Hi Folks, new to this site and great timing in finding it...here's the story:
I have advanced periodontal disease in my upper teeth it is very bad. They are planning to extract all my upper teeth and put in a full set of dentures, I saw them today, they look AWESOME. I have aweful spacing and my teeth have grown 'down'....BUT my traumatic experience in the past was the Palate Injection! I had a double root canal at an old dentist, they did that and evidentally I 'fell asleep' during the procedure after that, hmm passed out probably more like it...LOL..I opted NOT to go general anesthetic due to cost any suggestions on HOW to keep myself calm before I get there so I can make it through those initial shots? THAT is the only thing that is really bothering me...not the fact they are extracting all my teeth...LOL....

Thanks in advance for any tips!
K

Hi humarock,
Welcome to neurotalk!!

First let me say that it is GREAT that you have such an optimisitic outlook on the dentistry that you are about to have done! Going into this with a positive, optimistic attitude is of the utmost importance as it will help you to remain positive as you go through the various stages of healing and adapting to your denture. It is also great that you are accepting the loss of your bad teeth which will eliminate your periodontal disease in your upper arch and looking forward to having a more esthetically healthy smile..... ALL of these things are so in your favor!!

With regard to your palatal injection..... there is no way unfortunately to totally eliminate all of the discomfort of these injections. However, usually when a patient is having several upper teeth removed at one time and an immediate denture put in, there is a pattern to giving the injections which can minimize the discomfort of the palatal ones. Also if the anesthetic solution is injected into the gum very slowly, there is usually minimal discomfort irrelevant of where the injection is given. It is when the anesthetic is forced or pushed in too fast that causes the shot to be painful not the actual needle itself. I would gently but assertively, tell the denitst as he's applying the topical anesthetic to please make every effort to minimize the discomfort of the palatal ones. It may take a bit longer to do all of the injections slowly, but it's well worth it.

Some people use homeopathic remedies to calm them down for dental work with great success. Arnica montana sublingual pellets are awesome for pre and post op dentistry. If you are interested in finding out more about homeopathic usage, let me know. Some people take valium or xanax before an appointment with good results also.

If your dentist does not offer head phones w/music or a video or some other distraction then it might help you to bring your own. Drowning out the dental experience in something that draws your attention in a peaceful manner and is so helpful. Head phones or an ipod will not interfere with the dental aspect of anything at all. I encourage patients to find music that comforts them and listen to it a couple of times a day prior to their dental appointment. This trains the brain to go into a calm and relaxed state every time they hear this music.

Let me know if you want more info on the homeopathic remedies. Again, you are so far ahead of the game with your optimism....... !!!

Keep us posted....... ~'.'~

Bryanna

Hi Bryanna,
Well today is the day, naturally I'm torturing myself by 'reading' the posts..LOL...

I am optomistic only because I have a wonderful dentist and he has really explained alot to me, the upper has been more advanced and how it would progress and THAT is what really got me to just do all this. The lowers are not as advanced and that we will continue to work on and keep up with. it may be just grafting that may save those. (and knowing lowers are not as 'easy' as uppers to wear...;O)

I have my ipod all synched up and ready to go with holiday music..LOL...and I am using the gas, which works slightly for me, enough to relax.

I have alerted my job, which REALLY was great so that I am not pressured to rush back to work feeling uncomfortable, I get paid to talk so it is job related.

I'm getting nostalgic with my teeth today, ya know "we've been together for -- years"...LOL...and part of me wants to bail, but won't.

I will take your advice on the slower the better to my surgeon, and as I look back, the other dentist was doing it really quick to get in and out knowing my nervous level so THAT makes a ton of sense as to why I experienced SO much 'peel me off the ceiling' pain.

We are going to look into implants to clip into later, one step at a time....

I will post and give update as to my experience.

Thanks again for all your advice. It is professionals such as yourself, that make the fearful people like me at ease. That is why I love my dentist, not only is he very nice, but takes the time to listen and explain and actually answers my questions before I ask. I go to my dentist faithfully (hope that won't change after today..LOL)because of all that AND the fact that the woman who does my cleanings and scalings does NOT hurt me....I have even had the scaling done with no shots..a little pain but nothing you can't get with..it is WONDERFUL. My old doctors' hygenist used that pick as if she was punishing me...it was scarring...now, my exp is great and I have NO problem jumping in the chair....

Welp, wish me luck! Say a prayer! I will post later....

