Dangers of DIY Dentures You Make at Home
Dentures are prosthetics meant to replace your missing teeth. They are held by the adjacent soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Traditionally, dentures are detachable. However, there are many types of custom denture designs. Some denture designs rely on bonding or clasping to the teeth or dental implants.
All kinds of dentures, i.e., precision, complete, and partial dentures, should be handled carefully. Denture gums are made from acrylic, and denture teeth are made out of acrylic or porcelain. Both materials are vulnerable to damage if accidentally dropped on a hard surface. Therefore, if your dentures need to be repaired or replaced, the best idea is to go to a skilled denturist.
People who try to fix their broken dentures themselves can often make the situation worse. Dental experts strictly advise against using homemade dentures or using DIY denture repair kits. Additionally, making your dentures at home using a DIY denture kit available on the internet is a bad idea. Instead of being a smart solution to a big problem, homemade dentures can consequently worsen your oral health.
Why Should You Be Careful of Home Denture Kits?
The following points discuss why DIY dentures, making your own dentures, and repairing dentures at home are extremely unhealthy ideas:
Aesthetic Issues
Even if you succeed in making a functional set of false teeth using a DIY denture kit, these cannot be suitably personalized to fit your face. This will create several aesthetic problems. Your perfect smile is a combination of the correct proportion of your teeth, gums, and lips. This balance, which is unique to each person, can only be recreated by a skilled dentist.
Cheap Materials
Homemade dentures tend to be inexpensive because they do not use proper materials. These materials might create a nearly natural look, but they cannot withstand the chewing pressure your mouth exerts when you eat your regular diet. If you do not want your diet restricted to the foods you ate when you had missing teeth, do not make your own full denture set.
Additionally, these materials may be unsuitable for your mouth and might irritate your gums and lips. It can make your mouth more vulnerable to infections and cause further dental problems.
Denture Functionality
Your teeth are not an individual element of your body. They have to function seamlessly with your jaw joints and muscles to enable you to speak and eat properly. Only a dentist with know-how can understand the proper alignment of a person’s jaw. Using home denture kits can cause jaw pain simply because your jaw cannot function with the new dentures properly, or it cannot find its natural resting position.
Perils of a Denture Repair Kit
DIY kits cannot repair cracked dentures or broken dentures. As per the FDA, the long-term use of home-repaired dentures can cause continuous irritation, denture sores, faster bone loss, and even tumors. However, if you have cracked or broken dentures, contact your dentist immediately. Denture repair kits may not always work. These may include harsh chemicals that can be ingested if used erroneously.
Toxic Super Glue
People might think using superglue to repair dentures might be a good option, but dental experts discourage patients from doing so. Firstly, superglue is toxic and when ingested through your dentures can cause further problems. Secondly, using superglue to repair your dentures prevents them from being completely repairable by your denturist.
Dangers of a DIY Denture Kit
These kits are often marketed with promises of affordability, but a DIY denture kit lacks the precision and safety standards that professional dental care provides.
Here are some critical dangers associated with using your own denture kit:
Incorrect Fit
A partial denture must fit precisely to ensure comfort and functionality. DIY kits do not offer the customization needed for an accurate fit. Poorly fitting dentures can cause discomfort, sores, and difficulty in speaking and eating. Misaligned dentures can also lead to jaw pain and long-term oral health issues.
Inadequate Materials
The materials included in DIY kits are usually of inferior quality compared to those used by professional denturists. The low-grade gum material is likely not biocompatible, potentially causing allergic reactions or irritation. Additionally, they are more likely to wear down or break under normal use, leading to frequent repairs and replacements.
Lack of Sterilization
Professional dental procedures adhere to strict sterilization protocols to prevent infections. DIY denture kits do not guarantee such standards, increasing the risk of introducing harmful bacteria into your mouth. This can lead to infections, abscesses, and other severe dental issues.
No Professional Guidance
Creating and fitting dentures requires professional expertise to ensure they function correctly and do not harm your oral health. Without the guidance of a denturist, you may unknowingly make mistakes that could lead to severe dental problems.
Unregulated Products
Many DIY denture kits are not subject to rigorous regulatory oversight. This means they might not meet safety and efficacy standards set by health authorities, leading to unreliable and potentially dangerous results.
The Takeaway
Recently, the pandemic has led to the majority of people working from home and dental clinics being inaccessible at times. Therefore, there has been an exponential rise in people opting for DIY dentistry. This is an alarming trend. If you have any queries or are facing oral health issues, it is best to seek advice from your dentist.
DIY dentures cannot guarantee your dental health and hygiene, which is crucial to your overall health. Professionally made dentures can be slightly more expensive than trying to make your own dentures. However, their benefits overshadow the added cost.
At European Dentures, we provide superior quality and aesthetically pleasing dentures at affordable prices. We use safe materials to develop dentures, best-suited for you. Schedule a visit with our dental professionals today.