Dental Marketing and Practice Management

The Wealthy Dentist asked dentists if denture patients have realistic expectations of dentures. Fully five out of six dentists (87%) said that patients expect dentures to be easier than they actually are. Only 13% felt patients have realistic expectations.

“No matter how much you tell them how difficult it’s going to be, they still don’t get it," sighed one dentist.

General dentists are more likely to feel that patients don’t know what to expect from dentures. Specialists were more likely to feel their denture patients knew what they were getting into. Of course, doctors such as prosthodontists are specialized denture dentists.

Here are some more comments from dentists…

• “I generally find that patients know that dentures are dentures. The exceptions tend to be doozies! ” (Illinois dentist)
• “For every procedure that I do, except dentures, I have a single-page consent form. For dentures my consent form is 4 pages long!” (California dental implantologist)
• “Good example: Had a patient with tons of retention (even suction on lower!) but he thought they didn't fit because they ’squished’ slightly (soft tissue compression) when he chewed! ” (West Virginia dentist)
• “Many immediate denture patients have expectations of better-than-natural teeth function and stability.” (Washington dentist)
• “Patients can pay $5-10K for a very well-fitting and functioning denture, but 99% are looking for the very cheapest option.” (California dentist)
• “Many patients think that dentures will solve all of their problems and will never need to be replaced.” (Tennessee dentist)

Read more: Dentists Find Denture Patients Hard to Satisfy,/p>