I have to have dentures and I'm very upset about it

I lost 5 or 6 of my front teeth when I was in my 50's due to an infection spreading through my gum. I had a denture which kept moving and coming out - even with Polygrip - as the front ones had nothing else to keep them in. I hated it and stopped smiling and generally felt very miserable for a long time.
I finally found an amazing dentist - privately - who told me he could fit a denture that would never move, never need Polygrip and used a magnet set into the denture and my gum together with a clip on the other side which clasped my back molar. It cost a lot of money but is amazing and was worth every penny as it changed my life-- that was 8 years ago and I am still thrilled with it and him.! Money in the bank is no good when you are dead so I figured I needed to spend it on me to improve my quality of life.
No one has seen me without it and I only remove it to clean it daily - I am now late 60's and thank heavens for the day I found this dentist.!

I had partial dentures at 61,which I don,t like as they are the only things that make me feel old.However,I would much rather have dentures than a terminal illness,so in perspective,they are not so bad.
I am researching my family tree and have seen photo of attractive women who aged prematurely due to having no replacements for their lost teeth.
We are quite lucky to be able to use substitutes.
I deliberately have a small gap made in mine,as no one expects to see a gap in false teeth.
At the end of the day,you are still the same person.

My mother also had all her teeth removed at 18. She always said it was the best thing she ever did.

Nonnie - I'm sure you will be fine and delighted with your new shiny white teeth. You will need a little while to get used to them, and you should take them out when you go to bed as bacteria can breed beneath them, but after a little while you will just forget you are wearing them. I have a metal upper denture and have never needed a fixative.

I've worn a partial denture to replace the missing teeth "on top" for several years as I had to have one of my front teeth out. the bonus was that I then had the four missing teeth on the left side replaced and another one on the right side.

recently one of my teeth on the right side started wobbling and I thought it was the crown that was loose - no, it wasn't - it was the whole tooth. so that had to go.

so I went to the dentist and had several implants - I hate these as they make me gag quite a lot. fortunately i'm on pension credit and therefore don't have to pay for dental treatment otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford it.

my new denture is shallower front to back than the old one and even though it's got an extra tooth on it now it's still easy to get out and put back. it's in my mouth 24/7 apart from when I take it out when I brush my teeth [and denture] and nobody can tell that I wear it .............. the dentist made sure that my "new" teeth match my old ones and even ground the new front tooth down to match the existing one as the new one was way too big.

I don't use polygrip because, fortunately, I've still got teeth in place to attach a "wire" to to hold it in.

sorry to go on nonnie1 but i'm sure you'll feel better when you get your new denture and are able to smile again. don't worry about it [apart from being able to pay for it of course] and you'll get loads of compliments from your friends and family when they see your lovely smile.

I think you are right about poor dental hygeine leading to heart disease though.

I had my first partial denture when l was 16 as l still had two milk teeth in situ. My dentist said the second teeth would not come down until they were removed. He was wrong. There were no other teeth and it was then discovered that l had other gaps were second teeth should have been. Over the years because a false tooth next to a natural tooth is a weak spot and because l probably didn't look after them properly the false teeth now number ten. They are all at the top and l don't need to use a fixative and they are in 24/7. Don't worry Nonnie you will get used to them. X

No - dentistry when they were younger was expensive, painful, and not aimed firmly at preserving teeth if at all possible. There have been great strides in all those directions in MY last 50 years, so for people who had reached the great age of 40 fifty years ago, it has been too late for their teeth.

Oddly enoigh all the really old women I know (those who are spry and quick minded in their 90s) have very few teeth - and indeed had most of their teeth removed while still quite young.

It might be the answer to longevity Nonnie1 - it's there research to say that poor dental hygiene is a leading cause of heart disease....or have I just made that up dreamed that up?

As mentioned in my post earlier this morning I was going to get my NHS top denture today. It is as a back up to my private chrome denture that has had several extra teeth added over time and in case I was ever in the position of having a broken denture.

I am very pleased. They look great. Better than my higher spec chrome one and indeed just might be the go-to set of choice.

I am wearing them now, very comfortable. I did not need to have any extractions.
Four quite short visits in all. Cost £90 on NHS.

With regard to dentists opting for extraction rather than treatment this definitely does not apply to my dentist. He continued to work over many visits to successfully save a tooth when I was fed up and suggested he just pull it. And he only gets a specified NHS fee regardless of the work involved.

Don't be afraid of dentures.

Actually my bottom teeth are getting long, gums receding. From a vanity angle I'd love a bottom denture but my dentist says I'd be sorry as there's nothing like your own teeth if at all possible.

I've read that a lot of people (especially women} had their teeth removed when the NHS was introduced, as of course they'd had to pay for dental treatment before and probably many had quite bad teeth.

Some regretted it and couldn't get on with their dentures, which ended up sitting on the bathroom shelf!

People didn't have their teeth removed because it was fashionable - it was an investment! When we lived in Australia DH was quite often asked to do a full clearance and provide dentures for the same reason.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment. Some of them made me smile - especially the one about taking them out to give my partner a treat - cheeky !

I went private. For extracting seven teeth, scale and polishing the remaining ones which included two visits to the hygienist, and two sets of dentures it is costing me £1700.

