Dental labs near me play a vital role in ensuring denture patients reap the most from their prosthetics.
While dentures are known to last long, they surely don’t last a lifetime. They are susceptible to wear and tear and can sometimes break for various reasons. This is why dental labs come in handy when you need your dentures to be fixed.
This article helps you dive deeper into the topic by:
- Exploring dental labs and their roles
- Helping you to determine if your dentures need fixing
- Identifying ways to help you find the best dental labs near you.
What Are Dental Labs?
Dental labs, also known as denture labs, are specialized dental facilities or laboratories that deal with creating and repairing dental appliances. These facilities have dental technicians who closely work alongside dentists to ensure that they manufacture or repair dental appliances, such as dentures, to the highest standards to meet the specific needs of the patients.
Whenever you need a new set of prosthetics, such as dentures, your dentist takes impressions of your teeth and sends them to these dental labs to customize and create the appliances. The same case applies when you need denture replacements or denture repairs.
This makes having dental labs near you a vital addition to one’s oral healthcare system.
What Is the Role of Dental Labs?
Dental labs offer numerous services and play a huge role in the dental health landscape. Some of the main services that you can get from a dental lab include:
- Denture fabrication: Dental labs use advanced dental technology to create different types of dentures tailored to the needs of specific patients.
- Denture repair: Denture labs are well-equipped to perform denture repairs. If your dentures develop cracks or chips or lose their functionality over time, these facilities can help to restore them to their original state.
- Denture reline: A denture reline enables the dentures to fit perfectly on the surface of your mouth. A reline is essential when dentures start becoming loose-fitting, which you can easily get at such denture labs.
- Crown and bridge fabrication: Besides creating and fixing dentures, dental labs also create crowns, bridges, and other dental prosthetics to replace missing natural teeth.
- Orthodontic appliances: Orthodontic appliances, such as retainers and aligners, can be custom-made at dental labs to correct misaligned teeth and bite issues.
While most dental labs may offer various services, it is important to note that some only focus on specific aspects. For instance, you may find that certain dental labs near you only work on dentures and not other dental appliances.
Typical Problems With Dentures
Dentures can encounter a variety of problems over time. Even high-quality and durable dentures might experience issues that may affect their functional and aesthetic appeal.
Here are some common problems dentures may face:
- Wear and tear: Regular use of your dentures may subject them to wear and tear over time. This affects their overall appearance and functionality.
- Breakages: Accidents can happen, causing the dentures to break. There are many reasons that may cause this, from hitting or dropping them. Moreover, biting down on hard foods or objects might also lead to denture breakages.
- Discoloration: Dentures may develop stains for various reasons, including the food you take, beverages like coffee, and tobacco use. These stains discolor your dentures, requiring professional cleaning to restore them to their original color.
- Odor: Poor oral hygiene habits may lead to plaque and bacteria buildup on the dentures. This eventually leads to an unpleasant odor and bad breath, which may not go on its own unless cleaned by a professional.
In the following video created by Sunrise Family Dentistry, more problems related to wearing dentures are listed like difficulty eating and loss of jawbone.
Signs Your Dentures May Need Fixing
Dentures do undergo certain issues when in use. The patient can easily resolve Some of these issues, such as maintaining proper oral hygiene standards or getting professional help.
In most cases, when your dentures are no longer functionally or aesthetically assisting, you may need to get assistance from a dental lab. So, how do you know your dentures need fixing? Here are a few factors to consider:
- Visible cracks or chips: Should you see cracks within your dentures, it is crucial to seek professional help as soon as possible. Ensure to safely store any useful parts that may have broken out, as the dental technicians may re-use them during repairs.
- Loose fitting: Dentists ensure you have an ideal fitting for your dentures when you first get them. However, certain changes, including in the oral structure or even wear and tear, can interfere with the integrity of the dentures, making them loose. You should seek professional assistance if your dentures are more loose than usual.
- Difficulty in functionality: Dentures help you to speak and chew properly. Should you start experiencing difficulty in either, you should get your dentures checked out for repair or adjustment.
- Irritation: Some patients may experience a reaction toward the dentures, with signs such as sore spots, ulcers in the gums, and other irritations. In this case, the dentures have to be evaluated and adjusted by a dental technician.
- Changes in appearance: If you experience a visible change in your facial appearance while wearing dentures, you should probably get them checked. This is usually one of the symptoms of ill-fitting or worn-out dentures.
While these are the most common signs showing you need to check your dentures, there may be more. In essence, it is advisable to be vigilant, and whenever you notice any changes with your dentures, especially in appearance and reduced functionality, you should get them checked out.
Nevertheless, getting your dentist in the loop for all your denture concerns is important. Although some dental labs accept direct patients, it is crucial to go through your dentist for various reasons, including:
- You get proper diagnosis and treatment planning
- Comprehensive oral health assessment
- Better knowledge of your oral health history
- They have a better understanding of the best dental labs in your region.
