Dentures basically refer to any device which acts as a replacement for missing teeth. They can taken be out or placed inside the mouth of a person at any time and, more importantly, they are designed to look like real teeth. In fact, most dentures produced today are designed to look even better than real teeth.
Each set of dentures are custom made to fit the mouth of the person who will use them, and because of this, it takes quite a bit of time to create them. This is particularly true if you still have quite a few of your teeth, since your new dentures will have to be designed in such a way as to fit in with your remaining teeth. So if you want additional features on your dentures then you better be ready to wait for them.
It’s also worth mentioning that most dentures are tough, durable and lightweight, which means that they won’t cause any stress on your jaw or gums. You can use dentures as often as you need to, provided you clean them regularly and keep them in a secure area. Dentures can also help to protect your remaining teeth from damage and allow you to consume foods that you normally have trouble chewing.
What Makes A Patient Suitable for Dentures?
Those who have lost most or all of their teeth are the most obvious candidates for dentures. The same also holds true for people who’ve experienced accidents or who have had their jaws, gums and teeth irreparably damaged.
However, aside from losing one’s teeth, there are also other situations where you will need to get a set of dentures, and here are several examples of them:
- When your gums are swollen, tender, bleeding or unusually red
- When your teeth are loose, shifting or when the gaps between them are growing
- When you have frequent toothaches
- When you have trouble eating hard or chewy foods
- When you have serious gum problems
- When your teeth are slowly falling apart due to excess cavities
If you experience any of these problems then you may want to talk to your dentist about getting some dentures. Remember that dentures are more than just replacements for human teeth. They are also meant to treat certain dental problems.
So whenever you experience problems with your teeth, always try to talk with your dentist about your options. If the problem is serious enough, there’s always a good chance that dentures would be considered a viable solution.
How Much Do Dentures Cost?
Dentures are classified as a band 3 treatment on the NHS, which means that it will cost you £269.30. However, if you want to get your dentures from a private dentist then you may pay more depending on the type of dentures you want.
The best way to find the best and most affordable denture procedures is to simply speak with the dentists themselves. Most private dentists will charge, on average, £300. Unfortunately, this amount varies greatly, depending on the kind of procedure you wish to have, what sort of additional treatments you require as well as the condition of your teeth.
For example, if you want to get flexible partial dentures then you may need to spend around £450 to get the procedure. On the other hand, if you want to get complete dentures then you better be ready to spend between £650 and £1,500.
The truth is that there’s really no way to know precisely how much money you’ll need to spend on your dentures if you want a private dentist to work on them. Furthermore, if you have serious teeth or gum problems then you may need additional procedures, which will, of course, require more money. So if you want affordable dentures then you should compare as many private dental clinics as you can.
| Type | Approximate price |
|---|---|
| NHS | £269.30 |
| Private | £300 - £2,500 |
| Flexible | £450 - £1,500 |
Different Types of Dentures
There are generally two types of dentures. These are partial dentures and complete dentures, and you can ask your dentist to help you choose which type is most appropriate for your own teeth.
Partial dentures are designed to take the place of only a few teeth and, at the same time, prevent your remaining teeth from changing their positions. On the other hand, complete dentures are designed to replace all of your teeth along with all of their functions. They are also designed to completely replace all of your teeth as opposed to just supporting the ones that you have left.
It’s also worth mentioning that both types of dentures are removable and made from the same types of materials. Both partial dentures, as well as complete dentures, are made from metal and acrylic resin, which is a plastic-like material that can be shaped to fit into a person’s mouth.
In some cases, suctions are also added onto the dentures in order to keep them from falling off of a person’s gums, but these additional features are only used in special cases, most often among custom-made dentures.
When choosing which type of denture you will need to consider several factors. First of all, you will need to consider how many teeth you have left on your mouth. If you still have most of your teeth then get partial dentures, but if you’ve lost practically all of your teeth then go with complete dentures.
The next issue that you will need to consider is the cost of the dentures that you want to use. Like most dental procedures, dentures have varying levels of quality, and if you want yours to be special then you better be prepared to pay a little more money.
Additionally, getting dentures may require your dentist to work on your remaining teeth, which means that aside from paying for your dentures, you will also need to pay for the extra dental procedures.
Finally, you will need to consider the long term health of your teeth. Dentures are basically long term investments. So If you think that most of your remaining teeth will last for a long time then go get partial dentures. However, if you believe that what’s left of your remaining teeth won’t last much longer (either because of age, dental problems, or some kind of illness) then get complete dentures. Always consider your options carefully.