Crowns vs. dentures? is it worth it?

My teeth are in pretty bad shape, and I finally got the courage to go to the dentist again. I need to replace most of my teeth with either crowns, veneers, root canals and I need 1 partial. My friend said that it would be cheaper just to get dentures since I need to replace almost all teeth. I am 26 years old and I lost my 2nd teeth at the age of 8. By the time I was a teenager it was pretty much too late to save the teeth. So anyone out there have any ideas what I could do? Because I can’t afford to spend a fortune but I got some money saved up. I also don’t know how it will affect my eating and everyday life to have most teeth in crowns and root canal treatments. I also want it to be as natural as possible that’s why I didn’t wanted the dentures

Crowns vs. dentures? is it worth it?
Once you have a tooth pulled, your jaw bone starts to shrink. At first, your dentures will have something to sit on, but after about 20 years, so much of your bone will have atrophied or shrunk, that it will be difficult to keep your dentures from flopping around in your mouth. I also know people with dentures who say that most of the day they simply don't bother to wear their dentures because they are painful after a few hours. Kind of like wearing a pair of shoes that sort of fit well enough to wear for a few hours a day, but after awhile your feet are sore and you have to take them off. Crowns work fine, even root canals. I have several of both. Yeah, sometimes the dentist doesn't get it exactly right the first time so you have to go back (for instance, the root canal might be painful afterwards so the dentist has to do a little more tinkering with the tooth, or a crown might fall off, so you have to have it re-cemented), but overall, you're better off to try to save as much of your own teeth as you can. Quite expensive, yes, but my brother-in-law who is a dentist often trades work for work... you might be able to find a dentist who needs what you can provide, whether it's tax services, yard work, painting his house, fixing his car, etc., so that you can get a big discount. Do you own a home? Maybe a line of credit on your house. Would the dentist accept monthly payments?





The markup on crowns is really amazing... I remember my bro-in-law telling me (about 15 yrs ago) that the actual crown costs him only $50., and root canals don't cost much more than that-- they are both really big mark-up items. Fillings and cleanings not nearly so much. Still a dentist has to pay back all of his school loans and pay for his office staff and rent and expensive machines... So just call around, ask to speak with the dentist himself, not the staff, (he'll probably have to call you back) and try to make a deal. You'd be surprised. Some dentists who are just starting out really need the work and would be willing to give a big discount. Good luck with whatever you decide. Oh, implants would cost an arm and a leg, but, just so you know, they stop the jaw bone from shrinking.
Reply:i wish i knew my self. I'm in the same boat and can not decide what i want to do either. ill star this and check back. thanks for asking it.
Reply:if you could save the teeth you have ....please do. try to hang onto them as long as you could. nothing worse than dentures.
Reply:From someone who has had pretty extensive dental work done at the ripe ol' age of 23, I suggest that you save your teeth, at all costs. Even though I don't have insurance, I have spent a small fortune on several crowns (and a root canal). I don't know how many people I've talked to, got dentures and sorely regret it. Once you get them pulled, there's no going back. You mentioned you have money saved up-but few things are more important than a strong, healthy smile. Dental offices do offer payment plans, but those don't usually cover much. Getting your teeth back into condition may seen overwhelming at first, but take baby-steps. Whatever you can do each visit. And definitely shop around. Prices on crowns vary from $700-$1,500.


-Whoever said your teeth are like gold, knew what they were talking about.
Reply:Dental Insurance today is the same as it was in the 1970's. The average Dental Insurance plan covers Preventative 100% (cleanings, flouride rinse and 4 bite wings), Basic 80% (fillings both compostie and amalgam) and Major 50 % (endodontic and crn and bridge). That is just a general idea. Invest in your mouth becasue at 26 these are the only teeth you will ever get. DO NOT LISTEN TO YOUR FRIEND AND GET A DENTURE.......unless you had a mouth like a crackhead (and I am not trying to be funny because I work at a jail) you should not get dentures just because they are "CHEAPER". The palletal bone in the roof of your mouth does shrink over time and the suction between the denture and that bone weakens therefore, causing the denture to flop in and out of your mouth. If you needed a denture the dentist you went to would have suggested it.
Reply:Save the teeth if you can you will have alot of hassle with dentures first you need the teeth pulled out and a temporary denture put in which is not nice at all especially to get used to having a plate in your mouth all the time then you go back for your real dentures and you need check them and keep getting them to change shape as your mouth changes with out teeth i would keep wat you have
Reply:If you can possibly save your teeth do it .Because your natural teeth even with a partial will function much , much better than a denture .If it is a lower denture then If I were you Iwould definately keep my natural teeth. You are concerned about how you will eat and speak and function with crowns and root canals ,a root canal will not affect the appearance of teeth just the nerve inside the tooth . Crowns are made from an impression of the tooth in your mouth and normally doesnt affect you speech or eating at all . Dentures would be placing something in the roof of your mouth and the way you speak is effected by the way you tongue strikes the roof of your mouth so that would definately be affected and eating with a denture is also going to be a task because you have nothing to keep it in place . And dentures do not change but as you age your mouth will change and the denture will get loose and you would likely need it relined or to have a new one . Another option you might look into would be implant supported crowns or implant supported overdenture they are exspensive but if you have to go to a denture at least you would have something to hold it in your mouth .Consult with a dentist that performs all of these procedures crowns, rootcanals,dentures and implants and see what is your best cost effecient option .Hope this helps .
Reply:I guess I'm different than most here, but I say go with dentures. I had over $7,000 worth of crowns put in on my uppers and several root canals, extractions, etc....I feel like I've lived at the dentist office ! I am now 48 and all the crowns are coming loose because of bone loss. So, it's not always a permanent fix. Now, I have no choice but to get dentures! And, they are less than all the crowns. It's less for me to get a full set both upper and lower dentures than it was for me to get upper crowns! There is a place called Care Credit, which is becoming the standard for dental expenses and there is no interest charged. ask your dentist about this.
Reply:If you can afford it try to save a s many of the lowers that you can. You do not want a lower denture!! Doc W