Preserve Your Smile With Dentures: Financing Your Best Teeth Ever

So you have to have dentures. Regardless of the reason for your tooth loss, your licensed and board certified South Carolina dentist has told you this avenue is the best way to go in order to preserve your smile. But how do you make an informed decision as to what denture option to choose? And how can you afford it? Believe it or not, there are more ways than ever before to find the dentures and the cost that is right for you.

Of course, you’ve already taken the first step by talking to your South Carolina dentist. Even though this seems like a no-brainer, it may be important to discuss the issue with your dentist or orthodontist before it becomes an immediate issue. The reason why you are experiencing tooth loss is just as important to address as the choice of dentures itself. Whether its drugs you are taking for other medical conditions that is affecting your dental health, injury or ineffective dental maintenance, get the doc’s advice. This also means feeling free to consult with several dentists for second and even third opinions.

Other steps on choosing the right dentures are to learn what kinds of dentures are available. Dentures today cover everything from partials to complete dentures to dental implants so your options are considerable. Consider your overall comfort in this phase. You can also determine if you will get your dentures immediately or go the conventional route. The former action involves getting dentures that are created before you have your teeth removed so that you don’t have to go through any embarrassment of having gaps in your smile if the area in question involves your front teeth. However, waiting several months after your teeth are removed will ensure the dentures you receive will have a better fit than the immediate dentures.

Otherwise, dentures are usually covered by most dental health insurance plans in South Carolina. The cost of dentures, depending on the extent and scope of the work, can be as little as $500 with an upper limit of around $2,000 - $3,000 plus dental fees ranging from $400 to $1,200. Although dental insurance has been made available through the workplace in recent years, there are still many who don’t have that fiscal safety net when it comes to their dental work.

Two other dental work payment options in South Carolina involve a medical discount program and student clinical services at the Medical University of South Carolina. Medical discount programs are not dental insurance programs. They accept all individuals regardless of current or past health conditions. Each medical discount program contracts with the majority of dentists in South Carolina to provide their services at a discount—between 20%-40% for most dental services—for the program’s members.

Finally, the College of Dental Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston offers a wide range of patient care programs and clinical services ranging from simple cleanings to the most complex of care involving surgery, crowns, implants and dentures. Although denture fittings usually progress slowly since dental treatment is primarily provided by dental students who are carefully supervised by faculty, the savings can be substantial.