10 Signs that you may need to repair your dentures
Repairing your dentures at first sign of wear or cracking can save you time and money down the road. Repairing your original dentures is less expensive than you think and will allow you to use the same dentures for years to come. Here are 10 examples of when you should have you 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. If the pinching continues, you can develop a calis on your tongue and not feel the pinch as the crack gets worse. This will lead to your dentures becoming unusable and can happen suddenly. If you feel a pinch and see any type of a small crack, contact your repair specialist today to avert any denture emergencies.
Read More about Denture Repair Lab and how we can help your cracked dentures >>
Gum Area Damage
After frequent wear, your denture’s gum area will eventually begin to wear off. This creates a thin gum area that can suddenly tear and render your dentures unusable. 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. You may want to send your dentures in before this happens especially if you are leaving for a long trip.
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. If you find that you have not been cleaning your dentures regularly, you may run into this issue. The denture can become very uncomfortable to wear from the gums being rough to the touch. This will further irritate your mouth and cause much pain down the road. In this situation you will want to first send your dentures for professional cleaning and possible repair to the deteriorated area and then learn how to properly store and clean your dentures.
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 most often happens with porcelain teeth. This black outline can be seen quite visibly and be very unattractive to the people around you. By sending in your dentures to get cleaned and the space repaired will allow you to keep your original dentures without having to purchase a brand new pair.
Chipped Acrylic of the Main Plate
Sometimes pieces of denture gum acrylic get chipped of of the main plate and denture wearer continues to wear the denture, chipped section may be very sharp and can cut the gum or the tongue of denture wearer. If you have a chipped plate you run the risk of injury where you will not be able to wear your dentures in order to let your injury heal. 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. Read more about how to repair your missing denture teeth here
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 gums and the denture and will make denture fit better. By continuing to wear dentures that are loose can put you at a higher risk for injury or embarrassing dislodgment. Contact your dentist today to get refitted.
Weight Loss
When denture wearer looses weight , gums shrink and your denture will have to be reline 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 cared 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. It is always suggested to carry a spare set of dentures. Getting a spare set can be less expensive than you may think and most times the spare feels and fits better than the original! Read More about how to obtain a duplicate denture.