Hi everyone.
I'm 62 and, over the past few years, have lost several molars, either through being extracted and not replaced, or simply by breaking. The last trauma was when a crown snapped off -it fitted back on the stump beautifully, but the dentist said she couldn't just glue it back on as there as some decay in the stump (quelle surprise - expensive treatment is the only alternative!)
I'd say I have 5-6 gaps where large back teeth should be. This last loss has made chewing noticeably more difficult - steak, apples etc are now a lengthy chore to eat, and I have visions of being fed Complan and Semolina for the rest of my days.
Rather than start paying for expensive implants, I enquired about dentures. I was quite happy…well, not happy exactly…with the prices quoted but was wondering which of the three would be best. I would like comfort (ie, not to know that it’s there) and efficiency (to be able to enjoy a steak again). As far as I recall, the cheapest was a simple plastic palate with two dentures attached to it. Those two replacement teeth would, I feel make all the difference. The next, slightly more expensive, option, was a thinner plastic. The third was what she described as a “metal” plate – I don’t imagine this is wrought iron, but presumably some very thin and flexible metal.
I don’t mind paying a little extra – is it as simple as it seems, that the most expensive option will be the best?
Hunt, the Chancellor, gets his figures wrong!