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I have talked to many, many patients who have had denture problems that have not been solved with a new set of dentures (sometimes multiple sets).

Some patients who contact me ask me what questions they should be asking a dentist before having dentures made.

In response to this I have suggested that patients would ask a dentist proposing to make dentures for them the following questions. They are a good way to gauge if the dentist takes a particular interest in this area of dentistry. The vast majority of dentists do their absolute best to provide a high level of treatment to all their patients however, being a general dentist their expertise may not lie in the area of denture construction:

We will reveal the question, a good answer (the answer you should expect from a good dentist) and the TDIC answer (this answer is what you can expect if you come to The Denture and Implant Clinic:

01. Do you make a lot of dentures each year?

02. Will I get to meet with the denture technician direct?

03. How close is the dental laboratory to the clinic?

04. Impressions tend to distort, what do you do to prevent this?

05. The bite on a denture can be very difficult to record, how do you go about this?

06. How do you ensure the appearance of the denture is life-like?

07. If the finished dentures need adjustments how is this done?

08. Can you provide dental implant treatment if I require it?

09. Do you provide 3D dentures™?

The above questions are really suggestions to stimulate a discussion between the dentist and patient. If the dentist is willing to spend time answering these questions and is knowledgeable about the answers it is more likely he will spend more time with you to ensure the best results. If you are in any doubt we offer a free consultation with no obligation, you are more than welcome to come along and get another opinion.

Following on from question 8, “Can you provide dental implant treatment if I require it?“, in our series of 9 key questions you should ask the dentist making your dentures, here is the final question:

Do you provide 3D dentures™?

Good answer: Even a good dentist is unlikely to provide this as The Denture and Implant Clinic was the first to bring this technology over from the US.

TDIC Answer: We are proud that we were the first clinic to bring this technology to the UK. 3D™ denture impressions are not just impressions of the gums, but are impressions of the way the tongue lies on the denture on the inside and the way the cheeks lie on the denture on the outside. Taking these detailed impressions allows the denture to feel more a part of your mouth than a traditional denture and improves the fit.

The above questions are really suggestions to stimulate a discussion between the dentist and patient. If the dentist is willing to spend time answering these questions and is knowledgeable about the answers it is more likely he will spend more time with you to ensure the best results. If you are in any doubt we offer a free consultation with no obligation, you are more than welcome to come along and get another opinion.

Following on from question 7, “If the finished dentures need adjustments how is this done?“, in our series of 9 key questions you should ask the dentist making your dentures, here is question 8:

Can you provide dental implant treatment if I require it?

Good answer: Yes, we can provide basic implant treatment for simple cases. We would refer a patient for more complex cases.

TDIC answer: It is important to offer all treatment options to patients in a non-pressured manner. We are able to provide all denture and all implant treatment, from the very simple cases to the most complex cases. We also provide mini dental implants which is a cost effective way of anchoring the denture into place.

The above questions are really suggestions to stimulate a discussion between the dentist and patient. If the dentist is willing to spend time answering these questions and is knowledgeable about the answers it is more likely he will spend more time with you to ensure the best results. If you are in any doubt we offer a free consultation with no obligation, you are more than welcome to come along and get another opinion.

Following on from question 6, “How do you ensure the appearance of the denture is life-like?“, in our series of 9 key questions you should ask the dentist making your dentures, here is question 7:

If the finished dentures need adjustments how is this done?

Good answer: If the dentist does not use pressure indicating paste I would expect him to explain that adjustments should be carefully done with a minimal amount of adjustment i.e. it is better for you to come back two or three times than have too much taken of the denture in one go.

TDIC answer: We use a special paste to shown up any high spots, as minimal adjustment is very important to ensure the strength of the denture.

We will publish question 8 soon, but if you want to get a copy of all 9 questions contact us now to order a brochure.

The above questions are really suggestions to stimulate a discussion between the dentist and patient. If the dentist is willing to spend time answering these questions and is knowledgeable about the answers it is more likely he will spend more time with you to ensure the best results. If you are in any doubt we offer a free consultation with no obligation, you are more than welcome to come along and get another opinion.

