False teeth.

I started this thread originally, and have been to several dentists since,i have just had another set made, by a new young dentist on the NHS and they are the best ones i have ever had,i wasnt happy with the first set of impressions he did, and he has altered them a few times to get them just right,
I wonder sometimes if some people just accept the first set of teeth made
I am sure my dentist must have been getting a bit fed up of me not being happy with what he had done, but i am very satisfied now, and i dont even think they will need to be adjusted,so as far as im concerned NHS are as good as private with the right dentist,who will take care with what you want in the look of them as much as anything else

I had my first ever upper denture fitted earlier this year by a private dentist. I would have been just as happy to go to an NHS dentist but there are very few in my area, and very few vacancies on their patient lists.

I think the secret of having good fitting dentures is the quality of the mould that is taken, and how skilful the dental technician is that makes the denture from that mould. It's also very important to point out any concerns about the fit of your denture when you go for your first fitting, before the final denture is made. It should not cost any extra to have the fit adjusted to suit you.

My denture is acrylic and clips very firmly to two of my remaining (four) top teeth. It's a very firm fit and I can eat and chew anything I like - though I do avoid toffee apples or sticks of rock! I don't take my denture out at night. I clean morning, after meals and before bed using normal toothpaste, and remembering to brush my gums and upper palate as well, then I finish with an antibacterial mouthwash. I soak my denture in 3min Steradent every other day. No soreness or problems so far.

Deedaa You probably have your new dentures by now and I really hope you are happy with them.

Ronyag45
This might be what you're looking for:
www.gdc-uk.org/patients/raising-a-concern

What is the best way to complain about the fit of my NHS denture?i don’t blame the dentist, but he said it might be the mould and that he could do one with better materials for £1000 ! Should I go to the practice manager they outsource their denture work I think. Does anyone know the name of the body that dentists belong to. Thankyou

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Glad to hear about the implants. I might treat myself. Other people go to the hairdressers or manicurist. I go to the dentist!

I always had dreadful teeth (faulty enamel) from childhood, coupled with a total phobia about the dentists. In my early 30s I had all my top teeth out and denture fitted immediately (NHS) and a couple of years later the same with my bottom teeth. I remember clearly how happy I was immediately afterwards when I realised that I would never again have an extraction or filling. My recurring nightmares about being trapped in the dentist's chair stopped and have never returned.

I did return to the Dentists after 6 months to have the dentures relined and can honestly say that I have never had the slightest problem with them since. BTW I was told that because it was an out and in procedure that I should wear the dentures day and night, only removing them briefly for cleaning and I have continued to do so for nearly 40 years with no infections or other problems.

If I run out of Steredent I clean the dentures with a Bicarbonate of Soda and Salt paste.

Hello all I have just had my temporary partial replaced by a permanent and I’m so disappointed. No real problems with the temporary but the new one is loose, heavy and clicks ! I wanted something lighter. I fully intend to go back and have a conversation with him but I am interested in knowing what you think.
So two questions :
Are the privately made dentures thinner and lighter? And did you have to pay twice, once for temp and then again for the permanent set?

A friend has just had 8 teeth implanted and she is delighted. I will have to get more details. I think she paid about £6000.
I have 4crowns on my front teeth that always seem to need emergency treatment just before I go on holiday and now my other teeth are starting to crumble. My dentist says our generation were always having fillings. Probably more than we needed.
I have just retired so could use some of my lump sum to have mine done but I m not used to spending that sort of money on myself. It would be lovely tho' if I could bite into an apple without worrying. If Iive until I'm about 90 it wouldn't work out much per annum ?

Thank you chicken. I have only just spotted this but it is good news.

Liz46-- You ask about implants. I had to have my remaining teeth removed about ten years ago and was in despair as my mouth just wont tolerate a denture---it makes my mouth burn and I can't speak with it in. Anyway my dentist suggested implants although they are very expensive, and at the time weren't very common. I had bad gum shrinkage which made it difficult as he had to chip bits of bone from here and there in the jaw and use them to pack around the implants where they regrew for stability. It was a long and tedious process but I would do it all again in a heartbeat because I now have "teeth" which feel just like real, never have to be taken out. look totally real and allow me to eat anything--nuts, corn on the cob, hard apples etc. I now only have to have checkups every two years. I'm a very happy bunny!

I actually still have my previous chrome denture as a back up should my current one ever need a repair. It doesn't fit perfectly, but good enough for a day, and I would have a tooth missing, but better that than nothing.

When my current treatment is finished dentist says that after six months when my gums have all settled I will need a new denture.
I will then have a reasonable backup, with the chrome one as a back up for the backup

COOLGRAN, had to laugh at your comments, i am the same would never let anyone see me without teeth,
I once sent my brother to get a partial denture repaired for me,a lot of years ago, i wouldnt even answer the door until i got it back
My older sister though never used to wear hers, i just couldnt do that
Vanity eh!!

