You also wrote:

I am familiar with Sjogrens disorder. Most dentists have patients who have this condition, so it's not uncommon at all. However, dentists are often not the most tolerant people in the world and they don't always go above and beyond for their patients. But it sounds like she has tried to do what she can with this partial. I know this is not what you want to hear but sometimes, the patient is not a good candidate for a partial denture and if the appliance cannot be adjusted any further, then you may be one of those patients. Have you tried altering your eating habits to foods that are less chewy? Has she offered to make a new partial out of different material?

Bryanna

Yes - she suggested a soft reline - which I've already had several years ago . . . it lasted less than a month. Plus . . . I'm sure I would be expected to pay for this reline . . . and after what happened at the lab last week, I REALLY don't want them working on anything else that goes in my mouth.

I've been going to this dentist since October 5th - the crowns and root canal took until after Christmas because she & the wonderful (not) lab she uses only work 4 days a week, and she's really booked out. I have had the partial & upper denture since January 10th or so and have been there at least every week since sometimes more than once . . . to save you counting . . . October was more than 6 months ago.

Can't remember if I said this or not, but I also have Burning Mouth Syndrome off & on that is exascerbated by rough spots rubbing on my tongue plus the severe Xerostomia. They had carved away my old partial to accomodate the new crowns and the rough spots really triggered the BMS & Xerostomia.

I go back tomorrow at noon and have to fight for every appointment slot I get as she has several rooms and rotates between 3+ patients allowing her techs to do alot of the drilling and procedures I've never known techs to do before now, but when you have dentures, you don't go to dentists as frequently

I don't any of this, but am way too far into it to stop now. I am not at all confident, however, that she can really ever fix this. Besides wanting someone who used natural chemicals & products, I liked the idea that she was fairly close to home - 15 mi round trip versus 60 miles - with these gas prices and my fixed retirement income - well . . . I'm sure you understand.

Anyway - I'm considering a prosthodontist recommended by a friend . . . apparently, he fixed a denture that she couldn't even chew on one side of for 5 years. The only thing is that once insurance has paid for an entire denture, they won't pay again for several years. I've already had to take 1/2 the interest out of my little CD to pay for my share of this one that makes sores. The other issue is that she made the teeth really long, and I made the mistake of choosing too white of a shade . . . so with the two combined, I'm pretty self-conscious

It took a high number of adjustments with the last dentist, too, but this current dentist was not at all careful with the wax try-in and opened my bite quite a bit, so I'm not surprised it's not been smooth. I remember thinking at the time that she was shoving the teeth around from the way the lab had set them and rushing quite a bit through the process. It felt more like 'seat of her pants' rather than precision.

It's the number of adjustments that she's fussing about - and I for one don't love going there once or twice a week myself . . . I have an intellectually/developmentally disabled daughter who takes alot of my time. With the autoimmune issues, two recently replaced knees and a compromised lumbar spine - it's all I can do to be out of my home every day of the week. You'd be surprised at how few people have ever heard of Sjogrens.

My stomach is churning every time I go there - feel nervous already even though it's not until tomorrow. You can see, I took to heart what you said about not worrying about long posts . . . thank you, if you actually made it this far.

Any other input will be appreciated, Bryanna . . .