Is a Broken Denture a Dental Emergency?

If you think a broken denture is worth contacting your dentist’s office and scheduling an immediate appointment, you’re right because this type of problem is considered a dental emergency. While you may not experience a lot of pain, a damaged prosthetic can make it hard, if not impossible, to eat or perform other daily tasks. Read on to learn how a denture can accidentally break and what your dentist can do to get your smile back on track.

What Can Cause a Denture to Break?

While dentures are designed to be durable, accidents can happen that cause them to break. The most common is eventual wear and tear. While wearing these prosthetics for years, it’s likely that daily use and the different temperatures and acidity levels of various foods and beverages will lead to either minor or major damage. Also, as your jawbone continues to shrink over time because of a lack of stimulation, it will cause your dentures to no longer fit. As a result, it can become unstable and place additional pressure in areas that cause cracks and breakage.

Of course, you cannot overlook one of the more obvious reasons, which is accidental damage. A sudden fall or even dropping your dentures in Weyauwega in the sink can lead to a broken prosthetic.

How Can a Dentist Treat This Type of Problem?

When noticing that your denture is broken, the first thing you should do is call your dentist’s office and alert the staff to the situation. After explaining what happened, they will likely work to get you in as soon as possible. Once you are able to see your dental professional for treatment, they will examine the damaged prosthetic and determine the best course of action. This can include:

• Repair – If the break is small enough, there is a chance that the denture can be repaired. Whether it occurs in the dental office or by sending it back to the lab, your dentist will go over how long you can expect it to take before receiving your permanent prosthetic.
• Reline – If the denture no longer fits as it should because of changes to your facial shape, a reline of your denture may be possible. Of course, if it is considered “too old” worn, you may receive a newer, more comfortable prosthetic.
• Switch – This may sound odd, but if dentures no longer offer what you want from a new smile, you might consider switching to dental implants. Using a removable “overdenture” in place of a traditional prosthetic can allow you to enjoy a more natural, durable, and longer-lasting smile. And because the implant posts continue to stimulate your jawbone, you won’t need to worry about additional bone shrinkage. Also, you’ll be able to eat, speak, and smile with greater confidence because your denture will be secured over the top of your dental implants.

Yes, a broken denture can be alarming, but there’s no need to panic. When meeting with your dentist, they will provide multiple options as to how they can address the problem and help you enjoy a fully functional, beautiful, natural smile.

About the Author
With more than 40 years of practicing dentistry, Dr. William Twohig has helped numerous patients regain optimal oral function. When working with individuals who have removable prosthetics like dentures, he and his team understand the uncertainty that can come with an accidental break and sudden damage. This is why he is ready to help should someone require an emergency dental visit. If you are dealing with a broken denture and need immediate care, visit our website or call (920) 867-3101.