My Dental Adventure into Dentures.

[Jennifer]

No one has to read this, it really is just all about me, and my story of my dental adventures. I know there are stories that are worse, and people with teeth that are worse. There is some ruminating boring stuff here. Since my dental history started somewhere around the age of 5ish, and has so many ups and downs, successes and failures, it really is a part of who I am. As I read over this it became evident that my problems started with little dental care as a child, and that dental insurance is a wonderful thing. When I read over all I have had done, I realize I was truly blessed to have such good coverage during my younger adult years. I also think I had some pretty rotten experiences.

Our best friend has had dentures since he was 22 years old. He said he went to a dentist and said rip 'em out. I always thought that was awful. I'm rethinking my attitudes now. He had no parents, he was trying to do the best he knew to do. He accepted himself and it certainly had no negative impact on his life. I think I've actually been kind of a denture snob in the past. Now I realize I am very wrong.

If I could live my life over again, and knew what I know now, I'd have gotten dentures when I was in my 20's. I wasn't born to have nice teeth, I've never had nice teeth, and that is just the way things go.

1950's
In our town was a Dr M, DDS. In my family, no one went to the dentist unless they had a toothache or something else more serious. I thought that was the way everyone did it until my mother-in-law said her boys went every 6 months. That would have been unimaginable in my house. One day I showed my dad a little purple blister on my lower front gum. It didn't hurt much, but he seemed concerned and took me to this dentist. All I remember is fear, pain, and an annoyed dentist. I cried and someone had to lay across me to hold me still. He filled a cavity without Novocaine! He really scolded me once for wiggling, and my dad appeared and helped with me. I now knew that dentists weren't fun, and was so glad when I didn't have to go back.

1960's
When my permanent teeth came in, one of the front ones had enamel missing from the lower half and it really looked bad. There was a normal tooth at the root, then about 1/3 down there wasn't any smooth enamel, but some bumpy brown yellow material. I never knew why I had this anomaly. Maybe I'd had a high fever when this tooth was forming? From that time on, I wasn't much of a smiler. It got worse. I fell when I was in 7th grade and what was left of the enamel on that left front tooth broke off. I cried and cried; it was VERY traumatic to a girl that age. Guess what the son of beitches did? They stuck a silver cap on it. This was a different dentist, Dr H. He told me when I was about 18 or 20 the root would have receded up away from the edge of the tooth and it wouldn't "hurt" so much when they put a white cap on it. He said if he did it now he'd have to stick a needle in that tooth and I didn't want that, now, did I? How did I or my dad know there were other options? We went home with that silver front tooth. I was now terrified to ever have anything done to that tooth. A needle scared me senseless.

So I went thru high school and college with that silver tooth. I was the only kid in the whole school with a silver tooth. Feelings of inferiority became pretty solid back then.

1970's
When I was 23 a co-worker said, you know they can fix that silver tooth for you. They can bond it. They said the bonding was invented by the dentist who invented Pearl Drops toothpaste, and his office wasn't far. I called mostly because of so much encouragement I got at work. I went there and sat and cried as I waited for him to come in, I was so terrified. I knew the "needle" was coming. Of course it was a simple process, and whether he invented bonding, I don't know, but he bonded that tooth and for the first time since my permanent teeth came in, I had a normal smile!

But, notice I'd not really had any regular dental care in my life? A couple years later I started having some trouble. The outside piece of tooth broke off of a 1st molar. By now I was living in Columbus, Ohio. I called around and found a dentist who could bond that one. Since I'd already had that done I knew it wasn't so bad, and I wasn't too afraid. He started to numb it and I experienced the most sudden searing awful pain up through my face. I cried out, and covered my mouth. When he got my hand away it was full of blood. All I can say is he ended up pulling that tooth, and I developed a hematoma that was so monstrous I had to go to OSU, and was followed by a dentistry team every day for a week. That huge bruise went from my eye to my ear, down my neck and I even had bruising in my armpit and chest area. It took a couple months to completely go away, and even now I have a numb feeling high in my cheek/gum area.

