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Original poster

Dentures/crap teeth.

59 replies

frecklejuice · 22/09/2023 18:42

No idea where this should go so I'm posting here for traffic.

Does anyone on here have truly awful teeth? As is falling apart, breaking, lots of fillings etc.. I'm 44 and my teeth had a shit start in life, didn't get taken to the dentist regularly and then once I hit 16 and had to pay I didn't get taken at all and I couldn't afford it. Ended up having two teeth removed when my aunt took pity on me and stuck the cost on her credit card.

I had a tooth break last week and a temporary filling put on so I need to go back next week but I'm just sitting here and thought a different tooth felt odd and that's broken as well.. So I now have one on the left and one on the right broken, the one on the left already has a root canal.

So to get to the point would dentures at the age of 44 be an awful idea? My husband thinks it would be terrible 🤣 I don't have thousands of pounds to get them sorted but I'm so genuinely fed up of constant horrible, weak teeth and pain.

OP posts:
sarahh96 · 22/09/2023 18:50

Feeling your pain!!! I can only advise from my Husbands pov, which was the same as your situation.
Dentists don't like taking healthy teeth out but once he got to the stage you have, the consensus was to have dentures. His were, initially, partial dentures which was a mistake really as he ended up having the remaining teeth out and getting a full denture.
His options were, to go down the route of years and £££££ of restorative treatment, implants (which he couldn't afford) or dentures. He's had the dentures 3 weeks and it does take quite sometime to get used to them but it was the best option for him, financially as well.
Obvs you'll have to be guided by your dentist though. X

Original poster
frecklejuice · 22/09/2023 19:16

Thanks for your reply, I know exactly how your husband feels. Can I ask if you don't mind how painful he found the whole thing?

I'm going to ask for a longer dental appointment next week and have a discussion with her.

OP posts:
HappiDaze · 22/09/2023 19:21

I got a denture for a single tooth earlier this year and it looks brilliant. You can not tell it's a denture at all. The colour and gum part etc are just excellent

It's a bit weird getting used to eating with it at first etc

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Dental health General health
sarahh96 · 22/09/2023 19:22

The extractions weren't painful at all really. A bit of swelling but ibuprofen dealt with that. He's actually having more discomfort with the new dentures. Dentists do say that it takes time for your gums to get used to them and he can go back to have them adjusted, which he will do.
If you're worrying about the extractions, don't be! The thought is worse than the process.

HappiDaze · 22/09/2023 19:24

I got my tooth pulled because it was wobbly and hurt when I bit down on it
My dentist just said when you're really I'll pull it out and you can have a denture. The looked fine but wasn't as it were. I'm so pleased I had it pulled and that eating doesn't hurt on that side

I have another wobbly tooth on the other side but I'm going to wait again till that actually hurts and is an issue. My pulled tooth used to bleed at times when biting down on food

All I can say is that the people who make the dentures were just brilliant at their job.

sarahh96 · 22/09/2023 19:25

You might get two options for dentures, if you go down that route.
NHS ones or flexible ones (Valplast). If you can possibly afford the Valplast ones, do, they're worth it.
If not the NHS ones are very good too, there tends to be more plastic with the NHS. Valplast are thinner.

HappiDaze · 22/09/2023 19:26

Be aware though that after your teeth have been extracted you have to wait

3 Months

For the gum to heal before you can be fitted for a denture

Blackandwhite99 · 22/09/2023 19:27

I’ve had a partial denture since I was 16 as my teeth were so bad. I’m 39 now and have had a few replacement plates since then.

They're not as bad as you think - I actually ended up going direct to my local dental lab where they make the dentures last time - they were able to take mouldings etc there - rather than me going to the dentist to get it done. (They had a dentist there one day a week). It ended up much better than having the dentist as an in between.

Try and go for the best dentures you can - there are often price bands - you’ll be fine.

Raera · 22/09/2023 19:30

Waiting 3 months after extraction is not true.
I have gum disease and have had to lose some teeth. Partial denture was in place before I left the dental surgery

HappiDaze · 22/09/2023 19:40

Raera · 22/09/2023 19:30

Waiting 3 months after extraction is not true.
I have gum disease and have had to lose some teeth. Partial denture was in place before I left the dental surgery

So my new dentist is a liar Shock

Why would she unnecessarily tell me I had to wait 3 months for the gum to heal before taking a mould to send it off for dentures? Confused

I guess they have different access to equipment and policies.

HappiDaze · 22/09/2023 19:54

Mine is NHS so definitely not flexible but fine for my one tooth.

If I had a 2 or more in a row the Valplast ones sound great. I wasn't even given that option

sarahh96 · 22/09/2023 19:54

As soon as the extraction has happened you should be fitted with a temporary denture before you leave the chair. Once your gums have settled down another mould is taken for the permanent denture.

