Do you regret getting dentures?

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

Before you decide have X-rays done to see if you are a candidate for in-plants. I have uppers and regret it every day. I would do in-plants but not a candidate as sinus cavities are a problem.

[Wayne M]

Well, I have uppers since about 1984-85. There is only one time that I ever really had a problem. I hate to tell this story, but, oh well.

On a motorcycle ride called "Run For The Wall," we were just tooling down the highway. I looked over to my right and said something to the rider over there, and just a little behind me. Now when you talk to someone when you are riding a motorcycle you have to "speak up" so to speak. (no pun) So, I spoke up. As some of you may realize there are times when you speak that a puff of air will flutter up under the plate against the pallet. When this happens the upper set of false teeth become a missile. Well, maybe just a sputter, but it is very difficult to catch unless the puff of air is inconsequential. On a motorcycle it is 3 times a violet.

There went my teeth. Poof, or puff however you may discern it, into the air. Not one of the hundreds of riders behind me thought to catch that darn things. Off to the side of the road. Waited for the hundreds of riders to go by, then I started walking back to where I thought the incident had happened.

What was my expectation? Well I thought that I could find them and maybe have them repaired! Maybe! I mean, paved road - hundreds of motorcycles, what are my chances. I had two more weeks of traveling on the MC and "gummy" peanut butter sandwiches were not my favorite munchies. I walked and I scanned, walked and scanned, walked and scanned.

Oh wow! About 2 feet off the pavement, sitting in the grass were my upper teeth, just sitting there smiling at me. I picked them up and scanned them. I could tell they had some sand, mud, dirt, grime on them. No way to just stick them in the mouth and test them, but directly across the street was a littel pull-in rest area and I saw a water fountain. When the heck. I walked over, rinsed the teeth, stuck them in my mouth and viola, one little chip on a side tooth. Praise be, I could eat for the rest of the trip. Plus I wasn't out another $grand$.

I did purchase some "Fixodent" for the remainder of the trip. That is the only time I used the Fixodent, just in case.

True story folks, very true indeed.

Cat's out of the bag now, or should I say foot is in mouth. (At least I can chew on the foot)

Personally to the OP, it is better to have a good set of dentures, then a bad set of teeth in the mouth. Go for it.

[jdickson]

I've had dentures since I was in my mid 20's. Like everyone here says the top ones are easy, the bottom takes a little ger use to. I don't use any kind of addhesive on the top and very little to none on the bottom, I only use a little when I know I'm going out to eat. I wish I had mine own back, but not with all the problems I had with them.
They caused me a lot of pain, now if they start to hurt I take them out and put them in a glass, let them hurt there...lol

[mymillions]

Greezykid; tell me more about a full mouth of implants...in costa Rica....
I am doing some looking into impants for a lady I know. and why isn't there more talk about them? How much did it cost- is that why you went to C.R. to get them in? How long does the whole thing take? were there any uncomfortable complications to it? What knid of doctor did you see-a cosmetic dentist?- or a maxio-facial surgeon?
I think i also saw in my searching, someplace that did 4 implants on top and 4 on the bottom; and they snapped on a set of permanent dentures??? do you think that is workable? Maybe it "brands" better for those looking at dentures, but doesn't want to take them in and out all the time....I can see that. But the implants look like the way to go.-just cost standing in the way, huh?

[Jim_HiTek]

I agree with a previous poster, get a full set of x-rays and keep them. Maybe take some pictures too. Then get dentures. If they don't work out, you can still get implants (I think) based on the x-rays and photos. But it will depend on your dental heath and bone strength. Best to talk to your dentist about all that.

[firedoc]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43'

Before you decide have X-rays done to see if you are a candidate for in-plants. I have uppers and regret it every day. I would do in-plants but not a candidate as sinus cavities are a problem.

If you are really interested you might be a candidate for a sinus lift to make room for implants.

[firedoc]

Originally Posted by firedoc

If you are really interested you might be a candidate for a sinus lift to make room for implants.

There is not a certified implantology specialty. Any dentist can legally do implants. But some have more experience than others. And some are much better than others. Many times it will be a shared experience between an oral surgeon and a general dentist. The problem is it is difficult to find out who does good implants and who doesn't.

[LadyFitz...]

I got partials a while back and regretted it. The dentist didn't bother to tell me that my gums would keep shrinking for a while after I had some infected teeth removed and the lowers have never fitted correctly for more than a day or two. I had the blasted things readjusted several times before I figured out what why I was having problems with the miserable misbegotten no good for nothing piece of... (including TMJ flareups). What really bites my backside (besides tall dogs) is I still had enough teeth to chew with and could have waited until the gums had finished shrinking. I'll get them relined someday but I'm still steaming over the fiasco.

[MRBB]

Originally Posted by firedoc

There is not a certified implantology specialty. Any dentist can legally do implants. But some have more experience than others. And some are much better than others. Many times it will be a shared experience between an oral surgeon and a general dentist. The problem is it is difficult to find out who does good implants and who doesn't.

I know you are a dentist so maybe you can answer this:

A regular dentist will say to save your teeth and a dentist that specializes in dentures will say to get dentures. How do you find someone who can make an impartial decision?

[Jwar]

Im am also in the process of getting them. I have had partuals for decades, but just got over a year of Chemo and Radiation treatments of which took a toll on my teeth, crowns falling out, cracked or split tooth and another two jest loosened and came out.

But the up side is that Im still kicking, and if I dont get them done soon, my better half is going to biteing me on my lower half LOL

[demoon]

I am in the middle of a single implant right now. My dentist referred me to the specialist that is doing the implant. The implant process is quite complex and is very dependent on the bone structure of the patient. I needed bone grafting before the implant could be installed. That required a six week wait. Now that the implant is in place I wait another six weeks before the crown will be installed. There are supposedly new procedures that claim to be able to do all of this in one sitting. I am skeptical and suspect conditions must be exactly right. This single will end up costing me 3K+. And, there is no guarantee that they will not fail.

[sCarycary]

I am waiting for approval from the insurance co for a single implant right now. Dentist says it is about $4,200. Insurance is to pay 50%. I'd rather have an implant than dentures. Just my two cents.

[llmrealestat]

I got mine when I was 30 due to teeth that could break on a peanut butter sandwich (dentist said poor nutrition when mom was pregnant). I have never used glue or adhesive of any kind. After a couple of weeks, when everything is healed, you will be very happy. Only problem food I have is kiwi because of their tiny seeds. A quick rinse when done eating them takes care of the problem.

[llmrealestat]

AND I haven't burned the roof of my mouth on a piece of pizza since I got them. A nice perk.