If you were given the choice would you have a denture or a bridge?

I'll be interested in any responses too as one of my front crowns is in danger and I think the dentist may recommend a bridge.

I have a top denture with 2 teeth which is made from a 'metal' strip and it is fantastic..just don't know it's there. Hope I don't have to replace it as it will be very expensive as my dentist is now private, but I don't fancy a 'plastic' plate on the roof of my mouth.

Never had a bridge but have had full dentures for about 20 years - top first and bottom 3 years later. Took a week off work to get used to them and really never had any trouble since - with the exception of soft lettuce which tends to plaster itself to the top plastic plate! The dentures soon become part of you and you only feel odd when you take them out for cleaning. I never have top and bottom out simultaneously as that is REALLY weird. The top tips I would say are:
1) keep them in all day and night
2) you need an excellent Dental Technician to fit your teeth rather than a good dentist
3) Your GP or some dentisits will supply a few days worth of tranquillizers (sp?) to see you through major dental work.

As a complete dental phobic, with crumbly teeth who had panic attacks before, during and after visits to the dentist, including passing out when I took my DD for a check up and suffered horrendous nightmares (think 'comedy' sketches where the dentist runs amok with the drill) - the day after I acquired my false teeth was one of the best days of my life! Realising that I would never sit in the dentist's chair again was bliss - have never had a dental nightmare since.

Be wary of using dental technicians - most are not qualified to do impressions and are, technically, breaking the law if they do. They certainly don't do proper full mouth examinations as they have not had the years of training that dentists go through.

Oh Granny23 you did make me smile!! Thank you

Am having serious problems at the moment ...use of inhaler ...never told by asthma clinic to wash out mouth after using it.

So empathised with your emotions about visiting dentist... I'm absolutely terrified!!

OK ...back to OP ...I had a bridge ...had to have a'good' tooth removed for it to be fitted!! Along top side of mouth ...bad history with it ...rolled out, whilst eating, dentist put back in ...got an infection as direct result ...looked like half a hampster!! Then rolled out in night ...woke up choking!! In total shock ... could not stop shaking!! never been back to have it re-fitted ...but with a new dentist, in new area ...am going to have to face up to it again!!

However ...I have a very strong gagging reflex so was scared to have a denture ... going too far back in mouth?? ...so was interested in Grumpyoldwoman's comment about dentures with a metal strip.

Has anyone had implants? How difficult is the proceedure?

Warning ...I'm going slightly off the thread again ...dental costs!!

Now that I'm retired ...do I still have to pay? How can I get treatment on the NHS? Can you only get some treatments on the NHS?

Jacey Did your doc give you a spreader to use with the inhaler? That helps with the problem. I find that brushing my teeth after using it prevents thrush if that's what you mean.

Sorry, sorry, sorry - that last post was off the thread .

*Jacey - being retired doesn't count for free dental treatment unless you are in receipt of certain benefits. The main one is Pension Credit but check on the NHS website. There you will also be able to locate an NHS dentist. You can also contact your PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) to help you find one - especially useful if you have any special needs eg being unable to manage stairs, being housebound etc.

Sorry - Jacey!!

No Annobel ...in fact my inhaler has been up-graded three times now ...to keep the situation under control ... and never been given 'after care' advice

And I'm back at dentist this afternoon ...hence reason for keeping my mind occupied on here at the moment

Thank you kittylester ...will have a look at web-site ...but did sort of thought it would be linked into benefits!

And I suppose all you Welsh and Scottish Gransnetters get free dental care ...like recieving free prescriptions? I don't have a problem with it ...just think those of us in England should be treated the same.

And yes ...I'm still sort of 'on-thread' because got a dental prescription last week and now qualify for free ones too!!

Oh Granny 23, our teeth experiences are the same. Dentures are really good nowadays,and nobody need know you have them. I was also dental phobic, and had to be semi tranquilised before going! Good luck with your decision Greenmossgiel ( Ican now do that because of my dentures!)

I had a bridge replaced about a year ago - the previous one has lasted 30 years and have never had any problems. One of the things I have always dreaded is dentures so would do anything to avoid them. The sight of the gurning and instant aging by 20 years when anyone takes their false teeth out is the stuff of nightmares.

Whatamess - no one, not even myself, EVER sees me with my teeth out!!

I've just come back from the dentist! She took an x-ray of my existing bridge (front teeth) and she explained very clearly what my options were. I could have a new bridge which would entail another tooth being 'filed down' to take the new bridge - at the moment, I have 2 'good' teeth which have been 'filed down' to take the bridge. There was also another option (which I've now forgotten, but which didn't seem particularly long-term, and would nevertheless be expensive). Anyway, the last option that we discussed was a denture. It would only have the 3 teeth on it and wouldn't lave to be a full plate across the roof of my mouth. It sounds a bit like Grumpy's? My dentist is private now, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the full treatment is going to cost no more than approximately £350. I do know that a new bridge would have cost about £750 for the cheaper version and £1200 for a 'better' one! I've always had a terrible fear of dentists as well - having had bad experiences as a child, like many of us. My friend was so frightened that she put off going for many years, then realised that she really had to go. She arranged for a hypnotist who works for the NHS to call on her at home and she's honestly had no further fears!

Jacey no freebies at the dentist in Scotland either. The problem of finding an NHS dentist is the same here.

Granny23 - I am just the same. I have had a denture at the bottom for some years now and hate it with a vengeance! It has never really fitted and I am terribly self-conscious about it as it moves. Can anyone tell me if I can get another one at the dentist even though this one is technically still OK?

I was persuaded by a new dentist to have a bridge and have bitterly regretted it. I don't know how many times it has worked loose and come out, but every time I eat I have to be careful not to put much pressure on it (and being at the front that is very difficult!). I'm seriously thinking of asking for a denture instead, but the temporary one I had while waiting for the bridge was not very comfortable! Presumably more care would be taken with a permanent one?

AmelieAnne - sometimes your gums shrink after you have the denture fitted and you can go back to the dentist and have them 'relined', when they put an additional layer of pink stuff on the inside, moulded to fit your gum.

*AmelieAnne - my dentist told me that I'd be given a denture which would then be replaced by another one within 6 to 12 months, as gums shrink and the original denture would become loose. It's worth going back to get yours attended to perhaps?

greenmosgiel never had dentures or a bridge - I hope you get on OK with whatever treatment you decide on.

Yes, Jacey - I have implants. My two front teeth!! I fell a few years ago and broke them both, my then-dentist repaired them but quite badly - I eventually found someone who crowned them and they were not too bad. However a couple of years ago I fell again and broke them quite badly - this time I had the implants. It's quite a long procedure and you need a good Implantologist to do the work. I have had a life-long fear of the dentist and I was very scared but he was very good and really it was a relatively pain-free experience. They look fantastic but need quite careful maintenance. I know they are expensive but because I was very self-conscious about them being my front teeth I think it was worth it!! Fortunately my o/h agreed

So grateful to both greenmosgiel and granny23 for such good advice. I am actually with another dentist these days but I imagine he could do the same. Thank you so much. I knew I'd get an answer on here.

My 33-year-old crown fell out this morning, just as I was about to see a client at the CAB and I have spent the day trying to remember not to smile at clients, for fear of scaring them off - look like someone getting ready for Halloween! My dentist is seeing me tomorrow, but it looks as if I will need a new crown, or bridge or denture. Watch this space - ha ha.

Annobel - that made me laugh! -(see? I'm sure the grin has spaces?)