The production of a precisely fitting aesthetic denture that results in a new smile and a firm bite requires trained hands and complex specialist knowledge. The high individuality of the teeth and the intimacy of the mouth area means that dentures cannot be mass produced.
How common are dentures, and are there different types?
Dentures are a topic that at some point in life affects almost everyone. Natural teeth are exposed to many influences in the course of life, and a life-long preservation of them is not always possible. With a denture, either the destroyed tooth is built up or the gap created is closed. In short, the generic term „dentures“ can be divided into several areas. For example, there are fixed dentures (crowns, bridges or inlays) and removable dentures (full denture or partial denture). Another area is implant dentures – it is a surgical component that interfaces with the bone of the jaw or skull to support a dental prosthesis to act as an orthodontic anchor.
How much does a denture cost and who pays for it?
A bit like asking how much a car costs, the question of the cost of a dental prosthesis is not so easy to answer, because the options for the patient are dependent on their personal situation. The production of an implant takes time and is dependent on the variety of materials used. In order to be able to calculate the costs, the dental fee must be included as well as the manufacturing costs in the dental laboratory. Before deciding on the new denture, the dentist will draw up an individual cost proposal for the patient. People covered by medical insurance receive a fixed subsidy from their health insurance for dentures. The patient is free to choose the dentures and the fixed allowances do not change. Privately insured people receive the reimbursement or subsidy depending on their tariff.
The dental technician can provide valuable tips and information with his or her know-how, including in the field of materials science.
What exactly does the dental technician do?
The job of the dental technician is to create the tailor-made denture – think of the dentist as the engineer, and the dental technicion as the architect. The dental technician creates the tailor-made denture – the shape, color and function must work together as one unit. The dentist often includes the dental technician in the planning before the actual treatment. Together, solutions are sought based on the patient’s request. The dental technician can provide valuable tips and information with his or her know-how, including in the field of materials science. Ideally, the dental technician gets to know the patient on a personal level – this is so the patient can be open about their wishes, such as the tooth shade they would like.
How long have dentures been around?
Dentures are not an achievement of modern times. The history of dentures is old, and beautiful teeth have been associated with health and strength since ancient times. Back then, dentures were mainly used for cosmetic corrections. Even among the Etruscans there were master dental technicians who knew how to use art to complete rows of teeth. In the 19th century, porcelain teeth were made for the first time, which were connected to metal and rubber to form prostheses. And of course today, beautiful and healthy teeth are a symbol of well-being. A variety of materials for a dental prosthesis are available to the dental technician to work with. With modern ceramics or plastics, healthy teeth can be imitated in such a way that there is no discernable difference to the real tooth. Aside from the aesthetics, the real function of dentures is so the patient can eat, speak and laugh naturally and with confidence.
