Broken Denture? What to Do — and How Quickly It Can Be Fixed

Denture Repairs

Breaking a denture is stressful — they always seem to snap at the worst possible moment, and going without one isn't really an option. The good news is that most broken dentures can be repaired quickly, often the same day. Here's what to do, what to avoid, and how the repair works.

First, don't reach for the superglue

It's tempting, but please don't. Household glues aren't food-safe, they discolour the denture, and — most importantly — they almost never line the pieces up perfectly. Even a tiny misalignment changes the way the denture fits, which means it won't sit properly and may rub or hurt. Worse, a botched glue repair often can't be undone cleanly, which can turn a simple fix into a remake.

Keep all the pieces

Pop every piece, including any small chips or a broken tooth, into a sealed bag. The more we have to work with, the better and stronger the repair. If a tooth has come out completely, keep it — we can usually reuse it.

Get it to a lab, not just any shop

A denture repair is a precise job: the pieces have to be realigned exactly and rebonded with dental-grade materials so the denture is as strong as it was before. A proper dental laboratory can do this quickly and correctly. If you're in our area, you can drop yours in to us in Christchurch, post it, or ask about collection.

How long does a repair take?

A straightforward break — a snapped plate or a lost tooth — can be turned around within an hour. We also keep a weekend repair line open on 07307 858772 for emergencies, because teeth don't only break Monday to Friday. We'll repair it, give it a clean, and get it back to you ready to wear.

Repair or replace?

A clean break is almost always worth repairing. But if your denture has broken more than once, no longer fits well, or the teeth are heavily worn, it may be more cost-effective to replace it — and we'll always give you an honest view rather than just doing the quickest job.

Stopping it happening again

Most dentures break because they're dropped, so clean yours over a folded towel or a basin of water. Never use boiling water to clean it (it can warp the shape), and if it starts to feel loose, get it relined before it cracks — a loose denture flexes, and flexing leads to breaks.

If you've broken a denture, we can help — fast. See our denture repair service or get in touch.

Denture repaired and cleaned