To want all my teeth removed? (Trigger warning, suicide mentioned)

Ive never heard that about inhalors. Your dentist sounds dreadful to leave your teeth in that state and not do anything about it, even refer you on to a specialist or take x-rays

I would change dentist. My dentist was the only NHS one with vacancies but they're really good. X-rays and scale and polish in about 15 minutes. Pointed out root of an upper damaged tooth very close to sinus which probably explained the bad sinus headaches I used to get. Because of the root they referred me to another dentist for the extraction (otherwise would be several months waiting for hospital appointment with option of GA)

Please find another dentist. This one sounds awful and not very thorough.

I know this is an old thread but i do hope you got your teeth sorted out.

This thread was dormant for months, but lots of good advice has come in today.

‘I'll look for another dentist, there's another one locally that's had the same two dentists for years (names outside the front) so I'll see if they take NHS, if not I might look into an initial private appointment just to get a second opinion.’

@CureTheToothPain good plan.

An earlier comment about inexperienced associate dentist resonates for me. Due to a variety of NHS structural & commissioning factors, I have found that those who are happy with their dentist - & their oral health - are patients of well established dental practices & see the same highly experienced dentist each time. You may need the bite (!) the bullet & pay full whack for an assessment, & even decide to go fully private.

I see my Dental Hygienist every 10-12 weeks without fail. The improvement in my teeth & gums has been remarkable - no pain, no bleeding, no tenderness, less sensitivity to cold as she ‘paints’ the exposed nerve.

Her work, advice & coaching has transformed how I look after my mouth - I learned more from her in four weekly sessions for emergency remedial treatment than I did from four decades of dentists before I found this really good established practice.

@CureTheToothPain it is worth finding another dental practice to get an independent experienced professional opinion. Your local Healthwatch will provide you with information about local dentistry.

Many years ago I was accused by my dentist of not brushing and
flossing my teeth as I had so many cavities.

It was only when I was diagnosed with sjogrens syndrome that they realised it wasn't my fault my teeth were bad.

My immune system attacks the glands that produce moisture so I don't make tears or saliva. Now I am on medication to suppress my immune system. I see a dentist every 4 to 6 months for scale, polish and fluoride treatment and I have X-rays once a year.

My symptoms were dry mouth from lack of saliva which in turn, really affected my teeth.

Do you have a dry mouth? Because if you do, it's definitely worth asking to be tested for Sjogrens syndrome at the very least. So many health conditions can affect your teeth.

I'm sorry you are going through this. I've had massive problems with my teeth. I'm wasn't the best brusher when I was younger as I grew up with grandparents who didn't teach oral hygiene or know about the impact of sugar. I turned this around in my teens and even brush my teeth everyday at work after lunch but things only get worse each year.

I don't know what options are actually available but you need a understanding, empathetic dentist who doesn't judge. Good luck.

I really feel for you OP, I have terrible teeth as well no matter what I do. I brush twice a day, use the tepe brushes, mouthwash etc. I have about 4 teeth in my whole mouth that haven't had some sort of filling etc done to them.

Currently on a waiting list to get 4 removed and get a denture...been on it two and half years! In the meantime the teeth in question are breaking, Im in pain and I've a crown about to come away.

To make things worse I've a dental phobia and can't get work done without the gas. But not one NHS dentist is giving it any more and I can't afford to go private so I'm just getting to sit in pain. I really want all mine removed as well and get a set of dentures.

I'm about to lose nearly all my bottom teeth, they have been crumbling & snapping off, I will only have 2 teeth left on my bottom jaw. I suffer from chronic dry eyes & mouth but the blood test for Sjorgens has come back negative. I'm dreading it because I once had to have a temporary denture for a top tooth until it healed & I could have a bridge fitted & I was suicidal & tried to kill myself. I'm autistic & have several autoimmune conditions.

First thing I'd do is look for another dentist if you can, yours sound horrible.
I went to a dentist for the first time in over 20 years (had a very traumatic time with the old one, to the point where I reported him and he got struck off). The one I am seeing now is wonderful. No judgement, no lectures and very patient with me. I have had most of my bottom teeth removed and, at some point will have to have my top ones taken out. Had I not been in so much pain I would never have gone but, even though it is still hugely terrifying for me, I'm glad I went.
I guess what I'm trying to say in this ramble is, the right dentist makes all the difference.