So I'd had my first tooth pulled. I was back to where I'd been, scared to go to dentists, and I wouldn't go for several more years. I was always a good brusher, and I flossed pretty regularly because I had such a phobia with dentists that I wanted to avoid them. I had a missing 1st molar and it showed when I smiled, and I stopped smiling, but I didn't have the courage to get anything done. My phobia raised it's ugly head right back up.

Then another molar broke; a big piece came off. I dealt with it until it was so infected and rotten and painful, I had to find a dentist again. I expected he would pull it out, but he was all about saving it. He put a post in it to strengthen it, then a root canal, then a crown. He was so nice I did go back to him. He used nitrous oxide! It was wonderful. I knew now that as long as I had that gas, I could go through anything. I stayed with this dentist for a few years. The reason I left him is he was quite a drive from my house and my life was so busy with children, work, and home that it was inconvenient.

1980's
A bad toothache sent me to another dentist a few years later. I made sure he had nitrous oxide too. By now I was married and both my husband and I had dental insurance. Man, I used it. I overcame my fear again, and saw him every six months for 15 years. He built me two bridges, one over the missing 1st molar, and he had to pull two molars on the lower left and built a bridge over that span. He rebonded my front tooth, he sent me to an oral surgeon to have a bone graft, he took out silver fillings and put in white ones. He fixed me up just fine. Now, every tooth in my mouth but the front ones (except for the top left) had a crown or bonding, or a bridge, or a filling. I'm really glad for those years, because during this time I had two children, and made sure they went for their cleanings, fluoride treatments, and had lots of preventative care given to them. Hopefully they will continue this for the rest of their lives.

Late in the 1990's
After going to that office for so many years, something very weird happened. They turned me into collection over a $43 balance. With two insurances, I hardly ever had much of a balance. But sometimes I would get a bill that was pretty high so I'd call them. They usually told me not to pay it, that the insurances hadn't paid yet. I actually had called about that $43 balance around Christmas that year and was told to not pay it. Another bill came, then another, so I called again. Turned out I did owe that amount. Turned out they had turned their billing over to a billing service recently and that service turned it over to collection. Heck, my kids had just been there a few weeks before and nothing had been said. They said it was out of their hands and there was nothing they could do. I was just furious. I never went back. I'd worked too hard and was too diligent about such things as not pay my bills. I really took it personally.

Then we lost both of our dental insurances, which had a profound impact on the choices I made in the future.

2000's
I found another dentist (who had nitrous oxide) about two years later. I mean, I felt the time lapse was no big deal, the previous dentist surely had kept my teeth healthy, right? In truth, I knew something had started happening in my mouth. My teeth positions were shifting a little. And I had a little "hole" under the edge of a crown. Well this new dentist did something I'd never had done. He measured my gums. He told me to come back in a few days and bring my husband. He'd found enough dental work that needed done that it would cost over $4000. And the measuring of the gums showed I had advanced periodontal disease! I barely knew what that was. For starters, he sent me to a periodontist who was going to "clean" out those pockets I now had.

It was such a painful ordeal. I highly do not recommend it. It was also very expensive. So I had pockets that were up to 7mm deep around some molars. One was 9mm.

Clean heck, he did no cleaning! He amputated the gums so they didn't measure as deep. This Dr didn't have nitrous oxide. I had no idea what I was in for. He numbed my mouth. I counted as he jabbed the needle in over 60 times. It was pure hell and torture. He cut slivers of the gum off around each tooth. So if a pocket had been 6mm deep, it was now 3-4 mm. Then he stitched the whole mess up, put some kind of hard packing around my teeth and I was done. When the packing was removed a week later, I discovered that now the yellow-brown roots, and the metal of all the crowns and bridges showed. Talk about ugly.

The hygienist at my new dentist started touting a special cleaning method. I really forget it's name, Ultrasonic or something. She highly recommended I let her do it, but it was hundreds of dollars per quarter of my mouth. I couldn't afford it at that point. I have used an Oral B toothbrush for years, and every kind of pick, stick, brush, rinse there is, and added an oral irrigator. She'd look at my mouth and just shake her head. You need to floss, she'd scold. I AM flossing, I'd argue, and she'd shake her head. She also would check my blood pressure when she took me back. It would always be a little high. She had no idea the courage it took for me to even be there. She'd scold me about my blood pressure. I got sick of her. I admit it. Eventually I left him because I didn't like her.

