Corega, Fixodent, bone resorption, complete tooth loss and when to consider dental implants

If you are using denture adhesive (like Corega, Fixodent or similar products) every single day just to keep your dentures in place, you are not alone.

Many edentulous (toothless) patients tell us:

“My dentures only stay if I use a lot of Fixodent.”

“Without Corega I can’t eat properly.”

“If I forget the adhesive, I’m afraid my denture will drop when I talk.”

Denture adhesives can be helpful in certain situations.

But needing them constantly, in larger and larger amounts, is a warning sign that something deeper is wrong:

Ongoing bone resorption (bone loss under the denture)

Poor denture fit or worn-down acrylic teeth

Advanced edentulism with very thin ridges

A situation where dental implants or an implant-supported solution (like an overdenture or All-on-4) would dramatically improve stability and quality of life

I’m Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr Ali Direnç Ulaşan, clinical director and owner of Milim Dental –

Turkey’s first Health Tourism Authorized boutique dental center, located about a 1-hour drive from Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

Every week we see patients who have lived for years with:

Loose full dentures

Continuous dependency on Corega, Fixodent and other denture adhesives

Progressive bone resorption that makes dentures even more unstable

This article will explain:

Why long-term, heavy use of denture adhesive is not a real solution

How bone resorption and edentulism make dentures increasingly unstable

When and why we start talking about dental implants, overdentures and All-on-4 / All-on-6

How a surgeon-led, implant-focused team can help you move beyond the adhesive tube

1. What Are Denture Adhesives (Corega, Fixodent) Actually For?

Denture adhesives like Corega and Fixodent are creams, powders or strips applied between a removable denture and the gum surface.

They are designed to:

Improve retention (reduce movement)

Create a seal against food particles

Provide some additional comfort for the patient

Used short term or in small amounts, denture adhesives can be perfectly reasonable:

After a new denture is made and your tissues are still adapting

After a reline (resurfacing of the inner part of the denture)

In patients with borderline retention who need a little extra security for social situations

The problem starts when adhesives become a permanent crutch:

If you cannot function without Corega or Fixodent every day,

and you feel your denture is useless without it,

something is not right.

This is not a criticism of you – it’s a sign that your bone and denture need to be re-evaluated.

2. Why Do Dentures Get Looser Over Time? – The Role of Bone Resorption

When all teeth are lost, you don’t just lose the crowns you see in the mirror.

The jawbone that used to support the roots begins to shrink – this is called bone resorption.

2.1. What happens in edentulism?

After extractions:

The body “decides” that the bone around the empty sockets is less necessary

Over months and years, this bone becomes thinner and lower

The ridge that once held your teeth becomes flatter and less stable

In the upper jaw, the sinus cavities can also expand downwards, further reducing bone height.

In the lower jaw, the ridge can become knife-edge thin and difficult for a denture to grip.

2.2. What does bone resorption mean for your denture?

At first, when the denture is new:

It fits the bone and soft tissues closely

Retention is acceptable, sometimes even good

As bone resorption continues:

The denture becomes loose and unstable

You start to feel movement when talking, laughing, chewing

You may develop sore spots as the denture tips and rocks

This is when many people start using Corega, Fixodent or other adhesives more aggressively:

First, a little bit occasionally

Then, every day

Then, several times per day

But note:

The denture adhesive is not stopping the bone resorption.

It is just trying to help a worn denture “hold on” to a shrinking foundation.

3. Problems with Long-Term Reliance on Denture Adhesives

Using Corega or Fixodent once in a while is not a problem.

The concern is chronic, high-dependency use.

Here’s why:

3.1. Masking the real problem

Adhesive can hide the fact that:

Your denture no longer fits your current bone shape

Your jawbone has resorbed significantly

It may be time for a new denture, reline, or dental implant solution

Instead of going back to a dentist for diagnosis and planning, you just:

Add more and more adhesive

Accept sore spots and chewing difficulty as “normal”

This can delay appropriate treatment for years.

3.2. Potential soft tissue irritation

Overuse of denture adhesive can contribute to:

Food and adhesive accumulating under the denture

Poor cleaning habits (if dentures are not removed and cleaned thoroughly every day)

Local irritation of the mucosa (oral soft tissue)

The result can be:

Redness

Inflammation

Fungal overgrowth (denture stomatitis)

All of which make wearing the denture even less comfortable.

3.3. Psychological impact: fear and dependency

Long-term adhesive dependence often leads to:

Fear of going out without adhesive

Anxiety about laughing or eating in public

Social withdrawal

Many patients feel trapped:

“I hate this glue but I can’t live without it.”

For us, this is a signal that we need to start discussing more stable solutions like implant overdentures or fixed implant bridges.

