Worn, cracked, or ill-fitting dentures can be inconvenient at the best of times and dangerous at the worst. This is why you should always take good care of your dentures and understand when it’s time to see a denturist to have them repaired or replaced.
The most common reasons for denture breakages include drops and hard foods, though whether they need to be repaired or replaced entirely depends on a few things. Whether your dentures are loose or visibly damaged, the first thing you should do is to book an appointment with a professional denturist so that they can properly assess the extent of the damage and what needs to be done to restore your dentures to their former glory; whether this be relining, rebasing, repairing, or replacing your dentures.
Replacing dentures is relatively straightforward, however, not many people know the difference between denture relining, rebasing, and repairing. In this post, we’ll be taking a closer look at what each of these entails to help you better understand denture repairs.
Denture Relining
If your dentures suddenly become loose or ill-fitting, then a relining might be in order. Relining typically involves your denturist resurfacing the tissue side of your dentures to fill any gaps between the original denture lining and your mouth, ensuring a snug and better-fitting denture. Unlike an adjustment, which may be necessary from time to time, relining is usually only necessary when your mouth’s tissue or bone structure changes, such as after tooth loss or weight loss.
Denture Rebasing
Denture rebasing is a type of denture repair where the existing denture teeth are retrofitted into a new acrylic base. This offers a new, stable denture base without the extra costs and time associated with a full denture replacement. Rebasing is usually recommended when the denture base itself cracks, or when it has worn out faster than the teeth and a denture replacement is either unnecessary or uneconomical.
Denture Repairs
Like rebasing, denture repairs involve restoring one or more damaged parts of your denture to their original condition. Repairs range from filling in cracks in the denture base to replacing whole teeth lost due to an accident or regular wear and tear. Regardless of what type of repair you think you may need, you should always visit a professional denturist as soon as you notice any damage or breakage. Luckily, most denturists offer same-day repair services and carry a variety of molds and spare teeth to limit the amount of time spent without your dentures.
As complex as the repairs may be, every denture owner should have at least a basic understanding of the different types of denture repairs. By now, you should have a clear idea of what type of repair is necessary under different circumstances. Moreover, it’s important to note that not all damage can be repaired, and, in some cases, a full denture replacement might be necessary. While we’ve covered a few signs you need new dentures in a previous post, there’s simply no substitute for consulting a qualified professional. Contact Hillhurst Denture Clinic to find out more about our denture repair services.
