This is usually the first thing that you will want to know - how much are my new dentures going to cost me?

Unfortunately, there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer. We are all individuals and the truth is that the cost varies for every patient and every treatment type.

You will probably wonder why quality dentures appear to be costly and you might also be wondering how you can get the best dentures on a limited budget.

The average denture is working for you, day in day out, for a period of anywhere between 5 – 10 years and as they replace anatomically missing dental structures they have to be strong to survive the biting, grinding, acids and bacteria in your mouth. They also affect our speech and digestion and support the structure of your mouth. All other people see is a lovely smile, but that’s just one small part of a good set of dentures.

Choosing a dentist on cost alone can often mean cutting corners or using poor-quality materials. Of course you want the best dentures you can get as you want to feel good about yourself when you smile. Nothing worse than pretending not to smile because you don’t want to show your teeth.

It is truly heart-breaking for us when we see patients who have chosen their dental care based on price and then come to us to get them fixed up. Life is too short to be stuck with dentures that don’t fit properly or give your trouble.

Nasty surprises like unexpected extra costs may be a very real possibility once you have seen the dentist and they can finally assess your situation. 

And the old adage ‘you get what you pay for’ is true in most cases. 

So, what will new your dentures cost you?

If you are considering having dentures made then please read the following exerpt from Wikipedia

Dentures

"The fabrication of a set of complete dentures is a challenge for any Dentist/Denturist, including those who are experienced... it takes considerable patience and experience for a dentist to know how to make a denture, and for this reason it may be in the patient's best interest to seek a specialist, either a prosthodontist or denturist, to make the denture."

To explain further, a Denturist is a North American term given to professionals such as ourselves, Clinical Dental Technicians. As Wikipedia suggests, our distinct advantages are two fold. Firstly, we ONLY make dentures direct to the public and as such are considerably experienced.

Secondly, many of us fabricate the dentures ourselves in our own laboratories.

Quite frequently when I am preparing a job in the laboratory, my time with the patient dictates the outcome. By having seen the patient directly, it is easier to get the best result at every step.

A Denturist is a trained and licensed professional who sees patients in need of dentures, partials, relines or repairs. A Denturist not only takes the impression, but makes the entire denture in their own laboratory. The Denturist then schedules the patient for delivery of the finished dentures.

How has Technology impacted Denture Cost and Quality?

Many of my patients will have painful memories of visiting the Dentists in years gone by. So much so that many wait years and years before visiting the Dentist again.

So how has technology in denture fabrication changed over the years and what does this mean for the patient who is dreading getting that new set of teeth?

Clinical Dental Technicians - Who are we?

At Wellington Dentures, our team consists of Clinical Dental Technicians and Dental Mechanics.

This means our scope of practice is specifically oriented around removable dentures. Eight hours a day, five days a week, we fabricate all manner of precision dentures, direct to the public.

Services include false teeth dentures, dental repairs, dental implant dentures, partial dentures and mouthguards. We are New Zealand Dental Council registered professionals combining experience and the latest technologies to deliver that best value premium quality dentures to the NZ denture wearing population.

For more information on our services please visit:

www.wellingtondentures.co.nz

"Why did my denture break?"

That chocolate bar, apple or crunchy pork crackling may have been the cuplrit, but the underlying reasons will be more difficult to explain.

The reasons your denture has broken at the most embarrasing moment are as followed

1. You dropped the plate on a hard surface ...it's that simple. 

Everything about the plate might be in perfect condition but, it shattered on impact. The acrylic resins that most dentures are made out of are actually quite brittle. Most complete dentures will not withstand drop of approximately 1 metre, especially if the floor is ceramic tiles.

2. You were busy chewing away and your upper denture split down the middle...ouch!

Have you noticed that in recent times, your denture is getting looser.

It could be that the alvealar bone and gums have shrunk since the denture was made. the plate will not change it's shape and you strangely finds it "rocking" gently from side to side.  

Most of the shrinkage occurs in the area underneath the teeth hence the denture begins to rock much like a see-saw. Eventually 3 meals a day becomed too much and snap... it's off to the dental technician.

3. The denture is getting old and worn. Imagine for a moment any man made prosthesis that is used for chewing, laughing, speaking and drinking all day, every day for many many years.

Naturally the acrylic thins out and the teeth wear flat. Snap... your now thin and frail denture is in many pieces.

4. Partial dentures create weak points for acrylic dentures.

Quite often acrylic partial dentures snap adjacent to the natural teeth. As the gums shrink the denture begins to pivot slightly on the natural teeth. This is a weak spot!

The unfortunate news is that although an urgent denture repair is required, it is likely that additional treatments will be required to prevent re-fracture.

All these treatments will be discussed in subsequent blogs.

Find out more about our specialist Denture and Dental Implant Dentures skills here: Wellington Dentures