Will I be able to eat with no upper first molars?

[ripply]

I've now had both extracted and I'm wondering if I'll be able to eat normally eventually? When I had the first one extracted, I tended to chew everything on the other side, which probably is why that molar eventually cracked and had to be extracted too. I'm worried that chewing everything on my pre molars and second molars will make those break too. Has anyone else has molars extracted? Are you able to chew ok? I know it's best to get implants but there's no way I could afford them and even if I could, I'd be too terrified to go through with it.

 

[carole]

Yes you will be able to eat normally when you have healed. Would you consider having a partial denture if you can't afford implants. See your dentist and enquire about them or a bridge may cover the gap.

 

[ripply]

I just hate the thought of wearing any sort of denture. If I will be able to chew ok then I'd rather leave the gaps. Also my partner would be totally horrified if I had to take a partial denture out every night. I have a friend who's had all of her molars out and she seems to eat everything with no problems but I have no idea how she manages.

I did speak to the dentist about a bridge but he seemed reluctant and said it would be a shame to damage the adjacent teeth by crowning them as they are still very healthy and have never had any work done. A bridge would also cost a lot of money privately and the NHS only offer a partial denture.

It just makes me anxious because if any of my pre molars cracked and needed extracted, it would show when I smile and I know I would want a replacement, but my fear of dental work would put me off. But I don't want to live on yogurts and mashed potato forever either!

 

[ScaredyCat22]

do you have wisdom teeth to chew on? my husband had an upper first molar out and never replaced it. it's been years and he doesn't miss it at all but he has his wisdom teeth to chew on.

I had a lower first molar out and do not have wisdom teeth. I missed it terribly and have been only chewing on the other side for going on 2 years now even though I have tried to have the tooth replaced but it has not worked out well for me. Like you I worry what will happen if I become unable to chew on the other side as well

 

[ripply]

I have no wisdom teeth. They were all extracted too. I've never missed them as they were impacted so of no use to me for eating anyway, but do miss these first molars. The upper left one was only extracted less than a fortnight ago so I have been living on smoothies and soup, but I started to eat proper food a few days ago and chew everything on the other side. It seems ok chewing there without the upper right molar so hopefully it will be ok once I'm properly healed up. I haven't eaten anything really hard or tough to chew though.

 

[carole]

Bridges are done on the nhs

How much NHS dental treatment costs

Find out about NHS dental costs and what’s included in each of the 3 bands of charges.

www.nhs.uk

Have a look on the link it explains the charges and what is included within these charges

 

[ScaredyCat22]

I have no wisdom teeth. They were all extracted too. I've never missed them as they were impacted so of no use to me for eating anyway, but do miss these first molars. The upper left one was only extracted less than a fortnight ago so I have been living on smoothies and soup, but I started to eat proper food a few days ago and chew everything on the other side. It seems ok chewing there without the upper right molar so hopefully it will be ok once I'm properly healed up. I haven't eaten anything really hard or tough to chew though.

mine were all impacted too and had to go. I never chewed on them so I don't miss them. my husband had braces as a child and before he got them they extracted 4 premolars. that left room for his wisdom teeth to fit perfectly so he gets to use his for chewing. (yes I am jealous lol)
some people do really well with a missing tooth or 2. other people just never get used to it. I know someone with full dentures but he doesn't like them so hardly ever wears them. somehow he manages to eat anything he wants with no teeth! even beef jerky.

 

[ripply]

That's just like my granny. She has had dentures since she was very young (apparently years ago it was seen as a privilege to get all your teeth out and have dentures). She seems to eat almost anything despite only wearing her top denture as the bottom one annoyed her so she never bothered with it. I think it might be that she adapted well because she was so young when they were all extracted.

She won't eat fudge though as it pulls her teeth out. And I rarely see her eat crisps. One of the most difficult snacks for me has been hula hoops which is annoying as they are my favourite. I also find I eat a bit slower, and I was always quite a slow eater anyway, but they say eating slowly is good for you!

