Tooth Extractions for Dentures - One Tooth at a Time?

[sincitysoul]

I have 19 teeth remaining (two of which are currently acting as anchors for a bridge with an empty space between) and out of those 19, I don't think there's a single one that isn't broken or decayed beyond repair, or at least any repair I can reasonably afford. I've finally accepted that I will need dentures and will likely need/have them before I turn 40 - it is what it is.

I just had a bottom molar removed seven days ago (it was crowned and had been root canaled 12+ years ago; tooth broke at the gumline) and am just NOW at a point where I can start adding anything beyond pudding and mashed potatoes back into my diet - the very limited post-extraction diet triggered some existing GI problems (due to Gastroparesis) which will likely take 2-3 weeks to get straightened out as well. Because of this, I'd much prefer to get one tooth pulled a month until (A) they're all done or (B) until we get to the bridge where I will obviously need both done at once. This means it will be a roughly 1.5 year long process. I know that this is LONG and not entirely ideal, but it is what I can handle both physically and mentally.

Is that an adjustment a dentist would reasonably be willing to make or work around? Am I doomed to have to get multiple teeth pulled at once? Should I just limp along my remaining teeth to help maintain jaw bone until they break beyond repair one-at-a-time?



**Of note: I will be going through a dental clinic staffed by the local dental residency program at my local teaching hospital as they are the only ones equipped to deal both with my Panic Disorder and my other health conditions. They are INCREDIBLY busy as they serve a few thousand patients and only have between 3-5 residents working the clinic at any given time. The "one-tooth-per-month" schedule would probably work just as well for them as it would for me. I tried seeing them a few years ago and was going to go under anesthesia in a hospital-based setting, but the anesthesiologist they used wasn't covered by my insurance and the whole thing was going to cost way beyond what I could afford, even with loans and things like CareCredit.

 

[Gordon]

It's a discussion you'd ideally need to have with the person doing the treatment.

Personally I wouldn't be terribly happy about doing it because of the increased risk of post op problems, 19 chances of problems versus 4 or 5 is a big difference.

 

[Sweet Tooth]

Hi sincitysoul, I also go to a dental school. I'm wondering if you have Medicaid? I think if you do, they might cover the extractions. Please keep us posted about what happens.
Best of wishes.

 

[sincitysoul]

@Sweet Tooth That's one of the biggest reasons I'm going through the dental clinic; They're one of the few places in my area that accepts Medicaid (and in Illinois, they cover 100% of the cost of extractions). I had a really good experience with this clinic a few years ago, so I'm hoping things go just as smoothly this go around.

The first appointment with the new dentist is tomorow, and I think I'm going to make it more of a consultation than a hands on appointment - maybe x-rays/panoramic x-ray, but mostly just touching base with the doctor, explaining my previous medical history, and going from there. I know my teeth are trash and will all need to be removed for dentures; No sense in discussing any chance of crowns, root canals, etc. or measuring the pockets around what little tooth structure remains. Unfortunately, a lot of life issues have come up since scheduling the appointment, so any work will likely not begin until after the new year - but it gives me some times to stock up on post-extraction supplies and mental ready myself.