Getting teeth pulled, dentures.

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Continent3@reddit

Get implants if you can afford it. They are the best replacement for your natural teeth.

When you lose a tooth, your jaw bone loses the stimulation from the tooth root when you chew. A denture does not stimulate your jaw bone like a natural tooth root or implant does.

When the stimulation is gone, your body thinks that you don’t need the bone around the missing tooth socket anymore and absorbs it. This causes bone loss in the area of the missing tooth. It will weaken the bone around your remaining teeth. Without a tooth or bone in the missing tooth spot, your remaining teeth will begin to move into the open space. This causes eventual tooth loss from the surrounding teeth.

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Super-Meringue-8490@reddit

Thank you for that information. I was seriously debating whether the implant was a mistake. I can afford it, but it’s not nothing! I think it will be $10k by the time everything is said and done.

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Continent3@reddit

I understand that it’s not cheap. Good luck with your dentist discussion.

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wizard3232@reddit

If you can afford it, I just got quote..... 8k dollars.. that isn't happening

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UKophile@reddit

Go to the nearest dental school. Almost dentists (last year of schooling), under the watchful eye of actual dentist professors, will make recommendations and do the work for almost free.

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Dragonfly6179@reddit

Go to r/dentures it’s a great help!

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pasta666sauce@reddit

Yes see if there are any low cost options, dental school, dentist that do sliding scale, ect. You really don’t want to lose all you natural teeth if you don’t have to.

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Federal-Membership-1@reddit

Dentists can be really shady with the upselling. My family sees a second generation old-school dentist who has never tried to dix something that's not broken. Fingers crossed. He already sold out to Smiles, but he's still working.

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Tealme1688@reddit

Implants or a bridge, but chiming in with the others—get a 2nd opinion on the extraction.

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Upset_Peace_6739@reddit

I got full plates in 2018 and couldn’t be happier. Teeth were fine but gums not so much. Teeth were literally falling out due to the gum erosion.

I agree with everyone about the second opinion.

For anyone who does get them at some point what they often forget to tell you is that you will drool - a lot - for the first while. Mine was about 2 weeks. It was explained to me that your mouth senses the plates and thinks it is food so it starts salivating.

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DamnOdd@reddit

I'm also going to suggest a second opinion. Pretty sure the new dentist my husband is seeing is doing unnecessary procedures when all he wanted was 2 teeth pulled.

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BmanGorilla@reddit

Make sure the dentists office isn’t owned by private equity. Those companies are notorious for charging for anything that they can while providing a sub par experience.

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DamnOdd@reddit

This is a rural area, she inherited the dental office, figuring that she's paying off student debt by charging Big City prices.

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pragmatic_dreamer@reddit

Never remove a healthy tooth. It would be like taking all your toes off because you broke one. They help prevent bone loss by keeping things in place. Implants are expensive, but if it's at all possible, this is the way. Dentures will need to refitted and replaced as your facial structure changes with bone loss. So a larger future expense to think about.

I am not a dental professional FYI, just worked at one.

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pandemicblues@reddit

Hi OP, I know this sounds paranoid, but I would get a second opinion. If your dental health has been good, and all of a sudden you need lots of work, it could be a dentist doing unnecessary work.

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TheDude4269@reddit

Implants are the answer. Yes, they are expensive, but totally worth it.

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Fun-Lime-4563@reddit

Do whatever you can to avoid full dentures.

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fastcatdog@reddit

Go can go to Mexico get teeth done and take a vacation for a LOT less, the dentist all go to school here. I crashed my mountain bike a knocked one out im going there for a bridge. Google reviews of the ones there, many have better reviews than dentists here.

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MissDisplaced@reddit

Modern dentures are a lot better, but I think a bit grueling to have done. My friend had all of hers (upper & lower) done at once but they look great now. Cost her something like $6k I think.

But that may be extreme for two teeth. Probably you only need a bridge or partial.

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Historical_Project86@reddit

I'm lucky enough that the 3 teeth I lost are fairly well spread. For a long time it was just a molar on my lower right and a molar on my upper left. Recently a tooth cracked so also had a pre-molar on my upper right removed. None have noticeably changed my speech, and it's only the pre-molar which I'm even conscious of most of the time.

