TEETH! Options??

[anon1411]

No judgement please as this is really dragging me down...

Ever since I fell pregnant with my boy 6-7 years ago my teeth declined massively... I've always had thin enamel (my dentist said this) and despite my best efforts to keep my teeth nice, they just seem to "crumble" almost.

My bottom teeth aren't great however bar my wisdom teeth and a few near the back that have had fillings they're not too shabby at all. However my top teeth are horrendous. In the last 6/7 years i've had all top ones removed bar 7 of them and within the 7 I have left, 2 are broken and I feel they will end up getting removed and one of my front teeth has had a filling.

What is my best option realistically?

I keep going to the dentist and they just keep removing teeth and not replacing them or giving me options. I've asked numerous times about getting dentures and I just keep getting told "let's sort your teeth out first then discuss this at a later date" but I'm fed up of waiting.

My self esteem was bad before but now it's 10 times worse. To the point that I try not to open my mouth hardly at all when talking to avoid people noticing my teeth.

Do I go dentures? If so what type? Composite bonding to save the teeth I have?

Help, please 😭😭

I'm sorry you are going through this OP. I'd see a different dentist! They should be explaining why they think this is happening- genetics, lack of dental care/not brushing enough, smoking, dietary things etc. There should also be options explained such on what next steps might be- implants, denture, plate thing etc.
I'm afraid I don't know the answer, but a hopeful bump for you. x

@JC03745

Thank you!

My oral hygiene personally is pretty standard, yes there are a few things I could do 'more' but I brush twice a day, mouthwash, did inter dental brushing for a long while (have stopped this more recently though) but I feel this is what most people's oral hygiene is like.

They said my gums look a bit puffier than the average, but I've had a few hygienist appointments so had my teeth professionally cleaned also.

I'm turning 30 in the next few months so it's heartbreaking to lose my teeth so young. And I know by the time I'm 40 or 50 it's going to be even worse if something doesn't get done soon

I second asking them why this is happening to you, it seems very unusual at your age.
I'm 60 and a couple of years ago a tooth that had been crowned for 30 years just crumbled. I had it removed and the dentist discussed the options with me, decided an implant was the best, I couldn't bear the thought of a denture, I hated the temporary one I had while I was going through the implant process.
The implant process took about 10 months from removal to final fitting, it's been fantastic, just like having a normal tooth again, I wouldn't hesitate to have another one if necessary. However they are expensive, one tooth was around £2500, but worth every penny.

@ISeriouslyDoubtIt

Thank you for your response...

I have tried asking them, the first lot I had out was at my first dental practice and he simply said "I'm not giving you dentures as they are more hassle than they are worth" and he was my dentist since I was a child so I trusted him.

Then he retired and I got given a new dentist who worked one day a week and you can imagine trying to even see him to speak to him about options was impossible. I saw him once and he said he didn't want to deal with it and referred me to the NHS... ended up waiting 18 months to be seen, they removed 2 more teeth but told me to speak to my Dentist about any next steps. In those 18 months I managed to move dentists (my current one) and have been seeing them regularly but every time I go they tell me their plans for removal or fillings of teeth but never want to tell me what my options are.

I have an appointment on the 25th for one removal and 2 fillings but I think I'm just going to say until there is a plan in place I don't want any more removals doing.

I think you've had very poor service from your dentist, unless I've been very lucky with mine. Surely at your age( or any age) they should be discussing why you're having such problems and not just pulling out teeth and leaving you with nothing there, that isn't right. I agree you should say you need to know your options both for removals etc and what will happen to replace those lost teeth afterwards.

I’m a dentist. Firstly, you need a diagnosis. Kindly, pregnancy doesn’t “make your teeth crumble”. Enamel is the outer layer of teeth. It is formed in childhood. A systemic change such as pregnancy has no effect on external calcified structures. Pregnancy can however affect your gums, but you have specifically mentioned your teeth crumbling.

There must be another factor at play. Erosion? Decay? Gum disease? Do you drink a lot of alcohol, fizzy drinks, sugary drinks, vomitting, grinding, acidic fruits?

I would advise you seek another dentist to give you a definitive diagnosis, and aim to stabilise your teeth before coming up with a treatment plan. I would not be providing dentures to a patient without ensuring oral health and remaining teeth were in good condition. It would be a waste of your time and money.

Also to add - you have just turned 30 so there is a significant factor in this that has not been addressed. Even with a ‘terrible dentist’, if your OH and diet were good, you would not be losing teeth this rapidly, or requiring extensive fillings.

Do you eat lots of sugary sweets, drinks, energy drinks, sticky fruit?

A decent dentist will do all they can to save a tooth. Conservative treatment to dental fitness.
Once the tooth is gone you've not much option other than dentures or implant.
But you need to switch dentists and tell them you do not want to lose any more teeth.

I didn't have any fillings and having moved area, I signed up to a new dentist. Every 6 months, I had a check up and was told I needed a filling. After many years every back tooth had been filled and then they started replacing the fillings. I never had a problem or any pain.

I got pregnant, had massive pain and went to the dentist, I was given very poor advice and they knew having heavily dosed me with anaesthetic, it would wear off and the pain would be worse!

I never returned to the dentist and in 15 years I haven't needed a filling.

I hope you get a new and improved dentist soon x

Dentures aren't the only option when you have missing teeth. You can have dental implants. They are expensive though and therefore probably not covered by the NHS, but you should find out.
Find a dentist who specializes more in cosmetic dentistry rather than just the basics.