They removed four teeth on the Monday, and then the other three on the Thursday of that week. The dentist knows I am nervous so he is rather abrupt with me.
I think it's his way of dealing with it, but I think just a little care goes a long way. To my shame I asked the assistant for a hug as I felt very sad.
Nobody from home could take me or collect me as they were all at work, and I felt sorry for myself to such a degree I now feel embarrassed

Going slightly off topic here, I have two old Staffordshire bull terrier bitches. One is 12 this year and the other is 13. They are small and very sweet. They went to the dentist this week and the older one had her teeth scaled polished and two removed and the other one had the same but nine teeth were removed. she chews stones and her teeth were cracked and broken and gone smelly. It took them two hours to sort her out and she was whinny and upset all evening.

I knew just how they felt. I let them sleep in my bed that night and cuddled them. The one who had all the teeth out bled all over the sheets but who cares.

We are three toothless old buggers

It's too late to ask for the dentures to be made smaller. They have taken the impressions now. As it is private I am hoping for a deluxe set, but I'll bet they are exactly the same as NHS.

i could not afford implants at £2500 each. He said I would need at least eight, so you do the math !

I've had partial dentures and a crowned bridge for many years, no problem. I'm now agonising over needing hearing aids.

How do you clean off the Poligrip at the end of the day?? Without having to pick it off!

Hi Nonnie1 - I hope I can reassure you that you really have no need to worry. I was in exactly your situation two years ago with only seven of my own teeth left, front top. My NHS dentures are marvellous; they were colour-matched to my own teeth and I would defy anyone to tell that they are not my own. I do use a fixative, for extra security, but this is not a problem at all. I smile with confidence and I'm sure you will too. Big hug x

Nonnie Now I know this probably make you feel any better because I realise how horrible it is for you but I had all my teeth taken out when I was 11. Can you imagine what a complete nightmare that was? I am now 66 and I can't say I have
ever really come to terms with it but I try to tell myself that at least I can smile and I never have to pay dentists bills.
No one has ever really noticed that my teeth are not my own (I don't think). If you have ever watched those makeover programmes on TV there is so much they
can do to make people look fantastic with dentures. I thought about implants
a few years ago but they are very expensive and you have to have so much bone or something and I wasn't suitable. No you won't look like an old woman. I have mine replaced every now and then and always say to the dentist 'please make them look as natural as possible' and they do. They are not bit gleaming white choppers. I think they look natural. Good luck.

You will be able to take them out and give your partner a real treat!

My gran had her teeth out at 17, as was the fashion, and my mum at 38 - both 'straight out and straight in". Never took them out except to clean them and always looked very young for their age. I remember complaining to my gran that an iron tonic I was taking was discolouring my teeth. She replied, in broad Aberdeen 'Do what I do - take them out!". It still makes me laugh to think about it.

I hope you can find a good solution soon ,... I think dentists don't think about their patients and really abuse their position..... having 7 teeths removed in one week is a disgrace as........ they are too lazy to treat each tooth as precious and not to be pull out until every other options are exhausted ... I think you may try to get some advice about suing him....
I have a battle with my teeth and I have refused to have anyone pull them out ..they could treat but not pull out ( Mine is a private and very expensive one but still pull out teeth is his motto ) .....but the dentists don't like this approach,,,,,, they are very similar to a double glazing salesman that refuse to replace or repair a single window but are keen to replace the all lot ...
good luck

Michel

30years ago I worked with an Australian girl who had had all her teeth removed and wore 2complete sets of dentures. This had been a lifestyle choice as she believed it would save her paying for further dental work - shockingly she was only 20!

Nonnie1 I guess this will come to all of us in time , at least you will have a lovely smile again.Good luck with it all and let us know how you got on????

Full set up and down. Paid for implants which is quite expensive but worth it. I can remove mine easily they just clip in place. The most expensive are fixed and cannot be removed, did't have the funds for this I was quoted £20,000.

When they take the mould make sure you ask for them to be smaller.
I had a colour choice but I'm not sure every dentist offers this service.
Look forward to getting your smile back .

For many years I've worn a partial top denture.

I paid £600 privately to have one made of chrome and its very lightweight. Now as I have lost other side upper teeth the balance of the fit isn't 100% but it still works ok. Other teeth were lost following long term steroid medication.

This morning I get my final fitting and collect my new NHS denture. If the last fitting is anything to go by it is excellent, looks good.

Because I have so many teeth on my denture I've always wanted a back up in case of breakage and I will wear them day about. This new NHS denture has been quoted at £140, I'll confirm that later today.
It is possible I'll have to get used to it but I'm already accustomed to my chrome denture so not total change.

Using a denture fixative is no big deal and a denture only needs rinsed under the tap.
My dh has never seen me without my denture. I wear it 24/7.

But any friends who are in the position, we are quite happy to advise each other, and to take them out and show.
That's what friends are for

Sending you big hugs, Nonnie. Hope all the above positive supports help you to feel encouraged. The modern dentists now a day are amazing. Talk to her or him of your concerns and don't be afraid to tell her/him afterward if you are not happy or if you feel the slightest discomfort with the dentures. Let her/him fix it until you are satisfied.

Ps. Infinitely better than toothache!