To be worried about having to have dentures? Advice from wearers appreciated!

[Oucht]

My lower left will be without wisdom tooth, both molars and a pre molar, lower right only missing wisdom tooth and first molar but remaining one is weak from work done on it.

Will a partial cover just one side, or will there be an individual tooth on the right side?
My dentist said my options are NHS acrylic dentures which I have read are not as good, more bulky and awkward but will cost less. The other option is a metal plate denture which will be stronger, thinner, last longer but will cost 5x the amount and I am allergic to nickel in metals to quite a high degree.

Does anyone have any advice?
Which would you choose?
Do you have dentures? Are the clips painful? I have brittle teeth and worry clasps and clips could damage my remaining teeth. Can you eat?
Thank you

no idea but i have hideous gum disease and now wobbly teeth so interested in any replies.
i'm see my dentist on monday
it's awful isn't it?

I've had dentures for the last 30 years as I was born with less teeth than I should have. The one bonus for me is the NHS dentures are repaired for free. I have had to retrieve my teeth from bread, sinks and other such joys when they fall off. All depends on your bank balance!

It really is! I never thought I would be considering dentures before hitting 40 but my teeth are falling apart. Had an extraction last week that went wrong, have 4 roots that are being dug out on sunday and since then I've cracked the tooth next to it.
I'm not going to have any large teeth on the left side bottom at all!!

Unless you are really self conscious about spaces? I wouldn’t bother you have plenty of teeth left to chew (well enough you might have to adapt a little) Said as a dentist who has made many lower dentures in similar situations for them to be left in drawers mostly.

It could be a comment on my denture making skills but I think it’s just more a denture is an alternative to no tooth/teeth it’s not an alternative to natural teeth. Until the benefits outweigh the difficulties in wearing it I have found patients just don’t persevere. When dentures replace more teeth or it’s an aesthetic thing patients do persevere to adapt.

Good luck with what you do decide!

I'm with @Oinkypig - I have a partial denture for a missing lower molar and also one for a missing upper pre molar. I don't wear them and I'm considering implants as I'm like you OP and have terrible teeth - reflux and terrible pregnancy sickness (I've had 9 children) has destroyed the weak teeth I seem to have been born with. Even my dentist says I'm unlucky!! I'm in my mid 40s. The problem I currently have is that the side with the missing molar is my main chewing side and it's put a lot of pressure on the pre molar and upper incisor I can feel they're wearing quickly.

Thank you both. I really hadn’t considered not doing anything. I still have work to be done with my teeth before I can be fitted up for dentures but you have made me think that not even bothering could be an option.. I am struggling with food now and scared to death of making another tooth crack.

My teeth are very brittle making extractions more frequent and a lot harder to do hence seeing an oral surgeon to dig out 4 roots left in my jaw.

I believe my weak teeth are down to being oestrogen deficient from my early twenties and taking cancer medications because of my endometriosis. My teeth are effectively 20 yrs post menopause.

Are implants an option?

I think I would get implants.

My dh has dentures but they live in the denture dish and not his mouth as they ‘hurt’.
Make sure the dentures will fit and be a positive experience before paying shitloads of money for them.

My DH has dentures, he has about 5 missing teeth I think and has the acrylic one. He finds it slightly uncomfortable so usually takes them off once he’s at home. It does mean though that he can eat normally which he couldn’t with his actual teeth and they look like his normal teeth which is good. He would love implants but it’s not affordable to us.

If I need replacement teeth, personally I would consider implants given my dh’s issues.

I had an implant for 2 bottom teeth (molars) and so far all has been fine, easier than dentures I think

@Oucht not having anything is always an option. Get your mouth healthy and comfortable and then you can consider if you want a denture or implant. Being really honest not sure I personally would have an implant either if I was you. See how you get on with those teeth missing for a while.

I like the idea of implants but the way my body reacts to things, means I would worry about some kind of reaction or infection. I don’t want to risk adding more pain into my life.
I have several chronic health conditions leaving me unable to work but not ill enough to be deemed needing help by government. I live on nerve medications and strong pain killers to just get by.

