Dentures are subject to the same kind of everyday wear and tear as your natural teeth, but the substances used to make them aren’t always as hard as enamel. Sometimes a denture can get chipped or can even break off, marring your smile. If your denture is damaged, you should see our prosthodontist to have it repaired.
What to Do if a Denture Chips or Breaks
It’s not uncommon for a denture to chip or break while you’re eating crunchy foods or biting on something hard. Dentures can also break, crack, or chip due to long-term wear and tear. If you chip a denture, you’ll need to have it repaired. How promptly you do this is up to you and will probably depend upon how visible the damage is and how much it affects your ability to eat, chew, or bite.
It’s possible to get over-the-counter repair kits for minor damage to your dentures. However, these repairs are not likely to last long and should be considered a temporary, stop-gap measure until you can get to your dentist or prosthodontist. Any types of adhesive you use for this kind of repair must also be thoroughly removed before a professional repair can be successfully completed, and can make it more difficult for your prosthodontist to replace or fix your damaged denture.
Do I Need to Get a Whole New Denture?
If you’ve just chipped, broken, or lost a tooth from your denture, it can be repaired rather than completely replaced. This saves you a great deal of time and money. A prosthodontist can remove the damaged tooth and replace it with a new one that is color-matched to the rest of your denture. These repair techniques are similar to those used in some cosmetic dentistry. The new tooth is securely anchored in your denture.
If damage is due to long-term wear and tear, you might need to have your denture replaced. Wear to your denture can make the teeth more susceptible to cracking or breaking. Your prosthodontist will evaluate the condition of your denture and determine whether it can be repaired or must be replaced.
Contact us at Dakota Prosthodontics & Implant Center today to schedule a consultation!
