Advice re chrome partial dentures, please
A friend of mine is considering chrome partial dentures (private dentistry and very expensive) to replace her NHS ones. Does anyone have first- or close-hand knowledge as to whether the additional cost would be worth it in terms of durability, comfort, care, possible later add-ons etc. Or any contraindications?
I've had a look on the Internet and most sites seem to be either those of other private dentists, or info about what's available on the NHS.
Any advice that I could pass on would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Holistic
Answers:
Not heard of these & may regret question, but is chrome the make or the material that they are made from? [sm=scratchchin.gif]
With regard to NHS or Private - I imagine like most things there's good & bad in both, depending on local service, dentist, etc. [:@]
And.
Answers:
Hi Holistic,
I worked for an NHS dentist years ago and chrome dentures were always privately done because of the cost of the material etc. The benefits are that compared to plastic dentures they are very lightweight and so not so bulky in the mouth. Plastic dentures tend to cover a lot of the palate which lessens the ability to taste things and judge temp of the food you are about to eat. They are easier to clean because of the smooth surface of the metal.
Of course, technology may have marched on since I worked at the Dentist's !
Hope this is of some help
Love and light
reikiangel
xxx
Answers:
Hi Anahata
Chrome is the material, I've also seen it referred to on the Internet as chrome/cobalt.
From what I can make out from my friend's description of someone else's on a plaster mould that she was shown at the dentist, and pix I have seen, again on the Internet, instead of a solid bit of pink plastic covering the roof of the mouth, it's a kind of lattice of thin bits of the metal - rather like one of those apple pies with strips of pastry over the top of the apple instead of a pastry lid.
She wondered if it was worth paying the extra - something in the order of £500+.
Hi Reikiangel
Many thanks for your reply. Does my description above tie in with those you've seen? Did you ever hear of any complaints/regrets/intolerances to the metal etc?
Holistic
Answers:
Hi Holistic,
Your description is correct. Chrome cobalt is the material because it is the strongest metal that can be used that doesn't irritate the mouth. Because of it's strength you need less of it, hence the 'strips' of metal that your friend saw on the dental model. From memory we never had anybody complain about problems with their chrome dentures as they are precsion made.
Hope this helps,
Love and light
reikiangel
xxx
Answers:
Hi Reikiangel
Many thanks. I'll pass this on.
Holistic
Answers:
Hi Holistic,
Only just read your message and registered especially to answer you.
I am a dental technician working at 'Ceroplast Dental Laboratory' Based in Worcester, England.
I specialise in Co/Cr dentures.
The metal is an alloy of various metals. The Co/ refers to 'Cobalt' and the /Cr to 'Chrome'. These being the main two constituents of the alloy.
Co/Cr dentures are far more preferable to their acrylic counterparts for a great number of reasons.
1, Delicacy and finness of the whole.
2, Strength and durability.
3, Aesthetic and prosthetic implications
There are contra-indications with the metals used, specifically with regard to Nickel, allthough this is uncommon. Many Co/Cr alloys are now available that are nickel free. we use just such an alloy at our laboratory. ('Chroform Excel' made by a company called 'schottlander').
However, it should be born in mind that contra-indications allso occur in the use of materials used in acrylic dentures, specifically a reaction to the molimer used in manufacture. Again alternative materials are available allthough they are not widely used and are an expensive alternative.
Apart from the benefits listed above at (1,2,3) , There are fantastic advantages to be gained when care and attention is given to the design and construction of a Co/Cr denture which simply cannot be realised with an acrylic denture, due to the strenghth and properties of the metals.
These 'design factors' have very real implications in both the short and long term use of a denture and the long term prognosis of the oral health of the patient.
The details are too involved to go into here, but if you would like further info or details, please feel free to E-Mail me: karl.banks@tiscali.co.uk.
In short, they include such benefits as:
1, They can be made 'gingivally free'.
2, Extra support can be included in the form of 'occlusal rests'.
3, They can be designed to leave the palate free of any prosthesis.
4, They can indeed be added to in future, liason with the dentist ensures that a prosthesis that works for the patient in the long term is achieved.
Etc, Etc.
They are definatley worth the extra investment. It should be born in mind that the extra cost reflects the higher costs of fabrication, the increased level of expertise and detail that is involved and the quality of the job overall.
