Hi ElizaJane,
I'm sorry to hear you are having such dental problems. I know it can be very scary and overwhelming to have to deal with.
Based on the list of dental issues that you have provided here, you can see that you have a chronic situation that would require constant dentistry in the attempt to "retain" your teeth... which as you said are not and never will be healthy. Root canaling everything would be incredibly costly, and it will not "solve" your chronic dental problems. In fact it will create additional issues because root canaled teeth are non vital and always infected to some degree both of which will burden your immune system.
When we think of "saving" our teeth, it is important to know what it is that we are saving. If the teeth continually have recurrent decay and infections and cannot be restored without repetitive fillings upon fillings and/or root canal therapy... and your lifestyle and meds cannot be changed to halt or prevent the ongoing dental problems.... then the only thing that we are saving is diseased and unhealthy teeth that have an inevitable short life span.
In the process of holding onto diseased teeth, our immune system has to carry the burden of this infection and inflammation. Add that burden to all of the other things going on medically, physically, emotionally..... no wonder there never seems to be an end to constant health/dental problems. These issues need to be considered when contemplating "saving" our teeth.
Perhaps removing diseased teeth is the healthiest option for your overall well being.... which would make dentures a healthier option. This is something only you can decide for yourself. But please don't let the idea of having dentures sway you from making a healthy choice. If your dentist is not willing to discuss all of your dental options with you, then please seek someone else.
Keep in touch here.... it may take me a day or so to get back... but I try to be here as often as possible
Bryanna
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElizaJane23
My teeth are in bad shape - I've gone to dentists regularly all my life and now - due to eating sweets, dry mouth for 29 years from medications and the past 4 years using a CPAP machine, my teeth all have severe decay all along the gum line. But now that it's time to seriously consider dentures - I'm scared. What if they don't work out? The dry mouth will still be here - and my gums are receding along the top. Will I be able to use dentures? I really don't know what else to do - a filling fell out last night. It was along the gum line, just done 11 months ago and there is extensive decay there again - and it hurts! How do I try to save these teeth? Is there even any hope to save them? My dentist wants to do root canals and crowns on them all, and I've been against it - mostly due to finances. But now that it is seriously looking like I need to make a decision about dentures soon - I'm scared. I'm afraid to have them pulled - what if I end up with no teeth at all?
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