This four-part article series discusses the problems, challenges and repeat expenses associated with denture wearing, some of them as serious and potentially fatal as malnutrition.

Welcome back to our four-part article series on the real cost of removable dentures. So far, we have looked at the inability of dentures to promote a healthy jawbone and the resultant aesthetic and functional problems. In this article, the third installment of the series, qualified and experienced dentists in Colorado Springs will discuss some of the daily challenges and repeat expenses involved in wearing removable dentures.

Removable Dentures and Daily Costs

Most patients choose dentures because they’d rather pay a few hundred dollars to have their teeth replaced than a few thousand. While dental implants are initially the more expensive option, dentures – in the long run – end up costing far more! Dental implants typically offer a one-time solution to edentulism and near-edentulism; one that can last several decades without the need for any additional restorative work or expense. Dentures, on the other hand, require refitting every few years or so, which costs money every single time. This is not even to mention the amount of money patients will spend on related products, such as:

• Anesthetic gels, to alleviate the pain caused by dentures rubbing against the gums and palate.
• Soaking solutions, to store dentures in overnight.
• Specialized cleaning pastes to wash dentures with after meals and at nighttime.
• Adhesive strips to prevent slippage and help keep dentures stabilized in the mouth.

These expenses are daily and all of the costs add up in the long term. But perhaps the greatest cost of all is the fact that, ultimately, a denture wearer will have lost such a significant volume of their jawbone that dentures no longer offer a viable teeth replacement solution. Ironically, the only option left to them then is to have dental implants placed after they’ve undergone jawbone grafting surgery, which is expensive and invasive.

It makes far more sense to choose a teeth replacement solution that will serve you – and serve you well – in the long run; one that doesn’t require repeated costs to be covered and a substantial compromise on quality of life. Just look at the following statistics provided by dentists in Pueblo CO:

• The success rate of single tooth replacement using dental implants is an incredible 98% and can last 20, 30 years and longer if cared for properly.

• An entire upper and/or lower arch of replacement teeth supported by dental implants has a 95% success rate with little evidence of bone loss in the jaw over a period of 10 years.

Removable Dentures and the Daily Grind

If you think that having a set of dentures placed will solve all of your oral problems, think again! Here are just a few of the daily challenges involved in wearing false teeth:

• Dentures harbor food debris and bacteria, which is not only incredibly unhygienic; it can also cause chronic bad breath. Denture wearers need to be good about removing their teeth after meals and giving them a thorough clean.

• Dentures are very bulky and because they cover the soft palate, they can actually trigger the gag reflex of more sensitive patients.

• Dentures impede one’s ability to taste their food properly. They also compromise temperature and texture sensation, which makes mealtimes rather bland and uninteresting.

There’s more, but you’ll have to wait for Part 4 to find out!

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To read more about what dentists in Colorado Springs have to say about the real price of removable dentures, stay tuned for the fourth and final installment of this four-part article series.