The best way to lower your risk of COVID-19 is to limit your trips outside and practice social distancing. To encourage these safety tips, nearly all non-essential businesses have temporarily closed, including dental offices. So where should you turn If your dentures are damaged or broken during quarantine? Your Vero Beach dentist explains what steps to take next in order to keep both yourself and your smile safe.
Always Call Your Dentist First
Whenever your dentures are chipped, cracked, dirty, or uncomfortable, your first step should always be to call your dentist. Typically, you would schedule an appointment so your dentist can investigate your dentures and determine the best way to repair or adjust them. Unfortunately, this may not be an option during the COVID-19 quarantine since many dental practices are postponing all non-emergency appointments until further notice.
Nonetheless, you should call your dentist right away if you are experiencing issues with your dentures. Over the phone, explain to them in as much detail as possible about your circumstances. Depending on how dire your situation is, there are several options your dentist may suggest.
Caring for Broken Dentures During Quarantine
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, most dental practices are still treating emergencies. If your dentures require urgent care, your dentist may instruct you to come into their highly sanitized office for repairs or adjustments. Since your health and safety is their number one priority, they may instead deem it safer for you to stay at home until social distancing orders have been lifted. If that is the case, they will give you instructions over the phone to keep your smile safe until your appointment, which could include:
- Using a denture adhesive to keep them in place.
- Applying dental wax or sugarless gum to any sharp edges.
- Taking them out, soaking them, and refraining from wearing them.
What NOT to Do if Your Dentures Are Damaged
Be sure to carefully follow the instructions your dentist gives you. However, even if the damage is slight, you should avoid the following:
- Do NOT try a home repair kit, which can easily break your dentures even more.
- Do NOT use over-the-counter glues on your dentures, since they may contain harmful chemicals.
- Do NOT continue to wear dentures that are painful or uncomfortable, as this can lead to oral infections and other issues.
While your dentures should stay comfortable and intact with the proper care, you may want to consider talking to your dentist about replacing them with dental implants after the COVID-19 quarantine. These modern, permanent additions to your smile may be the lifelike, easy, and functional solution you’ve been looking for.
About the Practice
At Premier Dental in Vero Beach, FL, we understand that missing just one little tooth can make a big difference in your life. That’s why we offer the highest quality tooth replacement options for dentures, dental bridges, and dental implants. Dr. Adam and Giuliana Jones are both prosthodontists, which mean they have specialized training in repairing smiles and replacing teeth. They’d be happy to restore your dentures or talk to you about the benefits of dental implants. They’re also still accepting dental emergencies, so please reach them for urgent care via their website or at (772) 234-5353.