Are you in the market for a set of dentures? Perhaps you have used them for years but are unhappy with your product and want to switch.
It can be intimidating to shop for something you know very little about, but have such an important effect on your life. Not only is a smile the first thing people notice about you, but more importantly, an ill-fitting or unsightly set of dentures can leave you feeling uncomfortable and anxious.
Types of Dentures and Materials
First of all, it is important to know what type of dentures are out there. Dentures may replace all or only some of the teeth. The dentures that replace all the teeth are known as complete dentures and they rest on the gums that cover the jawbones. The stability and retention of these dentures can be improved by attaching them to dental implants. Dentures that replace some but not all of the teeth are known as partial dentures. They attach to the teeth that are still present and also cover and rest on the gums and bone where the teeth are missing. Dental implants can also be used to restore and stabilize partial dentures as well.
Also, know the different materials in a variety of dentures:
- Acrylic – not bendable plastic which is usually colored to resemble the oral gum tissues.
- Metal – chromium cobalt or titanium alloy frame usually combined either with acrylic or flexible material.
- Flexible – bendable resin, usually used on partial dentures or in combination with metal frames with flexible clasps. Clasps are a metal or flexible arm that extends from a removable partial denture. It helps to hold on to a partial tooth structure and thus provide anchorage for the denture.
It is also important to consider exactly what you are looking for. Like a snowflake, no two pairs of dentures will be the same for everybody!
Is Cost Different?
Dentures prices vary significantly across the board and there are many reasons why. The region you live in may have some affect. East coast living is generally more expensive than living in the mid-west, so denturists may need to charge more for their services to maintain higher office space fees.
There is also a price difference between the fees charged by prosthodontists when compared to fees charged by cosmetic denturists which may be as much as 30% lower.
And when it comes down to it, all denture insurance and denture discount plans were not created equally. Denture wearers should do some comparison shopping before they commit to any plan or company. It pays to do your homework!
Which brings us to the price of different types of dentures. To begin, partial dentures may sometimes actually wind up costing more than full dentures because of the precision measuring needed to make sure they fit between existing teeth. And some partial denture plates will be more expensive depending on their method of attachment.
Standard removable type dentures are less expensive than immediate type dentures which are set directly into the sockets once occupied by the natural teeth.
Denture implants are by far the most expensive type of denture, but they make up for it with one of the most secure fits available, and eliminate the discomfort created when dentures rub against the gum ridges.
If you are in the market for dentures, call me, Dr. Maurice Haynes. I am happy to answer your questions with honesty and confidence during a free consultation. If you live in the Washington D.C. area, as well as Greenbelt or Bowie, MD, Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, or Anne Arundel County, call 301-302-8395 today.
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