New to this and cant find answers online.

[notmyrealname96]

This is my first time ever doing any type of forum/discussion post so please bear that in mind lol. So with that lets get on to the facts, I am a 27yr old male that does not have any type of good dental hygiene practices. I honestly cant even remember how long its been exactly since i last brushed my teeth, and flossing is non-existent. Now with that being said, i have a lot of craked, broken, or "holey" teeth (they have big holes in them). I also have a crown from a root canal on one of my two front teeth which is/has been infected for a while now but has been treated multiple times with antibiotics. I know at some point i want them all gone cuz for me its too much of a hassle to spend thousands of dollars to try and fix teeth that my genetics already fucked up (i was born with extremely thin and weak enamel on my teeth). They dont really bother me except for as of late it seems that the positioning of my lower jaw has changed and is causing one of my teeth to kinda push against the crowned tooth in certain positions which has caused a swollen feeling. I took some antibiotics thinking maybe it was the infection again along with ibuprofen and its gone down some but the tooth still hits every now and then which causes the swollen feeling to still remain. I have no job atm nor do i have insurance so its not like i can go see a dentist or endo to fix the issue. I also have a big public event in a month so if i were to get them all removed what would my options be to be able to feel somewhat back to normal by then? Or at least what options do i have?

 

[letsconnect]

Hi @notmyrealname96, I suppose the first thing to do would be to consult with a dentist. Over the years, we've collected some tips on this page which might help with the money aspect:

How to Pay for Dental Treatment in the U.S.

Are you worried about not being able to afford dental treatment you desperately need? This page explains the options available in the US.

www.dentalfearcentral.org

Getting them all removed might not be an option (or a good option) for several reasons:

1. Dentists are bound by codes of ethics and professional standards. Depending on where you are, these codes are set by professional organisations, regulatory bodies, or licensing boards. It is only ethical to remove all teeth if that is in your best interest. As an analogy, you wouldn't be able to ask your medical doctor to remove your big toe just because you've got a painful ingrown toenail.

2. Even if most of your teeth couldn't be saved, it's always a good idea to try and keep at least some teeth as "anchors" for a partial denture. This will make the transition towards full dentures easier, should it become necessary in the future.

3. You'll find plenty of testimonies online of people who have full dentures and get on great. And if you're lucky, you might be one of them. However, there's huge variation in how well people adapt to dentures, and if you're one of the less lucky ones who find it hard to adapt, there's no going back. (Having said that, it may be possible to place some implants to help with retaining the dentures, but implants are costly. So they may not be an option if you're struggling financially.)

If all your teeth are really beyond hope, then dentures may be the best option. There's an FAQ here which gives some more information on dentures and getting used to them:

Dentures FAQ

Top tips for new denture wearers! Find out about different types of dentures and how to deal with "teething problems".

www.dentalfearcentral.org

I hope this info is of some use!