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kstweetersgirl2013@reddit

Im sorry im going against the grain. I had horrible teeth. At 40 I had 21 pulled at once and got dentures. Best choice ever. They are the best choice I ever made for my confidence and smile. Im scared of implants and cant afford them.

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Honeybee71@reddit

Some of my teeth were knocked out in a car accident, so I have a partial. My husband has a bridge. It takes a minute to get used to, but we don’t mind them

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FlippingPossum@reddit

Can you get a bridge? My son was born without a few adult teeth. He has a bridge for a top one and you can't tell.

Partial denture?

I'm 47 and will eventually need a crown. Dental care is so important but can be pricey. GL!

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xjeanie@reddit

I always had terrible teeth. Had good oral hygiene and lots of dental visits as a kid and young adult. Yet still ended up needing tons of dental work. In my 30s, I was eating chicken wings at a bbq and one of my front teeth just broke. Snapped off. 😩

I was devastated. It was a Sunday. I ended up being recommended to a specialist practice. They got me in Monday and after a very long consultation and visit multiple scenarios discussed I decided to go with a permanent fixed bridge. I had wanted to do an implant but unfortunately for me being a small lady my bone just wasn’t enough to support it. Apparently I needed child/adolecent sized. It took quite a few visits before I was totally finished. This was around 2002.

I’ve been very happy and had no issues with the bridge. It looks fantastic still. It’s a pain to floss but I bought a water pic which made it much easier.

My husband was also cursed with bad teeth. He ended up choosing to go full dentures. He hates them. But won’t go for a consult about implants. He hates any kind of dental or even medical. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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RoomFixer4@reddit

Im going with the removal of the remaining teeth on the upper jaw and getting a regular denture (no implants).

In the future, doing the lower jaw. The remaining will be removed , and a removable denture on 4-implant anchors just to keep the lower jaw bone happy.

The way it was explained to me, it's the lower jaw bone that you have to worry about , the upper jaw bone is fine with whatever way you want to go.

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rtomleb@reddit

I had to get a 4 tooth partial denture after I spent 4 grand getting an implant that failed. I really like the partial and I can sing as well as before. I don’t like dental procedures and I found the implant with bone grafts extremely unpleasant. I had constant infections and had to have a soft diet for weeks at a time. So the implant was a bad experience for me.

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Ok-Razzmatazz-7593@reddit

I am getting two implants starting this year and get the crown or teeth after 5 to 6 months of healing. My estimated bill is almost $10,000! And ive already used my insurance this year so on the end it will cost me about $8500. 4 years ago I had my fist implant on a tooth in the front that was about $4500.

Teeth cost a small fortune

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Pretend_Piano_6134@reddit

I’m Gen X and I lost my upper teeth in my 30s and my lower about a year ago. Dentures are not what they used to be, but I definitely suggest going with implant supported dentures as opposed to conventional dentures. I have zero problems with mine

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Pristine_Software_55@reddit

Is there anything you can’t eat?

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Pretend_Piano_6134@reddit

Not really. Still working through some minor adjustments as my bottoms just got retrofitted. They say with implant supported dentures you get 60-70% of your natural biting ability back. I would assess that as being fair

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truth_fairy78@reddit

Fwiw, I’m a dentist. Do the partial, save up for the implants.

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drfoggle@reddit

Are you really a dentist? Tell the tooth!

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ThermoMother@reddit

I’ve always had bad teeth. After several years of toothaches and abcesses I finally decided to get them all Pullled. I hate my dentures but love being toothless. I only wear them on special occasions. I must say it was a great decision. I can eat almost anything without teeth, my breath never smells, I don’t ever have to go to tha dentist again.

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whatthehellisketo@reddit

Are you my dad gumming all his food?

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Left_Connection_8476@reddit

Get the implants. I have two, and they are worth the money. They are far superior to the teeth they replaced.

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disastrous_affect163@reddit

I have more important things to spend money on.🤷‍♂️

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Left_Connection_8476@reddit

Read my response to the other comment.

ONE thing I let slide for too long (of a much longer list) led to a week-long hospitalization.

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disastrous_affect163@reddit

I get it, I really do. But I'm not spending 3 grand on a friggin tooth, I'll be fine with dentures if I live that long. 🤷‍♂️

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Left_Connection_8476@reddit

Unfortunately my situation was more of a "sneak up and snowball" kind of thing. It was a combo of bad genes and am early overly aggressive dentist who'd immediately leap to the most drastic treatments possible.

