TIBURON, CA, November 16, 2008
/24-7PressRelease/ -- Fully five out of six dentists find that denture patients expect dentures to be easier than they actually are, reveals a recent survey bydental marketing resource The Wealthy Dentist. The average denture dentist can be frustrated by these unrealistic expectations.
Specialists were more likely to feel their denture patients knew what they were getting into. Of course, a doctor such as a prosthodontist is a specialized denture dentists. "For every procedure that I do, except dentures, I have a single-page consent form," said a California dental implant dentist. "For dentures, my consent form is 4 pages long!"
Expectations for replacement teeth are high. "Advances in cosmetic dentistry have raised denture patients' expectations," said one general dentist. "Many patients think that dentures will solve all of their problems and will never need to be replaced," agreed a Tennessee dentist.
Sometimes, even dentists don't fully understand denture dentistry. "Very well done dentures work much better than most dentists think possible," said a New York dental anesthesiology resident. "I personally only make one or two dentures a year," said a general dentist. "It's hard to stay competent and confident with your skill levels at that rate."
First-time denture wearers face an adjustment period. "New denture patients have a big adjustment. Experienced denture patients are always much easier," said a Texas dentist. "Many immediate denture patients have expectations of better-than-natural teeth function and stability," agreed a Washington dentist. "Good denture wearers are adaptable, even with a poor denture. People who don't adapt to well cannot make a great denture work well."
Like so many other things, dental patients get the false teeth they pay for. "Patients can pay $5-10K for a very well-fitting and functioning denture, but 99% are looking for the very cheapest option," complained a California dentist.
Dentists need to take the time to talk to each denture patient. "If the provider spends the time discussing what to expect at each appointment in the process of construction, then they will know what to expect," offered an Illinois dentist. "When dentures are necessary, I make time to hand set porcelain teeth and give the patient the option of having dental implants to secure their gorgeous new denture to (if there is enough bone to support this treatment). To say that my patients are thrilled and relieved is an understatement," boasted an Alaska dentist.
A West Virginia dentist shared an example of an impossible-to-satisfy patient. "He had tons of retention (even suction on lower dentures!), but he thought they didn't fit because they 'squished' slightly (due to soft tissue compression) when he chewed!"
"Dentists can be victims of their own success!" said Jim Du Molin, dental consultant and founder of dental marketing resource The Wealthy Dentist. "Cosmetic dentists and dental implant dentists can do so much these days, and that's great, but it can leave patients expecting fake teeth that are better than the real thing."
Du Molin invites readers to visit his blog at http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/553/patients-complain-about-dentures/ and comment on this survey.
Visit http://www.thewealthydentist.com to learn more about other Wealthy Dentist surveys on topics such as sedation dentistry, dental implants, braces, and wisdom teeth. Sign up for Jim Du Molin's weekly newsletter and get his insight into dental practice management.
Contact:
Jim Du Molin
415-435-3375
About The Wealthy Dentist
Visit http://www.thewealthydentist.com for more surveys in the areas of dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, edation dentistry, wisdom teeth, braces, and dentures. Jim Du Molin offers a free weekly newsletter and dental practice management advice.
http://www.thewealthydentist.com/PR/089-Denture-Dentist-Patients.htm
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