If your denture has a crack, a clean break, a broken clasp or a missing tooth, a dedicated denture repair service is usually the faster choice. Many of these repairs are done the same day, with no appointment. If the problem involves your mouth, such as a sore spot, an infection, a bite that feels different or a denture that no longer fits, see your dentist, because only a dentist can examine you and adjust the fit.
Search for denture repair near me and you will find both dental offices and denture repair services. They do different jobs, and many people end up using both. Here is how to decide where to go first.
What happens when you take a broken denture to a dental office?
A dental office is set up to care for your mouth. When you bring in a broken denture, the dentist will usually check your gums as well as the denture. That exam has real value: it can catch a sore, an infection or a change in your gums that may have caused the break.
The repair itself is often handled somewhere else. Many dental offices do not repair dentures on site. They send the denture out to a dental laboratory, wait for it to come back, and then ask you to return to pick it up. Each step takes time, so you may be without your teeth for several days.
That is not true of every office. Some have a technician on site or a denture repair lab close by and can turn a simple repair around quickly. Call and ask how they handle it.
What does a denture repair service do differently?
A denture repair service works on the denture itself. Technicians fix cracked or broken full dentures, repair partial dentures with broken clasps, bases or teeth, and replace broken or missing denture teeth. Because repair is the whole job, there is usually no exam, no waiting for a spot on a dentist’s schedule and no shipping your denture somewhere else.
Just as important is what a repair service does not do: examine your mouth, treat sore spots or infections, or do relines. A reline adds new material to the inside of the denture so it fits your gums again. That is a job for your dentist.
Denture repair service vs dental office: how do they compare?
The dental office column is general, because every office works a little differently. The Total Denture Repair column shows how we work.
| What you want to know | Total Denture Repair | Typical dental office |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | Denture repair technicians repair the denture itself, using ADA-approved materials. There is no mouth exam. | A dentist examines you and the denture. The repair is often sent to an outside dental lab. Some offices do simple repairs in-house. |
| Typical turnaround | Most repairs are done the same day, many within a few hours. Mail-in repairs are done the day we receive them, then shipped back. | Varies by office. Sending the denture out to a lab can add days, plus a return visit to pick it up. |
| Appointment needed? | No. Walk in Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM, or mail it in. | Usually yes. How soon you are seen depends on the office’s schedule. |
| Typical cost basis | Posted starting prices per repair: cracks from $150, denture teeth from $120 when you supply the tooth, and a free quote for a new tooth or clasp repair. | Usually a visit or exam fee plus a repair fee, which may include the outside lab’s charge. Ask for an estimate first. |
| Best for | Cracks, breaks, broken or missing denture teeth and partial denture repairs, when your mouth feels fine. | Anything involving your mouth: sore spots, infection, fit or bite changes, relines, adjustments and new dentures. |
Our guides to how long denture repair takes and denture repair cost in St. Louis, MO go into more detail on timing and prices.
Should you go to a denture repair service or your dentist?
The key question is simple: is the problem only the denture, or is something going on in your mouth too?
Go to a denture repair service if…
- Your denture cracked or snapped, and it fit comfortably before it broke.
- A tooth broke off or fell out of your denture. Bring the tooth if you still have it.
- A clasp on your partial denture broke, or the base of the partial cracked.
- Your mouth feels fine. It is only the denture that is damaged.
- You need your teeth back quickly, ideally the same day.
- You cannot get a dentist appointment soon, or your dentist would send the repair out anyway.
See your dentist if…
- You have a sore spot, ulcer or red area that is not going away.
- Your gums are swollen or bleeding, or you think you may have an infection.
- The denture felt loose, rocked or rubbed before it broke. The fit may have changed.
- Your bite feels different, or your jaw aches when you chew.
- You need a reline or an adjustment, including after a repair if something rubs.
- A natural tooth that holds your partial denture in place is loose, broken or painful.
- You have a problem with a dental implant.
- Your denture is very old, badly worn or has broken many times. A new denture starts with a visit to your dentist.
Something on both lists? That is common. Get the denture fixed, and book a dentist visit too.
Can you get it repaired first and still see your dentist?
Yes, and it is often the most practical path. You are not going without teeth while you wait for an appointment, and your dentist can check the fit and your gums afterward.
This matters most when the break had a cause. A denture that rocks or feels loose puts uneven pressure on the base every time you chew, and that stress can lead to cracks. A repair fixes the crack, but it does not change how the denture sits on your gums. If yours was loose before it broke, plan a dentist visit after the repair so the same thing does not happen again.
Here is a simple order to follow:
- Collect every piece. Keep any teeth that came out, too, in a clean container. Do not glue anything; glue residue can make a proper repair harder.
- Check your mouth. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding or a cut from a sharp edge, call your dentist first.
- Get the denture repaired. Walk in, or mail it in if you do not live nearby.
- Watch how it feels for a few days. If it rubs, causes a sore spot or your bite feels off, see your dentist for an adjustment.
What should you ask before you choose?
A short phone call can save you days without your teeth. Ask any dental office or repair service:
- Will the repair be done here, or sent out? If it is sent out, how many days will it take?
- Do I need an appointment, an exam or a second visit to pick it up?
- What will my repair cost, and is there a separate visit or exam fee?
- Is there a warranty on the repair, and how long does it last?
- What happens if it still does not feel right afterward?
For a longer checklist, see our questions to ask before choosing a denture repair lab.
Looking for denture repair near you in St. Louis?
If your denture needs fixing and your mouth feels fine, Total Denture Repair can help. Walk in at 9495 Page Ave, St. Louis, MO 63132, Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM. No appointment is needed. Most repairs are done the same day, many within a few hours, and every repair comes with a 30-day warranty.
Not close to Page Avenue? Use our mail-in denture repair service. Order online and we send you a free USPS shipping label. We repair your denture the same day we receive it and mail it back free by USPS Priority Mail. A faster USPS Express return is available for $30 more.
Crack repair starts at $150 for one crack, $179 for two and $269 for three. Replacing a denture tooth starts at $120 when you supply the tooth. A new replacement tooth or a clasp repair gets a free quote. Some customers pay with an HSA or FSA card, depending on their plan provider.
Questions? Call us at (314) 733-5372. If you have pain, swelling or a sore that will not heal, please see your dentist first.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tell my dentist my denture was repaired somewhere else?
Yes. Mention it at your next checkup and say where the break was. If a denture keeps cracking in the same area, that pattern helps your dentist judge whether the fit has changed or the denture is wearing out.
What if my denture keeps breaking in the same place?
Repeated breaks in one spot usually have a reason, such as a fit that has loosened over time or worn-down teeth that change your bite. A repair gets you eating again, but ask your dentist to check the fit. You may need a reline or a new denture.
My denture broke on a weekend. What should I do?
Stop wearing it if a sharp edge rubs or cuts. Total Denture Repair is closed Saturday and Sunday, so you can walk in on Monday or place a mail-in order online right away. If you have pain, swelling or bleeding, call your dentist’s office, which may have an after-hours number for urgent problems.
My dentist said I need a new denture. Can it be repaired instead?
Sometimes. Ask your dentist why. If the reason is the fit, worn-out teeth or changes in your gums, a repair will not solve that. If the only problem is the break, a repair may be reasonable, and you can get a quote before deciding. A repaired older denture can also make a useful spare.