Am I mad to want my teeth out and to get full dentures?

[Kevgain]

I am 27 and my teeth are in a wretched state, primarily cause I haven't looked after them. As it is they are a source of pain and discomfort most of the time. They are also an embarrassment as they look so ugly. Franky what I would like is to have all my teeth extracted and to be fitted with dentures. I know dentists are now dead set against dentures but they seem a much better alternative than bad teeth. Both my parents wear dentures and they seem do get along fine. I know that having dentures is not the end of going to a dentist, my gums will shrink so dentures need periodic relining and the dentures themselves will need replacing but i seems much easier and cheaper to maintain your dentures than to try to retain deteriorating teeth. Am I mad to want my teeth out and to get full dentures?

 

[Gordon]

Not necessarily as mad as you think, sometimes getting the teeth out is the only option. Especially if you're determined that's what you want.

However (you knew that was coming, right?) sometimes it's best to do things in stages. Going from most of your own teeth, no matter how bad they are, to zero teeth and trying to cope with complete dentures can be really difficult.

Find a dentist you can trust and take it from there.

 

[Enarete]

Hi Kevgain,
you are not mad for wanting this, it just sounds like you might benefit from some more information. So I got that your teeth do not look good. The question is - are they really beyond saving according to what a dentist says? Why saving the teeth that can be saved doesn't sound like a good option?

 

[Zoidberg444]

I must admit i myself had considered it years past. At the age of 29 i went to the Dentist for the first time since i was 18. I honestly thought i was going to loose the lot because of neglect and bad habits like fizzy drinks and snacking. Neither of my parents have many of their own teeth. I had 6 teeth extracted under sedation (good stuff) but most after a scale and polish were actually ok. I have a couple large fillings and will probably get a partial upper later in the year after my gums have healed fully.

Many of your teeth could well have many many years left or just need some fillings. From what i understand bottom dentures are not all that great. It takes a lot of getting used too. I also understand there are sensitive nerves in the lower jaw bone which can be exposed by bone loss after many years which can be problematic if you become toothless in your 20's. Teeth also do help to support your facial structure.

It might help you getting used to dentures if you only have partials and still have some actual teeth so they have something to grab on to. You might want to consider dental implants especially to replace missing lower teeth. First step is to try and find a decent dentist and ask them.

One thing i will concede is that i opted for extraction of 2 teeth that were possibly savable. Although each one would have needed a root canal and crowning. Coming to thousands of pounds all for results that might have only lasted 10 years and been troublesome. I still had plenty teeth so i took the cheaper option.

 

[biffo1963]

My father, who wore full dentures from the age of 21, was always firmly of the opinion that the best course of action was to get rid of your natural teeth as soon as you were able. He grew up in the days when working-class people in the UK didn't do dentists because they couldn't afford to, and he could never understand why anyone would choose to spend their money that way. A man of his times !

I have kept what natural teeth I could for as long as I have been able, despite them being weak and prone to crumbling However at 66 I've now reached a stage where I only have 2 teeth left in my top jaw and 7 on the bottom, and I too am starting to look forward to a time when I can have a set which all match one another and don't require continual repair ! If course my chances of persuading my NHS dentist that this is a good idea are, um, slim to non-existent......

 

[Kevgain]

Thanks for the advice.

I am not looking for sympathy. I know that haven’t looked after my teeth and I always thought that, like my dad, I would have them all out soon enough.

I know if I go to the average dentist he will probably extract some and repair others and I will step on the treadmill of extractions and restorations until eventually he will call it a day and extract my last remaining teeth. This process could take years and years.

I just thought it would be more sensible to accept the inevitable and have it all done now, even if that means I have to have the procedure done in Central Europe. I just wondered whether other people taken this path (some have), did they regret it (apparently not) and whether I was daft to do the same (some don’t think so.

 

[Enarete]

My suggestion would be to first see a dentist and get an assessment about what's really going on in your mouth. You can then also ask him/her about the concrete long term consequences of getting all teeth out at your age (bone loss for example). The best approach is, as you know, to keep as much healthy teeth as possible and then keeping them healthy through hygiene and regular check-ups for as long as possible. If you, however feel that getting them all out is the solution you would like to chose, it might be a good idea to do some research (as with any other dental or medical procedure) about the pros and cons of this decision and discuss that with a health care professional.

From this forum I only know people who:

- wished to get all teeth out and get dentures, then after having found a kind caring dentist changed their mind and were happy they did so

- were convinced (and afraid) they would have to get all teeth out and get dentures, then had found out that this wasn't the case and were happy about it

- got dentures because their teeth were beyond saving and they didn't have a choice. These people weren't happy about it and had to deal with a lot of difficult emotions like regret, shame and anxiety

Till now I haven't read any scenario of having other options, but voluntarily choosing to get rid of all teeth (despite kind caring dentist) and then being happy about this. The tendency is more to avoid dentures for as long as possible.

 

[Zoidberg444]

Thanks for the advice.

I am not looking for sympathy. I know that haven’t looked after my teeth and I always thought that, like my dad, I would have them all out soon enough.

I know if I go to the average dentist he will probably extract some and repair others and I will step on the treadmill of extractions and restorations until eventually he will call it a day and extract my last remaining teeth. This process could take years and years.

I just thought it would be more sensible to accept the inevitable and have it all done now, even if that means I have to have the procedure done in Central Europe. I just wondered whether other people taken this path (some have), did they regret it (apparently not) and whether I was daft to do the same (some don’t think so.

My suggestion? Have your really bad teeth out to start with. Get ones that need a simple filling done (amalgam fillings can last for decades). Get some partials. See how you get on with them. You'll make a start on hardening up your gums making it easier in the future if you do want the rest torn out and if you have some savable teeth on the bottom you'll still have some decent jaw bone if you decide you might like implants to replace those later on without the need for bone grafts.

Like you i'm very wary about putting massive amounts of money into crowns and bridge work that has a limited life span and is a lot of trouble. I've heard of people going to places like Hungary for treatment where its cheap but still fairly decent quality. I think there are practices over there that cater to English speakers mainly from the UK.

 

[Judythecat]

My situation is a bit different as my teeth look great, I've always taken care of them and had regular checkups, and other than a couple of missing lower molars and an upper wisdom tooth, are all present. BUT I am slowly destroying them by clenching and grinding due to stress, which is costing me a fortune, and causing even more stress. I recently asked my dentist if she would extract them all and fit me with dentures. She was very clear that this was not a good option currently, and that it would be in my interests to save my teeth as best as I can. I guess once they are out, there's no going back.

 

[Kevgain]

I went to a practice which specialises in dentures. The main problem was with my lower teeth which were mostly past saving and the ones that were would not bite against a tooth which could be retained in my upper jaw. As it was explained to me a full lower denture biting against a partial denture and natural teeth is likely to traumatise my lower gums leading to rapid loss of the bone and problems in retaining a lower denture. Also, an upper denture is much less problematic than a lower one. So I have the extractions next Tuesday and will be fitted with immediate dentures. So I will know the answer to my question whether or not I am mad to want all my teeth out and to get dentures.