Question: What should I do if my denture breaks?
Explanation: A broken denture, whether snapped in half or with a fractured tooth or flange, should not be repaired with household glue. Superglue is toxic, sets rigidly in the wrong position, and makes professional repair far more difficult or impossible. Collect all the fragments, including small pieces, and take them to a dentist or a dental laboratory. Many repairs are completed the same day. Do not wear a broken denture, as sharp edges cut the mucosa and an ill-fitting piece can be inhaled. Fracture often signals an underlying fit problem.
Related Questions:
Why should I never use superglue on a denture?
It is not biocompatible, releases irritant vapours, and cures instantly into a rigid, misaligned bond. It contaminates the fracture surfaces so the laboratory cannot achieve a proper acrylic repair. Many superglued dentures have to be remade entirely rather than repaired.
How quickly can a broken denture be repaired?
Simple midline fractures and detached teeth are often repaired within a few hours by a laboratory, sometimes while you wait. More complex breaks, or those requiring a new impression because the denture no longer fits, take several days.
Why did my denture break in the first place?
Most commonly because it no longer fits. Bone resorbs over years, leaving the denture rocking on a ridge, which flexes the acrylic until it fatigues and snaps. Dropping it is another cause. A denture that breaks repeatedly usually needs relining or replacing, not just repairing.
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