Message Boards
Today's Active Topics Today's Active Cases Browse Forum Categories My Recent Activity My Messages Private Groups My Marked Threads My Subscriptions
Today's Active Images Today's Active Polls Most Active Topics Global Townie Map Advanced Message Board Search Message Board Terms of Use

Professional Courtesy: Coming Soon: More Denture Patients by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD

View Comments (0) More by this author (317)


by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, Editorial Director, Dentaltown Magazine

That headline might scare a few dentists.

If you have made more than five dentures in your career, then you have had an experience with a difficult denture patient. Some dentists are less than thrilled to see new denture patients after a few bad experiences with patients who can't be satisfied.

On the other side of the coin, I would add that you can find many great dentists on Dentaltown.com who have found dentures to be fun and profitable. Almost any dental procedure can be a joy when everything goes well.

Why do I have dentures on my mind?

The short answer: population growth. The U.S. population is growing at a steady clip, and due to several factors, the number of people over the age of 65 is growing rapidly (Fig. 1).



According to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 26 percent of the U.S. population between the ages of 65 and 74 years is edentulous. We can make a good guesstimate of denture patients based on the population figures from the first graph.



I know many readers might be thinking to themselves that the growth of elderly patients does not guarantee the growth of complete denture patients. More people are keeping their teeth, yada, yada. You are both right and wrong. The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry reported in 2002 that the 10 percent decline in edentulism experienced each decade for the past 30 years will be more than offset by the 79 percent increase in the adult population older than 55 years.

Will there be a need for complete dentures in the United States in 2020? I think it's safe to say that there is a reasonable body of proof that there will be great opportunity to provide complete dentures for many years to come.

Next, I would like to share some terrific data from a recent survey of 426 denture patients, prepared by Cornerstone Research & Marketing, Inc. An overwhelming 48 percent stated that they were unhappy with their current denture and only five percent were completely satisfied and would change nothing.

Let's take a look at what denture patients' most-common complaints were: facial appearance of support (46 percent), teeth position (42 percent), pink acrylic/gums not natural (38 percent). The next interesting fact was their opinion of denture longevity. Fifty-one percent felt that dentures should last between five and 10 years. Fifty-eight percent paid $600-$2,500 for their current set of dentures, but they would be willing to pay $1,500-$4,000 for a denture that met all their expectations.

I would also point you to Dentaltown.com for a number of message-board threads from our members sharing their techniques, tips and tricks for making a great set of dentures. In addition to those conversations, we have five CE courses on the topic of removable prosthodontics. So what are you waiting for? I think I see a denture patient in your schedule next week. If you want to reach me, email me at Tom@Dentaltown.com If Twitter is your scene, I'm @ddsTom.


Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
Dentaltown Magazine September 2025 Read Current Issue Read Archived Issues
Sponsors
Townie Perks
Townie® Poll
Who or what do you turn to for most financial advice regarding your practice?
  
Site Menu
Message Boards Magazine Continuing Education Podcasts Blogs Classifieds Dental News Events Townie® Poll Ebooks Townie Choice Awards
Company Info
Contact Us Advertise With Us Howard Farran DDS, MBA Policies and Agreements
Site Help
Sally Gross, Member Services Specialist
Phone: +1-480-445-9710
Email: sally@farranmedia.com
©2025 Dentaltown, a division of Farran Media • All Rights Reserved
9633 S. 48th Street Suite 200 • Phoenix, AZ 85044 • Phone:+1-480-598-0001 • Fax:+1-480-598-3450