When you think about a dental emergency, you likely picture a knocked-out tooth, excruciating toothache, or a broken tooth. A broken denture may not be painful or time-sensitive in the same way, but you rely on it every day to help you complete daily tasks, like chewing, speaking, and smiling. The truth is that a broken denture absolutely counts as a dental emergency. Here’s what you should do if you find yourself in this situation.
How Do Dentures Become Damaged?
Modern dentures are very strong, but they can still become damaged if you aren’t careful. Here are some of the ways this can occur:
• Accident: If you are injured or accidentally drop your dentures, they could become damaged.
• Improper Use: The purpose of dentures is to help you chew your food, smile, hold in saliva, and speak clearly. You shouldn’t use them for other tasks, like opening bottles, ripping through packaging, or biting nails. Improper use can cause them to become damaged.
• Wear & Tear: Dentures aren’t made to last forever. They can become worn after many years of use.
How Should You Handle a Broken Denture?
If your denture is broken, you should head to the emergency dentist to have it addressed at your earliest convenience. It isn’t painful or life-threatening, but you still want the issue to be resolved as soon as possible. Give your dentist a call to let them know what’s happening. Then, they can schedule you for an urgent visit.
You can find denture repair kits online, but these aren’t usually good options for fixing replacement teeth. You need to have the proper knowledge to repair them correctly. If you don’t, you could end up accidentally damaging them further.
What’s the Solution for a Broken Denture?
When you go to the dental office, your dentist will be able to determine the best possible solution for your situation. Here are some of the possible outcomes depending on the severity of the damage:
• Reline: When dentures don’t fit properly, your dentist may suggest that you have them relined. This is when their underside is reshaped to feel more comfortable against your gums.
• Replace: If your dentures are old and worn, or the damage is beyond repair, your dentist will likely recommend that you have a new one made.
• Dental Implants: You might be a good candidate for implant dentures. They offer greater stability, prevent bone loss, are more comfortable, and last much longer than traditional dentures.
Denture repairs are a part of essential dental care. By getting in touch with your dentist, your smile will be good as new in no time!
About the Practice
At Attleboro Dental Group, we have a team of many experienced dentists serving patients in North Attleboro. If you have a damaged denture, we’d be happy to take a look and put together a treatment plan to meet your needs. To learn more about dentures or implant dentures, or to schedule a consultation, visit our website or call (774) 331-0260.