The Ultimate Guide to Dentures
Last fact-checked: 15 February 2020
Looking for affordable, high-quality dentures? Consider getting them abroad–your money will go a lot further and you get to enjoy a fantastic holiday while you wait for your new teeth.
The Benefits of Dentures
When people are considering dentures, people often think of full dentures–the ones that replace a whole upper or lower arch of teeth. However, there are many more denture-wearers than most people are aware of–as there are a great number of people who wear a denture in place of one or two missing teeth.
Dentures offer a number of benefits: the main one is to enable you to chew your food properly, which is particularly important if you have lost most of your teeth. It’s no fun if you can’t get your teeth into that juicy steak.
Aesthetics or cosmetics are other reasons for people to consider dentures, to help improve a gummy or gappy smile and restore your self-confidence.
Yet another reason, and perhaps most important to consider, is that dentures help contribute to maintaining good oral health. Gaps in your dentition may not only be painful or uncomfortable on the exposed gum (particularly if you are eating certain types of food, like potato chips) but surrounding teeth that no longer have support next to them gradually start to move into the gap, and this could cause you problems with your bite as well as contributing to periodontal disease.
Why Getting Dentures Is a Good Dental Tourism Option
Almost all dental procedures are a reasonably good option to have as a dental tourist, but some offer great savings that can make a real difference. Dentures are mostly (but not always) worn by retirees and this group must often find ways of making their social security, pensions and savings go further.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of savvy North Americans regularly make the trip to Mexico for dental care. Along the border in Mexico, you can find dozens of excellent dental clinics offering affordable, high-quality treatment to patients from the US and Canada. In fact, dental travel is becoming so popular that some locations have become tourist attractions in their own right. For dentistry, Los Algodones is one such place, attracting thousands of visitors each day, arriving specifically for dental treatment.
Other popular destinations include Costa Rica, Hungary and even as far away as Thailand, Bali, and Vietnam.
Getting dentures as a dental tourist is a good option. You can save 40-70% on both full and partial dentures and even if you upgrade to a higher-quality material, it will still cost less than the cheapest dentures at home.
What Is the Procedure for Getting Dentures?
While getting dentures can sometimes be achieved in a day (using the latest CAD/CAM technologies), the process usually involves two or three appointments within a few days of one another. At the first appointment the dentist will:
1: Provide a thorough examination and x-rays of your jaw and gums and
2: Make an impression of your mouth so that dentures can be manufactured.
At your next appointment, you will
3: Return to the dentist for fitting and any necessary adjustments
The process varies slightly, depending on whether you are having extractions, or just getting new a new set of dentures. If you're having extractions, you will be given a ‘healing denture’ which is softer than a conventional denture, allowing your gums time to heal. This usually takes around three months, after which you will return to your dentist for permanent dentures.
What Are the Different Types of Dentures Available?
Your dentist may recommend one of four types of dentures:
1: Partial dentures: Used only when there are gaps in your dentition and usually attach over the existing teeth.
2: Conventional (full) dentures: Replace all the teeth in the upper or lower jaw.
3: Immediate dentures: Healing dentures placed after your teeth have been extracted.
4: Overdentures: Attached to the stumps of broken teeth, which help to support and stabilize the dentures.
How Much Can I Save Traveling for Dentures?
Prices vary considerably throughout the world, and whether you have full or partial dentures. Dental tourism destinations are considerably lower:
In the United States, dentures cost, on average, $1,800
At a Mexico dentist, they cost $700
In the United Kingdom, dentures cost £1,300
At a Thailand dentist, they cost £550
In Australia, dentures cost AUD $1,500
At a Bali dentist, they cost AUD $730
Not only will you save a bundle on the cost of your dentures in some great holiday destination, but if you book with Dental Departures you are assured of our best price guarantee and you can also take advantage of our exclusive online discounts.
How Can I Be Sure about the Quality of Dentures Abroad?
Globalization and cross-border training ensure that similar clinical standards are adhered to in all our recommended countries–from applying recognized techniques, using renowned, brand-name, universally available materials and following established health and safety protocols.
However, it is always wise to do some background research to ensure any dentist you visit has the right credentials for the procedure you require. We know this can be daunting, which is why we have already done the hard work. Our checks are thorough–and we do onsite visits, verify dentist qualifications and professional memberships, as well as collecting real patient reviews which we publish on our website. Alongside prices, maps and other information we offer our patients a free resource packed full of information to help you come to an informed decision about choosing a dentist abroad.
We also offer additional services that help create a ‘one-stop-shop’ for your dental trip: please feel free to speak with us about hotels and nearby accommodation, insurance and even financial products that can create the most rewarding dental journey.
Getting Started:
At Dental Departures, we’ve partnered with almost 5,000 dentists in 35 countries–giving you a comprehensive selection so that you are bound to find somewhere you’d like to spend some time visiting.
For further information don’t hesitate to contact our knowledgeable Customer Care Team who will be happy to answer any questions you have about dentures. Or, if you’re ready to book, you can do so online at any time of the day or night, with no charge to you. Please below for further information
Sources:
Lee, Dave. How Much Do Dentures Cost? Bankrate. 17 February 2018 https://www.bankrate.com/finance/smart-spending/how-much-do-dentures-cost.aspx
Partial Dentures. American Dental Association. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/dentures-partial
National Health Service (NHS). Dentures. 2018 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dentures/