Denture Repair

If you have dentures, it is important to handle them with care so they can remain in as good a condition as possible. Still, it is wise to ask, "What do I do if I damage my dentures?" We can offer the information and tools necessary to address a problem if you have one. At Woodside Dental Care can answer any questions you have regarding denture care. To schedule an appointment with our dental office, call (718) 682-7559. In the meantime, here is what you should know.

Where do I start?

If your dentures are damaged, visit our dental office so we can examine them and determine the best way to fix them. One thing you should keep in mind is that your dentures will need to be adjusted one or several times when you first receive them. Patients may call our family dentist office worried that they did something to cause their dentures to fit incorrectly, when in actuality, they only need to be adjusted so they can fit perfectly.

We are an emergency dentist, so if you did indeed damage them, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with our dental practice right away. You can do so by calling (718) 682-7559.

Home Care Tips

You should never try to fix your dentures on your own since this can cause the damage to spread. However, there are certain things you can do at home before heading to the dentist, including:

• Gather anything that has broken off. We encourage you to gather any piece of your dentures that has broken off, including any of the wiring.
• Use dental wax. If the clasps have become slightly loose, they could be rubbing against your gums and irritating them. In this case, you may want to buy dental wax to place on the wire as a temporary barrier. Be sure to see a “dentist near me” who can treat you quickly.
• Take them out. Soak your dentures or place them in a case for transportation to our office. Do not continue wearing damaged dentures.

Warning: Do Not Do This If You Damage Your Dentures

Woodside Dental Care warns patients to avoid doing the following, since this can permanently damage dentures and reduce the likelihood that they can be repaired.

• Do not buy a home repair kit. These can cause your dentures to break even further, and we have treated patients who have had to spend more money because of it.
• Do not use over-the-counter glues. Some of them are full of chemicals that can harm you. It is not worth the risk when you can visit our dentist office for help.

Alternatives to Dentures From a Cosmetic Dentist in Queens, NY

As a cosmetic dentistry office, we can provide you with alternatives to dentures if you are interested in a more permanent and convenient solution. This includes:

Dental crowns and dental bridges

We can address partial tooth loss with dental crowns and dental bridges. In this case, the remaining teeth are prepared to create space for the dental crowns. Simultaneously, the crowns, gum base, and new teeth (bridge) are created in the dental lab. You will then come in for the crowns to be secured to the teeth adjacent to the missing ones. These crowns will serve as anchors to hold the bridge in place. In this way, your new teeth will be secure enough to enjoy your favorite foods, speak with confidence, and smile without being concerned about how your teeth may appear. You can care for your dental crowns and dental bridges like you would your natural teeth, and they should remain in place for years.

Dental implants

If you want a solution that replaces your teeth without requiring support from your remaining ones, dental implants are a better solution. In this procedure, a titanium post will be implanted under the gums and secured to the jawbone. Over the course of several months, the post and bone will fuse together through the process of osseointegration. This creates a durable root system for your new tooth to be attached to. Dental implants look, behave, feel, and function exactly like natural teeth. You can eat what you like, be active, and enjoy life without ever worrying about your replacement tooth or teeth. As a general dentist, we regularly hear rave reviews from our patients who have switched from dentures to implants.

Life with dental bridges and dental implants can be far more convenient than it is when wearing dentures. Dentures need to be removed every night for cleaning and soaking. This can be inconvenient and even embarrassing. Simultaneously, dentures can become loose when eating or speaking, which can be worrisome when going out to eat or attending a public event. None of these problems exist when you replace teeth with a fixed solution.

We can discuss all your options for teeth replacement and also improve the appearance of any remaining teeth. By offering solutions like teeth whitening and dental veneers, our family dentist office will do everything possible to enhance your smile while restoring your missing teeth.

Solving Problems With Dentures

If your dentures need to be repaired, call (718) 682-7559 and schedule an appointment with our dental center right away. We can adjust them so the fit is improved, have damage corrected at the dental lab, and make sure your dentures fit as well as they possibly can. Since we are an emergency dentist office, we can schedule your appointment for the same day in many cases. If, however, you are tired of life with dentures, we are a cosmetic dentistry office and can provide you with alternatives that make it easier to enjoy life without thinking about your teeth.

Keep Up Proper Denture Care

In other cases, people will break or damage a pair of dentures due to improper care or eating hard foods immediately after receiving dentures. Most dentures also require patients to remove them each night and soak them in a solution while they sleep. When people do not follow the proper steps each night, they risk more damage to the dentures and their own health. Fortunately, we can ensure that dentures fit correctly and help patients keep up proper denture maintenance with regular appointments.

Making adjustments to dentures

If the dentures crack, chip, feel loose, or break, do not attempt to fix them without a professional's service. At Woodside Dental Care, we have the skills and experience to accurately fix dentures. Far too often, people will attempt to adjust the dentures themselves or even repair them without scheduling an appointment. We do not recommend this since it can result in needing to spend more money on repairs and risk harming the gums.

Dentures are more complex than some people realize since we customize them to match each individual patient's teeth. Some people may only need to replace a few teeth, while others will need to replace all of their teeth. With that in mind, there is no one-size-fits-all pair of dentures. Thus, damaging or breaking a pair of dentures will require specialized work from a professional. While dentures are durable, they are not indestructible.

In some cases, people will purchase over-the-counter glues or reline materials to repair dentures in an attempt to avoid a visit. Yes, these products are dental tools, but they do more than good. People who attempt to adjust or repair dentures have a high chance of damaging the dentures further. These over-the-counter products can also contain chemicals that can be dangerous to one's health.

Call us to schedule an appointment today

Thanks to the proper training and experience, our team can ensure that patients continue to wear dentures that fit correctly and comfortably. Even though patients with full dentures will not have any real teeth, the patients will need to make regular appointments. The gums and mouth are susceptible to infection when one does not take care of the dentures. During these appointments, we will help ensure that the dentures fit correctly and are not causing any additional health problems.

We will adjust or repair the dentures so that the patient will be able to use them comfortably on a regular basis. We will send out regular reminders when it is time for another checkup appointment. If you need a new pair of dentures, adjustments or more information on dentures as a tooth replacement, give us a call at (718) 682-7559 today.

Questions Answered on This Page

Q. What do I do if I damage my dentures?

Q. What can I do when I only loose a few of my teeth?

Q. What do I need to know about making adjustments to my dentures?

People Also Ask

Q. Can I fix my dentures on my own?

Q. What do I need to know about making adjustments to my dentures?

Q. How do I take care of my dentures?

Definition of Denture Terminology

Helpful Related Links

• American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Terms. 2015
• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2015
• WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2015