the Price of Dentures

The special dental procedure I received was a dental partial to replace the missing teeth in the upper half of my palate. Because I had lost a number of my back teeth to extractions after they decayed beyond the point of saving them, I was in a bad situation because I lacked the necessary grinding teeth to chew food properly. When I nearly choked at a restaurant because of this, I knew I had to do something. With root canals and crowns costing at least a thousand dollars, I couldn't afford this for every tooth. So I was missing four of my back teeth, and my dentist suggested I get a partial denture plate. He said it would help prevent my remaining teeth from spreading or shifting position also. The entire procedure cost $1250.00, which included the initial visit and making a mold of my palate, the next visit to fit the partial to my mouth, and one follow up to make any needed adjustments to the partial. The dentist was able to smooth off any parts of the palate mold that were rubbing my mouth. Because I was already missing the teeth I didn't need any extractions or time to heal, so I had my finished partial in two weeks. And included in the price, the dentist said my partial was "under warranty", that is, he promised to make any repairs it ever needed.

Of all the dental procedures I've endured, this was the easiest, most painless, and the best bargain of them all. The cost of this partial was equivalent to the cost of a root canal and crown for a single tooth, and those don't always last forever. Because he promised to fix anything the partial ever required, this is the only dentistry I've ever gotten a lifetime guarantee on. The dentist also said he could re-do the partial to add more teeth if I lose any more of my own.

Look around for a dentist you like and trust, and definitely ask up front about the cost. I didn't have dental insurance so I paid the full price, but if you do have insurance ask if this would be covered. Make sure to tell your dentist if anything hurts afterward. If you have to have extractions I imagine the ordeal would be worse. The only caveat is that chewing with a partial is still not the same as having your own teeth. Most foods are no problem, and I don't have any trouble with slippage, but tough cuts of meat are no fun if you wear a partial. And be sure you chew the kind of gum made for denture wearers!