There are a few posts online with tips on how to repair broken dental plates, and there are commercial glues available to repair cracks or glue broken dentures back together. Some of these products and fixes can work in the short term, but ideally, if your dental plate or dentures are cracked, bent, dented or broken in any other way, you should take them to a professional to be repaired. Here's a look at why you may not want to do it on your own.
1. Glues Can Have Toxins
If you use super glue or crafting glue to repair your dentures, the glue may have toxins in it. Generally, that glue is not designed to be consumed by humans or put into our mouths for long periods of time. It may irritate you or lead to other issues.
2. It's Hard to Get Dental Plates Back to Their Original Position
Even if you decide to buy dental glue that is safe for the inside of your mouth, you will likely still find it difficult to get the dental plate level. Your dental plate is designed for the unique shape of your mouth. If the plate has a strange bend in it or doesn't line up with your mouth properly, that could lead to other dental issues.
3. You Don't Have the Right Tools
When a dental professional repairs your dental plate, he or she has all the tools necessary to do the job correctly. That may include tools that hold the dentures in place, magnifying glasses to do detail work and special adhesives to attach ceramic teeth to the dental plate, but it can also include a mould of your mouth. That element is essential if you want to ensure that the fix is done properly.
4. Improperly Repaired Dental Plates Can Damage Enamel
When your dental plates aren't positioned correctly, they can affect the teeth that are come into contact with the plate. That includes the two teeth on either side of the plate as well as the teeth above or below the plate that touch.
The side teeth may be exposed to constant rubbing which can wear them down. As you are chewing, the dental plate may hit the opposing teeth in the wrong way, and that too may rub off the enamel of those teeth.
That can lead to more cavities and ultimately require you to pay for more dental care in the long run. In most cases, the upfront cost of repairing or replacing a damaged dental plate is cheaper than taking the long term risk of damaging the teeth that are near the dental plate.
4. Ill-Fitting Dental Plates Can Lead to Mouth Sores
It isn't just the other teeth that you need to think about. Ill fitting dental plates can also rub against your gums and other soft mouth tissue. That can lead to painful sores or tissue damage.
When a professional makes your dental plate, they ensure that it improves your smile and allows your mouth to chew and perform other functions. The plates are designed to be in perfect harmony with your gums and nearby teeth. A home repair—especially on a major issue such as a dental plate that is broken in half—can disrupt that harmony and lead to damage.
If your dental plate is damaged, you should contact a dentist today. Try to make an emergency appointment—some repairs can be handled on site, but other repairs may need to be outsourced to a lab. In some cases, you may even need to have a whole new dental plate made for you.
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