Denturists and dentists are often confused but what they do is completely different. The most important thing local denturist Robert Knight wants people to know is that denturists are not dentists, but denture experts.
“A denturist is a technologist with a technical diploma and each province has a college that licenses us,” he says. “We serve the public directly, no dentist referrals are required. Many people who need dentures don’t have them because they don’t trust the professionals.
“They think we’re trying to take their money but it’s for their health. We’re honest and we’ll give you the straight goods when we evaluate you.”
Knight, a Saskatchewan transplant, has practiced for 25 years at Peninsula Denture Centres in Sidney and Victoria. Many of his clients are over 55 and come from a generation that pulled teeth rather than saved them because of a lack of funds and services. “The tendency now is toward better oral hygiene and to save the natural teeth because the ability to do that is vastly improved,” says Knight. Benefits from properly fitted and unworn dentures include restored chewing function leading to better nutrition and enjoyment of food, minimization of further tooth decay and bone shrinkage, better sleep and improved appearance. People literally get their smiles back and the psychological and social aspects of that can be enormous.
Invest in your health
But why do people lose all or some of their teeth in their first place? Knight says it’s usually neglect, procrastination or financial concerns. People simply take their teeth for granted until they’re in crisis and often don’t realize that taking care of their teeth is an investment in their overall health.
“Many people who already wear dentures are also underserved,” he adds. “The lifespan of dentures is 10 years but we often see people with dentures more than 20 years old. People are extremely adaptable and I can’t believe how they manage when they could have had less pain years ago.”
Knight’s services are patient focused, include an in-house laboratory for quicker service, and a free annual consultation. “We take pride in our work, we’re prompt, care about our patients and good at what we do, “ he says.