Yes, it’s safe to mail your dentures for repair when they’re packed well. Clean the denture and let it dry, wrap it in soft tissue, seal it in a zip-top bag, and put it in a small, sturdy box with padding so nothing can move. Add a note with your name and phone number, and don’t ship it in water. With Total Denture Repair, the shipping label to us is free, we repair your denture the day it arrives, and we send it back free by USPS Priority Mail.
This guide walks you through packing step by step, the mistakes that cause problems, and what happens after you drop the box at the post office.
Is it safe to mail dentures?
Yes. Mail-in repair is common, and dentures travel well when they’re protected from two things: being crushed and moving around inside the package. A small box with padding solves both. A denture slipped into a plain envelope is a different story, because envelopes go through sorting machines and can be crushed.
Should you mail dentures dry or in water?
Dry. At home it’s good practice to keep dentures in water or a soaking solution when they’re out of your mouth. But for shipping, water can leak, soak the box and damage the label, and it adds weight. Clean the denture, let it dry, and seal it in a bag. A few days in a sealed bag is normal for mail-in repair.
What do you need?
- Soft tissue or a paper towel
- A zip-top plastic bag
- A small, sturdy cardboard box
- Padding: bubble wrap, crumpled paper or a soft cloth
- A note with your name and phone number
- The free USPS shipping label we send you after you place your mail-in order
How to pack your dentures, step by step
- Clean the denture and let it dry. Rinse it in cool or lukewarm water, never hot, which can warp it.
- Gather every piece. Include all broken pieces, chips and any tooth that came off. Small pieces help us get the fit right, and reattaching your own tooth costs less than a new one.
- Wrap it in soft tissue or a paper towel, then seal it in a zip-top bag. If there are several pieces, wrap them so they can’t rub against each other.
- Put the bag in a small, sturdy box and fill the space with padding so nothing moves when you shake the box gently.
- Add a note with your name and phone number inside the box.
- Seal the box, attach the free USPS label and drop it off at any post office. Keep your receipt.
What not to do when mailing dentures
- Don’t ship them in water or a soaking solution.
- Don’t use a plain or padded envelope on its own. Use a box.
- Don’t send a valuable case or box. Because of shipping rules, we can’t return it.
- Don’t glue the pieces first. Glue has to be removed before a proper repair. Here’s why super glue causes problems.
- Don’t tape anything to the denture itself. Tape residue sticks to acrylic.
What happens after you mail it?
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Order | You fill out the order form and choose “Mail it in”, or call (314) 733-5372. |
| 2. Free label | We send you a free USPS shipping label. |
| 3. Ship | You pack the denture and drop it off at any post office. |
| 4. Repair | We check it, confirm the repair and the price with you, and repair it the same day it arrives. |
| 5. Return | We send it back free by USPS Priority Mail, which usually takes 1–3 business days, or by USPS Express for $30 if you need it faster. |
Prices are the same as walking in: crack repairs start at $150 and reattaching a tooth you send with it starts at $120. Our denture repair cost guide has the full list. We accept mail-in repairs from every U.S. state.
How do you manage without your dentures for a few days?
- Plan soft meals: soups, eggs, yogurt, mashed vegetables, fish and pasta.
- Ship early in the week so the package isn’t sitting in a post office over a weekend.
- Choose Express return if you have an important event coming up.
- If you have an older spare denture, wear it in the meantime, as long as it’s comfortable.
Helping a parent or someone in care? Our guide for families and caregivers covers arranging a repair with little travel. And if you live near St. Louis, it’s often faster to walk in: most repairs are done the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mail a partial denture for repair?
Yes. Cracked partials, broken clasps and loose or missing teeth can all be repaired by mail. Clasp repairs get a free quote first. See our guide to a broken partial denture.
Is the shipping really free?
Yes. We send you a free USPS label to mail your denture to us, and we send it back free by USPS Priority Mail. The only extra is USPS Express for $30 if you want it back faster.
How do I pay for a mail-in repair?
Before we start, we check your denture and confirm the repair and the price with you, including how you’d like to pay. Some customers use their HSA or FSA account.
My denture broke in half. Can I still mail it?
Yes. Wrap each half separately so they don’t rub together, and send every piece. Here’s more on what to do when a denture breaks in half.