A broken or damaged denture, a removable replacement for missing teeth, is a stressful inconvenience. Dentures restore function and appearance, and their failure requires a reliable solution. Understanding where to turn for professional assistance and what to expect during the repair process can reduce anxiety. This guide provides clear steps for addressing denture damage and navigating the available repair options.
Immediate Steps After Denture Damage
The first step after damaging your denture is to remove it from your mouth and immediately contact a professional. Wearing a broken appliance can cause irritation, sores, and potential injury to the gum tissue. Continuing to wear a fractured denture can also worsen the damage, potentially making a simple repair impossible.
Resist the urge to perform a do-it-yourself repair using household glues or adhesives. These products are not approved for oral use and contain chemicals unsafe for the body. They can also damage the acrylic material beyond the point where a professional can effectively fix it. Instead, collect all the broken pieces, including any loose wires or fragments.
Keep the broken pieces moist until you can get them to the repair location. Store the denture in its case, submerged in water or a mild denture cleaning solution. Keeping the appliance moist prevents the material from drying out, which can cause warping and complicate the final repair.
Professional Options for Denture Repair
The primary professionals equipped to handle denture repair are general dentists and denturists. A general dentist diagnoses and treats a wide range of oral health conditions. They are a standard option for repair, often handling minor fixes in-office or sending complex work to a specialized dental laboratory. Dentists ensure the underlying oral structures remain healthy before a prosthetic is placed.
A denturist is a licensed specialist focused exclusively on the design, creation, fitting, and maintenance of removable dental prosthetics. Because of this specialization, denturists often have an in-house laboratory. This allows them to perform repairs, relines, and adjustments directly and often faster than a general dental office. While a denturist cannot diagnose or treat natural teeth or gum disease, they are experts in the appliance itself.
For a severe break or one that occurs outside of normal business hours, an emergency dental clinic may be an option. These clinics can provide a temporary fix or pain management. The choice between a dentist and a denturist often depends on the complexity of the damage and the urgency of the repair.
Common Repair Types and Turnaround Time
The time required for a repair depends on the type and extent of the damage. Simple repairs, such as fixing a small crack or replacing a single prosthetic tooth, can often be completed the same day or within an hour at a clinic with an in-house lab. These minor repairs are completed by bonding the pieces back together with a special acrylic resin.
More involved procedures, such as a full rebase or reline, require more time because they involve replacing or resurfacing the entire base material for a better fit. A reline adds new acrylic material to the fitting surface to accommodate jawbone changes after tooth loss. A rebase replaces the entire pink acrylic base while keeping the original prosthetic teeth.
Lab-intensive work, like a rebase or a complex fracture repair, typically takes longer. These procedures may require sending the denture to a third-party dental laboratory, resulting in a turnaround time of one to two days. The complexity of the break and the lab’s current workload influence the final timeline.
Understanding Cost and Coverage
The cost of denture repair is variable, generally ranging from $100 to $500, depending on the severity of the damage. A simple fracture repair is at the lower end of the cost spectrum, while a full rebase can cost $400 or more. Always request a cost estimate from the provider before the repair work begins.
Dental insurance coverage for repairs is also variable, as most plans classify dentures as a major restorative procedure. Many full-coverage dental plans cover 50% of the cost for major services like denture repair, after the deductible is met. This coverage is subject to annual maximum limits, often capped at $1,000 to $1,500 per year.
Coverage for procedures like relining or rebasing may vary greatly depending on the specific plan’s terms. Patients with existing dental coverage should contact their insurance provider directly to confirm their benefits for “major restorative services” or “denture maintenance.” Patients without traditional insurance may consider dental discount plans, which offer reduced rates for services.