Teeth in a Day Specialists in Chicago Discuss the Shocking Truths about Removable Dentures, PART 3
Dentures have been around for many centuries. Even George Washington had a pair, although they were made from wood and must not have been very comfortable at all! Most other technology around us has advanced by leaps and bounds… just look at anything from the iPhone to the amazing modern medical feats we’re capable of! But somehow dentures have survived and their design has remained pretty much the same. Granted, the materials from which they are made have become more sophisticated, allowing for greater durability, function and longevity, but essentially, dentures haven’t changed much in concept.
In this four-part article series, Teeth in a Day specialists in Chicago (dental implant surgeons) have been explaining to us the various shocking truths about conventional removable dentures, from their 75% - 97% compromise on bite functionality to the fact that they lead to premature aging of one’s natural facial contours. Perhaps the greatest shocker of all is that wearing dentures, which can result in malnutrition, can therefore shorten one’s life expectancy by 10 years!
In this installment, we shall shift our focus to the repeat expenses incurred by denture wearing so you can see that, contrary to popular belief, they are not the “cheaper” teeth replacement solution on the market.
6. “Dentures really aren’t the low-cost option; they’re the low quality option with some expensive repercussions in the long run…
… One of the main reasons patients opt for inferior teeth replacement solutions like removable dentures is because they believe that (1) it is the most affordable and (2) dental implants are prohibitively expensive. In fact, quite the opposite is true,” say Teeth in a Day specialists in Chicago. “In the long term, dentures can rack up quite a hefty sum of money to wear, maintain and periodically replace when they stop fitting so well.”
Daily denture expenses include:
• Anesthetic gels to numb the pain and discomfort associated with dentures rubbing and pressing against the delicate gums and soft palate.
• Adhesive strips to help stabilize the dentures in the mouth and prevent them from slipping around and falling out.
• Cleaning agents to keep dentures free from food debris and bacteria.
• Soaking solutions to store dentures in overnight while you give your gums a chance to breathe.
“Due to bone loss and the progressive deterioration of the jaw, people who wear dentures will typically need to have them replaced every few years or so,” explain All On Four Dentures specialists in Chicago. “The changing shape of the jawbone results in dentures feeling uncomfortable and loose, even though they used to fit perfectly well. Furthermore, the frequency with which these adjustments need to be made increases over the years until eventually, there is insufficient bone volume to support even dentures!”
The cost of having dentures adjusted or refitted altogether adds up over the years!
“It is terribly ironic that the patients who initially opted for dentures in the interests of saving money end up shelling out the most in the long run. It is also ironic that these patients end up requiring dental implants anyway, since the bone becomes too weak to support dentures. At this juncture, however, patients will need bone grafting before implants can be placed and bone grafting is painful, expensive and requires a long recovery period.”
Dentures suddenly aren’t looking quite so thrifty, are they?
Stay Tuned for Part 4
Stay tuned for the final installment of this article series in which All On Four Dentures specialists in Chicago discuss the newer and more modern approach to treating edentulism and rampant tooth loss caused by periodontal disease.