Thankfully I dumped him long ago and now my maintenance and repair of a lot of that old stuff is the priority.

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disastrous_affect163@reddit

My teeth are bad because of cancer treatment that did not work. They won't even give me a timeline anymore, just say they don't know. 🤷‍♂️

If they don't cure the cancer, I could careless about the teeth. 🤷‍♂️

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Left_Connection_8476@reddit

Yes I've heard those treatments can wreak havoc on the mouth.

Good luck with everything!!!

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1questions@reddit

Not everyone has the money. Had a filing come out. Finally started causing an issue. Cost to pull the tooth? $0. Cost for an implant? $3,000, I don’t have that kind of money for anything.

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Left_Connection_8476@reddit

They asked about dentures, which can be just as expensive.

I know the costs. I've got two implants, 11 crowns, six root canals, two apicos, a frenectomy, a gum grafting, surface fillings, and one hospitalization due to an undetected root infection (thankfully that one was covered by health insurance.) Sometimes I had dental insurance, other times not. It's not a luxury for all of us; I've had to prioritize dental financing my entire adult life, as well as dental hygiene and healthy habits on top of it all. I got genetically bad teeth unfortunately.

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disastrous_affect163@reddit

Exactly🫡

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Great-Tical-Returns@reddit

My wife had tooth problems her whole life, and finally got dentures a few years ago. Other than getting a bunch of teeth pulled, it's been a massive life upgrade for her.

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TakitishHoser@reddit (OP)

Thanks for your insights, appreciate it.

Glad your wife feels better about her teeth. There's no worse pain than teeth pain I think.

My dentist tried for years to save the one tooth I recently got pulled. I just asked them to pull it cause it was always sore.

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Super-Meringue-8490@reddit

Same for me!

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Numerous_Bad1961@reddit

Bone loss in the jaw is the long term issue. Implants can help prevent this.

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justmyusername2820@reddit

My husband had this too and ended up having to get full
Top and bottom dentures 20 years ago. He still has the original ones he got and really has no problems with them. They look so natural that even our daughters don’t know he has them.

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Relevant_Fuel_9905@reddit

I’m curious what that cost (if you don’t mind sharing)?

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Great-Tical-Returns@reddit

She's on disability, so it was covered by Care Oregon

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Super-Meringue-8490@reddit

I have genetically awful teeth and it’s showing. I also just had the upper molar (second to the back) pulled last year. And I think it was about feeling old, or being scared of the pain, or the cost, but it affected me! I was an emotional mess when the dentist told me what needed to be done. And I thought I could never leave the space where the tooth was pulled empty, but I totally could. I’m committing to doing this one implant, because I still have enough dental coverage between me and my husband to cover the majority of it, but I just said to someone that I’m not sure I would do it again. And, like you, I’ve been told that the back molar isn’t in the best shape. I was highly discouraged from just leaving the space empty (teeth move and cause other issues?) and everything else seemed so “old person” to me! With the implant I feel like I can eventually pretend it never happened but I don’t know what I would do next time so I’m also curious to hear different people’s experiences. The cost is astronomical if you do the implant. The only other saving grace is that, when it’s done, the costs have been spread out over three years (also crazy!). I haven’t, though, noticed any difference in my speech, and I am not a singer so I can’t help you there. Apologies for rambling but there’s some comfort in kindred spirits and knowing you’re not the only one going through something.

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pinkbev71@reddit

I had periodontal disease and kept losing teeth. Spent a fortune on bridges, crowns and root canals. Had a lower partial and was going to need an upper. Told the dentist i just wanted them all pulled and get dentures. Went home and talked to my SO and he told me to call and get a consultation for implants. We went a couple weeks later and i now have 4 on 4 implants. I'm not gonna lie that it was the most traumatic experience of my life, but they are well worth the 40,000!

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heathers1@reddit

i would think having all the teeth pulled would be the most traumatic part! ughhh!!! getting an implant is no worse than a root canal, imo

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pinkbev71@reddit

It was awful! I actually had zero pain. The most painful part was looking at my bruised face. ugh

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demona2002@reddit

Heading to Tijuana soon for implants.

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nomedent@reddit

Follow up care for implants is extremely important. At least have a plan for what you do if you have issues after and you are back home.

