Broken (damaged) dentures can be such a hassle, especially since they always tend to happen at the most inconvenient times. Thankfully, there are several repair options available to fix these damages. But what about the costs? There are different factors that influence the cost of a denture repair and in this article, we shall be taking a look at the top ones.
The Nature of the Damage
Your dentures can get damaged in a number of ways, from accidental dropping and trauma to the mouth to biting into something very hard. They may also fall out of your mouth due to them being loose-fitted. Some of the most common kinds of denture damage include; a fractured denture base, scrapes on the plastic, a fracture or loss of one or more denture teeth, a denture crack, a chip off of the side flange or wing, a fracture with parts of the denture missing and a fracture without any part of the denture separated.
Depending on the nature of the damage to your denture, repair costs may vary. Fixing a simple fracture or one (or more) denture teeth that have fallen out will usually cost less than carrying out repairs on a denture with multiple fractures or significant damage to its inner plastic surface.
The Type of Repair
On average, dentures have a lifespan of between 10-15 years and at some point during this timeframe, it is expected that they will require some form of repair or adjustment. Depending on how damaged your dentures are, these repairs may involve; fixing a part of the denture or its entire framework, fixing a single denture tooth or fixing multiple teeth. The common types of denture repair are;
Denture Relines
Changes to the natural shape of the bones and mouth tissues that support your dentures can impact the fit of the appliance (they become loose). When this happens, a reline is usually carried out to improve the denture’s fit while also retaining the look that you have grown accustomed to.
There are different types of relines (soft, hard, temporary), reline materials (acrylics, silicones, and other polymers), and processing methods available, and their costs also vary. This means that the amount you pay for a denture reline will depend on your specific needs and the type of reline you get.
Denture Adjustments
These are carried out to help relieve the sore spots caused by dentures rubbing the gum tissue. They can also improve the fit of your dentures and your bite. The cost of getting your dentures adjusted also varies depending on the complexity of the adjustment and the amount of time that will be required for the dentures to make a noticeable improvement.
Denture Repair Options (Services)
In addition to the type of repair you get, another factor that can influence the cost of your denture repair is the repair option (or service) you choose to go for. These options include; walk-in denture clinics, same-day denture repair, general dental offices and mobile (mail-in) denture repair.
A reliable company which offers mobile denture repair near me will offer you the benefit of having your dentures repaired without a trip to the dentist. These services are often convenient and cost-saving. However, there is a limit to the type of repairs that you can get from these services. Complex repairs that require you to be physically present (for dental impressions and mouth exams) are beyond the scope of repairs handled by mobile denture repair services.
Walk-in denture clinics are another option for denture repairs. Many of these clinics have laboratories equipped with all the necessary tools, so your dentures can be repaired on-site. With these clinics, the cost of denture repairs will depend on the type of damage and how complicated the repair is.
There is also the option of visiting a general dental office to get your dentures repaired. However, with general dental offices, your dentures may need to be sent out to an outside laboratory for repairs. This can make the cost of repairs to be a little on the high side. The repairs may also take longer (overnight to several days, depending on the damage).
Conclusion
Denture repairs are an important part of denture care and the cost of getting them varies as a result of different factors. The nature of the damage, the type of repair and repair services are some of the common factors that influence the cost of denture repairs.
