I’ve Broken My Dentures! What Should I Do?

Your dentures go through a lot use every single day. It’s not uncommon for even the most careful person to experience a mishap and end up with cracked or broken dentures on their hands.

If you’ve recently damaged your dentures, it’s best to take action quickly. Don’t wait assuming the issue will resolve itself, because spoiler alert… it won’t!

From everyday wear and tear to a sudden break after an unfortunate accident (we all drop things from time to time), you must take denture damage and repairs seriously.

This guide outlines everything you need to know about the different types of denture repairs and how to prevent future incidents.

Types of Denture Repairs

No matter how careful you are, a lot can go wrong with dentures. Here are some of the most common denture repairs you might need at some point:

Simple Breaks

Your dentures are fragile. Dropping them on a tile floor or another hard surface can easily lead to a crack or chip or even cause them to break in half!

It might not seem so, but this type of damage is considered a pretty simple break. If the broken edges fit back together neatly, the dentures can be glued, milled, and polished in no time.

Complex Breaks

Some denture breaks are more complicated and challenging to manage.

For example, if you have partial dentures and a tooth breaks off, you’ll likely need to get new impressions done before your dentures are replaced. New impressions ensure precise positioning of the replacement tooth.

You’ll also need to get new impressions if a piece of your denture has broken off and you can’t find it.

Breaks that affect your dentures’ clasps or flexible components also fall under the umbrella of “complex breaks.” They often require replacements, which take more time and can be more costly.

Loose or Poorly Fitting Dentures

Your dentures should suction to your gums and fit easily in your mouth. If they feel loose or rub against your gums, that’s a sign that you need to book an appointment and talk to your dentist.

If you continue wearing loose or poorly fitting dentures, you could increase your chances of dealing with other, more severe challenges (including chips or complete breaks) in the future.

Implant-Retained Denture Damage

Implant-retained dentures are secured through implants in the jaw. If you have these dentures, you might experience complications like loosening, especially if you clench or grind your teeth.

Working with your dentist will ensure your implant-retained dentures fit comfortably, stay in good shape, and don’t cause other problems down the line.

How Long Do Denture Repairs Take?

The length of time required to repair your dentures varies depending on the extent of the damage.

At Denture Haus, we strive to get your dentures back to you as quickly as possible. We can complete simple repairs in as little as 30 minutes, and more technical fixes take between 1 and 5 days.

Rest assured that we’ll always work as quickly as possible (without sacrificing quality), and we’ll keep you in the loop throughout the entire repair process.

Always See a Professional!

Never try to repair your dentures by yourself. Even if the problem seems like a simple one to fix, don’t assume you can handle it on your own!

If you try fixing your dentures yourself, you could make the problem worse. As a result, the repairs could take longer or be more expensive than they would if you had come to us as soon as you noticed something was wrong.

Prioritise Prevention

It’s always easier to protect your dentures from cracks and breaks than to repair them afterwards. Here are some tips to keep your dentures safe:

Handle Them with Care

When you first got your dentures, you probably handled them as if they were a new born baby. As you got used to them, though, you might have started to be a bit more careless.

Remember that it only takes a second to trip or lose your grip and drop your dentures. Always handle them with caution.

Lay Down a Towel or Fill Up the Sink

One of the easiest ways to protect your dentures is to ensure you always lay down a towel on the bathroom counter before removing them. Alternatively, you can fill the sink with water.

Both options give your dentures a soft place to land in case you accidentally drop them.

Regularly Remove and Rinse

Remove your dentures and rinse them after every meal.

It might seem tedious or time-consuming to do this multiple times per day. However, rinsing your dentures will prevent excessive wear.

Regular rinses can also reduce the need for professional cleaning and maintenance.

Soak Your Dentures Every Night

At the end of the day, you might feel so tired that you just want to leave your dentures on the bathroom counter and crawl into bed.

Resist the urge to do this! Taking a few extra seconds to fill a glass with water and place your dentures inside to soak overnight is worthwhile.

Regularly soaking your dentures prevents them from drying out, increasing the likelihood of your dentures cracking.

Don’t Grin and Bear It

If something feels off, reach out to your dentist. Don’t suffer in silence or assume that your dentures are supposed to hurt, feel loose, etc.

Your dentures should feel comfortable in your mouth at all times. If they don’t fit properly, they’ll get damaged faster (and more severely) than well-fitting dentures.

These ongoing issues can cause more extensive and expensive problems in the future (not to mention severe gum pain and inflammation).

Looking for Denture Repair in Brisbane?

Whether you’re dealing with a simple break or poorly fitting dentures, you deserve to feel comfortable and confident in your smile.

Don’t walk around with damaged dentures! The sooner you invest in denture repair, the better off you’ll be. If you’re looking for denture repair in Brisbane, we’re here for you at Denture Haus.

Mitch Hills29 September 2022