With nearly 8 million Australians over the age of 65 with few or no natural teeth left, dentures are becoming a medical necessity for many. In financial terms, the denture market is predicted to grow to more than $1 billion: this includes all types of prosthetic dentures, from permanent implant dentures to removable partial and full dentures.
With dentures becoming more popular and technology to create them becoming more accurate and producing better results, it’s no wonder that Camden dentists and MacArthur Dental Clinics encourage patients to not perform their own DIY denture repair and instead bring their broken or possibly broken dentures to a denture clinic for inspection and repair if required.
No matter what you’ve read online or how simple DIY denture repairs may seem, nor what kit you can buy off Amazon. The purpose of this article is to separate the fact from the fiction when it comes to DIY denture repair.
Common Myths of DIY Denture Repair
There are a few common myths that float around about DIY denture repair, we’ll dispel them below.
Myth 1: Super glue is a quick fix for cracked dentures.
People will often turn to superglue as quick fixes for everything from cuts to outdoor DIY. And whilst super glue is indeed ‘super’ for that sort of thing, it is not (ever) a quick fix for your cracked dentures. There are many potential dangers associated with using superglue in or around your mouth.
- Superglue contains several toxins, notably Methyl-2 cyanoacrylate, which can cause irritation and burning on your skin – but burning your mouth with superglue becomes a serious medical emergency almost immediately.
- If you apply the superglue improperly, you can cause further damage to the denture and create an uneven surface when replacing the denture in your mouth, causing damage to your gums and jawline.
Myth 2: DIY relining kits are a cost-effective alternative for professional relining.
Your dentures are surrounded by soft and hard tissues when they sit on your gumline. Sometimes, they can need relining, a process of adding material to your dentures to give them a better fit, as your mouth’s shape or gumline shape can change over time.
Relining is one of the simpler denture repairs that can be performed at your Camden dentist, but DIY relining kits still make the rounds online. A common myth is that they’re a cost-effective alternative to getting your dentures relined by a professional.
- While DIY denture repair using a relining kit may seem simple, these kits often leave out the most important part: exactly how much material to use on the denture to ensure a good fit. When relining dentures, you have a limited window of time to work with a prepared material that’s used in the procedure. Go outside of that window and the material may become more difficult (or impossible) to work with and properly adhere to your dentures.
There are several risks associated with improperly relining your dentures with one of these kits.
- If you don’t get it exactly right, your dentures could become loose, causing pain and discomfort, leaving room for bacteria to grow in between the denture and the gumline. Additionally, you can experience difficulty eating and speaking.
- As the dentures are improperly relined, they create uneven gum pressure, leading to sores, swelling and irritation over time.
- This uneven pressure and misalignment can lead to food particles and debris being trapped in the gaps between the denture and your gumline, which could become an infection site that requires a trip to an emergency dentist in Camden.
There are many benefits associated with getting your dentures professionally relined. These include:
- A customised relining procedure that guarantees a perfect fit and maximum comfort.
- Denture clinics only use the highest-quality materials that provide maximum durability. Additionally, all of the materials used are safe for your mouth, unlike some DIY denture repair kits.
- Alongside longevity, professionally relining your dentures at a dedicated denture repair clinic ensures optimal function of your newly-relined dentures for a very long time.
Myth 3: Minor denture breaks can be ignored and don’t require repair.
While ignoring a toothache may be easy enough with numbing agents and some grit, eventually, you’re going to have to take a trip to the dentist and see what’s wrong. The same is true for minor breaks or chips in your dentures: it’s easy to ignore them, but they’re a breeding ground for bacteria, discomfort, infection and will require repair at a dedicated denture clinic before they need an emergency dentist.
- Minor chips or cracks in your dentures can become hosts for food particles that could result in infections. They can also increase the risk of further breaks in the future.
- Chips or breaks in dentures can leave sharp edges that will irritate your gums and could cause cuts or other damage to your mouth as you chew. Leading to further medical complications.
- A break or chip in a denture can make them more difficult to clean with a soft-bristled brush. If you’re not careful, you could do yet more damage in attempting to remove trapped food debris in the broken section.
Minor breaks or chips in your dentures may seem like an expensive repair, but professional denture repairs are so much cheaper on your wallet and for your health than risking infection or further damage by leaving a broken denture as it is.
The Reality of DIY Denture Repair:
DIY denture repair is a serious risk that you take with your health and your financial investment in a beautiful smile! You should always bring your dentures to a qualified denture repair clinic, or pay a visit to your Camden emergency dentist if you feel it’s necessary. Below is the harsh reality of DIY denture repair and why it should be avoided at all costs.
Potential For More Damage
DIY denture repairs will (more often than not) cause more damage to the denture than the original issue. An attempted repair of a broken denture could lead to a complete break in the denture. Or, an attempted relining performed improperly at home could lead to a complete misalignment of your dentures with your jawline, causing pressure on the denture plate and discomfort.
Health Risks and Complications
When it comes to DIY denture repair, there are a whole host of health risks and complications that come with the territory.
- Exposure to harmful chemicals that don’t belong anywhere near your mouth.
- The risk of infections from improper installations of DIY-relined dentures is immeasurably greater than if you opt for a professional relining at a denture clinic.
- Your gum tissue could become damaged due to ill-fitting dentures, requiring a trip to a Camden emergency dentist and possible surgical repairs.
- It’s also entirely possible, even likely, that your DIY denture repair job won’t be effective at all.
Benefits of Professional Denture Repair
The many benefits from professional denture repair significantly outweigh any perceived financial savings from DIY denture repair kits.
Expertise and Skill
Denture repair experts at your local denture clinic must complete many years of education followed by many more years of on-the-job training to become qualified dental technologists. These individuals are highly skilled in the art of understanding how dentistry and technology come together to create a beautiful pair of dentures that perfectly fit your mouth.
Safety and Quality Materials
While the labels on DIY denture repair kits may contain words like, “Safe for oral use,” there are plenty of fakes out there. Qualified, professional denture repair clinics and dental technologists have a legal and ethical obligation to use the best quality materials. The same cannot be said for the DIY denture repair kit manufacturers that are only interested in making money.
Long-Term Solutions
Professional denture repairs are the only reliable method to ensure long-lasting results. Their methodology has been tested and proven to provide the best long-term solutions for any denture repairs that you require.
Improved Denture Function and Comfort
Because denture repair specialists, like those at MacArthur dental clinics use computer-aided design when repairing broken or misaligned dentures, they can be much more precise in their measurements. The result is the best fit possible based on the measurements of your jawline, gums and internal oral measurements taken during your initial consultation.
Alternatives to DIY Repair
As we strongly advise against DIY denture repair, there are a few alternatives that you should practice as a long-term habit to combat denture wear-and-tear, breakages and the risk of denture stomatitis.
- Regular dental checkups! These are critical if you’re a denture wearer, even more important than those with regular teeth! If you’re a denture wearer, you must take your denture clinic’s advice on how often they’d like to see you – normally that’s once every six months.
These check-ups can detect problems early on and prevent further damage to dentures, or prevent infections from becoming bigger problems.
Avoid using DIY denture repair kits if you can help it. They’re not safe. They’re not scientific and they can (and usually will) do more harm than good.
If you think you may need denture repair, contact Aesthetic Dental and Denture Clinic today for a consultation and we’ll do our best to get your brilliant smile back!
