Your dentures were designed to act like your missing teeth, allowing you to eat a full diet, speak clearly, and smile with confidence. But what happens if you damage them? Here’s why broken prosthetics qualify as a dental emergency, and what you should do if the unthinkable occurs!
Why Are Dentures Such a Big Deal?
Although small, your dentures are in no way insignificant. In fact, because they allow you to communicate clearly and eat a nutritious diet, when you damage them, this qualifies as a dental emergency, and you should contact your dentist as soon as possible for help!
What Happens if My Dentures Break?
Don’t delay getting help if you damage your dentures. Even a small chip, crack, or change in shape can make them uncomfortable or prevent them from fitting properly. Wearing broken dentures can even increase your risk of soft tissue irritation, causing painful dental sores, and even oral infections!
Should your dentures incur any sort of injury, contact your emergency dentist right away. Although you may need to invest in a new pair, patients often ask, “can broken dentures be repaired?” The good news is that in some cases, depending on the type and severity of the damage, the answer could be yes. However, it is important that you leave this type of repair to the experts- never attempt to glue your dentures together yourself, and don’t use them if they are broken, as this can injure your mouth and even make potential repairs more difficult and expensive.
Remember, although a broken denture probably doesn’t seem all that urgent, damaged prosthetics can prevent you from eating and communicating, which can be extremely dangerous. Thus, if yours break, contact your emergency dentist as soon as possible for help, and you’ll have a healthy, happy, functional smile once again before you know it!
About Dr. Kim
Dr. Isaac Kim earned his undergraduate degree at UCLA and his dental degree at Loma Linda University. He is certified in Invisalign, LANAP, and a proud continuing student at both Spear Education and the KOIS center. He is also an active member in the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association, and the American Academy of Clear Aligners. If you are suffering from a broken denture or other dental emergency, don’t wait to get help – call us as soon as possible at 408-471-2234.