Have your dentures broken at an inopportune moment? Then you'll probably need to repair them as soon as possible. This is especially true if you have a social event coming up or need to go to work. Losing your dentures doesn't just affect your smile — it also affects the way you speak and eat. But don't worry, you can have your dentures repaired in time for your next social event.

Naturally, you'll have some questions about emergency denture repair. Here are four common emergency denture repair questions and their answers so you can better understand what you should do next.

1. Can You Repair Your Dentures Yourself?

Unless you have experience in repairing dentures, avoid trying to repair your dentures yourself, no matter how urgent your case is. It is true that you can buy denture-repair kits from a pharmacy, but try to avoid these. The adhesive in denture repair kits can be difficult for a denturist to remove without damaging the denture further.

This means that if you do repair your denture yourself and do a poor job of it, then you'll probably have to replace it rather than repair it in the near future.

2. Can You Wear Broken Dentures Until Your Next Appointment?

Whether your problem is a broken clasp, a broken tooth or a cracked base, don't continue to wear your dentures while they are broken. If you wear a broken denture, two things could happen. One, you could damage the denture further and make it impossible to repair. And two, you could damage your gums. If your gums become infected, you won't be able to wear your newly repaired dentures.

3. How Long Does Emergency Denture Repair Take?

If you locate a good emergency denture repair clinic, they'll be able to repair your dentures the same day. In some cases, such as when you have only broken or lost a tooth, you can have your newly repaired denture back in less than an hour. But damage to the base of your denture will probably take longer to repair.

4. Can a Denturist Repair Every Kind of Denture Breakage?

Unfortunately, some breakages are impossible to repair. For instance, if your denture has completely split in two, a denturist might not be able to attach the two pieces together without compromising the fit. In this case, you'll have to purchase a completely new set of dentures.

Have you broken your dentures? Then seek out an emergency denture repair clinic near you. If your break isn't too serious, you'll have your dentures back the same day.