A lot of people panic when they have broken dentures. However, there is no reason to because it is something that happens to a lot of people who use dentures. Dentures are effective when it comes to replacing missing teeth, but they also have a reputation of not being as durable as other orthodontic devices. That is why there are a few denture repair options available.
Can broken dentures be repaired?
Yes, broken dentures can be replaced using any of the following options:
Going to the dentist
Broken dentures can be replaced by scheduling an appointment with the dentist. Once the patient is at the dentist’s office, the dentist will examine it to see if it can be fixed in the office. If it can, the dentist will repair the dentures and have the patient come pick it up when it is ready. If it cannot be fixed at the dentist’s office, they will send it to a dental laboratory to get it fixed.
Using a denture repair kit
If the patient is unable to see their dentist immediately, another option is fixing the broken dentures using a denture repair kit. These can be found at the pharmacy or the grocery store. These kits contain different teeth that can be used to replace the teeth that fell out of the dentures and come with a bonding material that temporarily holds them in place. The repair kits are meant for emergency use and are not a long-term solution for the broken dentures. Patients should also make sure that the repair kit they buy is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
If the broken dentures are badly damaged, it cannot be fixed using a repair kit. The dentist will have to take another mold of the patient’s mouth for a new set of dentures, which will take a few weeks to make.
How can you prevent your dentures from breaking?
There is no way to guarantee that a patient’s dentures will not break. However, damage to the dentures can be prevented by doing the following:
- Avoid biting or chewing on hard foods
- Keeping the dentures clean
- Placing a towel or filling up the sink with water when cleaning the dentures to prevent them from breaking if they fall
- Removing them before going to sleep
Replacement options if your dentures break
Having broken dentures also provides the patient with an opportunity to replace their missing teeth with other orthodontic devices, which include:
Dental bridges
If the patient has one or more missing teeth, dental bridges can be used to replace the missing teeth. But, the patient has to have natural teeth on each side of the missing teeth to hold the artificial tooth in place.
Dental implants
Implants provide the closest thing a patient will have to natural teeth. The procedure requires titanium posts to be fused to the jaw with an artificial tooth screwed to the top of the post. Since the posts are fused to the jaw, the artificial tooth is held firmly in place and will not move around the mouth like dentures often do.
Conclusion
Repairing broken dentures can be an easy fix or it might require your dentures to be sent to a dental laboratory to be fixed. If you have broken dentures, schedule an appointment with your dentist to get it fixed and to discuss other teeth replacement options.
Request an appointment here: https://galleriadentalarts.com or call Galleria Dental Arts at (703) 368-9777 for an appointment in our Manassas office.
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