Devastated with bad news

[T]

I’m a male in my mid-thirties that has suffered from dental fear/anxiety for years. This fear, along with other issues, has meant I’ve neglected going to the dentist for years. My last visit was six years ago because I had a horrible tooth ache that resulted in a root canal. The visit before that, I don’t even remember when it was. Obviously my mouth is in horrible shape. I have one missing tooth, three others that are broken and discolored. For years I’ve hidden my bad teeth, they were all molars or pre-molars and I’ve been able to hide them pretty well. But in the back of my mind I’ve known, and started to accept that I have to do something. So, last week I made an appointment to see the dentist. I was hopeful the dentist would tell me I only needed one or two teeth taken out, the rest could be repaired and I could get bridges to fill the gaps. No such luck. I need five total teeth removed, three of them all in a row and I’ve been told I will need a partial denture to fill the gap. I am devastated. I don’t want to go back and lose my teeth even though I know I have to if I ever hope to keep the ones I have remaining. I don’t want to be a denture wearer at such a young age. What will my friends and family think? How will I be able to face myself in the mirror when I have to pull out my fake teeth to wash them and go to bed with a huge gap in my. Who will ever find me attractive again? I’m not an ugly man, I’m not some drug addict, I’m a successful business man. I have nice teeth up front, but those ugly gaps and holes in the back, which now are going to be bigger……. I can’t even go into public or watch tv now without looking at everyone else’s beautiful smiles and think to myself how I’m going to look like some toothless freak bum who didn’t take care of himself. Like I said I’m devastated and it’s eating away at me.

Sorry for the rant, I just need to be able to tell this to someone.

 

[irmemac]

I'm sorry you got bad news. Could there be any other option for you e.g. implants? If not, I wanted to tell you about my experience with a partial upper denture which I had fitted in my twenties. Like you I was dreading it, but it changed my life. It covered gaps at the side and four teeth along the front of my mouth, and for the first time in years I could smile and laugh without looking down and covering my mouth. I take it out to clean it, but other than that keep it in all the time, even when I'm sleeping, and no-one in my family has ever seen it out. Maybe you could get a second opinion from another dentist, but even if the prognosis is the same, a partial denture may not be as bad as it seems.

Good luck.

 

[mrstaz147]

dont give up

Hiya,
Im 31, and went to my first appointment in may, was told 6 teeth had to come out. Ive had them out now, got a bit of work left to do. I didnt go for a palette, I dont think I could have. I uave two visable gaps at the bottom, only visable when I do a huge smile, the others are at the back.
It is horrid news. But not the worst.
You will get through it. And at the end of the day when you look at all these beautiful smiles, how many of them are real or veneers? There is no.way to tell. Beauty comes from confidence. Concenteate on that. Good luck mate.
Vicky
X

 

[biffo1963]

I've had virtually no molars since I was 35, and I'm 62 now. No-one ever notices unless I tell them. I only started wearing my partial denture about five years ago when I lost a couple of front teeth as well.