FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

 

Where do I go to attend an appointment?

 We come to your home. Many patients are unable to travel to appointments or just prefer the privacy and convenience of us going to see them in their home.

Do I need to prepare?
Please have the sink and counter top cleared for us to work in your kitchen.  Many of our patients do not have a kitchen in that instance we will be creative.
Can my loved one, translator... be present?

 Yes, this may very well be necessary to achieve the results we are after.  If you feel more comfortable with your loved ones present, then please do.  We have successfully constructed dentures on an individual that did not understand a word of English.  Speaking is only one very limited way of communicating.

How long does the entire process take?

 At present, approximately one week to two and a half weeks. This is again dependent upon the type of case and patient availability.

Rush service is available.

How much does it cost?

If you are covered through Alberta Senior Benefit at 100% the out of pocket expense is approximately 1000.00.

Approximately $ 3500- 4000.00 for a new set of dentures with a soft liner on the lower denture.

Do you charge extra to come in home?
No, but exceptions do apply. For example, if you reside beyond the Greater Edmonton Area additional charges will apply, this is at the discretion of the Denturist.
How do I find out if I am eligible for AB Senior Benefit Coverage or AISH or Social Services?
Depending on the type of Alberta dental insurance you have:

Alberta Senior Benefit – We require your Alberta Health Care number as well as your date of birth to verify insurance.  See Alberta Senior Benefit – Dental Coverage For Seniors for more information.

AISH or SS – We require your Recipient Card number and date of birth

If you are unsure whether or not you have coverage we can check for you.

Will it hurt?

 No, not throughout the construction of the dentures.  Follow-up care may be required after the newly fitted prostheses are constructed and it is not uncommon for the denture, usually the lower, to pinch or poke.  Please phone in for an adjustment appointment in this instance.

Are the appointments difficult for me?
No, actually the more relaxed and cooperative the patient, the better the results. It is in both of our best interests that the actual dental appointment remain quick with thorough and accurate results.
What is the level of quality?
At the top. Your success is our success.
What is the scheduling like?

This is perhaps the most challenging part of the mobile operation.  If you are still mobile and do not wish to sit and wait for us we ask you to take your cell.  We always phone prior to confirm the appointment.  We ask that if you need to see your Doctor, or have other appointments….. please do so as we will work around your schedule. Because our operations are completely mobile, appointment scheduling is quite unconventional.  Mobile dental operations are dynamic and the entire days schedule can change quickly.  The Denturist will not leave one appointment for another until the current appointment is complete.  Working with Dementia patients can easily extend a 10 minute appointment to one and a half hours.  We are still regularly delayed by Edmonton construction.

Is this service only for seniors?
No.  Our current patient ages range from 21 to 108 years of age. We have more than a couple dozen patients that are over 100 years old – Centenarians.

If you are active and mobile, we will work around your schedule. We enjoy the challenge of working on a variety of people in ever changing settings. Because our operations are completely mobile, appointment scheduling is quite unconventional. Mobile is dynamic and the entire days schedule can change quickly. If you have a cell, we will call to confirm prior to attending the appointments.

What happens if I move or am discharged from the hospital?
We have followed a patient around to 5 different locations in the course of their denture construction.  This will delay the process.  Please update our office in the event of a move as soon as you are aware.  We quite literally chase our patients around the city.
Is this sanitary?
Absolutely.  Each and every material and piece of equipment is treated with what we call in the industry ‘Universal Precautions’.  Universal Precautions dictate every patient is treated as if they have a highly infectious disease.  This prevents cross-contamination.
Are my new dentures going to look exactly like the old ones?
No.  Each and every denture is made by hand.  99% of the time the new dentures are a huge improvement in appearance as the front teeth that have been worn in a horizontal line have definition once again.  We tell our patients, you have to look good if you are wearing our dentures.  Depending on the case we will have a look at the dentures before they are completed.  It is at this stage that patient input is encouraged.
What materials are involved in making dentures?
Dentures are constructed out of wax then the wax is changed to plastic or acrylic once all design has been verified.  If you have a soft-liner this is a rubber based material.  If you have a partial the metal framework is composed of either chromium cobalt or titanium.
If I want to get my loved one's dentures checked, updated or replaced, where do we start?
Phone into the office 780-457-5841 with the following details in hand:


Current Denture Problems
Approximate age of current dentures
Patient’s – Address (current and future; if it applies)
Patient’s – Date of Birth
Patient’s – Insurance number Alberta Health Care number (uli number), AISH recipient card number or Social Services number; if you wish us to verify eligibility for denture work.

Did You Know?

The tongue can grow to 1 1/2 times its regular size, without lower back teeth(molars) or a lower denture worn consistently.

The tongue is a muscle and without the lower denture or teeth to grind the food, your tongue is having to do all the work.  This is a regular muscle work out.  With replacement of a lower denture the tongue will shrink down to its normal size usually within a couple of months.

TMJ 784687Hearing can be impaired if your jaws are not held far enough apart.

In the dental industry we call this a loss of verticle.  This is seen in patients: not wearing a lower denture, if either or both the dentures are extremely worn down or patient without back teeth or are without  a partial on the lower.
Because the lower jaw can only swing up and forward the hinge part of the jaw bone can jutt into the ear, creating pressure on the ear drum.

Many Patients With Loose Fitting Dentures Also Have Denture Induced Hyperplasia

Cause is from loose fitting upper denture.  This is a bubbled raised red area on the palate of the mouth.  May go unnoticed as the upper denture will appear to have a much tighter fit than the lower.  This condition is also pain free.
Rule of thumb:  If the lower denture is loose ask your Denturist to check the fit of the upper as well.  Relining will tighten the dentures again and will in many instances tone and heal the palate of the mouth again.

Xerostomia – Dry Mouth

This is the most common side effect of medications.  Biotene is one product on the market that will replace the lost saliva.

Denture Adhesive

Our patients’  favorite is Poligrip – Strong Hold  This can be used sparingly in the lower denture to achieve a similar fit to that of the upper.  The lower denture can only be made as tight as the amount of bone you have left in your mouth allows.

For a super tight fit of both upper and lower dentures there is always the option of Implant – Over Dentures.

Dental Allergies

Inform your Denturist that you have allergies before work has begun.  Many of the denture allergies arise from uncooked plastic.  When the plastic portion or the gum portion of the dentures are processed / cooked, there are two components: monomer and acrylic.  If the curing time is too short, the excess monomer has not had time to evaporate out of the denture.  The excess monomer will create denture irritations that will appear as an allergy.  Another common allergy is to the metal framework of a partial denture.  Many of the metal frameworks are composed of chromium & cobalt.  One alternative is titanium.

***  Please be advised that the above scenarios do not pertain to all situations or persons and are not necessarily the norm.  The above entries are for informative purposes only.  If you are experiencing difficulty or have questions or concerns about your dentures, contact your Denturist directly.