Denture Repair In-Office: What to Know About Fixing a Broken Denture

Denture repair is often necessary when a denture breaks unexpectedly. The situation can be distressing and can cause mental and physical discomfort. Damages could be the result of normal wear and tear or impact. Regardless of the cause, you need to seek repairs to prevent additional complications. This article covers what you need to know about repairing broken dentures.

The process of repairing a broken denture

Patients need to understand what is involved in repairing a denture. The dentist will consider several factors before performing the repair. Also, patients can take certain steps to make the repair process easier. The following are steps involved in denture repair in the dental office.

Realigning the broken denture

First, the broken parts of the denture are realigned. If the denture is broken into two, the dentist will use dental adhesives (powders and pastes) to hold the denture. The dental adhesive is used on both the labial and lingual surfaces.

Denture support and retention

Next, the next step would be to hold the repaired dentures in place. The method used for holding the dentures in position depends on factors like the severity of the damage and the type of denture adhesive applied. The conventional process involves using a tongue blade. The tongue blade is divided to form two wooden splints.

Each splint holds the occlusal part of the denture. This forms a “bridge” that securely holds the denture parts in place for the following stages.

Taking the impression cast

When the denture is firm, the dentist will apply small plaster to the tissue side of the breakage. To make a good impression cast, they will place the remaining plaster on a wooden or glass surface and put the denture into the plaster. After the plaster sets (between 10 to 20 minutes), the wooden splints are taken off the occlusal surfaces.

Preparing the denture impression cast

The dentist will remove the dentures carefully from the impression cast. This step requires caution because the impression cast needs to be remade if it breaks. After removing the cast, the dentist will trim it to make the dentures fit properly. Next, any residue is removed from the denture with an acrylic bur.

Cast preparation and denture fixation

Liquid foil is applied over the impression cast to cover pore openings. After cleaning the dentures, it will be dried and replaced on the impression cast. The dentist will apply a liquid monomer along the edges of the fracture. Afterward, a power polymer is applied over the liquid carefully. The process is repeated until the layers accumulate to form a strong bond.

Next is to apply petroleum jelly. The denture is left until the acrylic gets to a doughy state and then dipped inside warm water. After the acrylic hardens, the denture is taken from the cast, polished and checked. The dentist will make final adjustments to ensure a comfortable fitting.

Final note

If you have a broken denture, contact the dental office right away. The dentist will try to complete the denture repair on the same day so you can get your smile back as soon as possible.

Request an appointment here: https://www.dentistryforwoodstock.com or call Dentistry for Woodstock at (770) 238-1437 for an appointment in our Woodstock office.

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