By now my four tooth bridge was failing and aching. A cavity had formed under the crown of one of the teeth that secured it. The dentist had told me he couldn't fix it. He sent me to the oral surgeon and he pulled the two teeth that held it on the lower left. He also gave me the estimate for the 3 implants he proposed to do in a few months. It was $4,500. Then I discovered the crowns that would go on the implants would be another $3 thousand. $7500 for 3 implants. I hadn't paid off the periodontist yet. That would have to wait.

I stuck to a routine of flossing, brushing, rinsing, oral irrigations, and checks between the dentist and the periodontist every 3 months for several years. I knew I was in a precarious position with my teeth, but just didn't have the money to do more.

And the pockets grew again, and I had to have a SECOND surgery done. This one wasn't as extreme, but I got the 60 plus injections again, the packing, and even more exposed roots. Can you imagine how bad my smile is? Major roots exposed all over. Food getting packed up between my teeth now, because there's no gum there to prevent it. I chew a bite, then pull out wads of food. After another few months of seeing the periodontist I stopped going to him. My depression over teeth was deepening.

June 2005. Sick of scoldings from that hygienist, Id found another dentist. I was depressed and didn't want anything more done other than having cleanings. He didn't have a solution for the widening gap between my two front teeth. My attitude was "whatever", I guess I went because that is what I was supposed to do, get cleanings every six months. I didn't ask him to do anything special. He and I knew my teeth were on their last leg. I was just testing the waters with him. After all, I've fired quite a few dentists in my life! He didn't push me. He didn't threaten me, or encourage me to go to any specialists. He was just there if I needed him.

Last winter I stuck my Oral B in my mouth and turned it on and a tooth got vibrated right out of what was left of it's socket. It hardly even bled, there was so little tissue left holding it in.

My front teeth have shifted around more, there is a gap in the front, and some protrude too.

So, I went to the dentist last month and told him I want the uppers pulled and I want a denture. He agreed it is the best course for me. Implants would be the price of a luxury car. There are too many other things I'd rather spend my money on. I made the final decision, and tho I feel defeated, it is just another step I have to take. C'est La Vie

I do think that when the lower teeth wear out, I'm going to ask to have one of those dentures that fasten onto an implant. I guess I can get a loan and do that. I'm still thinking about it.

June '09. I went back in for my impression last week. I had to try hard not to gag, but I made it through. I want whiter teeth than I've ever had. They said mine are A3 or A3 1/2. I asked if I could have the whitest, A1, and they reluctantly agreed. They said I'd have to bleach my lower teeth to lighten them up to an A1. I agreed to do that and went back for my bleach tray a few days later. The lady who gave it to me said she was a little concerned about going to an A1. She said it is a bright white and would look fake on me. With my coloring, she thought I should stick with A2 so the change won't be so drastic, She wants me to be happy and not startled. She also said my top denture might look like a denture to other people if it is A1. Actually, those shades of teeth, none of them look so white. I was glad for her expertise and sincere, candid advise. I took my kit home and have been using it. It isn't bad at all. They made a little clear mold of my bottom teeth and I'm to squeeze a dab of the gel into the mold where the front of the teeth will fit in, then wear it to bed, or at least for 1/2 hour.

June 26th. I dreamed my front tooth fell out. I "saw" it just turn sideways, went to grab it and it came out in my fingers. Weird.

June 28th. I've been kind of living it up. I know I shouldn't eat nuts or crunchy foods because it strains my teeth, but I have no idea when I'll be able to eat them again, so I ate pecans then Jalapeno poppers over the weekend. I started getting really sore on the right upper. By Sunday night my cheek and jaw puffed out and I was very miserable with pain. I called the dentist the next morning and they've put me on amoxicillin for a week. Advil is helping too.

July 1st. The swelling and soreness are going away very slowly. At least I can now carefully chew my food. I guess this was a preview of what's to come starting July 9th.

[Jennifer]

I've discovered the fixodent powder helps hold the denture more securely so it doesn't rub sore spots. Eating is progressing slowly. It's too sore in general to attack a plate of food. One item that needs chewed is plenty, I'm tired afterward!

