Not sure if this qualifies as a success story just yet, but...

[law_1990]

I had 31 teeth taken out about a week ago under general anesthetic.

Now if you had told me that i'd be ANYWHERE near a hospital where they were about to put me TO SLEEP and then PULL OUT 31 TEETH I would have said you're mad, crazy, stupid and high.

I have panic attacks when I'm just sat down in a dentist's chair. They don't even have to do anything, I just start losing it and my breathing goes kaput. I actually managed to have a molar yanked out about a year ago, but I put that all down to my dentist. I don't know how he managed to it I'm going to assume he's some kind of wizard/voodoo priest or something. Because to this day i don't know how I managed to sit through that. I heard it crack FFS

Anyway. I know it might be a little much to believe, 31 teeth out at the same time?! but I'm not joking. I don't have any before photos of my teeth as to be honest, I was pretty ashamed of them. I do, however, have the x-ray they took at my assessment in December;

[broken link removed]

And i also have a terrible quality picture of my gums about 6 hours after surgery;

[broken link removed]

They stitched me up really well. Still waiting for them to dissolve but they are getting thinner. The pain thus far has been suprisingly manageable with just over the counter stuff. So hopefully into my 2nd week of healing the soreness will start to fade a bit more

I haven't had a cigarette in over a week and i want to murder the world but apart from that i can't really complain. I know i have a long way to go but to FINALLY get this done, after all the crap i had to deal with for years makes me so happy. I know it isn't ideal, i'm 23 and i have no teeth lol. But we make mistakes right? i can't go back and re-do it.

I just wanted to share because i know the exact feeling when you don't want to go to the dentists because you feel a twitch, a soreness etc.. I've felt pretty much all of them at some point. and i didn't go, i let it build up until i HAD to go.

This is all coming from a guy who a year ago would have happily carried on with his bald teeth and aching gums because he didn't want to see the dentist.

If you have a problem. GO TO YOUR DENTIST!

i know it's a horrible thought but seriously. They can find the problem quick, treat it and probably save your teeth from something like this. Because this will be happening to you if you don't look after them and get check ups.

I know i'm a little bit of an extreme example but if this can make just one person go to the dentist instead of letting 'that ache' carry on for another few weeks then that's fine with me.

Also, i have new found love for strawberry milkshakes now.

Ninja edit: Can i also credit most of this to my dentist. He's a great guy. Ocean Dental in southampton, Room 6.

 

[Yorkie]

Good for you!!! Great to read this. You're right, we all make mistakes and we can't undo the past and make our teeth perfect again. My dentist told me a similar thing, we can't change the past but we can change the future and take control.

Will you be having dentures? Or what are your plans next?

Thanks for sharing this, it was a good read. Well done!

 

[law_1990]

Good for you!!! Great to read this. You're right, we all make mistakes and we can't undo the past and make our teeth perfect again. My dentist told me a similar thing, we can't change the past but we can change the future and take control.

Will you be having dentures? Or what are your plans next?

Thanks for sharing this, it was a good read. Well done!

thanks man!

Yeah i'm looking forward to having my fitting done as soon as possible all being well. I know it'll take about a month, maybe two for my gums to settle into a good enough shape to get it done but i'm also hoping MAYBE i'll be able to get some temporary ones fitted to keep me sane for the next couple months lol.

I would have had immediate ones fitted but my teeth were in no shape to be moulded around before my surgery. They would have pulled out a few of them when they'd remove the cast

I'm into my second week now and i have to admit, i did have two cigarettes yesterday. my god it felt sooooo good. But i'm still thinking that maybe this year will be the one that i actually quit for good.

I'm also starting to eat more solid food. Sandwiches and what not. I have to break them up in the roof of my mouth because well...there's not much you can do with gums apart from just mush stuff around

 

[carole]

This most certainly does count as a success story. Congratulations you have sorted this out now and I think you are really brave to go through this. When I have had just one tooth extracted I feel like I should have a medal, so you deserve

I am going to put you a couple of links here, they may help with the soft stuff to eat in the position you are in, I also hope you get your dentures soon and then you can spend all your time smiling.

What to eat or not after extraction

I hope this is posted in the right place if not gently move me on please. There are a lot of posts on her of people asking what to eat after having teeth out. As this is not something you think about much before having teeth extracted I thought it might be useful to start a thread so people...

www.dentalfearcentral.org

Soft Food Ideas

Lots of soft food ideas for recovering after tooth extractions or other dental procedures, or when you have dental problems.

www.dentalfearcentral.org

I hope these are some help

 

[law_1990]

Thanks Carole! yes those links have helped me. I had some pasta the other night and it was just really nice to have something else besides soup or a sandwich lol.

