Denture Repair

What Is a Denture Repair?

This is a professional service to mend broken dentures or adjust the fit of dentures that have become loose and uncomfortable.

Common Reasons Why Dentures Need Repairing

There are several reasons why your dentures may need repair, including:

• Normal wear and tear as the acrylic materials used to make dentures begin to age.
• Accidental damage, for example, if you drop your denture.
• Denture teeth can break, especially if you try to bite into something very hard.
• Pressure points or sore spots.

Types of Denture Repairs

There are several types of denture repairs, including:

1. Emergency denture repair.
2. Repairing a broken or fractured acrylic denture base.
3. Replacing chipped or broken teeth, or those that are missing.
4. Relining dentures.
5. Repairing clasps on partial dentures.

1. Emergency Denture Repair

We know it can be upsetting when you break a denture, especially if you don’t have a spare, as trying to do without teeth is tricky. Therefore, we make every effort to repair dentures quickly, and we often can offer same-day denture repair.

2. Repairing a Broken or Fractured Acrylic Denture Base

Acrylic denture bases are quite durable, but they can develop hairline cracks or break entirely. Our denture repair dentist can professionally mend your broken denture by taking a detailed impression of your mouth, which will be used to fit the broken denture. The broken portion is then removed and replaced with new acrylic material that closely matches the current acrylic base.

3. Replacing Chipped or Broken Teeth or Those That Are Missing

We keep a large range of denture teeth in stock, so if you need one replaced, we can select a good match. The broken tooth is then removed, and the new tooth is inserted and secured with acrylic base material.

4. Relining Dentures

Over time, your jawbone and the gum covering it will gradually change shape. The changes due to jawbone resorption, which occurs naturally after you lose your teeth. This loss can affect the fit and retention of a denture, so you may notice it becomes increasingly loose and uncomfortable.

A denture reline adds more material to the denture surface, covering your gums, using a new impression of your mouth to ensure a precise, more secure fit.

The reline material is usually made of hard acrylic, just like an ordinary denture base. However, another option is to have a soft reline. This can be useful if you find your denture is uncomfortable to wear, but the soft material needs meticulous care to keep it clean.

5. Repairing Clasps on a Partial Denture

If you break a clasp, we will take a dental impression of your mouth, which is used to ensure the new clasp will fit around your tooth exactly.

Signs Your Denture Needs Repairing

Often, the signs that your denture needs to be repaired are obvious, for example, if it breaks or you lose a tooth. Sometimes a denture may start to develop cracks or fracture lines, but hasn’t yet broken entirely.

Other signs can include:

• Difficulty chewing.
• Noticing your denture has begun to make a clicking sound when you talk.
• Developing painful sore spots.
• Difficulty keeping your denture in place or having to use denture adhesive continuously.
• Fitting as if your denture is slightly out of balance, or that something feels off.

The Denture Repair Process

As soon as you notice something is wrong with your denture, contact Dental Pearl so we can arrange for you to come in and have it repaired. Getting a denture repaired is straightforward, and the following is a brief outline of what to expect.

1. Denture Examination

We will need to examine your denture to identify the type of damage and assess if it can be repaired. At this point, we will advise you of the cost and time needed to fix it.

2. Denture Repair

We will almost certainly wish to take an impression of your mouth so the repair can be made accurately. Some repairs can be completed on-site, but more complex repairs may need to be sent to our dental lab.

3. Checking the Fit of Your Denture

Once your denture is repaired, we will ask you to insert it so we can check its fit. If necessary, we can make any small adjustments to make it feel completely comfortable.

Can All Dentures Be Repaired?

Unfortunately, there are certain situations in which we cannot repair a denture, for example, if it is fairly old and has reached the end of its life.

If a denture is very loose due to extensive gum and bone loss, we at Dental Pearl may recommend replacing it rather than relining to ensure a better and more comfortable fit.

However, it may be possible to complete a temporary repair on your denture so you can use it while your new denture is made.

How to Avoid Damaging Your Denture

Sometimes breakage is unavoidable, but often there are steps you can take to help protect your denture from damage. Below are some useful tips on caring for your denture.

1. When you clean your denture, clean it over a towel or bowl of water, so if you do drop it, then there is less chance it will break.
2. Clean your dentures using cool or lukewarm water. Using very hot water to clean them could distort or warp them.
3. Soak your dentures overnight and at other times when you don’t wear them. If you let them dry out, then they could become warped.
4. Bring your dentures with you to every dental exam so we can check their condition regularly. Our dentist can spot any small cracks or fractures that need repair, helping reduce the risk of a larger breakage.

Denture issues can disrupt your comfort and confidence, but timely repair restores fit and function. At Dental Pearl Miami in North Miami Beach, FL, we provide fast, reliable denture repair to keep you smiling with ease. Schedule your visit today to get your dentures back in great shape.