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UncleFlip@reddit

Seriously would like to hear how that goes after you get it done.

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Firstcounselor@reddit

My wife just watched a video from an orthodontist explaining that doctors are moving away from dentures due to increased breakdown of the jawbones with them. I some cases disintegrating completely, due to lack of weigh bearing pressure on the jawbones. Kind of like menopausal women losing bone mass from lack of weight bearing exercise.

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littlemsshiny@reddit

To clarify, is the move away from dentures towards implants?

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Firstcounselor@reddit

Yeah, that is what he suggested. The implants keep biting pressure on the jawbones, keeping them regenerating in strength.

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QueenMEB120@reddit

Unless the price of implants come down drastically, I don't think dentures are going anywhere.

I understand why implants are expensive but my wallet doesn't.

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heathers1@reddit

get a flipper. if you use fixodent it won’t move and your dentist can tweak it so it sits confortably. look into doing implants, or at least one, soon before bone loss and tooth shifting occurs

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abstractraj@reddit

That’s not lucky. Our gen shouldn’t be losing teeth yet. Look after yourself. There’s still a ways to go

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blackpony04@reddit

I need a root canal after my habit of gritting my teeth damaged them and I broke one. Not grinding during sleep, mind you, gritting from determination. When the dentist told me that, he also congratulated me on brushing so well.

So yeah, it can still happen with little bearing on age. I'm almost 56, and have had 1 cavity in 30 years (in that stupid molar needing the root canal). By my age both my mom and dad long had a mouth full of dentures.

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thebiglerm@reddit

They're learning how to regrow teeth. That's what I'm waiting for

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PurplePenguinCat@reddit

I just saw that last week! I'm pretty excited that we've advanced that far. I lost 2 upper molars and I hate what it's doing to my jaw.

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liddybuckfan@reddit

I got an implant awhile back. I hadn't had a single cavity until I was pregnant in my mid-30s, and then I ended up with 2. They tried to save both teeth with root canal but one of them just had to go. I barely notice the implant except there's a little extra space between that one and another molar so I have to floss more often in that spot. If you can get the implants, do it. It's better for your jaw.

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Effective-Usual4152@reddit

Find a good prosthodontist! There are more options than you might think. Good luck!

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Out_of_Darkness_mc@reddit

I’ve literally never had a cavity or a tooth pulled! Sadly, I HAVE been dealing with autoimmune disease and periodontal disease.

Suddenly, and I do mean “woke up like that”, I woke up to severe pain in my lower gum/teeth.

At the time, I thought it was some kind of sore and went the weekend thinking that.

On Monday, I called my dentist and got in and he dropped the news that I was infected severely, and had accelerated bone loss!

It took 3 antibiotics and four bottom teeth pulled to correct everything!

I am devastated losing my teeth! I have an appliance that looks like teeth but it’s weird and I still have to get it adjusted as it feels funny but it sucks! I still can’t get over it when I look in the mirror.

My husband said it’s no big deal but it IS! Implants are useless to me unless I do bone graphing and that’s a LOT of 💰

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Sir_Colby_Tit@reddit

I had top and bottom dentures a couple of years ago. Tried the plastic ones first and the top one made me gag, couldn't get past it.

Ended up paying about £1.5k for metal ones and they're brilliant, don't even notice them, don't have to use a fixing agent.

Never tried singing with them in though.

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Moody_GenX@reddit

Do you issues eating certain things? Like steak?

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Sir_Colby_Tit@reddit

Hardly ever, the only thing that might dislodge them would be something like a chewy sweet or toffee

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TakitishHoser@reddit (OP)

If I may ask, is the actual tooth metal or is it the framing of it?

Is yours a full denture or just a few teeth?

Thanks for the info.

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Sir_Colby_Tit@reddit

Just the frame, it's extremely lightweight and strong.

4 dentured teeth on top, 3 on the bottom.

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TakitishHoser@reddit (OP)

Thanks for the info! If I may ask one more question. Are any of the teeth at the end? I am a bit worried cause the two of mine are way way back, there's no tooth behind these ones to hold in a denture.

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Sir_Colby_Tit@reddit

Yep, back teeth top and bottom, they clip onto the remaining teeth.

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crlynstll@reddit

Get implants. I have one and it’s great.

