What Causes Broken Dentures

What Causes Broken Dentures?

Today’s dentures are designed and made to last longer than expected. Nonetheless, dentures can still break, become loose, become too tight or crack. There are a couple of different factors that can lead to a denture break.

If your dentures break, it’s a scary situation.
You need your dentures for eating, but they’re also a big part of how you present yourself to the world.
The first thing people ask themselves when their dentures break is, “What do I do now?”

General Wear and Tear Over Time

This is a gradual process that occurs over time. If you have the same set of dentures for a very long time, they undergo the stress cycles of daily wear, pressure from chewing, exposure to acidic foods and shifts in temperature Eventually they gradually start to wear down. 

Dropping Dentures

Your dentures are extremely durable. However, in some unfortunate instances, dentures simply fall out and break. People drop dentures more frequently than they will like to admit. The drops often occur on hard floors and empty sinks. Unfortunately, if they land just right, they can crack or break them in two.

Dentures That no Longer fit Properly

In a lot of cases, dentures simply stop fitting properly. The dentures may become too tight or loose. It is not the dentures that change but rather our facial structures that continually change. 

Dentures that no longer fit properly are an issue and can cause considerable discomfort creating sore spots or continuous clenching, thus extra pressure leading to cracks or breaks.

What Do I Do If My Dentures Break?

The truth is that denture repair isn’t something a nonprofessional can do.

You may be able to make a temporary repair if you don’t have a spare set of dentures. However, anything you can do yourself won’t last very long.

Please don’t do anything that will damage your dentures in case we can refit and repair them. 

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE SUPERGLUE. It won’t bond well with your dentures, may cause gum inflammation, and may damage them further

The important step to take is to seek immediate denture repair from a professional. 

How Can I Avoid Needing A Repair?

There are steps you can take to further ensure protecting your dentures.

To maintain the integrity of your dentures, you want to:

• Rinse your dentures after you eat. This removes any food particles that may be hiding under your dentures.
• Handle your dentures with care. Dropping your dentures is the biggest threat to them. Make sure you don’t bend the plastic or clasps.
• An extra precaution you could take is to put a towel on the counter and water in the sink when you’re cleaning or inserting your dentures.
• Brush your dentures every day. Use a soft-bristled brush, and avoid using whitening toothpaste or a toothpaste that contains bleach.
• Soak your dentures overnight. For many dentures, keeping them moist will help to extend their life. Always check with your dentist for specific recommendations for overnight storage.

The best way is to have a spare set of dentures.

Are they difficult to repair?

This depends on the kind of break it has. For chips, your dentist can easily smooth them in their clinic. Of course, this still depends on the size of tear that it has. For tooth loss or cracked teeth, your dentist would need to send it over to the lab so they can adjust the color for it to blend in perfectly with surrounding teeth.

Where can I get my dentures fixed?

You may go to your dentist for any direct concerns or a full-service laboratory to have them done.

Can I repair them myself?

This is highly discouraged since this may lead to more harm than good. This may cost you more than what you initially should be charged for.

How do I take care of my dentures?

It is essential that dentures are kept clean and taken care of. Do not depend on the dentist to clean them for you. You need to be able to keep them sanitary. Daily oral hygiene is encouraged and brushing your teeth twice a day is recommended. Use a denture cleaner to keep bacteria away. It is also important to remember that you should not wear them when going to sleep. Your palate needs a breather, too.

Seek Professional Repairs as Soon as Possible

If the dentures no longer fit properly, do not toss them in the trash and assume that one needs new ones. It might be possible to adjust the dentures for a better fit. Bring the dentures to the dentist for an adjustment and they will almost certainly prove more comfortable.

The adjustment process usually requires a relining of the dentures. The relining process involves the removal of the denture base. We may even need to add putty to the base and will take impressions of the gums. We can make a new denture base from the mould to match the mouth shape.

If your dentures start to be challenging to wear, don’t throw them out!

Contact us right away!