10 Frequently Asked Denture Questions For First Timers
1. I’ve lost so many teeth I think I need dentures what is the first thing I should do?
Getting dentures for the first time can be a bit daunting in the beginning and the best way is to have a plan in place to minimise any stress you may feel. In most cases your denture plan includes consultation with your regular dentist if you have one and a denture prosthetist (like myself). You can start with either but a good idea is to see a denture prosthetist first because our priority is to make sure your dentures reflect your previous bite and chewing action, your teeth angle and positioning and natural teeth colour. This is so your new dentures don’t feel overtly strange within your mouth, work well for you and look great.
We can help coordinate with your dentist or recommend one if you need any extractions or fillings with your existing bite. Getting to see your original teeth also helps determine how your natural chewing action works by measuring the vertical dimensions of your jaw.
After we have seen your teeth we can go through the best denture options available to you whether its a full set of new teeth or a partial replacement of certain teeth. We also look at whether you need dentures inserted under anaesthetic, the denture products available and the time frames involved in producing your dentures.
Like with anything its a great idea to assess your current situation to formulate a plan that will maximise your denture success.
2. Where does a dentist fit in?
We normally work closely with dentist as they are an integral part of teeth replacement success. We have a great relationship with dentists as most do not provide any denture service and rely on us to look after their clients. If you don’t have a regular dentist we have a database of great dentists we highly recommend to make sure the process runs smoothly.
3. Do I have to get all my teeth taken out?
We find with clients that everyone oral situation is unique. Some clients do require a complete tooth extraction where as others there is no extraction required. Our preference is determined by the quality of your existing teeth and how we can give you the best outcome with the least possible intrusion.
4. Ive got this image of dentures taken out at night and put in a glass by my bed is this true?
Before the invention of modern, plastic or acrylic dentures people found their dentures use to “warp” out in the middle of the night so they tended to put their dentures in water to mimic the moisture in the mouth. Taking your dentures out at night is really a personal preference and may be determined by snoring, comfort, teeth grinding, other medication or oral hygiene. We encourage people with new dentures to try both to find out what suits them best.
5. Can I claim my dentures with health insurance?
Yes, you can claim denture and many procedures with your health insurance. We can help you by provide the relevant health codes to you to maximise your rebate.
6. How much will dentures cost?
The cost of getting dentures firstly depends on the amount of teeth that need replacing and then the products involved in constructing your dentures. These may include materials such as metals, plastic (premium or standard) and soft linings (between the gum and denture). To give you an idea, one tooth partial starts at roughly $400 whereas a full top denture is closer to a $1000. Pricing is always an important consideration for everyone so it’s a good idea to gather the correction information and get a quote based upon your own personal situation. Most people’s teeth are in fact very unique to the owner similar to a fingerprint!
7. I can’t afford dentures what can I do?
We do have finance options available through Afterpay. If you have a denture plan in place very often it can coincide with a savings plan. For example if you need a metal denture ($1480 approx.) then a $400 deposit is require with the balance to be paid in 5 weeks as this is the amount of production time required. Regaining your “bite” is suych an important part of your life its a great idea to make it a financial priority.
8. Do dentures look real or will it look like I have dentures?
How we look to others is one of the most important areas of denture production and if our new “false teeth” look natural and normal then our confidence soars. We look at your original teeth either existing or through old photos paying attention to your teeth arrangement including gaps and the staggering of your teeth. Most importantly we pay very close attention to your needs and requests.
9. How long do dentures last?
It’s a good idea to get your dentures assessed every five years. The life of your dentures are determined by how hard you bite and wear your teeth down, whether they are repeatedly dropped or damaged in other ways or whether you gums swell or shrink due to medication causing your dentures not to fit as well as they original did. From experience we have found that your dentures generally give you value for money over time and most people need little repair or replacement.
10. Can dentures be easily fixed or do they need replacing?
In most situations a denture can be easily repaired at a fraction of the cost of a new one . Amusingly we find some clients using superglue to fix their dentures but this damages the dentures even more ands makes it difficult to repair properly plus you don’t want to accidentally get superglue on your tongue!
Your dentures are an important daily asset in your life so it’s best to treat them like a valuable friend. Contact Rob Clarke Today!