With only one wage coming in it’s hard to find spare money esp with the cost of living right now and the fact that things keep going wrong with our house so even if wanted implants now, I couldn’t do it.

It was just a thought. You’d only need 4 implants now. The rest you could do as you needed them. Dentures you’d have to have all your natural teeth extracted. If you went for bridges or partials, you’d have to pay for them all over again multiple times as the teeth left failed whereas with implants you wouldn’t. So may be a false economy.

here’s a bit more info….you need not worry about nickel either and they have metal free versions as well
www.dentaly.org/en/teeth-implants-cost/

My teeth are very brittle making extractions more frequent
partial dentures are clipped to your existing natural teeth, not sure they can take that added pressure tbh.

Perhaps have a consultation with a dentist and run through all the different options?

I have a partial lower denture with about 5 teeth on it. I would definitely go with the cheaper option at first as your gums and mouth will shrink back so if you have an expensive option at first you might have to have it redone. As people have said you do have to persevere and also go back and have them adjusted if they rub. I find denture fixative helps both to stop any rubbing and to keep them in place.
Now my gums have fully changed I’m going to consider this type of denture. Supposed to be comfy. www.valplast.com . My dentist recommended these but not available on national health

I have a metal plate denture with 1 tooth on 1 side and 2 on the other. It is my 2nd I broke the 1st (I grind my teeth as a asd stimming thing) I've never found it uncomfortable or difficult it clips in fine but over time it can cause problems with the teeth that it clips onto (no problem yet).
You will need to wait until your gums have healed before the dental mold can be made so it will give you a chance to see if you can chew without a denture or not

I have a partial lower denture with about 5 teeth on it. I would definitely go with the cheaper option at first as your gums and mouth will shrink back so if you have an expensive option at first you might have to have it redone

That gum and mouth shrink is due to gradual bone loss in the jaw, which you do not get with implants. That’s why dentures can need constant adjustment or re-doing.

A lot of people lose teeth because the bone loss comes first. That’s what happened to me. I’ve been told I’m not a candidate for implants unless I have a full bone graft first

Yes that is true, was just clarifying that your comment to the OP saying
your gums and mouth will shrink back is true for doing nothing, dentures and bridges, but not implants done soon after tooth extraction.

@Kareah OP had already said there was no way she could afford implants.

I really wish I could have been a candidate to have them, I would just have delayed retirement a year to afford them. Sadly pregnancy related teeth problems combined with ill fitting crowns caused my bone and therefore teeth loss. I managed to postpone the loss by having intensive private deep pocket cleans and having periochips inserted from time to time. I was told I would lose all my lower teeth but so far with a lot of care I’ve only lost 5 and the others seem firmer so fingers crossed

Dental nurse here.

I would first of all see how you cope without a denture, some folk manage just fine! I'd disregard missing wisdom teeth as often they are non functional anyway (no opposing tooth to bite on).

However if you were concerned about teeth drifting and these gaps closing over too much preventing any replacement option in the future or the aesthetics then I'd definately give a partial a go and ask the dentist if clasps can be incorporated for more stability.

Lower dentures rely on muscles (cheeks, tongue, lips) and bone ridge to hold them in place unlike upper dentures which have the bonus of suction from the palate.

With a metal option, often they can be quite difficult to repair or make additions to so I'd wait untill your dentition has settled and any compromised teeth are out before commiting to having one made.its not to say it can't be done, just a bit more of a hassle.
Much easier to add and repair acrylics.

It’s so helpful reading my people’s experiences and advice so thank you so much.
Just four implants was mentioned and at pushing 10k I would need to win the lottery! Single wage household due to my health problems.
I have plenty of time to think about what path I want to take as my dentist recommended waiting for 6 months before starting the denture process to allow for healing and bone shrinkage. Maybe in that time I will learn how to eat without the need for one.
The last few weeks have been mashed potato and soup day in and day out. So much pain going on from the failed extraction roots, infection, Abcess and cracked premolar.