Me too op :-( im on regular steroids, 3 diff inhalers, and 2 meds for asthma, along with the rest of my meds.
i take care of my teeth yet i have horrendous pain daily and made peace that im going to loose my teeth.
first time 3 years ago i got a dentist who just didn’t blame it on me and recognised the sheer amount of meds and the effects.

Don't. I'm having my teeth out in two weeks... I have to wait 10 weeks for dentures. 10 weeks with no teeth.

I can't begin to describe how distressing that is.

It isn’t just you, I have a dear friend whose teeth have been badly damaged by medication. She has veneers.

For most people a diet low in sugar and good oral hygiene using a fluoride toothpaste is sufficient to limit dental decay. But in my experience ( as a dentist) there are a small number of patients who despite everything suffer with high decay rates.
We are brainwashed into thinking it’s all about cleaning but there are a lot of people who don’t clean well, eat a ton of crap and still remain caries and gum disease free.
It’s becoming more evident that the immune system plays a massive role in preventing decay and gum disease.
We start to see increasing levels of disease in the elderly as their immune systems start to fail and their ability to brush is impaired.
Patients who take immunosuppressants for chronic disease start to develop dental decay when they have never had a filling before.

So OP you are one of a very small number of people whose immune system is slightly faulty and fails to recognise and deal with the bacteria responsible for dental caries or your diet is very high in sugar and dietary acids or a combination of both.
You can’t alter the immune problem but you can optimise your preventive approach.
Cleaning isn’t about frequency but about cleaning every surface thoroughly. It’s a bit like the difference between running a hoover quickly around your living room daily and doing it once a week but moving all the furniture and using every tool possible to remove every spec of dust from every corner and crevice.
Start by spending at least 15 minutes cleaning your teeth with brush , floss and interproximal brushes. Then use a disclosing tablet, after cleaning , to see what you have missed and go back and clean further.
Ince all the plaque has gone the bacteria have nowhere to live and can’t damage further.
Secondly ask your dentist for high fluoride toothpaste (Duraphat 5000) this will stabilise any active decay.

Unfortunately, the NHS just don’t fund preventive treatment so patients are often blamed but the dentist doesn’t have the time to explain and investigate the cause behind disease.
I have found, over the years, that there is often a psychological aspect to dental disease. For many patients when simple cleaning doesn’t work they become disheartened and when they don’t see improvement fail to really engaged. They hate their teeth so rarely really look at them. I have one lady who has gum problems but never looks at her gums so cannot see the plaque and whether she has removed it.
They may look horrible but you need to look closely at them to make sure you have removed all deposits.
Wear your reading glasses or use a magnifying mirror.
Sorry I’m going on a bit, but I’ve had more success by really getting patients to focus on their mouths than just telling them to clean their teeth!
Next is diet. Meticulously note down what you eat daily. Then look at how much hidden sugar is there. In dentistry sugars include all carbohydrates. Our mouths secrete enzymes that start to break down complex carbohydrates so we are actively making sugar available to bacteria in our mouths. You may think your diet is healthy but any carb can be broken down in your mouth if you leave it all over your teeth and can be used by bacteria.

Finally for the unlucky few who suffer with high decay rates it is going to be hard work.

You do have the option of extraction and dentures, and as a dentist who trained in the 80s when massive improvements in oral health took place I would never discourage a patient from this treatment but would probably encourage you to do it gradually.
Have the teeth that are known to be causing pain extracted and a partial denture placed. You can then get used to the denture. It will need replacing regularly as the bone in your jaw heals.
Maybe look for an older dentist who has more experience of dentures or specialises in dentures.
Hospital dentistry ( unless it’s a dental school) is a specialist area but not in dental decay.

Oh sweet thing! Think twice before having dentures! I am 55 and am a beautiful young looking thing and listened to my dentist and had ALL MY TEETH PULL!!! Please don’t! It has been the most horrible thing I have been through, the temporary teeth do not fit, I can not eat, I can not talk! I’m in so much pain, worse then before! I have to learn to do EVERYTHING over again, it not an easy fix!!!! My smile is different, my face is different, my voice is different!!!! I’m getting better but it is a long sad journey, I’m getting implants but that is 9 months to 12 months of healing and will it take me back to my original self? I’m depressed, I’m loss, and feel ugly!!!! That is what you will face….I had multiple missing teeth that did hurt and I wish I had them back vs this!!!!!

