Tooth extraction, and making peace with the gap

[XenoBitch]

After a months of putting it off, I had to have a tooth extracted earlier today. I am left with a gap (in my mouth and bank balance. I am entitled to free NHS treatment but no one offering it, but that is another thread!).
I had an upper lateral incisor removed, so very noticeable. I have covered all mirrors in my house, so I have no idea how bad it looks yet.

With the cost of living crisis, and also NHS dentistry non-existent, gaps are going to be common place now. At least I did not pull it out myself (which I nearly did).

I am not going to be able to afford dentures, or a bridge, and definitely not an implant. And even if I could, I would have to wait ages for my gums to heal anyway. Maybe I should make my own from Fimo (that is a joke).

Has anyone here had a prominent tooth removed and just lived with the gap? I am early 40s, if that makes any difference.

Dental insurance is hugely expensive and doesn't cover everything. Just a note,my oldest DD,had a front middle tooth knocked out by a boyfriend, she had a single denture, with a little metal clip each side that went round the next tooth each side,looked fantastic BUT has badly damaged the teeth either side.

I really feel for you I recently had a front tooth which had a root canal and crown come completely out. I was to obsessed with cleaning and was to rough with it. I already had gappy teeth so the gap left now is massive and it really highlights my other front crooked tooth. I'm a loan parent who has health issues so money is beyond tight and I don't qualify for finance, I tried several places. Also where I live the prices are way more than the prices people quote on these threads. An implant is £3,200 (that's the cheapest I've found in the area) denture £700+ I can't have a bridge as the tooth next to the now missing one is crooked and has movement as well. So my only option would be an implant or denture. Currently I spend as much time as I can hiding from people. When I do go out I wear a scarf and hide my mouth when I have to talk. I don't think I've stopped crying since it happened. I feel ugly and old and although I don't judge people the idea of a denture has me feeling the same. I can't see me ever finding a partner with a denture and my disability means I have a walking stick so that doesn't help either. I have little going for me and losing this tooth and maybe another is the icing on the cake! I'm in my 40s but now I just feel old and worthless. Like you I can't look in a mirror and if I can't stand looking at myself why would anyone else. All this isn't helping you or answering your question. I think it depends how big your gap is obviously a front tooth like mine the gap is massive but when I was a kid a dentist removed a lower incisor (said I had to many teeth bit of a joke considering it left me with a permanent gap, reckon the man was some weirdo with a tooth fetish). Anyway no one ever notices that gap as the tooth wasn't massive and I learnt to smile without showing it. To this day unless I point it out people don't notice it. In time teeth move slightly so the gap gets smaller therefore if it's a small tooth to start with you may find it becomes less noticeable. If you can't live with it then maybe talk to a bank as even on UC they will consider small loans which maybe more affordable than other finance methods. Also someone mentioned the beads you can make into a tooth, there are also teeth you can get on amazon that are similar to the porcelain caps which you can fix in with denture glue. They are all just temporary measures but could be used whilst you find affordable alternatives, some finance or get use to the gap. With regards to people thinking your an addict or don't look after your hygiene I think these attitudes will be changing as more and more people are unable to afford dentists. NHS dentist are now like gold dust, my own practice as with many stopped having NHS for adults and this may also be the case for children pretty soon. We will soon be having generations of people unable to afford dentists and problems like ours will be more and more common unfortunately. You just have to look at all the similar threads on this site alone to see that For myself I know I can't live with the gap, I already lack confidence, hate myself. I'm considering going abroad after a lovely woman on here contacted me with her experience abroad. It's crazy that getting on an aeroplane to another country still works out cheaper for my options than staying here. Good luck x