I wear a full “upper” denture. Just the other day I took them out to clean them, wasn’t paying attention, and knocked them down where they cracked against my stone floor. This caused one tooth to pop out, but not break. It is wholly intact, but now I have a missing tooth from the denture. It’s too expensive for me to have them redone. Is there anything I can buy in a drugstore or online that will help me fix it myself?
Thanks,
Lorraine, Sarasota, FL
Lorraine,
I would not recommend you trying to fix it yourself. Most denture teeth are made from a specific type of plastic formulated by a lab. When you’re under the guidance of a dentist, you can trust what’s being put into your mouth. You can expect that your denture will fit you comfortably. If you purchase something over the internet or in a drug store, how can you be sure of the chemicals that you are putting into your mouth? A dentist knows what’s safe. And he or she will also make certain your denture is repaired correctly. If you try to repair it yourself, you might not put the tooth in exactly right. A slightly off tooth can cause your mouth major irritation and/or sores.
So, I would recommend that you take your dentures back to your dentist. Listen to the dentist’s advice on what’s the best way to proceed in your case. You never know, it may be a small enough repair that the dentist can do it him or herself, which means your costs may be minimal. And if it does turn out that your denture must be repaired in a lab, see if your dentist will work with you to make your payments more affordable.
Sometimes you need to spend a little money now so that you don’t end up spending a lot of money later. Please don’t turn what could be an easy fix into a major problem by trying to do the repairs yourself. Get a professional’s assistance.
Hope that helps.
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