I am a severe asthmatic CEV and regularly in hospital on prednisolone and oxygen a lot, and have sinus problems and am in meds for it. Hay-fever the whole shebang. .
My teeth aren't rotting

I don't know what is going on for you OP?

But can you talk to your dentist about how you feel? It sounds like you are very upset about state of your teeth, a good dentist won't "tell you off" they will try to support you xxx

@CureTheToothPain I got screamed at by my dentist because my child's teeth were rotting. Accused of lying about her only drinking water (she does only drink water! DESPISES drinks with taste. Won't even drink milk or even chocolate milk- only water) she even laughed! Threatened me with a referral to social services....
When it came time for a filling she referred my daughter to a special care dentist to use gas & air (they often do this with kids as it makes the entire process easier for everyone!) and lo & behold - she has a GENETIC ~unpronounceable~ dental dysplasia!!!!!!!!! THIS is what was causing my child's teeth to rot and look bright yellow! She is having 90% of them removed in March.
I. Was. Furious. Apoplectic.
DD is seeing original dentist next week and I'll be needing to take some Kalms before I see her or I'll lose it.

So this could be something beyond your control and honestly, in your position I'd be calling 111 and requesting an emergency dentist appointment, citing "sudden excruciating pain!" and ask whoever you see who your local special care dentist is

[quote opalescent]@Gwenhwyfar can you tell me more? How did this come about? And whereabouts were you seen? Thank you 😊 [/quote]
I was referred by my private dentist to the local hospital, which is also a university hospital to get an impacted wisdom tooth out. They attempted under local anaesthetic and I was screaming in pain so I made them stop and go for a general. I was then left with lock jaw for weeks. After the wisdom tooth removal, I had a post op consultation with the surgeon there and he told me I was too young to not have teeth and that he would do the implants for me for free, except that 'you don't like dentistry' which basically meant it would be painful and I wouldn't be able to take it.
So you need to somehow be referred to a teaching hospital and ask them there. They should also be interested in people with unusual problems as this could be a teaching opportunity for their students.
I'll DM you where it was.

@Gwenhwyfar can you tell me more? How did this come about? And whereabouts were you seen? Thank you 😊

I have chronic sinus issues and have had surgeries etc and so suffering with MRSA. The sinus issues don't cause tooth decay, but they can cause pain on the top jaw. What issues have you taken to resolve the sinus issues? Have you seen your Gp? Had a referral to an ENT?

Why do you have half teeth? Why haven't they been removed?

Have you been told of the importance of Vitamin D and K2 and Magnesium in teeth health?

The combination of these vitamins can seriously improve your teeth from the inside out

[quote blubberyboo]@ChampagneLassie

Or maybe your sis just tells herself that people are lying all the time! People that have problems

My husbands dentist actually told him the opposite that your teeth quality are actually a lot to do with your genes and some people will just have bad teeth no matter what.
Op have you looked into implants? They are expensive but if you could save or get a loan for them it might be just what you need.
If not you defo should look into dentures even if you have to go private. Mouth pain is no fun and I’ve just watched a relative starve to death with oral cancer because it was too painful to eat. If you aren’t eating you need to sort it.[/quote]
I think people do lie to dentists a lot. I'd describe these as mostly white lies. My point is that if the dentist just thinks @CureTheToothPain is lying (which is what she seems to think is happening) then she needs to be more assertive of explaining that there is a problem. See later she says it is a NHS practice and different dentist every time. Perhaps write letter to practice - ask to have a longer consultation to discuss.

I've had my front teeth removed, top & bottom.
I was in so much pain, loosing weight as couldn't eat properly and hated my smile.
I've retained the back teeth and the dentures have - what I can only describe as wire attachments to them that hold them in place.
Had some issues with ulcers at first with them rubbing but dentist adjusted them and now all fine. Cost me £1700 or about private dentist. Allowed to pay instalments. The cost was worth it and now I can't stop smiling.

Op can you afford to find a private Biological dentist and go for an initial consultation? It sounds like there is more going on here, and the health of your teeth and gums is very much linked to your overall health. Don’t give up!