I'm disappointed that nobody has been on to talk about implants. I have a bridge but if that collapsed I would consider implants.

I'm going to a Clinical Dental Technician for a new partial upper denture. I told my dentist and she had no problems with it as she was going to be on holiday for a while.
He is certainly taking his time over the impressions and the fitting.

I've had NHS top plates (plastic) with 6 teeth including my 3 front ones for about 40 years now with 3 different dentists. They have always been fine and an excellent fit. When the first was fitted I asked if I took it out at night, he replied 'of course, you wouldn't leave a sticking plaster on your skin for ever, would you?'
I only discovered the other day, via a new NHS dentist, that plastic plates should always be covered in water when not in use, as they become brittle and can break. Still slip mine under the pillow sometimes though

The fit of your dentures should be the same whether you are having the nhs option or the private one. An impression is (or should be) properly done.

Dental technicians are breaking the law if they take impressions unless they are clinical dental technicians.

When it comes to falsies..its private every time for me, having had many disastrous results from the NHS and wasted a lot of cash. I have had the same falsies now for 6 years, they cost quite a bit but worth every penny and the after-service I get as a private patient really makes a difference.

Welshwife I have had the same dentist for 20 years and also had a private dental plan (Denplan). However the cost depends how many "points" you have. The more work you have done the higher the points and the more it costs you. Mine worked out to £9.50 a week! I got made redundant nearly a year ago and have now cancelled it. I cannot justify that sort of money. I was only working 2 days a week before anyway as the company cut my days due to the recession (it was an Estate Agents which had been affected by the recession) and the dental plan was nearly 10% of my earnings. (Council Tax was 20% of my earnings Grrr!!! but that's another story!) I am only getting the basic state pension and do not have a private pension. I have been putting off having any check-ups etc. but had to have a hygienist appointment at the same dentist and am now in the process of trying to find an NHS dentist. All the ones I have telephoned so far have no vacancies.

AS i suspected opinions are divided we haven't had this dentist very long but he does seem to be good. Normally I am strictly National Health, but at the moment I am short of three back teeth on one side after a tooth broke and took the bridge and a crown with it. Eating is quite difficult so I feel it may be worth spending the extra money. I've got to see him on Tuesday to have the remains of the broken tooth removed so I shall discuss it further.

I have never taken my denture out at night.
This week at a dental appointment I mentioned that my top gum was very tender. Dentist checked and gave advice.

First of all::: he said I should take the denture out a night. The plastic denture constantly in the mouth is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and needs a break. My vanity balks at being without my denture .... so once dh and I settle down for the night I slip my denture under my pillow. It goes in again first thing. Literally as I take my first waking breath !!

Secondly::: I have always just brushed my denture. Seemingly this is not sufficient. I now use Steradent 3 Minute tablets. Dissolve one in hot water and leave your denture in it for 3 minutes. Job done. No long term steeping overnight.

I also use Cordasyl (sp) Daily mouth wash.

5 days later and my gum is no longer tender.

NHS Dentist. My last denture was a chrome state of the art job paid for privately but with my same NHS Dentist, then I lost a tooth which was vital for holding it in place and had to go the way of a plastic denture. It looks just as good and only took a couple of days to get used to the feel of it.

When i had a partial denture i had no problem,but my last few own teeth started crumblig so had no choice but to have full dentures
I would go private if i could afford it, but i guess there is only so much can be done with little gum

My dentist recommended a private denture, I have 5 teeth on a top plate, I've had them for 6 years and I've never had a problem, the plate is nice and thin and doesn't go back very far.

Really pleased to find this thread, i have gums that are receding at an alarming rate,
Eventually after seeing a young dentist ,training i think she referred me to the local hospital dentist, who made some really good fitting ones, but they wee not nice looking, they seemed to be higher in the middle and looked awful, i then went to a private dental technician who altered them for me, just the look ,not the fit,
I still have them but they have gradually gone higher and higher so cant be seen until i smile, but its the gum shrinkge that worres me,
I was never told to take them out at night, so reading what another poster said,i am now wondering if that is why my gums are receding so quickly
I am going to go back to the technician to see if he can do anything,
Also the lower ones are too shallow, make my chin stick out

I too have a partial NHS top denture and have had them for about a year, and they are great. Previous to this my last denture is still fine (I now keep them as a spare) and they were ten years old. I've worn partials since my early twenties and my first pair were metal with clasps that attached to my back teeth and these were the best, very thin and doesn't cover the whole of the roof of mouth. However, many years later my back teeth had to be removed therefore the only option was the plastic sort. However, I've had very little trouble with them.

If it was me, and the very thin one's with clasps were suitable for you, then I would opt for them.

Saying that the choice is yours of course, but I'm more than happy with my NHS one's and after a few fittings and a few weeks they felt good. I can eat most things with them and the colour matches in well with my own teeth.

Before I had my new denture I had been advised to look into using the services of a Clinical Dental Technician thise guys are suppose to give a much better fit and service but in the end I went for NHS ones.