Following on from question 5, “The bite on a denture can be very difficult to record, how do you go about this?“, in our series of 9 key questions you should ask the dentist making your dentures, here is question 6:

How do you ensure the appearance of the denture is life-like?

Good answer: The dentist may say it can take two or three wax try-ins to get this right. This is normally a good sign as it shows they are willing to work with you to get the best appearance.

TDIC answer: Rather than sending the work backwards and forwards to the technician, the denture technician will move the teeth with the patient in the chair. This can take some time but it makes sure the patient is always happy with the appearance.

We will publish question 7 soon, but if you want to get a copy of all 9 questions contact us now to order a brochure.

The above questions are really suggestions to stimulate a discussion between the dentist and patient. If the dentist is willing to spend time answering these questions and is knowledgeable about the answers it is more likely he will spend more time with you to ensure the best results. If you are in any doubt we offer a free consultation with no obligation, you are more than welcome to come along and get another opinion.

Following on from question 4, “Impressions tend to distort, what do you do to prevent this?“, in our series of 9 key questions you should ask the dentist making your dentures, here is question 5:

The bite on a denture can be very difficult to record, how do you go about this?

Good answer: Most dentists will manipulate the lower jaw back into a relaxed position for someone taking a special interest in dentures I would expect them to say this may need to be repeated at the next appointment also i.e. the try-in visit.

TDIC answer: We use an Intra-Oral Gothic Arch Tracing. This is arguably the most reliable way of getting the bite correct and has a big impact on enjoyable eating. Probably less than 1 in 100 dentists use this method.

We will publish question 6 soon, but if you want to get a copy of all 9 questions contact us now to order a brochure.

The above questions are really suggestions to stimulate a discussion between the dentist and patient. If the dentist is willing to spend time answering these questions and is knowledgeable about the answers it is more likely he will spend more time with you to ensure the best results. If you are in any doubt we offer a free consultation with no obligation, you are more than welcome to come along and get another opinion.

Following on from question 3, “How close is the dental laboratory to the clinic?”, in our series of 9 key questions you should ask the dentist making your dentures, here is question 4:

Impressions tend to distort, what do you do to prevent this?

Good answer: There are some very good impression materials that if sent to the laboratories straight away distort less. Ideally the laboratory will be close-by so the impression will not have to lie around for too long.

TDIC answer: We cast the denture impression up straight away as we have the laboratory on site. We believe this provides the most accurate results. We also border mould the impressions which makes for better impressions and therefore a better fitting denture.

We will publish question 5 soon, but if you want to get a copy of all 9 questions contact us now to order a brochure.

The above questions are really suggestions to stimulate a discussion between the dentist and patient. If the dentist is willing to spend time answering these questions and is knowledgeable about the answers it is more likely he will spend more time with you to ensure the best results. If you are in any doubt we offer a free consultation with no obligation, you are more than welcome to come along and get another opinion.

Following on from question 2, “Will I get to meet with the denture technician direct?“, in our series of 9 key questions you should ask the dentist making your dentures, here is question 3:

How close is the dental laboratory to the clinic?

Good answer: Close by, ideally this allows the patient to pop in to the laboratory so the technician can be more involved with the treatment. Also if in the future there was anything of an urgent nature, it is ideal to be able to see both the dentist and technician on the same day e.g. for a repair of any kind.

TDIC answer: Our laboratory is on the same site as the dental practice. This has many advantages e.g. it allows the denture technicians to be involved in every stage of the process, also if there is any emergency we are able to resolve the issue the much faster than a general practice.

We will publish question 4 soon, but if you want to get a copy of all 9 questions contact us now to order a brochure.

The above questions are really suggestions to stimulate a discussion between the dentist and patient. If the dentist is willing to spend time answering these questions and is knowledgeable about the answers it is more likely he will spend more time with you to ensure the best results. If you are in any doubt we offer a free consultation with no obligation, you are more than welcome to come along and get another opinion.