Hope this is helpfull, any questions or comments, E-Mail me.
Kind regards,
Karl.
I've had a look on the Internet and most sites seem to be either those of other private dentists, or info about what's available on the NHS.
Any advice that I could pass on would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Holistic
Answers:
Not heard of these & may regret question, but is chrome the make or the material that they are made from? [sm=scratchchin.gif]
With regard to NHS or Private - I imagine like most things there's good & bad in both, depending on local service, dentist, etc. [:@]
And.
Answers:
Hi Holistic,
I worked for an NHS dentist years ago and chrome dentures were always privately done because of the cost of the material etc. The benefits are that compared to plastic dentures they are very lightweight and so not so bulky in the mouth. Plastic dentures tend to cover a lot of the palate which lessens the ability to taste things and judge temp of the food you are about to eat. They are easier to clean because of the smooth surface of the metal.
Of course, technology may have marched on since I worked at the Dentist's !
Hope this is of some help
Love and light
reikiangel
xxx
Answers:
Hi Anahata
Chrome is the material, I've also seen it referred to on the Internet as chrome/cobalt.
From what I can make out from my friend's description of someone else's on a plaster mould that she was shown at the dentist, and pix I have seen, again on the Internet, instead of a solid bit of pink plastic covering the roof of the mouth, it's a kind of lattice of thin bits of the metal - rather like one of those apple pies with strips of pastry over the top of the apple instead of a pastry lid.
She wondered if it was worth paying the extra - something in the order of £500+.
Hi Reikiangel
Many thanks for your reply. Does my description above tie in with those you've seen? Did you ever hear of any complaints/regrets/intolerances to the metal etc?
Holistic
Answers:
Hi Holistic,
Your description is correct. Chrome cobalt is the material because it is the strongest metal that can be used that doesn't irritate the mouth. Because of it's strength you need less of it, hence the 'strips' of metal that your friend saw on the dental model. From memory we never had anybody complain about problems with their chrome dentures as they are precsion made.
Hope this helps,
Love and light
reikiangel
xxx
Answers:
Hi Reikiangel
Many thanks. I'll pass this on.
Holistic
Answers:
Hi Holistic,
Only just read your message and registered especially to answer you.
I am a dental technician working at 'Ceroplast Dental Laboratory' Based in Worcester, England.
I specialise in Co/Cr dentures.
The metal is an alloy of various metals. The Co/ refers to 'Cobalt' and the /Cr to 'Chrome'. These being the main two constituents of the alloy.
Co/Cr dentures are far more preferable to their acrylic counterparts for a great number of reasons.
1, Delicacy and finness of the whole.
2, Strength and durability.
3, Aesthetic and prosthetic implications
There are contra-indications with the metals used, specifically with regard to Nickel, allthough this is uncommon. Many Co/Cr alloys are now available that are nickel free. we use just such an alloy at our laboratory. ('Chroform Excel' made by a company called 'schottlander').
However, it should be born in mind that contra-indications allso occur in the use of materials used in acrylic dentures, specifically a reaction to the molimer used in manufacture. Again alternative materials are available allthough they are not widely used and are an expensive alternative.
Apart from the benefits listed above at (1,2,3) , There are fantastic advantages to be gained when care and attention is given to the design and construction of a Co/Cr denture which simply cannot be realised with an acrylic denture, due to the strenghth and properties of the metals.
These 'design factors' have very real implications in both the short and long term use of a denture and the long term prognosis of the oral health of the patient.
The details are too involved to go into here, but if you would like further info or details, please feel free to E-Mail me: karl.banks@tiscali.co.uk.
In short, they include such benefits as:
1, They can be made 'gingivally free'.
2, Extra support can be included in the form of 'occlusal rests'.
3, They can be designed to leave the palate free of any prosthesis.
4, They can indeed be added to in future, liason with the dentist ensures that a prosthesis that works for the patient in the long term is achieved.
Etc, Etc.
They are definatley worth the extra investment. It should be born in mind that the extra cost reflects the higher costs of fabrication, the increased level of expertise and detail that is involved and the quality of the job overall.
Hope this is helpfull, any questions or comments, E-Mail me.
Kind regards,
Karl.