I wasted 4 hours of my time today to be denied service I requested. Apparently the dentist is too worried about being sued (a statement she made to me about her not wanting to be sued if I changed my mind after the fact - you'd think they'd have some kind of legal waiver for patients like me) to consider the fact that I'm in extreme pain, have limited resources, have spent 30 years and tens of thousands of dollars to fix the teeth that she wants kept in my mouth and I want removed. The impact of my current condition is both physical and emotional. However, to her credit she said it was in my best interest not to get dentures and was not charged for the visit. I'm irritated that my opinion didn't count at all and was flat out denied service I wanted.
Gum disease is caused by plaque and may result in tooth loss without proper treatment. Symptoms and signs of gum disease (gingivitis or periodontal disease) include receding gums, bad breath and pocket formation between the teeth and gums. Treatment depends upon the stage of the gum disease, how you responded to earlier treatments, and your overall health.
Your dental health directly impacts your overall health. Having your natural teeth removed to prevent more major health issues can be a hard decision, but often turns out to be the best course of action. Most dental patients who have had multiple extractions will choose to get dentures to protect not just their health, but their smiles, speech, and ability to properly chew their food. The problem is that finding affordable dentures isn’t always easy.
Dentures do not function like natural teeth. It takes time to learn how to properly use dentures. Food must be cut up into small pieces and be placed on the back teeth on both sides to balance chewing. Denture chewing occurs up and down bilaterally, not on one side. One sided chewing will cause the dentures to dislodge. Biting with the front denture teeth will cause the back of the dentures to dislodge. Dentures only function properly when force is applied evenly over the entire chewing surface of the back teeth.
Some patients who believe they have 'bad teeth' may consider having all of them extracted and replaced with complete dentures. However, statistics show that most patients who receive this treatment wind up regretting it. This is because complete dentures have only 10% of the chewing power of natural teeth, and it is difficult to get them fitted satisfactorily, particularly in the mandibular arch. Even if a patient retains one tooth there, that one tooth contributes significantly to the stability of the denture. However, retention of just one or two teeth in the upper jaw does not contribute much to the overall stability of a denture, since an upper complete denture tends to be very stable, in contrast to a lower complete denture. It is thus advised that patients keep their natural teeth as long as possible, especially in the case of lower teeth.
Work was done to make the partials smaller, but still do not fit my mouth and are completely unusable. Sores and lesions continue to form on my gums due to the defective workmanship of this garbage for a product. Parts of the upper partial have chipped off during normal wear, leaving a gap between the teeth. I called again ("You can come back anytime!") in early August for repair. The nasty ** told me I could only come on a Tuesday between 1 and 2 o'clock.
HOUMA LOUISIANA, LOUISIANA -- I had six teeth left on my top in the front they started chipping. So when a new clinic opened in my town, Affordable Dentures, I was ecstatic thinking okay I can finally get things done since it was in such a convenient location. So I made a loan for 1500.00. And went in to get my teeth extracted an immediate dentures. I was happy every one was so nice. I paid cash and never felt uncomfortable about my dealings. My dentist he seemed nice. But when I left I was not given any follow up appt. He never explained anything to me. His assistant did more than him. I figured he was just busy.
The front office has been great in terms of explaining processes, scheduling, and billing. I've also had to coordinate paratransit to get my mom to the office, and they've worked with me on times to make sure everything lines up right. Something you can probably only appreciate if you've been in a similar situation. They've also worked with us on fixing issues and missed appointments due to unforeseeable circumstances. Not only did they not scold us for missing an appointment, but they worked with me to resolve the problem that caused it- my mom's assisted living facility biffed it and didn't give her pain medicine after her surgery. :/ But, like I said, this office came through and helped- always making her care the top priority.
The process of receiving your customized partial dentures is relatively easy when compared to more invasive replacement procedures that take a long time, like dental implants. The creation and fitting of your partial dentures will take a few weeks at most. We will first make impressions and molds of your remaining teeth, gums, and jaw that will help us create partial dentures that fit you perfectly.
Content on the Oral Health Topics section of ADA.org is for informational purposes only. Content is neither intended to nor does it establish a standard of care or the official policy or position of the ADA; and is not a substitute for professional judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ADA is not responsible for information on external websites linked to this website.
However, like anything, there is a downside. Implant dentures tend to be fairly expensive. A cost of $15,000 to $30,000 for complete upper and lower implant dentures is not uncommon. Most dental insurance plans do not cover the total cost of implant dentures. Possible rejection of the implanted abutment can happen. If there is not enough bone, bone grafting may be required. Minimally invasive surgery may also be required. Treatment time can vary from three to six months.
Teeth can fall out for a number of reasons, ranging from genetics to drug abuse. Most commonly, teeth are removed or fall out on their own due to severe tooth decay. Neglect to upkeep oral hygiene or not seeking proper treatment for damaged teeth, can lead to the onset of decay which in turn leads to loss of teeth. Visiting you dentist in 6 month intervals is a good preventive measure to spot any early signs of decay.