I do have a question, I ate at a picnic yesterday and had pickled beets. When I finished I descretely wiped across the front of my denture. Purple on napkin. Wipe again, Purple on napkin, Wipe again and again and again. I excused myself, I didn't want to smile and have a big purple smile and I had no idea now badly stained I was. When I looked in a mirror there wasn't a visible stain, but I could still wipe off a little color. Just wondered if I should avoid beets in the future entirely?

[Jennifer]

It will be two weeks tomorrow that I had my extractions. I've had 4-5 adjustments, mostly due to where the back denture hits my palate. It caused an ulcer or blister that was quite painful. I hope it's now adjusted. Yesterday I went in because I still had soreness in the area. I knew my dentist was on vacation but his partner was available. He painted a white paste on the roof of my denture in the areas I complained of pain. Then he carefully inserted it, wiggled it around a titch (it is getting looser by the day). Then he carefully pulled it back out and showed me that an oval area where there had been paste was bare. That was the high point that was now hurting. He ground that place away and a couple other tweaks and it feels better up there for the first time. I wanted to sleep in it but decided to leave it out another night to heal well with no pressure.

After he adjusted it I had more trouble getting suction. It wasn't too bad, but I knew I'd never be able to chew my supper with it like it was. I could have had yogurt, Carnation instant breakfast, oatmeal and other such foods, but I wanted to eat. I decided to try my fixodent for the first time.

OMG, I followed the directions on the bottle, coated the areas with the powder, knocked off the excess and placed the denture. Instant tight seal. It hadn't felt that good ever.

I ate saurerkraut, mashed potatoes, and sausage for supper and did pretty well with it. Friends dropped by unexpectedly and we conversed on the patio and I completely forgot about the denture and I think the tightness helped with my speech.

It took a few tries to get it out, and it was covered with that sticky substance people speak of, so I put it in water and by morning it was melted away, so I think Fixodent is going to be my new best friend in the coming months.

I'm still fretting over the look of the denture. Thankfully I will have some input in the permanent when I can get the teeth made larger and less gum showing when I smile. I don't understand why they made it different from my original smile, with my impression and two or three pictures of me with my real teeth.

[Jennifer]

I'm still trying to decide what to try to eat for breakfast. Was so proud after Crispex and toast yesterday.

I ran over to the dentist this morning. He found 2 ulcers and adjusted the denture. He said the one at the back of my throat was unusual but they happen. It feels much better tho he said the ulcers would take a bit to heal. He's on vacation next week but said someone would be there to help me Mon, Tues, and Thurs. Otherwise he said to come in as needed. He didn't say when a soft reline would be needed.

I can tell the adjustment slightly disturbed the suction power. Before, they never lost suction and now they have 5-6 times in 1/2 hour. I hope it doesn't get aggravating. I guess you trade one thing for another.

[Jennifer]

July 15th- I have two spots that are sore. I called the dentist and they aren't open yet. One is right in the back of my mouth, and one is on a gum up on the right. I'm gums are tender. I sleep with the denture in, and take it out and rinse and clean after meals or when ever. Mornings are when it is the sorest for some reason. After I'm up awhile it gets better. I use advil about once a day. Because my mouth is tender it hurts to chew, so I'm taking it easy. I've had soup, carnation instant breakfast, you know, slurpy stuff.

I had a moment of uneasiness last night. I walked with my neighbor to her friends house. We had a great time visiting. They asked me to go out to eat with them for supper next Tues. I had to say no because I can't eat a restaurant meal and pretend everything is ok. I think they took it as a slight. It was so unexpected I wasn't prepared with an excuse. I should have told them right then and there what was up. But I really don't want anyone to know.

[Jennifer]

Hi Christy, I feel a connection too. I'm so glad you got to go out for dinner. I did the same thing. Food fest to the max. Ribs, corn on the cob, cole slaw, candy, cheeseburgers, pecan sundaes, jalapeno poppers. Except I ate things that irritated my poor wobbly teeth and caused pain. I say eat to your hearts content, then....well you know.

