All teeth removed a week ago, no immed. dentures...

[DiHappy0828]

​Hi there!! I'm hoping someone can help me- I had all (besides wizzies and a molar which were extracted yrs earlier) my teeth extracted one week ago. I was not given immediate dentures, so here I sit, toothless. I am worried because I can't close my jaw all the way, so how am I going to be able to chew anything for the next 11-15 weeks while I wait for my perms???? Are you not supposed to be able to close your jaw completely w/ no teeth, or am I broken somehow? It feels as though there is bone back where my wizzies were that is keeping me from being able to bite down...

 

[carole]

Hello and to the forum.

I am sorry I cannot answer your question but I think if you gave the dentist a ring and explain to them what is happening they may be able to put your mind at rest.

Have you read Kims journal on here, she had all her teeth out and didn't get a denture straight away she waited for her gums to settle, I don't remember her saying she couldn't close her mouth.

I will see if I can find her thread and put a link here for you.

I have found it this may help you https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/forum/threads/im-in-a-state-of-panic.12838/

I hope you feel more comfortable soon

If you start on page 26 this is where she had her teeth out and there is a very good day to day description of how she and her mouth felt and how she healed.

All the best to you.

 

[Gordon]

You can't make your jaws meet together if you've got no teeth, if that's what you're asking, your jaw joint doesn't have that much movement in it.

You need to eat soft mushy foods that you can smash up with your tongue against your palate I'm afraid.

 

[DiHappy0828]

Thank you so much, Carole, that's so sweet of you!!

 

[DiHappy0828]

Gee, Gordon, I've never had my teeth ripped out of my face before, pardon me!!!!!!!!!!! WTF

 

[__Steve__]

Gee, Gordon, I've never had my teeth ripped out of my face before, pardon me!!!!!!!!!!! WTF

Hello!

I'm fairly certain Gordon was trying to say: under normal circumstances, your upper and lower gums wouldn't usually meet each other -- i.e. the teeth get in the way.

So it might take a bit of time for your jaw to compensate/adjust.

I've had several extractions, so I know how you feel. It does get easier/better.

My very best wishes,
Steve

 

[Gordon]

Let me try again.

Your jaw joints have a limited range of movement. Under normal circumstances the teeth meet together and prop the jaw open. Most people can close about 3-4mm from the normal resting position, which is where the teeth are just slightly apart.

Without teeth present, there isn't sufficient movement in the joint to allow the upper and lower gums to meet each other.

If you really force things then you might just be able to make some contact between them right at the front, but this would put a lot of stress on your jaw joint and would probably become quite painful in a couple of days or so.

Does that make more sense?