Besides, the American Dental Association strongly discourages getting services directly from the manufacturer, as patients risk facing ‘irreversible harm.’
However, no law prohibits consumers from seeking services directly from such producers. So, if you want to cut costs and find a dental lab directly, you have to know how to do it right.
Finding Expert Dental Labs Near You
Finding expert dental labs near you is the first crucial step to ensuring you get the best dentures and services. Dental labs play a vital role in fabricating and repairing these dental appliances. This means selecting the right lab can make a significant difference in the outcome of your treatment.
Here are a few steps to help you choose the right dental labs near me:
- Seek recommendations, starting with your dentist.
- Research online about dental labs near you, and evaluate them based on the available online materials.
- Evaluate their experience and specialization.
- Visit your preferred dental lab to examine their products and workflow better. Here, you can even request to see samples of their work.
- Consider their turnaround time. Ensure that the dental lab you choose doesn’t take unnecessarily long to get your dentures back in shape and can make you same-day dentures, especially if you’re in a hurry.
- Review payment options to be financially aware of the requirements. Furthermore, ensure that there are no hidden fees.
Here are a few questions to help guide you into making the right choice when choosing the best dental lab near you:
- What is your expertise? – If looking for denture repair, a dental lab with expertise in denture fabrication and repairs is more likely to offer you top-quality products or services.
- What technologies do you use? – A dental lab incorporating the latest dental technology can provide better, top-quality results. Look for a dental lab that uses advanced technology like digital scanning, CAD/CAM systems, and 3D printing, as they can create top-of-the-line prosthetics, such as flexible dentures.
- Can you provide examples of your work? – This lets you see their work first-hand before letting them work on your order.
- Do you offer a warranty or guarantee? – A reputable lab stands behind the quality of its products and services. A dental lab that offers warranties or guarantees can provide peace of mind in case any issues arise with the dental appliance.
These steps will enable you to find the best dental labs near you. Alternatively, you may look for top dental schools near you that offer dental lab services, as this option will be more cost-saving.
The Importance of Regular Denture Check-ups
Regular denture check-ups for your dentures are essential for maintaining optimal oral health. These check-ups ensure that your dentures look and work properly. Here are other key reasons why regular denture check-ups are crucial:
- Fit and comfort: These check-ups enable your dentist to ensure your dentures function and appear as they should, even as you undergo any gradual changes in your jawbone or gum tissues.
- Prevention of infections: Loose-fitting dentures can cause irritations, which may result in sores and mouth ulcers. Eventually, these open sores may become breeding grounds for bacteria, increasing the risk of oral infections. Regular checkups make it possible to identify and address such irritations early on.
- Oral health assessment: Through regular denture check-ups, your dentist also examines your gums or remaining teeth, especially if you have partial dentures. This helps them ensure there are no signs of inflammation or infection. The detection and prevention of potential oral problems can prevent further health issues.
- Maintaining the longevity of dentures: Dentures require proper maintenance to remain durable. Through regular check-ups, dentists can check for any signs that may reduce the lifetime of your dentures.
Final Thoughts
Finding expert dental labs is crucial in getting high-quality dentures to ensure optimal oral health. Dental labs are helpful as they not only manufacture new dentures but they also repair such prosthetics, making it easier for the patient to access high-quality products.
Nevertheless, while dentures do not last a lifetime, it is still essential to maintain regular dental checkups to prolong their lifeline and improve your oral health.
FAQ
The coverage of dental lab services by insurance depends on the specific insurance plan. In many cases, basic dental lab services, such as denture fabrication, may be partially covered.
Yes, dental labs can assist with denture relining or rebasing to enhance the fit and function of dentures.
Dental offices or clinics are where patients receive dental examinations, treatments, and oral healthcare directly from dentists. Dental labs, on the other hand, are specialized facilities where dental appliances like dentures are fabricated or repaired.
Yes, many reputable dental labs offer warranties or guarantees on their denture work. The specific terms and duration of these warranties can vary among dental labs.
Yes, dental labs work closely with dentists to create dentures tailored to each patient's unique oral characteristics and preferences.
Sources
- Denture Repair. (2018). Retrieved 1 June 2023, from https://www.slideshare.net/sabnoor/denture-repair-95951870
- Additive Technology in Dentistry: Current Trends for 3D Printed Dentures. (2022). Retrieved 1 June 2023, from https://issuu.com/kelmanonline/docs/dentaltech_fall_2022/s/16843442
- How Are Dentures Repaired? (2023). Retrieved 1 June 2023, from https://www.healthcentre.org.uk/dentistry/dentures-repaired.html
- Problems Faced by Complete Denture-Wearing Elderly People Living in Jammu District (2014). Retrieved 1 June 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4316331/
