic technique or surgery
- Where infection has been added, antibiotics bring it under control first
Preventing recurrence
The most decisive factor in stone formation is inadequate fluid intake; thick, stagnant saliva favours crystallisation. Increasing daily water intake, reviewing medications that cause dry mouth, and stimulating flow with sugar-free gum reduce the risk of recurrence. Smoking also affects the salivary glands adversely.