 

[law_1990]

Couple months on and i finally got my final fitting for my dentures last week. May 12th all being well i'll have a mouth full of teeth that don't look like a complete train wreck for the first time in almost 8 years.

I'm so glad i finally got this all done at the start of the year. Even with 0 teeth in my mouth atm i feel SO much better. My god it's so good to wake up in the morning and not feel like crap, worrying about 'which one is gunna play up today?'.

Even though i was a lurker on this forum for a long while, reading all these stories seriously helped me.

I might even take a snap of my new smile and post it up here lol. I haven't smiled properly since i was about 16.

I can't believe i'm actually excited....about teeth. Of all the things

 

[lawlcano]

Couple months on and i finally got my final fitting for my dentures last week. May 12th all being well i'll have a mouth full of teeth that don't look like a complete train wreck for the first time in almost 8 years.

I'm so glad i finally got this all done at the start of the year. Even with 0 teeth in my mouth atm i feel SO much better. My god it's so good to wake up in the morning and not feel like crap, worrying about 'which one is gunna play up today?'.

Even though i was a lurker on this forum for a long while, reading all these stories seriously helped me.

I might even take a snap of my new smile and post it up here lol. I haven't smiled properly since i was about 16.

I can't believe i'm actually excited....about teeth. Of all the things

Hey man, was just going through some of these threads and came across your story/update. Glad to see you're doing well! I've got an appointment for tomorrow, first dentist trip in 17 years I'm feeling excited by the prospect of everything being good again. It'll take time and many trips, but you're an inspiration! I've been a lurker for months here too, it's really helpful to hear from others who are scared and have similar tooth problems. I'd love to see pics of the new smile when it's ready! Getting that much needed work done gives you a new lease on life, I can't wait for that feeling. Congrats!

 

[law_1990]

Hey man, was just going through some of these threads and came across your story/update. Glad to see you're doing well! I've got an appointment for tomorrow, first dentist trip in 17 years I'm feeling excited by the prospect of everything being good again. It'll take time and many trips, but you're an inspiration! I've been a lurker for months here too, it's really helpful to hear from others who are scared and have similar tooth problems. I'd love to see pics of the new smile when it's ready! Getting that much needed work done gives you a new lease on life, I can't wait for that feeling. Congrats!

Hey dude! Sorry i didn't reply straight away, i keep forgetting to bookmark this forum but i'd figure i'd check today and i just read this. Really happy you went! how was it? if you don't mind me asking, what are you having done?

And i tell you man, even after the first few days of having all my teeth taken out i felt so much better. Not just emotionally (i guess?), but physically too. I can't quite put my finger on it but i just felt like a new person, not having all those broken, diseased teeth stuck in my mouth

And i'm glad my posts inspired you, if you're having anything remotely the same as me done please feel free to ask any questions if you want.

And as for the new teeth...well;



When i saw them in the mirror for the first time i almost passed out. I haven't had teeth that good since i was 15 maybe?! The bottom denture fits like a charm, the top one has given me a little trouble on the top right of my gum but i'm not giving it much thought as i've only had them for a day. I ate a crusty roll for the first time in maybe 6 years today and i quickly realised i had NO idea how to chew food properly

But anyway, i hope you see this and like i said, if there's any questions you have hit me up man.

 

[carole]

Hi I don't have dentures but if I ever do I hope they look as good as yours do.

Congratulations I think your thread will help a lot of people and I have enjoyed reading it and seeing the end result.

I am so pleased that you are feeling so good, I can't put my finger on it either but getting orally healthy gives you a kind of confidence in your everyday life as well as making your mouth feel better.
So although I can't quite put my finger on it I do know what you mean.

If only we could bag it and sell it we would be millionaires this time next year

All the best to you

 

[Sjc93]

So glad I read this! It's great to hear your experience and how happy it's made you to have a new beautiful smile! I just had 13 teeth removed the other day and getting impressions done for partial dentures. It's amazing to hear that you ate a crusty roll with your dentures, I miss being able to eat real chewable food! So happy for you and hope your still happy with your new teeth!

 

[SheDaisy]

Just found your thread today. I have to tell you that you are an inspiration to me. I find myself having so many of the same thoughts.

I'll be having the rest of my teeth, 18, taken out in a little over 2 weeks. Well, I've had many of the same thoughts. How do you chew food normally? I also haven't had a real smile since I don't know when. I'm 42 and have had bad teeth my entire life. I can only imagine what it will be like to eat real food again. Food that I can remember eating at one time in my life, but because of the awful state of my teeth, can't anymore.

Thank you for sharing your story. Just reading that there are others out there like me has been a tremendous help to me.