What to Do If You Inadvertently Break Your Dentures

You've recently taken ownership of a brand-new set of dentures and have been making steady progress as you get used to them. You may have taken some time to make your initial decision, as you weren't sure of the outcome, but you're nevertheless very happy that you did. However, just when everything seemed to be right with the world again, you've dropped your dentures on the floor, and they have broken into two parts. Once you've overcome your initial anger, what is your next course of action?

How Can This Happen?

Of course, you're not the first one to have done this, and you need to remember that a set of dentures (while strong and resilient in their own right) can certainly break if they are dropped onto a hard surface. Usually, they are more prone to do this as they get older, but this can happen at any stage.

Can You Fix It Yourself?

Some people may want to take immediate action and take the matter into their own hands. They may think that they can repair these dentures themselves using some household glue that's stored away in a cupboard. However, this is not the best course of action, as the chemicals contained within this type of glue will likely melt some of the plastic. Furthermore, it's not really a good idea to ingest any of the solvents associated with this glue, and you should be careful what you put in your mouth!

Trusting the Specialist

Denture repair is a very specialised job. When you take your dentures in to your dentist, they will allocate the task to a specialist who will follow a very precise procedure. They won't use glue to try and join the pieces back together but will use wax to initially attach the pieces. Once they are sure that the dentures still fit as intended, they will create a special solution of plaster or silicone that completely encompasses the fracture line. This is then carefully trimmed to the minimal effective level and given an acrylic base to smooth everything off.

How Long Will This Take?

In many cases you will be able to get some relief within a few hours of taking your dentures in. However, if the break is quite complicated, it may take a little longer, so you may have to exhibit some patience. Nevertheless, the first job is to pick up the phone and make the appointment.


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