Emergency Denture Repairs

A denture emergency is usually a break at the worst possible moment — the morning of an event, halfway through a meal, or simply without warning. Because our laboratory is on the premises at Bossley Park, we can usually see you and repair a broken denture the same day, without sending it away.

I’ve broken my dentures — what do I do first?

Stop wearing the broken denture, keep every piece (even small chips), and call us. Don’t try to wear a cracked or ill-fitting denture in the meantime — it can make the damage worse or hurt your gums — and don’t attempt to fix it yourself before you’ve spoken to us. Tell us what happened and we’ll let you know whether to come straight in or book the next available slot.

What should I never use to fix a broken denture?

Never use superglue, household adhesive, nail glue or any other DIY glue on a denture. These products aren’t designed for use in the mouth, several are genuinely harmful if swallowed or left in contact with your gums, and the bond they form is often uneven or brittle — which can distort the denture’s fit or make it impossible for us to repair properly afterwards. A denture that’s been glued at home is sometimes harder to fix than one that’s simply broken, because the glue has to be removed first. If you’re tempted to reach for glue because you can’t be without your dentures, call us instead and describe what’s happened — we’d rather see it broken than glued.

What counts as a denture emergency?

• A denture that has cracked or snapped, in one piece or several
• A tooth that has come away from the denture base
• A sudden loss of fit, so the denture is rocking, rubbing or won’t stay in
• A clasp on a partial denture that has broken or bent out of shape

If you’re not sure whether something needs urgent attention or can wait for a regular appointment, call us and describe what’s happened — we’d rather make that call together than have you without your dentures longer than necessary.

Can dentures be repaired the same day?

Often, yes. Because our laboratory is on site rather than off-site, many straightforward repairs — a clean break, a loose tooth, a bent clasp — can be assessed and fixed the same day you bring the denture in. More involved repairs, or a denture that needs a full reline, may take longer. We’ll give you a realistic timeframe once a technician has actually looked at the damage, rather than guessing over the phone.

How long does a denture repair take?

It depends on what’s broken. A simple crack or a reattached tooth can sometimes be turned around within the same visit or by later that day. A repair needing more laboratory work, or a reline, may need to stay with us for longer — we’ll tell you honestly which category yours falls into once we’ve assessed it, and give you a time to come back for it.

What happens when you call

Call and tell us what’s broken. We’ll ask you to bring the dentures in — including any pieces, even if it’s snapped clean in half — so a technician can assess the damage properly rather than guess from a description over the phone. Most repairs are then handled the same day in our on-site lab.

Being honest about our hours

We’re open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and closed weekends and public holidays. We don’t offer an after-hours or weekend emergency service. If your denture breaks outside our opening hours, call as soon as we reopen and we’ll fit you in as a priority — we just can’t promise same-day repair for something that happens on a Saturday night.

What to bring

Bring the dentures themselves, even in pieces, plus your health fund card if you have one, in case a rebate applies.

Contact us

Call us for an emergency repair during business hours, or use the contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.