Dentures are designed to stand up to the stresses of everyday life. No matter what you put them through, they should be able to take it.
But occasionally dentures do break. They’re made out of acrylic, a type of plastic. If you abuse them or drop them there’s a chance they can crack or completely break through. Dentures need to be kept safe, so make sure you don’t drop them or damage them by negligence.
Always handle carefully. And if you’re handling your dentures over the counter, you might consider putting a towel or something else soft down to make sure they won’t break if you lose your grip.
There is a chance that they can break in other ways through regular use, though.
Breaking dentures through regular use
Regular dentures will deal with almost anything, but there are exceptions. Over time as your jaw gets used to your dentures, the gum ridge will begin to recede. As it drops back, it may create a space that can put undue pressure on the denture. This creates a stress point and can cause the denture to snap. It’s more common with thinner top dentures, but it can be a problem for bottom dentures too.
Teeth can occasionally break, too. Some particularly hard foods like nuts or hard candy can chip or break the artificial teeth used in dentures. There can also be chips in the acrylic base of the denture for the same reasons.
Dealing with broken dentures
It’s not the end of the world if you break a denture. Take heart—there’s a chance it might be an easier repair than you think.
If it’s just a loosened or broken tooth, chances are the whole denture won’t need to be replaced. A dentist can create a replacement and cement it into place. On the other hand, if you have significant damage to the base or the whole denture is broken, the repair may be more involved. You might even need a full replacement.
Whatever you do, don’t try to repair it yourself at home. You can cause damage to the denture or your mouth with a repair. Don’t wear a broken set of dentures, either. The damage can cause sores or cuts on the gums, which can lead to infections or other complications.
Call your dentist immediately and let them know what’s happened. In some cases this may fall under a dental emergency, which means you can get immediate care. Reach out to us here at our practice for any denture emergencies you have and we’ll take care of you.
