Dentalnews (en)

Costs of a denture

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A lot of people wonder how much a denture costs, but that is not an easy question.

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Denture costs consist of those factors: (sequentially downward):

1. the way of provision itself (bone/mucous membrane supported; fixed/removable;…)
2. provision effort (one dentist performs several dental impressions intermediate steps, another dentist performs less…)
3. who did the provision and where was it done. (the professor in a noble district charges more than a country dentist – by same quality)
4. the used tooth materials

Please see tips further below!

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Here you see a tough cost overview-starting with the most expensive:
fixed dentures
partial removable dentures
removable bone supported
removable mucous membrane supported-implant protected
removable mucous membrane supported with clasp tooth crowns  /attachments/bridge solutions
removable mucous membrane supported with clasps and clasp tooth crowns
removable mucous membrane supported with clasps without clasp tooth crowns
full denture

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Particular points in detail:
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Ad 1
Think about an adequate solution for you. If you are over 70 it does not have to be a fixed version, with a denture supported by bones you are also able to bite well, without spending lots of money. According to the tooth left, a removable denture supported by mucous membrane with clasps and clasp tooth crowns instead of a denture removable supported by mucous membrane with clasps/attachments/bridge solutions is sufficient
If you are a heavy smoker, a dental bridge is preferable to an implant
A good dentist talks to you about costs and does not automatically suggest the most expensive solution .

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Ad 2
A lot of effort does not always necessarily mean quality. Try to find a well balance whilst you are watching the dentist´s steps so you can have a good feeling about this. If there are too many mistakes made get a second opinion.

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Ad 3
Compare several offers, a dentist should explain the differences to you-does the explanations make sense to you? If you have the feeling your dentist contradict himself, please listen to your gut instinct-it never fools you!

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Ad4
It does not have to be noble metals- Well agreeable organic alloys are as good as gold, but cheaper (furthermore a gold ceramic crown is a gold alloy and no pure gold) Everything is organic agreeable throughout the market and industrial countries-all materials pass through a strict testing procedure!

More on this on checkdent.com-the dental dictionary!

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What does “dentures-supported by bones or mucous membrane” mean?

Depending on whether the masticatory force is initiated by bones (just like with your own teeth) or by mucous membrane. You differentiate from denture “supported by bones or mucous membrane”

It is called dentures- supported by bones, if  the masticatory force is located in the bones and the denture is hardly seated on the mucous membrane.

If  the masticatory force is primarily located in the mucous membrane and help remained teeth and/or implants (so called fixation elements) it is called dentures-supported by mucous membrane.

Often no fixation elements are used-  total denture. If fixation elements are used you call it a hybrid prosthesis. Better fixation can be improved through two implants. (pic. 1)You don´t need synthetic gums, but the masticatory force is not supported by these implants-so you see a mucous membrane supported denture placed on implants in this picture.

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A denture-supported by bones is trend setting in industrial countries. The reasons are:

• better comfort for the patient
• prevention of damages on fixation teeth (partial dentures-a classical example of a mucous membrane supported denture-is fixed on remained teeth)
• prevention of bone loss from the alveolar bone (Use it-or lose it)

Often a bone is not loaded naturally through a denture supported by mucous membrane (non physiological). The result is not only a bad fitting prosthesis, but also face changes (big lower jaw, small upper jaw). You can recognize bone loss because of recurrent pressure sores and/or a prosthesis, which is not fitting well anymore. The result is a denture lining-which compensate a bone loss.

Even if there are less bones left, a bone set up surgery can be made to use implants. Partial dentures and total dentures are implanted provisionally till the implants are healed.

Advantages of partial,- and total dentures opposite to implants are lower costs.

Fixed means that you are not able to remove the dentures out of the mouth. The denture is in the mouth constantly. This is not a dental plate, but a denture.

A classic example is a dental crown (pic.1). The quality of dental crowns, a correct bite and the dental arch incorporation have to fit all the time! Differences in costs refer to the effort and the aesthetic elaboration.

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Another example of a fixed denture is the dental bridge (pic.2) Like the dental crown it is also carbonised on tooth stumps. The only difference is, that a dental bridge connects one or more interlinks together.  Separate crowns are often linked together-without interlinks. This is done to save work, cause the technician has to mold less sides on the denture and so the dentist has to pay less for the work.  But this causes disadvantages for you!