HappiDaze · 22/09/2023 19:55

This is a very useful thread actually for future dentures of mine

HappiDaze · 22/09/2023 19:57

sarahh96 · 22/09/2023 19:54

As soon as the extraction has happened you should be fitted with a temporary denture before you leave the chair. Once your gums have settled down another mould is taken for the permanent denture.

Oh I didn't get that and it was only earlier this year Hmm

It was however a tooth nearer the back so not visible so maybe that's why.

But I should have been given the option

Mmm she was a new dentist to the surgery replacing mine who returned to Spain. She seemed very efficient but not very personable

sarahh96 · 22/09/2023 19:58

@HappiDaze my is a Valplast, one tooth. I only had the option of a plate covering my entire palette for one tooth otherwise.
I did try but couldn't get on with it.
The Valplast is very good but 'flexible' is a bit optimistic. It's thinner and just sits on the gum line but certainly not flexible. Just FYI X

sarahh96 · 22/09/2023 20:00

@HappiDaze ah yes, quite possible if it was at the back x

Ilikewinter · 22/09/2023 20:04

sarahh96 · 22/09/2023 19:54

As soon as the extraction has happened you should be fitted with a temporary denture before you leave the chair. Once your gums have settled down another mould is taken for the permanent denture.

Im not doubting your experience but maybe the process is different depending on the dentures. I have a gap of 2 teeth and had Valplast fitted. I had to wait 4 weeks for my gums to heal over. If I hadnt have waited the mould would have filled in the gap in my gum .... if that makes sense!
With Valplast there is not temporary / permanent denture.
Plus, there would have been no way that mould could have been done immediately after my tooth extraction or the resin stuff would have gone into the hole .

rileynexttime · 22/09/2023 20:11

OP are you saying that you've got 2 broken teeth and that you're worried about the others,?
Two teeth hardly warrants a denture and I'm sure your dentist will do all they can to keep the others.
For heaven's sake don't get a denture unless it's your only option .
I absolutely loathe mine and it's only a partial one.

Lollygaggle · 22/09/2023 20:28

HappiDaze · 22/09/2023 19:40

So my new dentist is a liar Shock

Why would she unnecessarily tell me I had to wait 3 months for the gum to heal before taking a mould to send it off for dentures? Confused

I guess they have different access to equipment and policies.

Show quote history

Gums shrink and change shape for up to 6 months or longer after having a tooth out. The majority of that shrinkage takes place in the first three months .

So , obviously, if it's a front tooth no one wants to walk around with a gap so an immediate denture is fitted. However any adjustments and relines will have to be paid for in addition to denture cost and , in most cases , a new denture paid for when healing is finished.

However some people find it very difficult as denture can become very loose , very quickly . So , in general, if only back teeth are involved most dentists will leave the gum to finish healing for around three to six months before making a denture.

Original poster
frecklejuice · 22/09/2023 20:29

rileynexttime · 22/09/2023 20:11

OP are you saying that you've got 2 broken teeth and that you're worried about the others,?
Two teeth hardly warrants a denture and I'm sure your dentist will do all they can to keep the others.
For heaven's sake don't get a denture unless it's your only option .
I absolutely loathe mine and it's only a partial one.

No definitely not thinking of this because of two broken teeth, I have 3 missing all on the bottom that I lost through decay when I was younger. I have had multiple broken teeth, 4 crowns, root canal on various teeth and fillings on others. I've just had enough tonight with being in pain and having to worry about what I eat in case another tooth breaks.

I hate my teeth they are weak and horrible and I'd love them all to be gone!

The 3 month thing has scared me though, surely they can't expect you to not have any teeth for 3 months? I'd look like my Nan!!

OP posts:
faban · 22/09/2023 20:47

There's a huge difference between a partial denture and a full denture. Dentures are awful ive been a dental nurse for 15 years and they really really are a last resort. I'd talk to your dentist about cosmetic options before the denture route-
And if a dentist is happy to take out healthy teeth then they shouldn't be practicing x

faban · 22/09/2023 20:50

No you wouldn't be without teeth for 3 months they'll give you a temporary denture. A proper denture takes a while to make as you need around 5 apps to make them there's lots of stages.

Sorry I think I mis resd and thought you wanted your healthy teeth taken out I didn't realise they were causing you pain.

Dentures are amazing but they are a big big adjustment it really isn't an easy way out

HappiDaze · 22/09/2023 20:53

Thank you @Lollygaggle that makes perfect sense. I didn't think my dentist seemed the renegade type

HappiDaze · 22/09/2023 20:55

My dentist told me (both of them) a denture was better for me than a dental implant because of my bone density etc

Lollygaggle · 22/09/2023 20:58

The thing to remember is dentures are not a good replacement for teeth , they are just a replacement for having no teeth.

we are not designed to have great big pieces of plastic in our mouths. Dentures move around and wearing them successfully is a skill you have to learn, like riding a bicycle . It requires the muscles of your tongue and lips to hold them in place. Keeping as many of your own teeth as possible makes it easier to wear a denture as the teeth help to grip and stabilise the denture and there is less bone loss.