4. When Is It Time to Talk About Dental Implants?

If you are:

Edentulous (no teeth in one or both jaws)

Using Corega or Fixodent every day

Still struggling with chewing and speaking

Avoiding certain foods because your denture moves

then it’s time to consider whether dental implants could change your situation.

Implants can help in several ways:

4.1. Implant-retained overdentures (removable but supported)

Instead of your full denture floating only on the gum and bone, we can:

Place 2–4 dental implants in the jaw

Attach special connectors (locators, bars, etc.)

Make a removable overdenture that “snaps” onto these implants

Benefits:

Much improved stability – less rocking

Often little or no adhesive needed

Better chewing efficiency

Easier speech and more confidence

Corega and Fixodent move from being “daily survival” tools to rare back-ups.

4.2. All-on-4 / All-on-6: fixed teeth on implants

For many edentulous patients, the most life-changing solution is a fixed full-arch bridge on implants – often using All-on-4 or All-on-6 concepts.

This involves:

Placing 4–6 implants per arch

Using them to support a fixed bridge of teeth

You cannot remove these teeth – only your dentist can unscrew them for maintenance

In this scenario:

You do not use Corega or Fixodent at all

Your chewing and speech can feel much closer to natural teeth

Bone around the implants is stimulated and preserved better than with conventional dentures

For patients with very advanced bone resorption, implant planning may include:

Longer tilted implants

Zygomatic implants (into the cheekbone) in special cases

Local or larger bone graft procedures

But the objective remains the same:

Move from unstable dentures and constant adhesive

to stable, implant-supported teeth with long-term function.

5. But What If I’m Not Ready for Implants Yet?

Not everyone is ready to jump immediately into implants, All-on-4 or All-on-6 – for medical, emotional or financial reasons.

In such cases, we still do more than “just use Corega forever”.

Options include:

Relining your existing denture – adding material inside to better fit your current bone shape

Remaking a new denture with better adaptation and proper bite

Planning a stepwise approach:

First, new denture

Then, later adding implants to convert it into an overdenture

Even if implants are not possible, a well-made, updated denture can significantly reduce the amount of Fixodent or Corega you need daily.

The key is:

don’t accept an old, loose denture + permanent adhesive as the only way to live.

6. How We Approach Edentulous Patients at Milim Dental

At Milim Dental, many of our international patients arrive with:

A plastic bag containing Corega, Fixodent, brushes, creams

Old full dentures that no longer fit

Significant bone resorption evident on x-rays

A long history of coping rather than being treated

Our process is:

Full examination

Intraoral exam

Photos and functional assessment

X-rays and often CBCT to evaluate bone volume

Bone and edentulism analysis

How much bone is left?

Upper, lower or both jaws?

Is there room for implants?

Do we need bone graft or sinus lift?

Treatment options explained clearly

New conventional denture with or without adhesive

Implant overdenture (2–4 implants)

All-on-4 / All-on-6 fixed solutions for complete edentulism

Pros, cons, cost and maintenance of each

Personalised plan

Based on your health, expectations and budget

Always with a long-term vision:

reduce dependence on adhesives,

improve function,

protect remaining bone as much as possible.

Because our clinic is:

Surgeon-led (by an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon)

Multidisciplinary (surgery, prosthetics, periodontology, endodontics, orthodontics in one place)

Boutique (fewer patients per day, more time per patient)

Health Tourism Authorized in Turkey

we can manage complex edentulous, high-bone-resorption, implant and revision cases in a structured, safe way.

7. Key Messages to Take Away About Corega, Fixodent and Long-Term Use

If denture adhesives like Corega or Fixodent are part of your daily survival kit, remember:

Denture adhesives are not the enemy – but they are not the final solution.

They are tools, not treatments.

Long-term, heavy dependence on adhesive is a warning sign.

It usually means your bone has resorbed and your denture no longer truly fits.

Bone resorption is a natural process in edentulism – but its impact can be reduced.

Implant-supported solutions help preserve bone and improve stability.

Dental implants (overdentures, All-on-4, All-on-6) can dramatically reduce or eliminate the need for adhesives.

They convert a “floating” denture into a stable, functional prosthesis.

If implants are not immediately possible, updating or relining dentures is still better than endless Corega/Fixodent use.

You deserve more than coping.

Being edentulous does not mean condemned to loose dentures forever.

Modern implant dentistry offers real alternatives – especially in a surgeon-led, implant-focused clinic.

If you recognise yourself in this article –

if you feel stuck between bone resorption, complete tooth loss, and a life controlled by denture adhesive –

the next step is not “more Fixodent”.

The next step is a proper evaluation of your bone, gums and implant possibilities

by a team whose goal is to free you from the adhesive tube,

and give you teeth – and confidence – you can truly rely on again.