Dental hospital

[LondonChelle]

Hi all,

I posted last year and received some lovely replies. Just to give the back story, I'm 31 and have been terrified of the dentist my whole life. Last year in June I managed to make myself go to the dentist. He was quite dismissive of me and judgemental, but referred me to have multiple extractions under sedation. When I went for the sedation they wouldn't do it because by BMI was too high, so needed to go back to dentist to be referred to the hospital for GA.
Fast forward to this week, and after delays in getting paperwork from one dentist to another, after 9 months waiting I finally have an assessment at the Royal London dental hospital. This is only the first appointment there, so guess I'll need x-rays etc. At my last appointment 9 months ago I was told I needed 15 teeth out, but 9 months is a long time so guess it could be more.

I just have a couple of questions if anyone would be able to help!

1- Has anyone been treated at the Royal London? Roughly how long from 1st appointment until you had your treatment?

2- How long does it take for a NHS dentist to make immediate dentures? I'm mainly concerned about my from teeth (I work with the public, I need my teeth)? My dentist didn't mention immediate dentures before, he said something about waiting a few months then making dentures, however I really can't go without front teeth at work, can I overrule the dentist if he still says no?

3- does making partial dentures involve a mould? I have 2 very very loose teeth which may well come out while the mould is being taken.. ah well suppose that's a couple less for the surgeon to worry about.

4- this may be a daft question, but how do they do intubation for this kind of surgery? GA doesn't worry me, but I am curious how they will remove the teeth with a breathing tube in my mouth?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Suzannah99]

I can answer a few things but not all.

An NHS dentist which does dentures can fit immediate dentures (dentures fitted right away post extractions) and then can do a reline at about 3 months after gum shrinkage has happened.
Basically if you can't have IV sedation then unless you can have the extractions whilst awake it sounds like perhaps you are stuck with waiting for your dentures. It could literally be down to cost to the NHS for a GA is why immediate dentures are not an option - I'm not sure about that but I suspect that is why.
Has your dentist explained why you would need GA and to wait for dentures at all?

Having had 8 extractions under GA as a child and 4 extractions as an adult whilst awake I would go for being awake time and time again as my experience as a child was horrible from the moment I woke up.
As an adult I actually assumed I would have to wait for dentures but nope - he wasn't going to leave me with any gaps at any point and I was back working from home, making and taking calls two hours after the treatment.

Any denture requires impressions but they can bond wobbly teeth to one another so that they don't fall out whilst taking the impressions - my dentist did this for me and it was fine. It was a bit uncomfy for a week until extraction day but was only temporary.

Can you speak to the RL prior to your appointment perhaps to get a better idea?