Dentures, Denture Damage and Denture Repair

Dentures comprise pink plastic bases that form the attachment point for artificial teeth. The number of artificial teeth attached represents the number of teeth you have lost, which can either be all or some. You may also come across an upper or lower denture, which is chosen depending on whether you have missing teeth on your upper or lower gums.

If you have lost some of your upper teeth, you will require a partial upper denture. The word "partial" means there are only a few teeth attached to it, which are positioned where you have missing teeth.

You may have also lost all your lower teeth. The denture you require is a full lower denture. A full denture, regardless of it being an upper or lower denture, has a full set of teeth (incisors, canines, premolars and molars).

How Does a Denture Get Damaged?

Damage can occur to the artificial teeth or to the pink plastic base. This includes cracking, breaking and chipping. Here are different ways denture damage can occur:

• Dropping the dentures – dentures are delicate, meaning that if you drop them on hard surfaces, they can get damaged. Hard surfaces include your sink and floor. Therefore, when cleaning your dentures, ensure you hold them carefully to avoid dropping them in your sink. Additionally, ensure you don't place them on surface edges; you can accidentally push them off, leading to a high drop. If one of these drops occurs, inspect the denture thoroughly for damage before putting it back in your mouth.
• Wrong Placement/Storage – if you are sleeping, take out your denture and place it in a glass of water. Do not place it on surfaces like tables, seats, beds, etc. First, a denture needs to be kept moist to ensure it lasts. Second, placing them on surfaces can lead to misplacement. Misplaced dentures are at risk of being accidentally stepped on or sat on.

What Should You Do When Damage Occurs?

Dentists always insist that you should not try to repair your dentures. Why? The remedies you end up thinking of likely include using adhesives like superglue. This can cause further damage and even poisoning. It might also not be effective, leading to injury to the soft tissue in your mouth.

If you notice any damage, place the dentures in a clean container and take them to your dentist. He or she should inspect them and inform you whether they are repairable. If they aren't, you might need new dentures.

To learn more, contact a denture repair company.

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