Dentures can become damaged in a variety of ways. The most common ones are dentures being subject to excessive force through teeth grinding, getting dropped as they are being removed or inserted, or becoming disfigured when they no longer fit in your mouth properly. This weakens your dentures and causes them to no longer work properly.
To keep your dentures in the best possible condition, see a dentist when it becomes clear that they no longer fit well. The best way to determine that is if they feel loose in your mouth. Also, when removing or inserting your dentures, place a towel on the surface below you. If you should happen to drop your dentures, this will soften the landing and prevent breakage. If a towel is unavailable, the next best thing to do is fill a sink with water and remove your dentures while standing over it.
Are Your Dentures Repairable?
If you have sustained damage to your dentures, you may be wondering if they are worth fixing or if it would be better to get fitted for a new pair. Dentists are usually able to repair are cracks or factures in the dentures fairly easily. If they have snapped in half or have more serious damage, it is better to be fitted for new ones. It is very important to keep your dentures in good repair or replace them when necessary since damaged dentures do not work as well and can be uncomfortable to wear.
The Time Frame Needed to Fix Broken Dentures
It is not possible to quote an exact amount of time it will take the dentist to fix your dentures because it depends on what is in need of repair. If it is a single tooth on the denture mold which has broken or become loose, that can usually be handled within one day. More extensive problems may require the dentist to take a new impression of your mouth. After the impression is taken, it needs to be sent to a lab to be repaired by a dental technician. This is obviously more complex and will take more time.
Actions You Should Take if Your Dentures Break
In the event of your dentures actually breaking, you should take all of the broken pieces and soak them in a glass of cold water until you can bring them to your dentist. If they are left exposed to warm air, this could cause the dentures to dry out which causes more damage in the long run. You can continue to use the parts of your dentures that are not broken if it is comfortable to do so.
Puchasing Your Own Denture Repair Kit
There are many products on the market that allow you to fix your dentures at home, but you should exercise caution when using them. The repairs may be done too quickly and cause more long term damage than you had originally. When in doubt, it is best to leave repairing your dentures up to the professionals.