Denture care at home
Loose, sore or broken dentures are the single most common problem we are called out for. Most of it we can put right in the patient's own room.
What we do
- Assessment — is the denture worn, loose, or is the problem the gum underneath?
- Repairs — cracked plates and broken or missing teeth, usually turned around quickly.
- Relines — gums shrink over the years and a denture that fitted five years ago often just needs relining rather than replacing.
- Adjustments — easing the spots that rub and cause ulcers.
- New dentures — full or partial, made to measure.
- Denture marking — a name discreetly set into the plate, which matters in a care home where dentures go missing.
Measured with a scanner, not putty
New dentures normally start with a tray of impression putty held in the mouth — the part almost everybody dreads, and genuinely difficult for a frail patient or someone with a strong gag reflex.
We use an intra-oral scanner instead. A small wand is passed around the mouth and builds an accurate 3D model on screen in a few minutes. Nothing to swallow, nothing to gag on, and it can be paused whenever the patient needs a break.
How many visits
A repair, reline or adjustment is usually one visit. New dentures normally take three or four short visits — scan, try-in, fit, then a review once they have been worn for a week or two. We plan them around the patient rather than the diary.
Why it matters
People stop eating properly long before they complain. Weight loss, avoiding company at mealtimes and a sudden preference for soft food are often a denture problem rather than an appetite problem.
Common questions
Can you repair a denture the same day?
Often yes for a simple crack or a lost tooth. Some repairs need lab work, in which case we take the denture away and return it as quickly as we can — we will tell you which it is when we see it.
My mother's denture has never fitted since she lost weight. Is that fixable?
Usually, yes. Weight loss and gum shrinkage change the fit, and a reline restores it without the cost and visits of a whole new denture.
Are dentures covered by the Medical Card or PRSI?
Some denture treatment may be covered under the Medical Card (DTSS) scheme. Cover varies, so we check eligibility before the visit and show you what is and is not covered on the written quote.
Can you make dentures for someone with dementia?
Yes, and the scanner helps a great deal here — it is quick, there is nothing held in the mouth, and we can stop and restart as often as the patient needs.
Ready to arrange a visit?
Tell us a little about the patient and where they are. We'll call you back to plan the visit and answer any questions.