Buying your own denture

kah22

Been well past retirement I've become entitled to free dental care.  However, during the height of the pandemic my normal practise seemed to have been taken over and at the moment they are a few dentists down and they are saying to me until they get a replacement dentist for my old dentist there is nothing they can do.  Well I think that's an excuse that they only want private patients (rant over).  I am of course searching for a new dentist.

My current denture got damaged , due to a medical issue, and I need a new one. The local dental lab said that it could cost between £500 and £800 to make a full upper denture. What £500-£800, do I need a hearing test!!!

Just to sort things out in my own mind have you any idea what it costs to have a full upper denture in your area.  I'm talking about getting the dental lab to make it on a private bases. That is if they are allowed to do it 

brook2jack2

First things first , being retired does not entitle you to free dental treatment unless you are on certain benefits so many or most people who are retired will pay for their dental treatment . 

On the NHS , depending on where in the U.K. you live , that will cost you around £300. 

For the amount of work a technician puts in , as every denture is handmade and each of minimum four visits takes hours of very skilled work to complete , it is a bargain.

If you have no teeth of your own a clinical dental technician (CDT) can make your dentures  for you . If you have any of your own teeth you have to see a dentist first to prescribe them . 

All CDT are private and, in general, because dentures are what they specialise in their prices will be the same or more than a private dentist. 

The price of dentures depends on materials (plastic, flexible, metal) whether they are full or partial , whether they are attached to implants etc . 

I would say £500 to £800 is about average for a full upper denture . 

kah22

brook2jack2 said:

First things first , being retired does not entitle you to free dental treatment unless you are on certain benefits so many or most people who are retired will pay for their dental treatment . 

On the NHS , depending on where in the U.K. you live , that will cost you around £300. 

I would say £500 to £800 is about average for a full upper denture . 

Thanks for the reply.
I live in Northern Ireland, receiving pension credit and housing benefit. I have one upper tooth left, could the dental technician do that?
Again thanks for the reply 👍

brook2jack2

You are only entitled to free treatment if you or your partner recieve guaranteed pension credit , but not if on pension credit savings . 

A clinical dental technician cannot make you a denture if you have a tooth , until you have seen a dentist and had the treatment prescribed. They can only do the whole treatment without a dentist if you have none of your own teeth left.

kah22

Thanks. Your information has been most helpful. 👍