Tooth Extraction done...flipper dental in..and depression sets in

[Iamthehb]

First of all, thank God i found this site and this forum. I am 39 years old (If you ask me though I'm 25 + Tax) and recently had 2 teeth that needed to be pulled. My daughter who is 16 has had a lot of issues with her teeth and a few months before Christmas require almost $7000 worth of work, so of course everything I needed done was put on the back burner.

Last week, I had to get a back Molar pulled (which isn't ideal but I can live with it) and my front tooth located directly behind my K-9. (Sorry I don't know technical number terms lol) That tooth is obviously directly in my smile line. I have always been very proud of my smile, so when the dentist informed me there was no way to save that tooth, I was in tears. He then explained that I could get a dental implant ($3500...no way I can afford that), a Bridge ($2700...again way over my budget) or I could do a flipper dental since when I was at home I didn't really care if it was out or not. I went with this option as it was something I could afford, while still preserving my smile etc.

Fast forward to today (exactly a week since the tooth was pulled) and I now have a flipper dental that feels like I will never get used to it. It is rather large and covers almost the entire top of my mouth. I cannot talk around it at all, despite trying to forget it's there. I was not sure if it didn't fit correctly, I wasn't putting it in correctly etc, or if my mouth still had not healed or the swelling had not yet come down. It is somewhat painful on my back right molar that is there, as it pushes against it. By the end of the day I have a headache and it is very sore. SO I made an appointment for Tuesday next week, to have it adjusted and hoping this helps.

I know a lot of people have stated there is a grieving process when you lose a front tooth or one that effects your smile line. I am in tears a lot of the time, as I feel like I will never feel or look the same. Of course I am now noticing everyone's perfect teeth as well. There is really nobody I can talk to about this, as my mother has full dentures and just thinks I am being dramatic. My husband says he doesn't care, and I believe him, but talking to him about how I feel just makes me feel vain.

On top of everything else, I still have a bottom left molar that needs to be extracted, and I apparently have Gum Disease or "Pockets" under my teeth that I need to see a specialist for. I have been putting off that appointment just out of sheer terror.

Is there any way to make a flipper dental smaller than having to cover your entire upper palate? Is it just a matter of continuous wearing to get used to it and get over it? I don't know why I am really writing here, and yes I will be asking the dentist at my appointment, I am just frustrated, upset with myself for not doing something sooner, and becoming depressed at the same time. I really think getting them all pulled and full dentures would have been easier, as with the gum disease and the costs associated, it looks like that will probably end up happening anyway.

Thank you for listening and for any help anyone can offer.

 

[Stupiddentalfear]

Hi there,

I had to reply because I feel your pain. I haven't lost my tooth yet but I feel exactly the same way. I have had terrible depression for over two years because at some point the dentist will want to extract and I am partly to blame because of my phobia. I feel like I am losing an arm or a leg. It has changed me for the worse and I already feel so ugly.

I am also sad that you don't feel any better now you have got your flipper.

I wish I had the answer or a magic wand.

If I ever actually let the dentist take my tooth I will opt for an implant. I just hope that is the answer to helping me forget that I have lost a tooth. Hopefully in time you will forget too. I still don't understand why in the year 2016 we are still no further advanced in decent replacements for lost teeth. (Bioteeth we need you!!)
Sorry that I haven't been of any help (and for rambling on.)

Best wishes

 

[Jeenybean]

Hi, so sorry to read your story. I lost my front tooth and and two of the teeth to the sides of front of mouth and had a plastic denture for several years, then another few more to the top on sides where the plastic rubbed them 35 years ago. I was gutted.
I found out about 15 years ago that you can get a chrome denture made which doesn't have the plastic palette, just a very thin bar only, nor does it damage remaining teeth. I had that till a year ago. I then found a private cosmetic denture place and had another chrome denture made with no bar on it. It is just a simple horseshoe shape with porcelain teeth (6 in total) and cost about £600 how I wish I knew about chrome when they first started using it.
So although it won't replace real teeth, it is as close as it gets without going down the implant route, which I have now started on (due to an insurance bond that matured)
so hopefully when your mouth heals you'll feel better knowing there is options. I did get used to the plastic one, but it ultimately damaged my other teeth.
thanks
Jean

 

[ScaredyCat22]

I don't think you are being vain. You want to be comfortable both physically and emotionally. you feel self conscious plus it just plain feels like a foreign object in your mouth. I hope getting it adjusted will make it feel better.
I have lost a tooth as well, and although it is not in the front there is still a grieving process. There is also rage that I have been unable to let go of, since I lost my tooth not to decay but to malpractice. My attempt to replace the tooth did not go very well either and I am in physical discomfort as well as emotional discomfort. I don't talk to anyone about it because many people think it is no big deal to lose a molar since it doesn't show. But it did cost me the ability to chew on that side and I was constantly worrying that if anything ever happened to the "good" side I would be unable to chew at all.
Anyway I understand the grief and I hope it feels better after you have it adjusted.

 

[Iamthehb]

Thank you all for your responses. It does help to know I am not alone. It feels like the flipper is overkill for one tooth really, and no matter how hard I try I cannot speak properly with it in my mouth. When I am at home and have it out it doesn't bother me, and eventually hopefully I can save enough for a implant. In the meantime, I can at least smile at not feel horrible about it.

I have a private denturist in my town as well that I may make an appointment with just to see if they have other options. I am also going to try to talk to my current denturist to see if there is any way to make the flipper smaller in the palate area, although I suspect not. I almost feel as those they do this purposefully to force you into an implant, since he was pushing that agenda quite a bit when I went for the impressions.

I just finished spending over $7,000 on my daughters teeth and want to scream at these people that they are money hungry! I know everything costs money, and i know it's not reasonable, I am just extremely frustrated with this. I feel like I am never going to be able to speak properly again and that people are looking at me like I am crazy.