Repairing your dentures at the first sign of wear or cracking can save you time and money down the road. Repairing your original dentures is less expensive and will allow you to use the same dentures for years to come. Here are 10 examples of when you should have your dentures repaired:
Pinching
If you feel any type of pinching on your tongue you may want to inspect your dentures closely for small cracks which can develop into a bigger problem. Most times, the crack is not yet visible because of the small size and can only be felt by the tongue. This will lead to your dentures becoming unusable and can happen suddenly.
Gum Area Damage
After frequent wear, the acrylic in the dentures has the tendency to erode to the point where a hole appears. If you notice this type of thinning in the gum area, be prepared to service your dentures once a tear or hole appears.
Poor Maintenance
If the denture is not maintained and cleaned regularly, food particles and bacteria will build up in the pores of acrylic and deteriorate the material. The denture can become very uncomfortable to wear and produce a foul odor. In this situation, you will want to first send your dentures for professional cleaning and possible repair to the deteriorated area.
Gap in Denture
Over years space forms between denture teeth and denture gum area, food particles get inside and denture teeth become unattractive with black outline. This can quickly and easily be corrected by getting your denture cleaned and the space repaired.
Chipped Acrylic of the Main Plate
Sometimes pieces of denture gum acrylic get chipped off of the main plate and the denture wearer continues to wear the denture, chipped section may be very sharp and can cut the gum or the tongue of the denture wearer. This must be fixed immediately.
Broken into multiple Pieces
Many people attempt to glue or repair their dentures after a complete break where the denture is rendered into 2 or more pieces. DO NOT attempt this! Using harmful glues such as super glue or Gorilla Glue can be poisonous and only make the break worse. Professional help is needed and will be more cost-effective compared to getting new dentures.
Broken, Chipped, or Missing Teeth
This is quite obvious your denture is in need of repair. If any teeth chipped or missing on the denture it is again important NOT to use any household adhesives.
Denture not fitting Properly
When your denture is not fitting properly and becomes loose, you should obtain a professional reline. This will fill the gap between the gums and the denture and will make the denture fit better. Contact your dentist today to get refitted.
Weight Loss
When denture wearer loses weight, gums shrink and your denture will have to be relined to conform to the gums and have better suction. If you have lost 30 or more pounds since your denture fitting you may experience your dentures becoming loose and in need of a realignment.
Sudden Impact
At any time when your denture is dropped, stepped on, or you even hear a “crack” from chewing on a bone, your denture must be inspected to make sure that there are no cracks. Most of the time small stress cracks form and if not taken care of right away will become larger and denture eventually breaks.
Dentures are a useful tool today but they are not indestructible and must be cared for. Through regular maintenance, cleaning, and visual inspection you can save yourself from embarrassing moments or long lapses without your dentures.