Awful looking dentures

[Lef84025]

Hi I’m new here.
first I want to start by telling you I am petrified of the dentist due to a number of bad experiences in the past, the last about 14 years ago, which was the last time I went.
I recently plucked up the courage to go again and got a lovely lady dentist who checked me over and explained that I needed some teeth removed but they would be replaced with partial dentures. She explained everything to me, took some moulds and put my mind at ease. 3 weeks ago I had my 2 bottom front teeth removed and dentures fitted. They felt strange but I’ve got used to them and they look good.
today however was time for my top front 4. The extractions went well and dentures were fitted, everything was fine until I looked in the mirror. I burst out crying. I literally look stupid. The teeth look to big (mater from cars came to mind) there is a large gap on one side still, the colour doesn’t match my real teeth and the bottom edge of the 4 teeth is just completely straight and flat. There is no shape to the teeth to make them look individual.
I told her I didn’t like them, I think she could tell from my reaction. She took them out and filed them down a little bit it’s made no difference.
she asked me to go home and call tomorrow as it’s probably too swollen to get the full effect of them. She will fit me in tomorrow if I’m still not happy.
The swelling has gone down and I just look ridicilous. I will obviously call tomorrow and see her if I can but is there anything she can actually do?
I have kept my mouth hidden since I’ve returned home because i don’t want anyone to see and I’ve spent the entire day in bed crying.
sorry for the super long post but I was wondering if anyone else has been through anything similar
thanks

Go back, take photos of what your teeth used to look like. Ask if your dentures can be altered to something similar. If not they can make new ones once the gums have settled

@Lef84025

NHS dentist?

"SOME" of them, look to provide the least expensive option IME.

It could be that the technicians they use are possibly incompetent/restricted by your dentist?

I would certainly expect your dentist to be professional enough to colour-match!! fgs

DEFINITELY do not accept, you will need to be assertive.

Good luck, I hope all will resolve to your satisfaction 💐

Immediate dentures are a bit of a compromise as they are fabricated and fitted in only two visits. They're usually worn short term, circa 12, whilst the soft tissues and bone heal and remodel. At this point, you would typically have a definitive set of denture made, this set is usually made over several stages/appointments and you would usually have the opportunity to trial them and make sure you were happy with the shade and shape of the teeth before they are cast up. I always warn patients about the compromise of immediate dentures but I will usually have a second set made if there is a big discrepancy in terms of fit or aesthetics and I would not charge for this. If you're an NHS patient, you may not find so much flexibility but you should still expect reasonable aesthetics.

Thank you. I went back to see my dentist today. She has done some work on them for me, filed and shaped them but they are stil awful. Unfortunately being an NHS patient I’m now being told to either just make do with them for 6 months (which I don’t want to do) or pay £400 for a new set to be made which I can’t afford. I don’t work as I am a carer for my disabled son so finding £400, especially with it being so close to Christmas, is impossible.
I really don’t know what I can do other than wear a face mask for the next 6 months until I get rid of these and have my next ones made. I just wish I’d been told this yesterday before extractions I wouldn’t have gone ahead x

Can you tell me exactly what was said at the appointment today? It would also be helpful to know if you were told whether these were an 'immediate set' that would need to be replaced after a period of healing, or whether you were given the impression that this was it, these dentures were the permenant set? Do you claim any benefits, if so, are you eligable for free NHS dental treatment?

From what she said these are immediate dentures and I would get them replaced in about 6 months but she can’t get second set of immediates done on NHS and I would have to pay for it even though I’m not happy with them. I get my dental work free I claim income support.
if I chose to pay the £400 I will still need new ones in 6 months but would have to pay but if I keep these I will get them free in 6 months (assuming my circumstances don’t change)
its ridiculous, I hadn’t been told that if I’m not happy the, that’s just tough I will have to put up with it, if I had I would have put it off to have a think about it. I was so happy with my bottom ones I assumed the top would be just as good but I’m left looking stupid. My son actually thought they where joke teeth that I had bought. That’s how bad they are.
my mental health isn’t the best, I have an auto immune disease and since covid I haven’t been out much but recently I’ve been pushing myself to get out more and then this happens which I know will make me stay home again.
basically there is no more she can do unless I pay but how I’m expected to find £400 is beyond me
thanks for listening to me x

I had an extraction of my front tooth earlier this year in Feb. The denture looked absolutely awful for the first month or so and looking back, that’s because my mouth was still so sore from the extraction.

It looked weird and I couldn’t speak properly. It was also uneven and not in line with my teeth. Now, you couldn’t even tell I had a denture in. I went to start the process of getting an implant and the dentist couldn’t even guess which one wasn’t mine.

Give it some time. It looks awful in the beginning as your mouth hasn’t healed yet. Take deep breaths and see how it looks in a matter of weeks. Is there anything the dentist can do about the colouring if it doesn’t match the rest of your teeth?

Thank you for your reply. Nothing can be done about the colour unless I pay £400 for new ones to be made which I can’t afford. I doubt these will settle and look good, I literally look like a horse. The teeth are so wide. I think I’ll just have to keep them hidden until 6 months when I should get replacements

So in 6 months time you’ll be given permanent dentures? Just don’t wear them in the house and only wear them when you have to go outside? That’s what I do because I find the whole thing a faff (my denture is loose so I have to stick it down everyday).

I don’t understand why you’d have to pay £400 to have changes made when you say they look awful? Despite the fact that you don’t pay anyway. Sorry OP I don’t have much advice but it all sounds really stressful

But what you're saying isn't correct. Also, £400 isn't an NHS fee. Also 6 months is very late to remake immediate dentures. I'm a dentist, I'm trying to help but it's difficult without knowing black and white, what was said and what your status is re free NHS services

I also don’t understand why you have to wait 6 months for them to remake dentures? I’m not sure if it’s a different procedure because you have a set and I only have one individual denture. But the one I was given is the only one that I’ve ever had. I was on maternity leave at the time so didn’t have to pay for it.

So are you saying that even if you liked this set and were happy with everything, you’d have to change them again in 6 months time? Why is that if you remember?

The 6 months was to change from immediate ones to more permanent ones I think. I just know she said £400 I’m assuming that’s a private fee and that’s why she said if I paid that I would the. Have to pay again next time (because it will be private and not NHS) To be honest it’s all a bit of a blur. I got quite upset again and all the information was being given to me quickly. I’m going to call again on Monday and maybe ask if the information can be emailed to me so I can read it all and take it all in. All I know is I’m not at all happy about the way things look and I’ve basically been told to live with it or pay if you want it sorting now x

Yes because of the changes to my mouth/bones and things I will need different ones down the line x

It's because she had teeth extracted and the dentures fitted immediately. The mouth changes shape as it heals so you'd typically plan for a definitive set of denture once this process was complete. Though this is usually at 3 months not six. Not everyone needs this, but it is usual to consent for it.

Yes email is a fantastic tool. I usually email patients after exams to explain treatment plans because it's so difficult for people to retain information in surgery!! I would try not to sound aggravated, you catch more bees with honey that vinigar. I would also consider arming yourself with what you are entitled to on the NHS. Don't get me wrong, it's a shitty system and the dentist that provided your dentures would have to pay out of their income to make you a second set, but you didn't design the system and they agreed to work in it. I don't think it would be u reasonable for them to remake your dentures under the existing course of treatment. That said, NHS lab work is cheap and the isn't a great deal of flexibility in terms of shade, tooth shape etc etc etc so I can't promise you'd be better off. Certainly don't spend any more money on replacing this set, inves that in the definitive teeth. What a sorry state we are in these days.

@Bs0u416d ah got you thanks for explaining