Well all, here is my update:
2PM came along and in the chair I was, I used Nitrous Oxide gas (which was an AWESOME BLEND...LOL) Didn't feel the novacaine as I thought I would, the Palatal shot? NOTHING...it was awesome....by 4 p.m. he was done....saw all my teeth that he took out...LOL...and THIS is when the fun begins, driving home with blood running out of my mouth, my new teeth in...it was GROSS...
Hard nights sleep...BUT...my advice if you don't have to do this, do not do it....wished I had thought long and hard over it....
The mouth piece is bulky and it is hard to figure out how to chew....not as easy as it seemed...

The Dr. did AWESOME, it was not a harrowing experience by any means.....BUT if you don't have to,don't do it, if your looking at which way to go, you might want to REALLY REALLY think more about veneers OR implants, they may be expensive but a better way to go...I wished I had done the implants....

If you DO DO THIS, then think about having the anchors put in as then the arch on the roof of mouth will be cut back further.
I can't taste food the same way.....no feeling on the roof of your mouth...

THINK LONG AND HARD....HIT ME UP if you have questions....
Off to learning how to speak and eat etc...
Have a great day,
K

Okay, so after the 'pity me party' for a day I am back to report that after my extractions on Tues, it is now Friday, sooo much has changed....
#1, my dentist that did the extractions ROCKS! My fear was unwarranted. I didn't feel anything and it was done in a flash....I even got a look at the teeth that where taken out and never realized the length of a tooth and they where in tact....
#2 Nitreous Oxide is AWESOME.....breath in breath out and concentrate on your breathing and that will distract you and it's over before you know it!
#3 DON'T RUSH to 'get back to normal'.....drink lots of protein shakes....yummy Special K's are great....everyone is different and recoup time is different....

I took a shower today, put on my make up and although my upper lip still makes me look like a who in whoville, I went to my dentist for my follow up for the dentures, a little adjusting and all set and he was AMAZED that I took them out and put them back in withOUT a mirror....better not to look sometimes...LOL....
I can feel the swelling in my sinuses and my cheeks coming down, ALEVE is GREAT! I used Tylenol Extra Strenght PM for the 1st 2 days, then to ALEVE, the PM was knocking me out...LOL....and for the 1st time in a LONG time I am breathing easier....don't know why.....
I took before and after pics.....amazing....the man that makes the dentures is AMAZING...they don't look fake, there are little nuances to each tooth...it is AMAZING that my smile at 50 is what it was at 16! It is an ART to make dentures that look this great.....

As I had VERY advanced Periodontal Disease that my teeth where falling down and spacing, this is where I had to go....and my bottoms are doing good, keeping them up and will REALLY work hard at not letting them get to this point.....

I thank God that I found my dentist and his hygenist and the Periodontal Dentist, and NOW, I do NOT fear going to the dentist!.....

Although talking will take some time to get use to, I am on the phone to my Mom alot, talking outloud, singing in my car....practise makes perfect....I just sooooo can't wait to have a steak and cheese sub, or a burger...and ONE day, maybe steak....mmmmm....

So here is to the future with a great smile! The future still holds some more work needed...a couple of implants on the bottom, more scalings to keep up the bottoms, and at some point anchors for the tops so that I can have the roof of my mouth back! BUT, having this team of Dentists, makes it worth while! Wished I found them 10 years ago....hmph.....

Okay, so I went to the dentist for a follow up and it was all good, the roof seems 'not so bulky' and the night drool is controlable, although there was the 'dream' that I was having of something in my mouth and trying to dislodge it with my tongue and when I woke up it was my dentures I was trying to push out...LOL......I have eaten a sandwhich and donut (do NOT eat a donut with coconut and if you do, take them out and clean them ASAP)....I am able to take them in and out without the mirror. STILL trying to figure out where to chew from, gums still sore naturally, but doing good. Speach is getting somewhat better and saliva getting controlable.

I will go back to work and use just protein shakes for a while for dinner break, i'll eat at home, where I can immediatley take out the dentures to clean them out and my gums as well.

but day by day getting very use to them, just in the mirror ALOT practising a smile, talking and then sitting by myself talking to myself and answering...LOL...

It is a huge life change, but I can tell you now that my lowers are getting flossed and brushed and will be tended to as if they are royalty!

