Losing teeth can affect how you eat, speak, and feel about yourself. Dentures are a popular and reliable way to replace missing teeth. But who makes dentures?
That’s where a denturist comes in. This article explains what a denturist is and what they do. We’ll explore their role in providing denture care, from the first consultation to fitting your new teeth. We’ll cover what to expect when you go to a denturist and whether a denturist is the right choice for you.
What is a Denturist?
A denturist is a dental professional who specializes in making, fitting, and repairing dentures. They’re certified technicians who focus specifically on dentures, including full dentures, partial dentures, and dentures that are supported by implants.
Denturists have a range of responsibilities, including:
- Assessing patients’ needs
- Creating treatment plans
- Making and modifying dentures
- Creating mouthguards
A denturist provides full-service denture care, including exams, consultations, and repairs.
What role does a dentist play in denture care?
Dentists diagnose and treat conditions that affect your oral health. That might include preparing your mouth for dentures or making sure your existing dentures fit properly.
Dentists primarily focus on your overall oral health and on procedures that restore your natural teeth. For example, if you still have natural teeth, a dentist can decide which ones are healthy enough to be saved or if there are any that need to be repaired.
To get the best results, it’s often a good idea to work with both a dentist and a denturist. Dentists and denturists often collaborate to give you the best possible denture care.
Denturist vs. Dentist: What’s the difference?
It’s easy to see how people might confuse a denturist and a dentist. Both work in oral care, but they have different areas of expertise.
Scope of Practice
The main difference is that dentists treat oral health problems, while denturists mainly design, create, and repair dentures. Denturists can’t diagnose or treat oral health problems and ideally should work with a dentist’s oversight.
When to See Each Professional
You should see a dentist for any oral health diagnosis or treatment. But if you’re interested in dentures, a denturist can discuss your options and create custom-fitted dentures just for you.
For complex cases, dentists and denturists can collaborate to give you the best possible outcome.
What kinds of denture services do denturists provide?
Denturists fabricate and fit dentures, and they can also help with other aspects of denture care.
Complete dentures
Complete dentures are full sets of artificial teeth that replace all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw.
Partial dentures
Partial dentures replace a few missing teeth, and they’re designed to use your existing teeth for support.
Implant-supported dentures
With implant-supported dentures, the dentures are anchored to dental implants for greater stability. This is a more recent option than traditional dentures.
Additional services
In addition to creating dentures from scratch, denturists also offer denture repair and relining services. In some cases, they can provide same-day denture repair and maintenance.
Why see a denturist?
Denturists specialize in tooth loss solutions, offering expertise you may not find elsewhere.
Denturists know that dentures need to be custom-fitted to work well and look natural. Ill-fitting dentures can cause a lot of problems, from pain and discomfort to difficulty eating and speaking.
Well-made dentures can improve your oral function, make you feel better about your smile, boost your self-esteem, and generally improve your quality of life.
Choosing the right professional and understanding costs
If you’re considering dentures, talk with a dental professional about your options and to find the best course of action for your needs.
The cost of dentures can vary, but you can generally expect to pay somewhere between $1,300 and $3,300 for a complete set of standard dentures. Keep in mind that premium dentures and implant-supported dentures can be more expensive.
When you speak with your dentist or denturist, ask about the different kinds of dentures available, including full, partial, and implant-supported dentures, and consider which kind will work best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What states have denturists?
Not all states recognize denturists as independent practitioners. Currently, a limited number of states and Canadian provinces allow denturists to directly provide denture services to the public. The specific regulations vary by location, so it’s essential to check local laws.
Does a denturist extract teeth?
No, denturists are not qualified or licensed to extract teeth. Tooth extractions are procedures performed by dentists or oral surgeons. If you require tooth removal, you will need to consult with a dentist.
What is the difference between a dentist and a denturist?
Dentists have broader training in all aspects of oral healthcare, including diagnosing and treating dental diseases, performing surgeries, and providing restorative treatments. Denturists specialize specifically in the fabrication, fitting, and adjustment of removable dentures.
What does a denturist do?
A denturist primarily focuses on designing, creating, and fitting removable dentures for patients who have lost some or all of their natural teeth. They take impressions of the mouth, construct dentures based on those impressions, and ensure the dentures fit comfortably and function properly.
The Bottom Line
It’s important to know the difference between dentists and denturists when it comes to getting dentures. A denturist specializes in dentures, so they can often provide you with the specialized care you need. If you’re looking to restore your smile and improve your oral health with dentures, talk to a qualified dental professional today.