If you have dentures, you, of course, know how delicate they are. That is why your dentist insists on various good denture care practices like avoiding to place them on high surfaces where they can easily and accidentally be pushed off the edge, taking extreme care when washing them and having a strategic place of storing them when you take them out of your mouth for any reason (this is usually a clean glass of water). Here is what you need to know about denture damage and repair:
How Does Denture Damage Occur?
As mentioned above, if you place your dentures carelessly on a high surface, you might accidentally push them off the edge and they may land on your hard floor and break. If you also place them on a seat, someone or even yourself can sit on them accidentally.
When cleaning your dentures, you can easily drop them in your sink. The fall can cause damage to your dentures, but most of the time, luck is usually on your side because of the short distance. Just ensure you inspect them for damage after such a drop and before putting them back in your mouth.
Another kind of damage, though rare, is when dentures get cracked while in your mouth, especially for young individuals. Since the gum is still growing, you may be required to visit the dentist frequently for denture and gum growth inspection. This helps the dentist know when to get you new dentures that match your jaw and gum, which also helps avoid discomfort and cracking.
What Should You Do If Your Dentures Get Damaged?
Dentists usually stress that you should not try to repair dentures yourself and there is a good reason behind it. You might think that fixing your cracked or broken dentures means using a kind of a quick fix adhesive you normally use at home like superglue; this is not the case. You may end up poisoning yourself or worsening the damage.
If you also wear dentures you think you have fixed, you might injure the soft tissue in your mouth because a broken or cracked denture usually has some sharp edges.
Place your dentures in a clean container that is impact-resistant and take them to your dentist for inspection. Your dentist can inform you whether they are repairable or not. If they can be repaired, a quote is given. If the quote is close to the value of new dentures, just get new dentures made.
For more information, reach out to a local denture repair clinic.
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