What Happens to Forgotten Dentures? A Look Into Dental Lost-and-Founds

May 2, 2025

Dentures, like keys and sunglasses, are surprisingly easy to misplace—except, of course, they’re far more personal and arguably much harder to forget. Yet dental offices around the country occasionally find themselves the keepers of these forgotten prosthetics. But what really happens to unclaimed dentures once the patient walks out—without their teeth?

In this quirky yet fascinating exploration, we’ll take a peek behind the scenes of dental clinics and their unexpected lost-and-found drawers, all while unpacking the serious (and sometimes amusing) realities behind abandoned dental appliances.

How Do Dental Clinics Handle Unclaimed Dentures Over Time?

Believe it or not, many dental practices have a dedicated space—sometimes a drawer, sometimes a box—for “forgotten” dentures. These are the sets patients forget to take home after a fitting, cleaning, repair, or even surgery. When this happens, the staff typically follows an internal process to keep track of these items, but the policies vary.

Here’s how it usually goes down:

Initial tagging and storing: The dental team labels the dentures with the patient’s name (if known), the date, and the context of the visit.
Secure containment: Items are kept in a sealed bag or a sterilized container and placed in a secure location to prevent cross-contamination.
Attempted contact: Most dental offices will call, text, or email the patient as soon as they notice the item is missing.
Waiting period: If the denture goes unclaimed, some practices hold onto it for weeks—or even months—before considering disposal.

In essence, dental offices become temporary guardians of these prosthetic teeth, hoping their rightful owner returns to reclaim them. But sometimes, they never do—and that’s when things get a bit more complicated.

What are The Common Reasons Patients Leave Dentures Behind?

You might be wondering, “How on earth do you forget your teeth?” It’s not as uncommon as it sounds. There are plenty of perfectly logical—and a few humorous—reasons why dentures are left behind.

Here are some of the most common culprits:

Post-sedation fog: Patients coming out of sedation after oral surgery might not be fully aware of what items they arrived with or are supposed to leave with.
Emergency distractions: If a patient comes in for an emergency visit or needs urgent care, it’s easy to forget belongings amid the stress.
Repair drop-offs gone awry: Dentures dropped off for repairs are sometimes never picked up—especially if the patient receives a replacement.
Transitioning to implants: Some patients switch to dental implants and may simply forget or choose not to retrieve their old dentures.
Assisted living complications: For elderly patients in care facilities, transportation and communication issues can lead to forgotten dental devices.

And yes—every once in a while, there’s a case of “I left them in a napkin on the tray,” only for staff to toss them out unknowingly. (Let that be a lesson: napkins are not secure storage.)

Are There Protocols For Storing or Disposing Lost Dental Appliances?

Dental offices take the matter seriously—after all, these aren’t like forgotten umbrellas or sunglasses. Dentures are custom medical devices and need to be treated with respect and care.

There are generally a few protocols most clinics follow:

Short-Term Storage

Items are sealed and labeled.
Kept in a sterile environment to avoid contamination.
Logged in an internal inventory system, especially in larger practices.

Communication Attempts

The dental office contacts the patient (or their caregiver) via all available channels.
Notes are placed in the patient’s file to prompt staff if the individual returns.

Disposal Procedures

If the denture remains unclaimed, dental offices have a few options, all following HIPAA and infection control regulations:

Biohazard disposal: Many clinics treat unclaimed dentures as biohazardous waste due to the risk of exposure to bodily fluids.
Incineration: In some cases, especially in hospitals or clinics with their own disposal units, dentures are incinerated.
Return to lab: Occasionally, if the denture is unused or recently fabricated, the item might be returned to the dental lab for potential recycling of base materials.

Regardless of the route, dental clinics never just “toss them in the trash.” Proper disposal protects both patient safety and the clinic’s compliance with regulatory standards.

Can Forgotten Dentures Be Reused or Recycled By Dental Professionals?

Let’s get one thing out of the way: No, used dentures cannot be reused by another person. Dentures are custom-molded to each individual’s oral anatomy. So unfortunately, no matter how pristine a forgotten pair might look, it’s not going to be a hand-me-down situation.

However, that doesn’t mean all is lost. There are a few interesting paths for forgotten dentures:

1. Recycling Components

Acrylic and resin: In rare cases, the materials in dentures can be broken down and reused by labs for training or testing.
Metal alloys: If the denture has a metal framework, some of that material can be reclaimed, though it’s often minimal.

2. Training and Education Tools

Dental schools may accept donated dentures to use as teaching tools for students learning about prosthetics and fittings. These are thoroughly disinfected and repurposed for demonstration—not patient use.

3. Art and Oddity Museums

Yes, really. Some artists and collectors find aesthetic or cultural value in dental prosthetics. There are even museums featuring collections of historical and unusual dentures—from Civil War-era plates to 3D-printed prototypes.

4. Humanitarian or Veterinary Use?

Though it’s a common myth that old dentures can be sent overseas or used in animal dentistry, in practice this is extremely rare and not recommended due to hygiene and fit issues. Medical-grade dental devices should always be tailored to the recipient, whether human or pet.

The Strange Legacy of Lost Dentures

Dentures are deeply personal items that represent a part of someone’s identity. While they might be forgotten physically, they carry a strange legacy—one that tells stories about aging, health, memory, and even a little bit of mystery. Some offices have tales of the same denture set being left behind twice by the same person. Others have a “wall of fame” for the oddest items ever left in the waiting room—yes, including teeth.

Lost, But Not Without a Story

In the grand world of lost-and-found items, dentures may be the most surprising but oddly poetic of all. They remind us that even something as significant as a part of your smile can be forgotten in the shuffle of modern life.

But dental offices? They’re ready. They hold onto these forgotten chompers with care, process them respectfully, and always hope for a reunion. So, the next time you leave the dentist’s chair, take a moment to check: wallet, phone… dentures?

Reclaim Your Smile with Personalized Care at Crescent Family and Cosmetic Dentistry of Columbia

At Crescent Family and Cosmetic Dentistry of Columbia, we believe no smile should be forgotten—just like no denture should be left behind. Whether you’re dealing with misplaced dental appliances, exploring replacements, or simply overdue for a check-up, our team is here to provide compassionate, expert care designed around you. We don’t just restore teeth—we restore confidence.

Every patient is treated with the respect and attention they deserve, and we take the time to explain your treatment options in detail. No rushed appointments. No one-size-fits-all solutions. Just exceptional dental care, right here in Columbia.

Let us be the last stop in your search for dental peace of mind—schedule your consultation today and rediscover what it means to smile with confidence.