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kittyshakedown@reddit

IDK. The mouth is sooo important to overall wellbeing and health. It’s like one thing gets off and it all goes to pot. It’s not even so much about vanity but that is definitely some of it.

I had a tooth removed and had an implant placed. It looks great but I still have to treat it just so. It was ONE tooth and from start to finish, it was a full year. I swear my bite changed significantly during that time. I can absolutely see how things like that could make things like…eating, such a GD PITA. And at some point even avoiding it.

I’m also having other bone loss issues (seemingly overnight) so after a few visits to a periodontist I’m afraid I’m in for a long winding dental road. So I’m trying to stay on top what seems reasonable and manageable. So 2 teeth I would do the implants, myself.

It’s a sucky thing to have to deal with…so sorry.

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JulesSherlock@reddit

My husband has had 3 implants. All good, no issues. One he had to have bone implanted before he could do the implant.

My mom had bridges for years on her bottom back teeth and they broke and she got a partial denture. She really likes it but they do have to adjust at every cleaning to secure it better as it loosens with use.

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SMA949@reddit

I wouldn’t worry too much about two teeth I have four missing - one in each quadrant. I still eat and talk and sing just fine. You can always talk to your dentist about a bridge.

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prudent__sound@reddit

When implants work, they work great. But you should really be a non-smoker and practice good dental hygiene. You still have to floss around it diligently and brush, and if you are a tooth grinder or clencher you should talk to your dentist about considerations related to that. If you do get implants and take good care of them, they can last the rest of your life and function just like normal teeth.

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Katsaj@reddit

I have a missing upper bicuspid on each side. They cracked in half a couple of years apart. I got an implant for the first one, and it was a horrible experience that ended up with the infected implant post having to be drilled out of my jaw.

I’m not a very open-mouthed smiler so so far I’ve just dealt with it, but I keep considering getting a partial with fake teeth to wear when I want to be fancy. The quote I got a while back was not cheap, but manageable.

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jaxbravesfan@reddit

I have terrible luck when it comes to breaking teeth. I’ve had the back two molars on my upper left side and the back molar on my lower side pulled. The plan is to eventually get one implant on the top left and one in the bottom right. I really don’t want to pay 100 percent out of pocket, so with what my insurance will shell out per year, it will be a four year process to get them both in. Unless something changes, that process will start next year, since I have to shell out for a couple of crowns this year. I’ve considered going the dentures route just to finally be done with it all, but I just can’t wrap my head around getting all my teeth pulled.

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ransier831@reddit

I have to go for a cleaning in about a week, and im considering having a conversation about upper dentures. While I still have my front 10, menopause is causing my gums to recede terribly, even though I make great efforts to keep my teeth clean constantly. One of my "eye" teeth is loose from gum receding and all of my front teeth have been restored using dental filling material extensively - when I get xrays, it looks like my teeth are mostly filling material. The filling material has stained over the years, so my teeth are a strange gray/yellow color, and they are squared off in an unbecoming way. Im just really sick of waiting for them to loosen, and they already have big spaces because of removal of my back teeth over the years. Im in a job that is front facing - how many of denture wearers actually have their dentures as aoon as their teeth are pulled and what was their experience?

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Awkward-Actuator-596@reddit

I'm am blessed to have full coverage for implants but I am not a candidate. A lot of people shouldn't have them done- and seem absolutely surprised when they fail. Me I am still a smoker, history of non-union fractures after 40 and osteopenia.

I was reluctant about partial dentures but they have come a long way compared to the contraptions my parents had to use.

Honestly the little plastic ones are great but they do take some practice and require adjustments. My dentist was great allowed as many appointments as needed to get them right.

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BraveRefrigerator552@reddit

Turkey. Cheap and fantastic teeth.

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disastrous_affect163@reddit

I go see the dentist tomorrow, dentures are going to be discussed. 👍

I've got terminal cancer and I'm not interested in trying to get implants or anything. The cancer treatments have had one hell of a toll on my teeth, I think every tooth in my head is loose. 🤦‍♂️

I'm just trying to figure out the money. 🤷‍♂️

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TakitishHoser@reddit (OP)

I'm so sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Yes cancer treatments are brutal, I've had family battle the disease before too.

Getting your teeth pulled hopefully will ease some of the discomfort in your mouth.

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disastrous_affect163@reddit

Thank you