IMMEDIATE DENTURES

[carli14]

I am scheduled for IMMEDIATE DENTURES this week.  I am somewhat UNEASY from all the information I have read thus far, especially reading about all the RE-LINING, ADDITIONAL CHARGES every time and TEETH BEING NOT CENTERED!!  Maybe it's just Fear of the Unknown.  Also, I have 16 teeth that must be EXTRACTED.  Wow, I just have a lot on my mind.  I guess you're wondering WHAT is my question?  I guess I'm just looking for some kind of CONSOLATION in this whole process.  If you have anything you are able to offer to my concerns, I would appreciate it.  If not, I understand.  I know I just have to WALK THIS WHOLE THING OUT!!  Thanks for listening :)


This discussion is related to Immediate Dentures.

[rockinmom1]

HEY, I TOTALY UNDERSTAND YOUR UNEASY FEELING. I TOO AM GOING TO HAVE AT LEAST 9 TEETH EXTRACTED VERY SOON AND HAVE AN IMMEDIATE DENTURE PUT IN. I AM ONLY 28 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH "SOFT" TEETH ALL OF MTY LIFE. I AM VERY NERVOUS OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THIS TAKES PLACE. I THINK IT'S JUST A WAITING GAME, AND THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO FOCUS ON WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE. I AM SO NERVOUS BUT EXCITED AT THE SAME TIME. I CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE A PRETTY WHIT SMILE AGAIN.

[Skayda]

Hey, you two, here's a couple of big hugs from a stranger in the same situation first. I know how confusing, scary and frustrating it can be.

I went to "Affordable Dentures" in Spokane, Washington to have mine made. Even for being affordable they were quite spendy. My mother put most of it on her Care Credit insurance and the other half she paid for with her debit card. I'll tell you about my experience so far, k?

First a little history; I am a 34 year old white female who loves to write, draw, play online and spend time with my niece and nephews.
I've always had bad oral health due to neglect and improper oral education and care as a child and teenager. It's so true that the habits we learn as a child stay with us and affect us in the long-term as adults. Not to mention the fact that my parents and grandparents really didn't know much about good oral hygiene when I was growing up and thought it was "cute" and "okay" to give an toddler a bottle full of Pepsi-cola.

My Mother's oral health was in the same condition as mine so she had her teeth extracted and dentures made before me. After that she offered to pay for mine as an early birthday present. (May 13 is my birthday and May 12 is my Mom's).

Anyway...At Affordable Dentures they don't do appointments. It's pretty much a first-come, first-served type of service. Although they do have certain times in which they do stuff like 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 is for relines, repairs,  2:00-4:00p.m. is for extractions, etc.  

I arrived late the first day since I didn't understand the receptionist correctly when she said; "Just show up in the morning." It turned out that I could have had everything done in one day but since I showed up at 9:00 in the morning rather than at "before 8" my appointment had to be cut into two different days.

At my first appointment they went over what I wanted done and which package I wanted. I had a choice between the "Economy Denture", the "Custom" Denture or the "Premium" Denture. As you can probably guess, the Premium package is the most expensive and the best you can get. That is the package I choose.

I had a mold taken of my mouth, both my upper and lower parts. I was worried that they wouldn't be able to get a good impression due to the fact that I had only two front teeth, two upper molars and eight lower, one lower molar left in my mouth. But they were able to and the next day I was told to come in around 2:00p.m.

I had all of my remaining teeth extracted that afternoon. The doctor was very skilled at applying the Novocain so that there was as little pain as possible. He gave me the shots in quickly, like...boom, boom, boom. Rather than putting the needle in very slowly and pushing the plunger so slowly. I think the slowness causes it to hurt worse. No, I didn't use any "gas" at all in case anyone wonders. I got through it all with just Novocain and the kindness, care and sympathy of the dentist and his staff.

I went home wearing my immediate denture and now it's been about five days. The first night was horrible. I was drooling all over the place and wouldn't stop bleeding. Not to mention I couldn't close my upper lip over my front dentures so I looked like I was constantly confused or disgusted at something.  The top dentures kept wanting to fall out of place, too.