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If there is no tooth stump left you need an implant instead (pic.3). A denture with implants is mostly carbonised- but with a temporary dental cement-this is called a “partly removable denture.”

If the dentist is able to remove the denture, for example by loosen screws, it is called partly removable denture-so the dentist is able to remove your denture “easily” but you are not.

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A classic example of a partly removable denture is a screwed bridge solution (pic.4)

As said before: Implant crowns are carbonised contrary to normal crowns, so the denture can be removed by the dentist as needed.  You call it a fixed denture if the crown is placed on the tooth stump, cause the dentist has to destroy the crown to get to the tooth.

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The use of screwed dentures was not unusual in the past, today carbonised solutions are  trend setting.

Some reasons are:

• Development and improvement of dental cement (permanent and temporary cement)
• lower costs in contrast to expensive screwed solutions
• easier to clean
• less problems
• higher comfort, cause screwed dentures are usually bigger and clumsy
• positive development in the region implantology and bone structure surgery

If you have a fixed or partly removable denture the masticatory force is initiated by bones either on the dental root or with implants. This is also possible with removable dentures-the masticatory force can also be initiated by the mucous membrane. You differentiate from denture, supported by bones or mucous membrane. More on this in the next article.

Our topic in the next weeks is the variety of dentures!

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Phrases like  “hybrid prosthesis” are used to describe dentures. The glossary can vary from country to country and continent!

Please talk to your doctor in person about details! We would like to give you an overview on different opportunities, but we are not aiming for term-definitions!

Overview:

• differences – fixed – partly removable – removable
• removable dentures bone support – dental plate mucous membrane support
• costs
• dental implants – various waiting times
• removable dentures – mucous membrane support
• materials

Wouldn’t you like to know whether your dentist is good or bad?

We assume you do, which is why this week we are going to tell you all about what to consider when looking for a dentist and how to find a good one.

As usual, we will provide you with an overview of this week’s main topic!

1. Good dentist – the cost estimate
2. Dentists and their teams
3. Hygiene in the dentist’s office
4. Explaining procedures
5. Trouble-shooting

Good dentist – the cost estimate
First of all, does your dentist even bother giving you a cost estimate?
No? Then s/he has no idea what s/he is doing!

If yes, how is the estimate structures?
Did you get a thorough check-up before you got the estimate? You should know what has to be done in your case and what will only be performed to fill the dentist’s pockets. What are we going on about? Well, in order for the dentist to provide you with a good cost estimate, s/he needs to have a good idea of the current status of your teeth and mouth.

If s/he does not bother performing a check-up, then it is likely s/he will only do things that cost a lot, namely implants and crowns.

You can always tell good estimates from bad ones, because good estimates always provide detailed information, which is collected during a check-up (assuming, of course, that your mouth really needs an overhaul, not just one bridge or implant if your teeth and mouth are otherwise healthy, otherwise, what would be the point of collecting data!).

A good cost estimate includes:

• An anamnesis (medical history) / Patient’s request
• Findings
• Diagnosis
• Recommendations for therapy / Alternatives
• Description of procedures as needed

This information lets the dentist know what you wish to be done, the condition of your teeth (periodontal status, photos, models of your teeth, …), anything and everything you’ll need to set up a treatment plan.
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The cost estimate should consider all kinds of work, even work which is less lucrative to the dentist. This includes fillings, root canal treatment, operations such as removing wisdom teeth, etc.

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But this is the kind of work which should usually be done first, before doing more complicated procedures – you should make sure the ground is in good shape before you start building houses on it (crowns, implants etc.).

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Summing up, a simple cost estimate can and should tell you quite a lot!

• If your dentist offers you any treatment without performing a thorough check-up first, then chances are that s/he is only going to do things which cost the most money!
• If the cost estimate starts out with an extensive check-up, then you’re on the right path!
• If a cost estimate begins with the least expensive types of treatment (renewed root treatment, removing wisdom teeth, periodontal work, …) with dentures (crowns, bridges) last on the list, then stick with that dentist!

More on this topic tomorrow, and by the end of the week you should be able to tell a good dentist from all others!