Dentures are delicate items that can easily be damaged. Unlike natural teeth, they are not as strong as they are made from metal or acrylic. When these materials are kept in the mouth for a long period of time, they eventually start to degrade and weaken. Aside from that, they also suffer from daily wear and tear from talking, chewing and cleaning and handling. A combination of these things can cause damage to your dentures.
What should you do when that happens?
Your dentures can be damaged in various ways, but not all of them require emergency treatment. Staining or chipping, for example may require attention, but these may not be emergency situations. However, if they are completely broken, cracked or are missing one or two teeth, then this can be an emergency that you need to have repaired as soon as possible.
Are They Easy To Repair?
The time it takes to have your them repaired depends on how bad the damage is. Cracked dentures, for example, are easily bonded together. Those with one or two missing teeth are also easy to fix because the task is straightforward.
Having a completely broken denture is a more problematic case, but it is not entirely impossible to fix. The rule of thumb is to try to collect all the of the broken parts and keep them together. If you have all the pieces, it may be possible to fit them together to completely repair the denture Dentists use high quality bonding and cementing materials, so as long as all the parts are there, it can be repaired and can be as good as new ones to begin with.
Who Should Do The Repair?
In the event that your dentures are broken, cracked, chipped or stained, go and visit your dentist right away. A dentist can, for most of the time, make necessary repairs within a day. Do not try to take things in your own hands or ask a friend to do the fixing for you. Superglue or household bonding agents are different from materials used by your dentists, and can be dangerous to your health.
There are DIY denture repair kits available from most pharmacies. While you may have the right equipment from the kit, you do not have the same training that a professional has. A person who lacks the proper skill and training may do further damage to the denture instead, and this can lead to other problems that you would otherwise not have to deal with.
Some Care Tips
Because your dentures deteriorate over time, it is important to take proper care of it to ensure its longevity. One of the ways for you to do this is to make sure that they are kept clean on a regular basis. Like regular teeth, food deposits and plaque can also accumulate on the teeth, so make sure you rinse them and brush them properly using a soft toothbrush or one that is especially designed for that purpose.
You may want to use regular toothpaste for this process, but invest in a special denture cleaner if you can. These cleansers or pastes are formulated differently from toothpastes, and are not harsh on the materials. Do not use mild detergent or hand soap, which may be too strong or abrasive. Do not use bleach for whitening purposes, too!
Dentures are delicate items that can easily chip or crack when dropped or mishandled. When handling them, do so over a basin full of water. That way if it drops, the water softens the impact and prevents breaking from happen. When you are not using it, be sure to store it in a tight container away from children and pets.
Even when you exercise proper care, accidents may still happen. Remember – if the damage is an emergency, see your dentist right away. If it is not something that requires immediate action, don’t panic, but do go trying to do anything by yourself. See a dentist, still. Make time and set an appointment whenever you are available.