Permanent Dentures and Permanent Dentures Cost

Permanent Dentures

Dentistry has advanced over the years. At first we could replace teeth in the mouth with removable dentures, those were good but sometimes it lacked retention, stability and aesthetics. Furthermore, removing it in and out of the mouth each day became a chore. Nowadays, most people opt for permanent dentures because it mimics our real natural teeth. Plus it overcomes most flaws in removable dentures.

The basic types of permanent dentures in the mouth include Dental Implants, Dental Bridges and Dental Crowns. Dental implants are surgically implanted into the jaw bone. Where else, Dental Bridges and Dental Crowns are usually cemented onto our natural teeth.

Dental Implants

An implant can stay permanently in the mouth because it is directly surgically connected to our living jaw bone. Mostly implants are made of pure titanium, due to its biocompatible nature to our human bone tissue. However there are different types of implants, depending on the needs of the patient. These implants are broadly classified into the following types based on dental implant surgeries:

1. ENDOSSEOUS (en-doss-ee-us)-"within the bone"
   
   

   These implants are made of titanium or titanium covered ceramics which are shaped like a screw or cylinder. They are placed within the jawbone

2. SUBPERIOSTEAL (sub-pear-ee-oss-tee-al)-"on top of the bone"
   
   

   These implants have a metal framework that attaches on top of the jawbone but underneath the gum tissue.

3. TRANSOSTEAL (trans-oss-tee-al)-"through the bone"
   
   

   These implants are either a metal pin or a U-shaped frame that passes through the jawbone and the gum tissue in the mouth.

Other types of classifications also depend on the type of denture base and the number of teeth replaced:

1. To replace a full arch of teeth (full dentures):
   • Implant-retained full arch fixed bridge.
   • Implant-retained complete over denture
2. To replace single tooth or 2-3 teeth :
   • single tooth implant retained
   • Implant-retained anterior fixed bridge

Dental Bridges

Is a prosthetic that replaces a missing tooth or teeth and is attached permanently to one or more of the natural teeth (or implant).

Imagine you have lost one tooth and you are left with a gap. Instead of wearing a whole denture to replace the gap, a bridge can be constructed .This bridge is usually seated between the remaining teeth (abutment teeth) and fused in permanently with a dental cement.

Sometimes when our remaining tooth contains a filling, is fractured or decayed, it is structurally weak. So to support it, the natural crown of the remainder tooth is trimmed and replaced with a new porcelain or gold crown. This new crown is usually fabricated together with the bridge and it exists as one unit.

Dental Crowns

A Dental Crown is a dental restoration procedure which encloses or caps the coronal part of the tooth (the part of the tooth seen in the mouth). Subsequently dental cement is again used to fuse the crown to the natural tooth.

Dental Crowns are usually made when the natural crown of our remaining tooth is structurally weak. When weak, it cannot withstand our chewing forces. So a porcelain or gold crown is used to reinforce the tooth. Most of the time, it is used in Bridges or after an Endodontic (Root Canal Therapy) procedure.

Types of dental crowns:

1. Full coverage (covers whole tooth, usually when there is insufficient tooth substance and tooth structure is week)
2. Post crown (used in Endodontic to cover up the canal orifices exposed through the crown
3. Partial coverage (does not cover the whole crown or coronal part, maybe just ¾ th of the crown )

Permanent Dentures Cost

The Cost of making these permanent dentures in the US:

Dental implant cost:

Tooth implant costs are considerably more expensive than full dentures, partial dentures or fixed bridges. This is because the procedure is considered a surgery and often requires multiple visits. The cost can range from USD$850 to USD$3,500 per tooth or per implant or screw.

Dental Crown cost:

For more affordable permanent dentures, Dental Crowns treatment procedure range from USD$800 to USD$3,200.

Dental Bridges:

Dental Bridge treatment ranges from USD 250 to USD 550 for each attaching wing and USD$600 to USD$1,200 for each false tooth or pontic.

Information source from Intelligent Dental: Intelligent Oral Care