FAQ about Denture Services and Products in Kingston
Why a denturist?
Denturists study the clinical and technical aspects of removable dentures and general health for a period of three years, longer than any other oral health-care practitioner. The College of Denturists of Ontario acknowledges that denturists are “denture specialists”.
Anyone can consult a denturist without a referral from another health-care professional. Most denturists’ laboratory work is performed on the premises by the denturist who sees you. This ensures quality of care is consistent and personal.
Your denturist’s expertise and professionalism make him the best possible choice to help you derive the maximum benefit from the denture.
If you do not have a regular dentist or need a referral to an oral surgeon, your denturist will be happy to refer you to the appropriate practitioner.
If your dentures are more than five years old, make an appointment to talk with your denturist. You can improve your looks, self-confidence and possibly your health with quality replacement dentures.
All dentures are the same. It doesn’t matter where I go to get them.
It does matter where you go if you want quality, personalized service. When you visit a denture clinic, your dentures are made on-site by a practitioner licensed to specialize in dentures. Everything from your impressions to the setup of your teeth to the finishing process of your dentures is done right here at our on-site laboratory, not sent out elsewhere. Denturists know dentures! They study denturism and general health for a full three years–more than any other oral health care practitioner. We always accept new patients, a referral isn’t necessary to book an appointment.
I am telephoning to find out what you charge for dentures. How much will they cost me?
Dentures are a custom-made, highly individual product. Every case is different. We will gladly give you information and answer questions you might have in regards to your denture needs but speaking over the phone and having not seen you, we know very little about you and what your case may entail. Are your gums high, average or flat? Have you worn dentures before or are you having teeth extracted? What do you expect from your denture in regards to appearance and quality? Do you require complete or partial dentures? If you require a partial, will it be metal or acrylic? How many teeth and/or clasps? Do you have a heavy bite that may lead to the denture breaking often or cause extreme tooth wear? Do you require a soft liner? These are but a few of the variables involved that can affect your treatment options and the costs involved. While price is one of the factors, it is not usually the most important factor to take into account when considering new dentures and where you decide to go to get them. Anyone who gives you a price over the phone having never seen you to evaluate your individual needs is doing you a disservice. How can they know what you need and quote the costs accordingly? We invite prospective patients to book a consultation to discuss their needs and between the denturist and themselves decide which treatment option is the best. An informed, involved patient is always our best patient!
I wear dentures now so I don’t need to see a dental practitioner regularly.
Even if your dentures feel fine and are not giving you any problems, you should see your denturist at least once a year for an examination because your mouth is continually changing. Besides giving your dentures a professional cleaning and polishing and making sure that they are fitting and functioning properly, your denturist will examine your gums, tongue and jaw joints. Oral tissues can reveal signs of diseases such as cancer. When you visit your denturist regularly, any problems that may arise will not go unchecked for any longer than necessary.
This set of dentures will last for the rest of my life.
Dentures do not last forever and in fact should be replaced roughly every eight to twelve years. Most people with dentures wear them significantly longer than this, adversely affecting their enjoyment of favourite foods, youthful appearance and overall health. The conditions of your mouth change as you age–the shape and size of your gums do not remain the same as the day your dentures were made. Denture teeth can wear over time causing difficulty in chewing food properly and making it difficult and embarrassing to speak and socialize. Excessive denture tooth wear may upset the jaw mechanism, causing clicking, popping and pain in the jaw joint. The acrylic base (pink material) deteriorates over time also, becoming brittle, picking up stains and harboring bacteria, leading to bad breath. Worn dentures exaggerate wrinkles around the mouth and cheeks, causing the wearer to look prematurely older. Replacing your dentures at regular intervals will help you maintain good overall health and an attractive appearance.
I know that my dentures are worn out but I just don’t want to have to go through all of the settling-in again.
There is always going to be an adjustment period whenever you get anything new–that is just a fact of life. The first time is always the hardest. When you replace your dentures you will likely have a shorter settling in period than you did when you first got dentures because you have already worked out the kinks of eating and speaking with dentures in your mouth. Breakthroughs in denture technology have introduced a superior product which greatly reduces irritation to the gums allowing the patient a quicker settling in period with fewer adjustments, if any required. Telephone our office to book an appointment for a consultation and ask for more information about dentures.
I am on a fixed income. Regular denture care is too expensive.
Your oral health is a vital part of your overall well-being. Ask yourself, “What other product would I use all day, every day for eight to twelve years?” and “What is comfort, being able to eat my favourite foods and a natural, healthy looking appearance worth to me?” Fees for regular denture care are very reasonable when you consider these questions. If you have denture insurance, most policies will cover fees towards new dentures every five years. If your insurance plan covered fees for your dentures, they will likely cover your yearly recall appointments, relining and repairs if needed. Come in for a consultation and discuss your situation with the denturist. Inform yourself of the costs of regular denture care before deciding that it is too expensive.
Dentures look like false teeth. Everyone can tell when you are wearing them.
This is only true if your dentures look unnatural or are not fitting properly. Did you know that 32 million North Americans wear full or partial dentures, yet many of them are dissatisfied because of poor fit and inferior esthetics? Not all dentures are fabricated using the same materials or techniques. Dentures can look very natural and recreate the character of your smile. We ask patients to bring pictures of themselves when they had natural teeth, if possible, so that their natural smile can be replicated with their dentures. Quality dentures give you confidence, comfort and provide optimum function while eating, speaking and laughing. A set of attractive, quality dentures will make a positive impact on your lifestyle.
The only way my dentures feel comfortable and tight is if I use an adhesive powder or paste.
Dentures should not require an adhesive powder or paste to fit comfortably and snugly. If you find that you are having to use adhesive daily to keep your denture in place you should book an appointment as soon as possible with your denturist. You are likely in need of an adjustment or a reline. On occasion you may feel more secure with a small amount of powder or paste in your denture however, prolonged use of adhesive is not advisable. It is a temporary fix, not a real solution to what is really wrong–your denture is not fitting your gums properly.
If I get an irritation I can use an oral analgesic gel to clear it up.
From time to time, you may find that you have an irritation or sore spot caused by your denture. Take your denture out for an hour or so to give your gums a rest. Rinse with warm salt water and put your denture back in. If the irritation has not eased within a couple of days with this routine, call your denturist for an appointment. A simple adjustment will relieve the area and you will be back to wearing your denture with comfort. Do not use an oral analgesic gel in an attempt to clear up an irritation or sore spot. All that it will do is numb the pain, causing you to continue wearing your denture, further irritating the area. We have seen some really ugly sore spots that could have been prevented if the patient had removed their denture and come in for an adjustment rather than using an analgesic gel to numb the pain. Remember–ongoing pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong.
I can do my own denture adjustments or repair my dentures with glue.
We do not advise that you attempt this–ever! Even if you are a Mr. or Ms. Fix-It with home or auto repairs, it is likely that you will not be able to pinpoint the area that needs adjusting or get your denture back together precisely. Glue and epoxies contain chemicals that are dangerous to your health when ingested. Not having the correct tools to polish problem areas smoothly will cause sore spots. You may even cause irreparable damage, resulting in the need for a new denture–an expense way beyond what it would have cost to have your denture serviced by a professional. Adjustments usually take but a few minutes and repairs are done at your denturist office and are ready for pick-up the same day.