I went to the store yesterday and was laughing at myself trying to ask for something from the clerk, thank goodness I'm a daily visitor and she could laugh with me...LOL...and she told me how beautiful they look and what a nice smile!

The swelling? Still a little bit like the Who from Whoville still, my cheeks, and my upperlip still swollen but that will come down in time.

Upswing? I have lost 1.5 lbs....so when I weigh in at Jenny Craig I will be at my target....LOL....

OH WOW, soooo much better! I love my dentist
I was soo uncomfortable and trying to deal, but called him yesterday, went in the p.m. and he sanded down a bulge on the side that was kicking the plate out and shortened the back of the plate and when I put them back in....wow...what a HUGE difference, I had gone out to do errands prior and couldn't shop! I know ME not being able to SHOP? I KNEW something was wrong, I didn't want to look or talk to anyone...and VIOLA, 30 min. after getting these adjustments I was in my car singing away! (I have been a singer for MANY years and it is my LOVE)...I was soooo happy, and this am, I feel soooo much better, eating is easier too....
So GO TO YOUR dentist for adjustments! That is what they are there for! And I will SAY IT AGAIN.....KEEP YOUR DENTURES IN! Take them out only to rinse and clean! you NEED to allow your gums to mold! I LOVE MY SMILE.....I am soooooo happy I did this now....YEAH!

Okay, so much better. Tried the Seabond and that I will use when I am out in public and at work....tomorrow is my 1st day back to work, I work in a call center and talk all day for 10 hours a day....so this ought to be challenging...not as if I can eat and then go clean the denture...LOL...so packing protein shakes and soft nutri grain bars...and a tooth brush...LOL...wish me luck....

One suggestion that I think REALLY helped me that my Dr's both stressed was to KEEP THEM IN all the time only take them out to clean and rinse....

My routine? Morning: Take them out, soak in Efferdent in the denture bath, rinse w/warm water and salt, floss my bottom real teeth and brush those, then rinse with the blue rinse, take a soft brush and brush the dentures with the foam from the efferdent, rinse and put back in.....

Midday: Quick rinse and brush

Night: Same as morning......

The warm water and salt rinse REALLY seemed to help me alot....I have no more stitches in, checked them all...LOL....so that was awesome to see...

I DO know that I would like to do the posts to lock them onto in the future...so that will be my next step....

tomorrow will be a HUGE challenge....it certainly is a rollercoaster ride, they look gorgeous, but it is just an adjustment curve that is all, that is what I keep telling myself....LOL....

Onward and UPward!

Hi Bryanna,

Can I tell you that those palatal shots did NOT HURT....I had gas, that is true and a fine blend it was, but I was too nervous to put in my ipod, BUT i found a way to relax that is wonderful....when focusing on the breathing for the gas, I found it really relaxed me, through the WHOLE procedure I focused my attention to my breathing, in and out, in and out....and TOTALLY got wrapped in it and before I knew it, the Dr. was done, I was amazed. The gas really helped, but focusing really put it in prespective....so from now on, that will be my 'get through', my breathing......

Due to this wonderfully positive experience with these Dr.'s, which they BETTER NEVER retire...LOL....I am NO LONGER AFRAID of the DENTIST! I look forward to the rest of my journey, as this is only the beginning, now we have to balance out the bottoms to the tops, etc..but I am not afraid and will treat my lower teeth like the ROYALTY that they are....we take our teeth for granted FOR SURE.....and if I had only gotten myself into a better routine, seeing as though I have a very strict routine that I have gotten into with my dentures, maybe I wouldn't have the dentures?

Anyhow, this site was a blessing, and your advice was wonderful.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Okay, this is it, don't be scared now....can you tell me what movie THAT saying is from? home alone! LOL.....
As I said, i work in a call center enviroment, on the phone allllll dddaaaay for 10 hours...let's see how THIS goes....I have to say I'm nervous, I have gone shopping etc, haven't really seen friends or family, etc so this is my REAL throw into public....LOL....
I have taken pictures every day so I can see my progress, sat in front of the mirror and talked so i can see my expressions....so working on this hard.
When I was a singer by trade, I had vocal nodes and had to go to speech therapy and voice lessons to learn how to work with them and not against them, surgery was NOT an option for me then.....and now I'm applying THAT to this....using your breath to push out your words helps....let's see if i can put that to play in everyday life....LOL....

So wish me luck and for all of you newer denture wearers, I wish you a great day and hope that your smiling wider and feeling better!