 

[ScaredyCat22]

My parents both had dentures. my mom had partials with only 4 of her own teeth. sometimes they would bother her so she would take them out and just eat with her 4 teeth. she did ok, so hopefully we will be ok too.
I had a very unfortunate experience with a bridge so I am just going to keep my empty space as an empty space

 

[ripply]

Did your bridge break? Sorry to hear it didn't work out. I've decided not to try a bridge because I don't like the thought of having to crown other teeth. If they already had fillings or some other work done, then I might think about it, but I'm scared of causing other problems. Also I'm so terrified of dental work that if it's not essential, then it's not going to happen.

If you're only missing one molar, I think you'll be fine. Though I would try to chew on both sides rather than favour one. I think I would have adapted to it much quicker if I'd done that. It did take me a long time getting used to losing my first one, probably because I rarely chewed on that side, but I think now my tongue has learnt to adjust to it and seems to move the food to the right places without me being aware of it.

Actually, I seem to be adapting much quicker to losing this other molar. I had some lovely cookies today which wasn't an issue chewing at all, so it's not that bad really!

 

[ScaredyCat22]

Did your bridge break? Sorry to hear it didn't work out. I've decided not to try a bridge because I don't like the thought of having to crown other teeth. If they already had fillings or some other work done, then I might think about it, but I'm scared of causing other problems. Also I'm so terrified of dental work that if it's not essential, then it's not going to happen.

If you're only missing one molar, I think you'll be fine. Though I would try to chew on both sides rather than favour one. I think I would have adapted to it much quicker if I'd done that. It did take me a long time getting used to losing my first one, probably because I rarely chewed on that side, but I think now my tongue has learnt to adjust to it and seems to move the food to the right places without me being aware of it.

Actually, I seem to be adapting much quicker to losing this other molar. I had some lovely cookies today which wasn't an issue chewing at all, so it's not that bad really!

to make a very long story as short as possible I had the bridge done and redone 3 times in less than a year and was getting the third one cut off just the other day in order to get a 4th one put on, but the dentist broke one of my teeth that was meant to support the bridge while cutting it off so now the new bridge would not fit.I just can't go through it all again starting over with impressions etc and risking my other teeth. My first bridge did not fit at all and the dentist cemented it in anyway. it was cut off 10 days later. the second bridge did not fit either. I kept it for several very uncomfortable months even though I could not chew on it. I switched dentists and had that one cut off in May and a new one put on in June. I had it for 8 days when it cracked. I was in that one til just the other day when the dentist broke my tooth trying to take it off. so I am done with bridges. I have a temp crown on my broken tooth waiting to see if it lives or dies from the trauma. if it lives I will get it crowned, if it dies I will get it extracted.
I'm glad you are adapting well and able to eat cookies. so far I have only chewed very soft foods on the side with the missing tooth. But I have to be careful for now what I chew there anyway because hard or sticky things to pull off my new temporary crown

 

[gamergirl123]

It'll take a little trial and error to learn your limits but i doubt there'd be problems.

I had 14 teeth removed a couple years back and i eat w/o my partials all the time.

 

[ScaredyCat22]

It'll take a little trial and error to learn your limits but i doubt there'd be problems.

I had 14 teeth removed a couple years back and i eat w/o my partials all the time.

That's good to know because if anything else happens to my teeth I will opt for extraction. It has not been worth the time, effort, money, tears, pain, or suffering that I have gone through the past 2 years trying to replace a missing tooth. it only caused me to be worse off than I already was, It has affected every aspect of my life and I have no intention of ever trying to replace another tooth

 

[ripply]

ScaredyCat22, what you've been through with the bridges sounds awful. No wonder you opted to get it extracted. I'm just going to leave the gap with mine. My dentist isn't keen on doing a bridge anyway. He thinks I'll be fine without one. I've been able to eat everything as normal this week, even hula hoops! It's been much easier than my other molar extraction.

I had to go back to my dentist today because there was a bone fragment coming through my gum which needed removed. I've been so terrified thinking I'd have to get an injection and it would hurt really bad. I couldn't sleep at all last night worrying and thought I was going to faint sitting in the waiting room. But it was ok. It only took a few seconds and although it felt HUGE in my mouth, it was just a tiny speck! I think since doing the extraction, my dentist knows better what works for me and didn't let me see any tools or scary stuff during it. He just got on with it and keep reassuring me which really helped. I just wish I wasn't so hard to deal with for him.