I can't wait until I can come back here and brag what I have eaten. My husband went out to eat supper with his friend and when they got back I grilled them both about what they ate. It had to sound funny, but I had to hear. When they said the side dish was cooked carrots, I thought yum! I will be making those for myself tomorrow. Drenched in butter. Whoever thought I'd be dreaming about cooked carrots?

Guess what? I have slept completely through Thursday and Friday night. In fact, even tho it's early, I'm going to bed in awhile. I don't feel tired or weak, just a little wounded. I wouldn't worry about sleeping, you'll sleep just fine. I'm LOVING having an excuse to lay around. Though today, I noticed my mind wandering a bit, thinking maybe I should clean out a drawer, or does any laundry need done? Do I need to run to the store? Should I just go for a walk? I didn't do any of that, but I bet tomorrow I might.

I don't think it would hurt to get into a project. Since you are having this done on a Tuesday, by Thursday or Friday you might feel like doing something. I have read here that some people have felt tired for some time after their Eday. (I think I know why, it is because they are STARVING. Can you tell I'm missing my food?) How much time off are you taking?

One more thing. I finally watered down some Listerine, about 1/3 of it with 2/3 water, and rinsed a couple times. It really helped the taste in my mouth, so I'm going to use that also. It's the kind that burns when you gargle, must have alcohol in it? I never thought to buy the kind with no alcohol. But that concoction made my mouth taste much better.

Another thing, I'm starting to get used to the denture in my mouth. I am just beginning to understand when I heard people say their denture "was a part of them". I didn't believe it on Thursday, or even yesterday, but today it feels quite at home in my mouth.

Just think, this time next week you'll be healing and it will all be over. I'm excited for you.

[Christy]

Jennifer--Glad to hear you had coffee:) I am a major coffee drinker! I just got back from having dinner out with my Mom. Am having a foodfest--trying to get in everything I enjoy eating and probably won't be able to have for awhile after Tuesday. I feel a real connection to you so glad you wrote me back and seem to be doing as well as to be expected--despite the drainage thing! I was wondering about the sleeping thing, too! Thanks for addressing that earlier. Are you finding it best to just lay around, TV watch, read, etc? A month ago I had thought about conquering a couple home projects while I was off dealing with adjusting to dentures--i.e. organizing our messy basement, and other such to do's that never get done cause I work and don't feel like doing on weekends. I am thinking that probably won't be wise and I just need to allow myself to vegitate. What is your opinion?

[Jennifer]

Hi Christy! I had to laugh when you said that about paint colors. We must be similar. That is the HARDEST job, I totally related to it. Thanks for the reassurance about the size of the teeth too. I just wish mine were a LITTLE bit taller. Mostly, because I tend to show some upper gum when I smile big, and I'd rather it be more tooth showing than gum.

My excuse of "I had quite a bit of dental work done because of infection" is sufficing this weekend. No one really wants the details, lol.

[Jennifer]

July 11th-this is rotten drainage day. The dentist said a tooth drained when he pulled it. The one that caused my jaw to swell, and so much pain two weeks ago. So that probably is contributing to this, but it is pretty distasteful. I can smell sulfur and bad breath. I started rinsing frequently today with salt water, gently, to try to clean things. It tastes bitter. I also think I had a half a degree of fever today. I just laid and read a book, watched TV and took care of myself. I took a couple Advil late morning, though I'm not really in pain. I've had coffee, Carnation Instant Breakfast, a can of pop, a container of pudding. Not much, but I'm not really hungry. Right now I'm heating up whats left of some tomato soup. Just a quiet day, and I'm sure I'll just hang out and continue the rinses. Other than that, nothing special to report. If anything comes up, I'll add it to my blog. I wish my new friend who had his teeth done the same day as I did would come back. I'm sure he's fine but I'd like to compare stories.

