Patients have long worn false teeth (dentures) as a way of replacing lost teeth and re-establishing their confidence and appearance. It is standard practice for prosthodontists to acquaint patients with the various dos and don’ts of denture care. Unfortunately, even when these maintenance practices are strictly adhered to, dentures are prone to wear and tear over time, just like natural teeth. Poorly fitted dentures may cause great discomfort such as gum irritation, blisters, infections, difficulty chewing, headaches and bite problems prompting the need for denture repairs. Typically, broken dentures are sent to a denture health professional who inspects the problem and suggests an adjustment or complete denture replacement, depending on the extent of the damage.
Here are some possible denture repairs you might need:
Denture rebasing
This denture repair option becomes necessary when the wearer’s false teeth begin to age over time, increasing its tendency to get damaged. It involves changing a denture’s base material to a new one for the purpose of achieving stability.
Denture relining
Gums and soft oral tissues tend to undergo slight changes over time. These changes can alter the way dentures fit into your mouth, initiating the need for a denture reline.
Denture adjustments.
These are just minor changes, especially to the aesthetic parts of dentures, with the goal of making them fit properly.
Complete denture restoration or replacement
This denture repair option becomes necessary when dentures no longer fit or are damaged beyond repair.
Top signs you might need a denture repair
Bad odours and discolouration
Poor denture hygiene practices like failure to soak, rinse or brush your dentures with the appropriate cleaners can cause them to have an unpleasant odour or discolouration. Also, the odours can come from the build-up of food particles which could potentially create a breeding ground for bacteria. During a denture repair, your dentist can perform an in-depth cleaning to ensure that your dentures are restored to new-like condition.
Discomfort or irritation.
Damaged dentures can lead to inflammations, sores or raw spots when not fixed immediately. In some cases, you might even experience jaw pain or misalignment issues which may further lead to headaches, swollen gums or ear pain.
Change in facial appearance
When your dentures become ill-fitting or damaged, you might start to notice some contradictory changes from your normal facial appearance while wearing dentures. These changes should not be ignored as they could be an indication that a denture repair is needed
Visible chips or cracks
Biting on tough food, accidentally dropping or stepping on dentures can cause cracks which always require immediate repairs. This is because if a cracked acrylic base goes untreated, the base might split in half, requiring a more costly repair option like complete denture replacement.
Difficulties during speech or eating.
When you start to experience difficulties while chewing or speaking with your dentures, then it might be time to have them checked out as there could be underlying problems such as loose/damaged denture clasps or compromised base material.
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Conclusion
Denture repairs are a necessity for long-lasting dentures. They ensure that your dentures fit and function properly. However, it is important that you avoid fixing broken dentures yourself. Research denture repair near me to find a suitable solution. This is because people tend to cause even more damage to dentures while trying to fix them. A good recommendation would be to use a spare set if you have them and schedule a professional denture repair appointment immediately for a proper and long-lasting solution to your faulty dentures.