First Set of NHS Dentures - getting spare made straight away

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lilibeth
lilibeth Posts: 442 Forumite
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in Health & beauty MoneySaving
Has anyone had a spare set of dentures made at the same time as they get fitted for their first ever set of dentures?

If so did your dentist charge you the price for a lost set replacement (NHS charge £153.80) or did they make you pay privately for the spare set?

Please No debate (or 'advice')about whether a spare set is needed will be entered into, reasons are private thank you for respecting that :)
*Make every day Caturday*

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  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,074 Forumite
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    A 'spare' set should be charged privately.
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
  • lilibeth
    lilibeth Posts: 442 Forumite
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    Thanks for the quick answer appreciated. :)
    Drat though that will cost a fortune.

    Might I ask do you know if they are able to make a new identical set from their records if it is the same laboratory? Or do you have to send the first set back for them to copy?
    *Make every day Caturday*
  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,074 Forumite
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    It would be best to get 2 sets made at the same time, by the same technician on the same models - but then you'd be paying privately for a 2nd set of NHS dentures! If you're paying privately, you may as well have a private set - unless it's done at a reasonably discounted private price. There is also a bit of a potential issue of 'mixing' NHS and private treatment which could also get the dentist into trouble.

    The best thing really is to have a word with your dentist and see which way of doing this he is most comfortable with.

    Technically, the only proper way to do it would be to make you an NHS set, then completely start again and make a private set. Obviously though, this would be 2 sets of dentures and not one and an exact copy.
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
  • lilibeth
    lilibeth Posts: 442 Forumite
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    Getting fitted twice won't be an option, so if somebody lost their first set shortly after getting them would the original lab be able to make a copy of the originals from their own records? I realise that it would be paid at private rates.
    *Make every day Caturday*
  • brook2jack
    brook2jack Posts: 4,563 Forumite
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    Working models are destroyed in the manufacturing process, they have to be broken off the denture when it is disinvested.

    To make a copy set at the same time acrylic models need to be made of the original dentures using a " copy " technique which need to be tried in etc exactly the same way the originals need to be .

    Here is a video of how dentures are made, in case you are interested https://youtu.be/KV_tCpfnh5w

    you will have to pay privately for "spare" dentures.
  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,074 Forumite
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    If you wanted 2 exact copies of a denture, and time is short - then having a word with the dentist about it would be your best bet.

    Doing 2 at the same time would be very little extra in the way of surgery time than doing 1 set, so ditching the 'NHS' set idea, and just getting yourself 2 sets privately in some sort of 'Buy one get one 1/2 price' deal with your dentist might well work out better for you than having one set NHS and one set private.
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
  • lilibeth
    lilibeth Posts: 442 Forumite
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    edited 20 June 2018 at 3:18PM
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    brook2jack wrote: »
    Working models are destroyed in the manufacturing process, they have to be broken off the denture when it is disinvested.

    To make a copy set at the same time acrylic models need to be made of the original dentures using a " copy " technique which need to be tried in etc exactly the same way the originals need to be .

    Here is a video of how dentures are made, in case you are interested https://youtu.be/KV_tCpfnh5w

    you will have to pay privately for "spare" dentures.
    Thanks, for that :)I would have thought this would be easy with 3d mapping & all.
    Looks like we're still in the dark ages for dentures.
    Toothsmith wrote: »
    If you wanted 2 exact copies of a denture, and time is short - then having a word with the dentist about it would be your best bet.

    Doing 2 at the same time would be very little extra in the way of surgery time than doing 1 set, so ditching the 'NHS' set idea, and just getting yourself 2 sets privately in some sort of 'Buy one get one 1/2 price' deal with your dentist might well work out better for you than having one set NHS and one set private.
    Hi thanks again. Time isn't the issue. We just need a second set as a spare.
    No this will NOT be private it is with the NHS domiciliary dentist & the first set will be free.
    *Make every day Caturday*
  • brook2jack
    brook2jack Posts: 4,563 Forumite
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    3 d mapping is used in cad cam for smaller work such as milled crowns and metalwork such as chrome work , but it is not accurate enough for full dentures and scanning the mouth to the precision needed would be very very very time consuming and technically very difficult. Traditional lab work is far more accurate for dentures at the moment. Also , it goes without saying, this is far too expensive for the set fees for NHS work which often do not even cover the cost of the cheapest lab work eg for chrome dentures.

    Ask the dentist for the persons name to be put in the dentures to help them to be identified if eg you are worried about them getting lost.
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