[Christy]

Jennifer--I so appreciate you writing me back. I consider you very wise and am so glad to have you share with me what you're going through. It is amazing and a comfort to me how similiar everyone seems to be. Stupid me, I thought I was the only one in the world thinking all this before I stumbled onto this site!
To be honest I have no idea what color I picked for mine. It was 1000 times worse than picking paint color! LOL! I was trying to match with my lower teeth and the dentist and her assistant were no help--they said they were going to be my teeth and I needed to be happy with them. I had no idea what I was doing:) I know, also what you mean about thinking teeth were too small. I thought that immediately when I saw mine-to-be. Dentist said that I have such gum loss my teeth are too long now and this denture is how they are SUPPOSED to look. Isn't it weird how very few people here say people really notice their new teeth and all we do is obsess about what other people will think?
I usually try to control everything in my life and for some reason I have just given in to this entire process with a hope and trust that my choices--made on the cuff--will work out. Good to also know gagging is not an issue for you. Perhaps I can move that worry to the side:) As for pain pills I am trusting that I will be given a prescription when I leave Tuesday. Hoping, praying I do anyhow! I am driving myself to appointment--again a control thing on my part--"I am a big girl I can do this" thing but told my husband his role will be to get the drugs filled when I get home. HA! Can't imagine wanting to go to the pharmacy later that day. He (my husband) has been very supportive --said he and my son will eat oatmeal along with me but I told him I didn't want that and just give me this time to adjust and not feel like I am making their world change because of me. I have a pile of books from the library on hand so I can "go on lockdown" in our spare bedroom Tuesday. HA! Hope today is a better one for you as far as swelling, eating, etc. Please keep in contact. I love hearing from you!

[Jennifer]

July11-Hi Christy, I think you bought the right food items. My weight has crept up too. Aren't we all always on a diet? I read of people loosing 20 pounds after getting dentures. I thought, wow, that would be nice!

Guess what? Last night my husband and our friend wanted to go to the local pub and get supper. I wanted to go so much, but was afraid because it would be my first trip out into public. But I went, swollen cheeks and all. I got mashed potatoes and they went down well until I'd eaten all the gravy, then they got kind of sticky. I was just proud that I faced that fear. I asked my husband if I was talking all right at some point during our outing and he said I was talking just fine, (a couple whistling "S's" is all). I told my husband I wasn't telling anyone about this. I said "I can pull this off!" Well, so far my mother in law hasn't noticed, my brother hasn't, nor the friend we ate with last night. No one.

I am "pretty" pleased with the new upper. The only input I had was the color of the teeth. Somewhere on this site I described the color choosing, and I actually changed my mind midway through. What color did you choose? I think my teeth are too small, my original ones were longer. I know I had gum loss which made them too long, but these are littler than my originals. Honestly, I'm pleased. If I stand back from the mirror about 3-4 feet and smile, it looks terrific actually. I need to stop leaning 3 inches from it and scrutinizing it, but I guess that's natural.

Honesty, I haven't taken the denture out yet. I can't face looking at myself with no front teeth so I'll probably not look for awhile. The dentist said to clean it after every meal in case food gets up inside. So far all I do is rinse. If I swish water firmly, the denture floats away from my gums (that cool water feels delicious) and I then spit, and suck the denture back up into place. I know I have to stop that very soon and face the music.

You say you're afraid of the denture removing process because you had such a time with the mold? I could have said that too. Actually I found that the denture is way way easier than the mold, in fact there isn't any comparison for me. I haven't gagged once with it in. I'm positive I won't have any trouble getting it in and out. I'm just afraid to see myself with no teeth, so I didn't take them out yet.

Words of wisdom....I don't think I've had this long enough to be wise yet, lol. 2 days. Right now I say to ask the dentist for Vicodin. Many here didn't need it. But I did have a lot of aching. And truthfully, the Vicodin helped me deal with it. I only took them the day my teeth were pulled. I was pretty worked up and it helped me with that, a calming effect.

One other thing, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to sleep with them in, that my pillow would push them out of place. But it hasn't. One more fear gone.

You are no pest and I was where you are a few days ago, worried about every aspect. I'm still worried because I can't chew hardly at all. So ask away and I'll be there in spirit with you on Tuesday, that is for sure.

I bought Fixodent powder and some polident tablets, but my dentist said not to use the polident but once a week. I don't know why. I haven't needed the powder yet. I used my regular toothbrush to wipe around the teeth yesterday, but honestly, it's too sore to do that effectively.

I'm sorer today than yesterday. Someone here said day 4 was their worst day, and I can believe that. My cheeks are both bigger today than yesterday. Not real noticeable, but they are tender.