To be unnaturally upset I'm losing teeth

[Ariandenotgrande]

Go easy, first time poster but I need some good honest mumsnet advice.
I was at the dentist yesterday and so as not to bore with details of a medical nature, I have to get 3 teeth out at the front (upper) leaving me with my two front teeth (lucky me) and 3 on one side. I have a decent amount on the lower jaw thank God. I went into a kind of shock, the operation to have them out won't be for a few months on account of nhs waiting lists and it's a specialist surgery. I'm to go to my dentist after surgery to get a temporary denture fitted. My bone density is a bit fucked and the dentist is doubtful I could get an implant.
I'm not vain, at 48yrs old I'm happy at looking passable, but this has really thrown me, I haven't been in such shock since I was told I was in early menopause (38). I've been in tears, none of my friends or family have such toothlessness and I'm sitting feeling sorry for myself. I know it seems petty given people can have real dehabilitating illnesses. But how does one get over the prospect of having to put falsies in to look vaguely normal ? Please bring me back to earth as I'm in a parallel universe of self pity

I know how you feel. I am possibly going to lose my 2 front bottom teeth. Again density is low due to medical condition since birth. When you get over the shock, with alternative options, hopefully it won't seem quite so bad.

I can totally relate. I have gum disease too. I used to have a lovely smile, now I have a front tooth that is twisted and many overlapping teeth which makes it difficult to get to the bottom ones so they are starting to stain.

I hate smiling and am very self aware of my teeth.

I wish I was brave enough to go to the dentist and have the out and a plate fitted. However, I have had 3 very very bad experiences at the dentist and I am petrified. Every day I look at my teeth and think today is the day I make the appointment but then the fear kicks in and I find a reason not to.

I also have bad gag reflex following an illness and I keep getting scared that if I can conquer my fear and have the work done what happens if I can feel the teeth.

I google for hours to find out what effect the plate will have but see conflicting info.

Good well and well done for having the work done

there is this old saying that for each child borne one tooth is lost.

it might be good to go to gp for a bone profile (blood test) to see if you are lacking something you can supplement.

so sorry to hear about your tooth loss but it seems you are on the right track.

If you are fearful of the dentist, you can get a presciption for valium from your GP.

It makes a huge difference, honestly.

for dreaming. I'm shit scared of the dentist too. I take neurofen plus before I go (anticipated pain), Valium a good idea if your not driving.

I'm afraid the 'one tooth lost per child' would mean I'd have about 8 kids by now and I'm glad to say I've just 1 !!
I will ask about the bone profile, and am currently taking a vast cocktail of vitamins and supplements in the hope my body doesn't disappear in a puff of dust.
I suppose they feel like dominos falling one by one, each time one goes it exposes another to increased vulnerability. I will do my best to keep hold of the remainder, and dream of eating nuts, toffee, snickers and anything nice.

Thank you for the advice about valium but unfortunately another thing I have fears about is "being out of control" and I can't take sedatives, (I know I am my own worst enemy).

Sorry Adriane hijacked your thread then

I'm so sorry, OP. I've always been terrified of losing my teeth, and had nightmares about it from childhood. I completely understand how you feel.

Dentures/implants/whatever now look SO good you can't tell, especially if they aren't front teeth. You'll look fine.

I have terrible teeth, mostly implants bridges and crowns now. Fortunately I have very healthy gums and plenty of bone so at least I have had treatment options. OP, can I suggest you get a second opinion on implants? If you are stuck with dentures at the end of the day a friend of mine has a chrome denture, where the back section is a metal lattice rather than a plastic plate, he hated the idea of dentures to begin with but finds this one rather good, more stable and less noticable.

I think you will end up looking fine OP, and often these things seem so much worse in the run up to it happening than when it actually does.

It is very common to worry about teeth and worry when we lose them. It does have a huge impact on confidence, but when you have the dentures in, nobody will know.

My dad had part dentures in his forties, due to teeth problems from an accident in childhood. Nobody ever noticed the difference.

I have a front upper single tooth denture(currently waiting on implant screw healing), the worst thing about dentures is that you know iykwim. I cant say they are pleasant at first, but theyre ok. CT scan showed my bone density was ok but needed bone powder substitute for the implant

I am now down to my last 6 teeth - all at the bottom where I have a partial denture (which causes problems of its own to the remaining teeth)
My reasoning - I come from a family with absolutely rotten teeth - it is in that sense genetic no matter how carefully we floss/ clean or visit the dentist
The other drawback that back when I was a child - no-one really cared about looking after teeth - yank them out or drill them to bits (particularly school dentists) - this was the 50s after all
I feel so envious of gleaming white even, American style teeth but have learned to live with the inadequacy of my gnashers both real and false - no-one is perfect but OP I feel your pain