DENTURE REPAIR

o The most common denture fractures are those along the mandibular and
maxillary midline. However, other types of denture fractures may be
repaired in the same manner.
o To repair a broken denture; it is very important that the fractured parts be
aligned in their original position.
o There are different techniques for denture repair.
o These techniques, may be modified to suit any type of broken dentures..

Causes of fracture:
A. Midline Fracture:
1. Insufficient relief in the midline ( area of median palatine Raphe), where
the dentures break during function. (New dentures).
2. Alveolar bone resorption with loss of relief. (Old dentures); Repair
should be followed by relining of the dentures..

B. Any Part Fracture:

1. The main cause of any part denture fracture is falling of the denture on
the ground or in this sink during denture cleaning.

Repair Of Midline Fracture:

1- The broken parts are assembled in their original position using sticky wax on
the polished surface.
2- The assembled parts may be strengthened using burs or wooden sticks on the
occlusal surfaces of the posterior teeth bilaterally.
3- All deep undercuts on the denture surface should be blocked with wax or
plasticine to facilitate removal of the denture from the cast.
 4- Stone is poured in the fitting surface of the denture after application of
separating medium.
5- After the stone sets, denture is removed from the cast and is cleaned from all
traces of sticky wax.
6- The fracture line is widened to a width of 2-3 mm of the acrylic resin. The
edges of the fracture are beveled towards the polished surface to increase the
bonding surface. In the lower denture, Dovetail are made at the edges on both
sides to increase the mechanical retention of the new material on both sides.
7- In the maxillary denture, dovetails are unnecessary as the auto-polymerized
acrylic resin bonds chemically with the original denture base.
8- Monomer is applied onto the Parts to be repaired.
9- Alternate application of monomer and polymer are made until the space is
overfilled.
10- Denture with the cast is placed in a pressure curing unit for 30 minutes at
100°F to prevent porosity in the repair material.
11- Denture is then finished and polished.

N.B.
Another method is used by over waxing the fractured part using base plate wax.
Flasking and wax elimination are followed in the usual manner. Self-curing acrylic
resin in packed on the prepared surface and placed under pressure for 2 hours.
Denture is then deflasked, finished & polished.

Repair Of Fractured Present Part:

If the broken part e.g. tuberosity flange area or lower denture distolingual flange
area is not lost from the patient, it is repaired as mentioned above.
Repair Of A Fractured Or Lost Tooth: Fig (2)
1. If the tooth is lost, it is replaced by a new one of the same size, shape and shade. If
the tooth is fractured, the fractured part is removed first by grinding with a round bur.
Fractured porcelain tooth is removed by heated carver softening the surrounding
acrylic and pushing out the tooth.

N. B. If there is no fracture in the denture base, a stone cast is not needed for the
replacement of the teeth. The fractured teeth are cut away with burs.

2. Acrylic resin is removed from the lingual side to provide space for the repair. The
labial margin is left intact to preserve esthetics.

3. Selected tooth is waxed up in its proper position.

4. Separating medium is applied on the labial surface and the denture base.
5. Labial plaster index is made.

6. Tooth is removed and wax is washed out.

7. Separating medium is applied to the plaster index that is placed in position with
the tooth in place.
8. Self-cure acrylic resin is used to attach the tooth to the denture base. Denture is
placed in a curing pressure unit for 30 minutes at 100°F. It is then finished and
polished.
9. Loosened teeth which have not been chipped or broken are simply attached in their
original position with a soft mix of chemically activated acrylic resin.

10. For better fixation of the teeth, the lingual area of the socket where the teeth will be
placed, is enlarged and dovetailed before adding the new acrylic resin.
11. This will produce better attachment of the repaired teeth to the denture base.

N.B. Repair of posterior tooth should be followed by remounting for occlusal

 correction. This is important for acrylic teeth, as their occlusal surfaces are often
worn, and a new tooth of the same mold will differ in occlusal contour. Fig (3)

Repair of Fractured Missing part: Fig (3)

1. Upper and lower dentures are placed in the patient's mouth in maximum inter-
cuspation.
2. Plaster impression material is applied to the missing part.
3. After setting of the impression material the denture is removed from the patient's
mouth. If the impression piece is broken, it is reassembled to its place by sticky wax.
4. Separating medium is applied and a cast is poured.
5. The plaster impression part is removed, replaced by wax, carved to reassemble the
broken denture flange, flasked, packed with resin material, cured, finished and
polished.
Fig. (1): Steps Of Midline Fracture Repair
 Lost tooth or teeth
An index in silicon rubber has been prepared
after waxing tooth or teeth into position.

Fig. (2): Repair of fractured or lost tooth

Repair of Fractured Flanges

Replacement of posterior teeth

Fig. (3): Repair of fractured flanges and replacement of posterior teeth