Some advice regarding a denture

Emmy

As some may already be aware I have had the 'screws' for my dental implants put in today which involved taking out my bridge and replacing it with a denture.

Apart from the fact I hate the denture (wouldn't anyone) whilst the palate fit is okay the colour is wrong and the 'teeth' look too small.....why they couldn't have made it an exact replica of my teeth (bridge) from the impression I will never know!!!!

What I would like advice on is, I pay for my NHS treatment and this obviously cost me £194..... can I ask my dentist to redo it due to the colour and appearance of the teeth on the denture or will they say yes but can we have another £194 please?????

Any advice what I should say or do????

Emmy xx

Toothsmith

Colour and appearence is a 'cosmetic' issue. The NHS doesn't 'do' cosmetic!

Frankly I'm surprised that they have done any part of an implant treatment on the NHS. Are you having the implants on the NHS by any miracle?

For the price you are paying for the implants (I'm assuming they're not NHS) the cost of a decent private denture wouldn't be much more than the £194 NHS charge - and there'd be many more options in the style of tooth to choose from.

Why was the denture done on the nHS?

Emmy

I am having my implants done at a teaching hospital so no I am not paying for them...... they will also be breaking my lower jaw, resetting and sorting our my lower teeth.

I appreciate that they don't 'do' cosmetic but the wrong colour on the chart was obviously chosen.....by alot..... not just a teeny bit out. I also cannot close my mouth properly as my lower teeth touch the roof of my mouth when I don't have a plate in my mouth.... so now my lower teeth hit the plate before my back teeth touch!!! Eating is going to be a nightmare, havn't tried yet due to just having had the implants in.

Wish I had known about it only being a bit more to go private because I would have....your front two teeth are the first thing people see when they look at you.

So you don't think I 'have a leg to stand' on then...... bluddy hell!!!

TomsMom

Apart from the fact I hate the denture (wouldn't anyone) whilst the palate fit is okay the colour is wrong and the 'teeth' look too small.....why they couldn't have made it an exact replica of my teeth (bridge) from the impression I will never know!!!!

Did the dentist show you the little sample teeth when choosing the colour for your denture? Did he choose and ask you if you were happy with the choice of colour as a good match or did you choose?

can I ask my dentist to redo it due to the colour and appearance of the teeth on the denture or will they say yes but can we have another £194 please?????

If your dentist chose the colour of the denture without asking if you were happy then I would certainly tell him that you are not satisfied and would like the denture remade with teeth that are a better colour and size match and that you don't expect to pay for it as you weren't asked your opinion originally.

I have had a two-tooth denture for many many years and each time it is renewed the colour match has been excellent, so has the shape of the teeth. I know the NHS choice is limited compared to what a private dentist can offer but my NHS denture was always a good match.

I hope you get it sorted to your satisfaction.

Emmy

TomsMom wrote: »

Did the dentist show you the little sample teeth when choosing the colour for your denture? Did he choose and ask you if you were happy with the choice of colour as a good match or did you choose?

He chose it...... I just opened my mouth whilst he did his job

I hope you get it sorted to your satisfaction.
Thanks

The trouble that I am having internally with this is that I have only been with this dentist for a short time..... he doesn't relly know me so he is going to think I am a trouble causer and I am not I just want teeth that look like my own and that function......tried to eat a bowl of rice krispies...... took me 40mins because my teeth don't meet as the denture gets in the way.

Also, long story with regards to this denture *make a coffe and I will explain*

I went for my impressions ddentist only works on a Thursday, he knew that the following Thursday (24th) I was needing it as my bridge would be taken out and implants done so due to pick up the denture on the wednesday (23rd)

I rang on the Wednesday (23rd) to ask if they had my denture "no there has been a problem, so they haven't done it" she said she would get the nurse to ring me back and explain.

Nurse rang me back and said that the lab had identified that my teeth wouldn't be able to meet if I had a plate in my mouth so hadn't done it.

I explained that I had a denture from couple/three years ago but only wanted a new one for a better fit and if I wasn't going to get a better fit they I may as well use the old one and save £194!!!! my reasoning was which I did explain was that if I had a rubbish fit with a new one then I may as well have an equally rubbish fit with the old one and save money!!!!!

We agreed that I would go and have the implants done, let the hospital fiddle with my old denture to make it fit, if it was awful then I would ring and ask the lab to go ahead and make me a new one, if it was okay then I would just use the old one. Agreed phone down.

15 mins later she rings me to tell me that the lab had gone and done it (whilst I was on the phone to her I assume) so, I then went and picked it up and paid on the 24th.

So theoretically I had said don't bother but they did and I have to pay for it.

I want to get this right in terms of telling my dentist that it isn't acceptable in terms of looks and function but I don't want to appear stroppy, what do I do?? Couldn't they have made me something that clipped on (my dad has something like that at the side of his mouth) so that it wouldn't have interfered with my bite??

Bang goes your confidence when something like this happens.....I work with the public and I need to feel that I look okay, the shape of the new teeth and size is so different from what I had before even after a sleep with fresh eyes they look awful.....just like a denture!!!



Feeling really fed up and wishing they could have stuck my bridge back in

Toothsmith

If it isn't fitting - that's a functional issue. If the denture isn't functioning right -then you have a case to argue.

I would go back but play more on the poor fit and inability to bite rather than the look.

If something different needs to be done - then ask a few more questions about the appearence as it's being made!

Even on the NHS though, you should have been given some input into the appearence side.

Emmy

Have sent you a PM toothsmith