To want to get dentures?

[Margotshypotheticaldog]

I have terrible gum disease, awful teeth and a serious fear of the dentist. I've had dental planing done in the past and although it helped for a while, I was completely traumatised. Wearing masks for the last number of months has actually suited me as I hate people seeing my teeth.
I don't want to try treatment plans, I just want to give up and get dentures. All of my teeth are stained, and a few at the back are starting to loosen. I have a dentist appointment coming up and I know he's going to try and talk me into expensive, painful treatment to keep my horrible teeth. Wibu to just say no, I give up, I want dentures. I know it's not the same as real teeth and will restrict my diet somewhat, but I don't care if it cures the gum disease. Is this likely to be a choice the dentist will offer me??

I’ve had full dentures since 29 (long story).

It takes a little getting used to, but it’s not horrific as long as you have a good dentist who takes the time to make good impressions so the plate fits well.

You can taste your food.
You can eat pretty much anything. Homemade toffee is the only thing I’ve not dared try.

It was a considerably better option for me than constant pain, and the panic of the dentist (I had a serious phobia - to the point all my remaining teeth, too and bottom were removed at the same time under GA so I didn’t have to go through it more than once).

I didn’t go for the whitest white set, I went for the most natural looking shade. Only people who knew me before know they are false. A newer friend who commented on my smile was genuinely surprised when I told her.

Thanks for the replies folks. As I mentioned, not planning on asking for them all to be removed, just don't want to go through the pain and trauma of saving the very bad ones
Seafield actually came up as I was browsing Google emerald, thanks. Thanks for the pic peridotty, that's alarming enough looking to bring the reality home a little. I do appreciate hearing about other people's experiences with dentures, both good and bad.

If you have severe gum disease, root planing won't go deep enough. You will need a periodontist to perform gum flap surgery where they will clean it all out then sew your pockets back to a normal 2mm or so depth so you can keep them clean and stabilise the situation. At same time they can graft bone and gum. You can also be sedated for this procedure. It may be very expensive where you are but that's the route you'd have to go down. . I personally would beg, borrow and steal to keep my own teeth given the experiences I've seen others have with dentures and implants.

Start by getting some X-rays and ask how deep are your pockets , how mobile are your teeth and how much bone have you lost and go from there. Once stabilised you can whiten them. It will be a long road but worth it.

In

OP, talk to the dentist about a manageable plan for your teeth.

You can probably start to improve things by daily flossing and use of a Sonicare toothbrush (no need to buy the priciest model, I always get an older model).

The dentist can help with the staining and gum issues and then going forward, 2x a year at the hygienist will keep it at bay.

Is this the right dentist for you? Maybe you need someone who specialises in anxious patients - makes such a difference!

Is this the right dentist for you? Maybe you need someone who specialises in anxious patients - makes such a difference!

Absolutely!

My husband was close to losing most of his teeth at the age of 30, when he found a wonderful dentist who was able to deal with his phobia and fear. Decades later he still has virtually all his own teeth - just a couple of implants.

My dh had this same decision many years ago and chose to have them all out and get dentures, he says it was the worst decision ever. He lost so much weight as can’t eat properly, constantly in pain with blisters, despite numerous different types and still extremely self conscious about his teeth.
If he could go back I know he would do everything possible to save his teeth, we’re currently saving for implants.
Your dentist is the best one to discuss all of this with, there may be options you aren’t aware of yet, but please don’t take the decision lightly.
Wish you all the best

@Froppysue These might be a more affordable option and there screwed in no blisters.

I feel for you op . I have bad gum disease as well and wobbly teeth. Lost my 1st in and accident. Small top plate didn't really notice it.
I worked hard to save my teeth. I'm 44 . My teeth got worse over lockdown, like a lot of us. Managed to get an appointment but have had to go private as I had been removed off the nhs list. Yes because I couldn't get a dentist appointment due to lockdown. Another familiar story.
Long story short. Next week I go for my molds. I'm have 2 taken off the top so my front teeth will be partial , 2 from the bottom. We have managed to save the back teeth. The pain is horrendous and I've lost weight due to not been able to eat properly. It's going to cost £1800 , my inheritance off my nana but going to be worth it.
I've never had a problem tasting food. I use fixadent top and bottom but occasionally find the bottom denture becomes loose over the day so carry fixadent with me. Good luck at what ever you decide but for me to save my sanity and health I need to do it.

I would discuss this with your dentist. A referral may be a good option so that they can assess your mouth with fresh eyes. Any teeth with very poor prognosis could be extracted then your attention and money can be focused on the rest of your mouth. The treatment should initially focus on getting your cleaning to a high standard. Dentures, implants etc will fail or make things worse if your plaque control is poor. Once your cleaning is good then professional cleaning under the gum will help get your mouth healthy. You could ask for local anaesthetic if you want. You will need to work hard at keeping your teeth clean and attending your dentist regularly. Dentures have come a long way and if done well, look natural and fit properly. However usually your own teeth are better. I hope you get sorted.

@EmeraldShamrock thank you, dh actually send me a video of these a couple months back so hopefully they may be an option too - thanks.

There’s a young woman on TikTok who has dentures and I’ve watched a few of her videos with interest. I’ll see if I can find a link.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9531443/amp/Mother-pregnancies-caused-teeth-DECAY-proudly-shows-dentures.html

She’s called Princess Glitterhead and hers just clip in. There’s no plate from what I can see.

@shinywhiteteeth are you mocking me with your user name 😂

Thanks for the link, I just had a quick read of that article. Hopefully I won't need to go that far. But what strikes me is that she spent thousands on bridges and root canal first, then spent thousands on the implants and dentures later. I suppose I want to skip the middle bit. I'm closer to 50 if it makes a difference, so considerably older.

Dentures would be a last resort, you could try instasmile my friend has them and i thought she'd just had her teeth whitened. They probably don't look real if you study them but I honestly complimented her teeth and she whispered what they were, I'd never heard of them before but was having gum problems during covid last year and looked into getting them because I was worried my teeth would fall put, you can see different reviews on YouTube etc.

Hi I had all of my top teeth removed at age 26 due to a violent partner and a lot of bottom teeth ! I had dentures made, top
Denture I could cope with, partial bottom was a different story! Anyway fast forward, I’m now 44. I have the worse case of tmj that a dentist and consultant both said they’d ever seen. Because of the denture and missing teeth (and of course the trauma to the face) my jaw is misaligned.
I regret fully making the decision to have all the teeth removed, but at the time I just was in such a bad place and thought it would be the easiest answer.
I can’t go on in the pain I’m in with tmj, it’s actually horrendous. My only option now is on all 4/6 implants dentures and as soon as I can save the money I will be flying out to turkey to get it done!

I was much the same as @MeanderingGentlys friend. I had all my top row taken out privately some 15/16 years ago, full denture put in. Never looked back. I absolutely love it, can eat normally, and yes I can taste all my food. Best of all I'm not in any pain. They look fab and nobody knows they're false.