I also have the problem of, when I close my lips, I look like I have a wad of chew in my lower lip due to my swollen gums and the pink part of the denture, right below the teeth, the part that looks like your gums, being rounded and sticking out due to my swollen gums. Also my cheeks are puffy, too, do to the swelling.

Well, it's gotten a lot better, let me say. Except for the "wad of chew" look, but that'll get better in time too. I can feel my gums healing up and I had them relined once a few days ago. I am going back tomorrow for another reline as the bottom front of the denture keeps rubbing against the inside of my bottom lips and causing it become red and inflamed. I think they just need to put a soft liner there for padding or adjust the denture so that the edge isn't so thin and rough.

I don't have to pay for any relines/adjustments as they are all included in my package.

The best part is that the dentures I have now, my immediates, aren't the final product. I know they look good and everyone tells they do, but I just can't get over they don't look like "me". I've always had naturally small teeth since my mouth is fairly small and these are, well, they aren't really big-big, a little too large for me.

In a few month after I've learned to talk all right, my gums are all healed up and, as the dentist said, "You can eat popcorn again" (Popcorn?! Is he serious? hehe), I will come back in and get to sit down and help design a denture to my satisfaction. I'll get to do the wax try-in where I can see how they'll look and make any changes I want. I am going to bring in a picture of myself the way I looked before all my teeth really went south and I still had all my upper front teeth so the dentist and lab techs can see what my teeth looked like naturally and work from there.

I was scared at first and thought that the immediate denture was going to be my permanent one but they laid my fears to rest when they told me that with the Premium package it's a "two denture" deal; your immediates and then your custom, permanent dentures. Almost the Premium dentures are made with better material and look more like natural teeth and stand up against the ravages of time better.

I'm getting better and better at talking. I still have trouble with my "S"'s but I can do "F"s pretty well. Reading out loud to yourself once or twice a day really helps speed the process along. Also, I'm lucky enough to not need the strips or gel to keep my dentures in place. If I have a good suction going I can usually hold my top one in place pretty well on its own and the bottom one stays in place okay, too. Unless I play with it with my tongue and then it will become dislodged, but it's easy enough to push it back into place.

I hope when my gums are fully healed and I get my permanent dentures that I'll still be able to hold them in place without the help of adhesives. My grandfather's had the same set of dentures for over 30 years and never has to use adhesives either.  

My grandma seems to think that I, too, will be able to have the same set of dentures for 30-some years like my grandpa. I tried to explain to her how unrealistic this is and that Grandpa probably really should have gotten a new pair a long time ago as our mouth keeps changing as we age, etc. I can't believe he's had no problems with his denture in 30 years.

I'll leave you with a positive thought: All the pain and agony and frustration, confusion, fear, etc that you will go through will be rewarded very handsomely when you have your permanent set of dentures and look in the mirror and smile and think; "Wow, is that actually ME?!" and think of all the compliments you will get on your new beautiful smile.

There are people who are going through same thing and I am one of them. If any of you need to talk, to share advice and experiences, or even to just vent to, feel free to send me a line. I have two email addresses, both are fine:

***@****
alan_rickman_so_lustful***@****

Oh and my name is Ami.

Take care!

~Ami

[cyma123]

hey guys... i will have to get partial dentures too coz i have periodontitis.. i am only 24 years old.. i am freaking out myself. i really want to get dental implants but i do not have enough bone for it so i have to go thru a crazy process which is extremely expensive and it is something i cannot afford right now.

question, why arent you all getting implants or something? is it coz of the price as well?

[tobesmartt]

Wow, every sounds apprehensive as I too was when I got my upper dentures.  I had my extractions done at the dental clinic in Baltimore Md. These dental students are very expierenced and almost 1 year shy from being a full dentist. They are in tip top shape with knowledge and clinical procedures. There is always several professor dentists all around and you are very well checked and rechecked. If you don't mind this then I would highly recomend this .  It also is much cheaper and they do take any kind of insurance and they work out a payment plan with you.    I get lots of compliments about my smile.