While dentures are made to last, accidents can happen. Dentures are primarily made of metal and resin and are made to stand up to wear and tear over time. However, if you’ve noticed sore spots in your mouth, cracking, hairline fractures, or fully broken teeth along your dentures, it’s time to visit your dentist. Here, we talk about the types of denture damage that can happen and how your dentist can repair denture damage.
Types of Denture Damage
Your dentures can get damaged in several ways. First, general wear and tear can do a number on your dentures, as you use them all day. Chewing hard foods can also cause damage to your dentures as it could your natural teeth. Of course, as your dentures get older, they become prone to damage, whether cracking, shifting, gapping, or broken teeth.
Taking good care of your dentures, including keeping them moist and well-cleaned according to your dentist’s instructions, can stave off damage. However, damage can still happen, even if you take the best care of your dentures.
While dentures can last between 5 to 10 years, taking good care of them can prolong their life, as can going to routine dental checkups to check for early stages of damage. Catching issues with your dentures early can make it easier to repair them and may save you from needing a full repair.
Permanent Denture Repairs
If your dentures break, contact your dentist right away. While you may be tempted to DIY a dental fix, it is always best to have your dentist professionally fix your dentures to avoid damage to the dentures or your mouth. If you have a spare set of dentures, switch to these if you notice damage to your primary pair.
In some cases, your dentist can make repairs to your dentures in-house. However, for more serious denture damage, they may need to send your dentures to the lab or replace them entirely. This all depends on the extent of the damage, the age of the dentures, and if the damage is superficial. For example, if you have dentures that are cracking and also gap along your gums or cause sores, you may need more repairs than just simple cracking or wear and tear.
While you can use an approved denture repair kit to make temporary repairs, you should always trust major repairs to your dentist and make an appointment for any damage to your dentures, as emergency repair kits are made for temporary repairs, not permanent solutions. However, if you are prone to denture problems, keeping a denture repair kit on your person can be a quick solution to any denture problems, especially while traveling or unable to visit your dentist.
If you have denture repair questions or want to make an appointment, contact South Fallsburg Dental at (845) 434-1202. Our team of trained dental professionals would be happy to answer your questions and help you schedule a denture repair appointment. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
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