try going to a a teaching dental university in your area as they sometimes do procedures pro bono

Having 7 teeth extracted, and an aveoloplasty done where they smooth the bone. I am getting headaches all the time and feel like crap. Sure I am grieving the loss of my teeth and it hasn't happened yet. BUT I can't get immediates like other people in this thread did and that stinks, but my insurance only covers one. I have to go to one of those denture factories too. I am having the surgery done here locally by a oral surgeon I trust, and the denture won't be made until the summertime when I've had a good long chance to heal.

It's an upper that I need made. I am really worried about the future, I am only 44, I am so afraid this is something I am going to regret, but my teeth are awful, I can't eat right, I've only GOT the seven left up top, and I think they are poisoning me creating these rotten headaches. So I know this is a very old thread, are any of you still around and willing to share how life has treated you? I can't afford to get a really nice one on my own, so I have to do it this way, and being toothless up there for 6 months is going to be rough, but I won't LET it hold me back.

I have a family to take care of and things to do, so I am going to make this work. I have heard some people end up just eating using their gums and that dentures never work for them. This is something I am worried about. Any advice would be appreciated.

I am 58 years old and in November my front bridge upper came out. I wanted to die. The feeling was devastating like someone died. I have been depressed ever since. Life changing event for me. I am having a lot of trouble dealing with it. Dentist made me a temp I have had since day I lost front teeth. He felt bad for me I walked in crying my heart out. I was upset and felt "old". I have two teeth on on each side left on my upper that have to come out. Then I will have no teeth. I have 3 cracked teeth on top that has to be taken out also. Roots are still in there. They quoted me (my insurance is crap only $1,000 a year) Regular dentures around 5,000. Dental Implants around $16,000 and total implants around $27000 . I am having trouble getting the money. I am in debt and was in debt before this happened and we were trying to pay our debt down (it is very high, trust me) Now, if I want the best which is implants, I have to come up with 27000 or at least 16 for dental implants. Right now, looks like I have to were dentures until I can get the money to get the implants. I can't sleep at night thinking about the teeth being pulled and the pain and the stories on here about the bruising, I am getting panic attacks and keep cancelling my dentist appointments. I don't know what I should do. I have an IRA Roth but can't touch and really, I didn't want to, but can't take out without a penalty until I am 59 1/2 .. Whatever you can do to cheer me up, it would be appreciated. Down on myself too much everyday affecting my work and my home.

Hi Irene,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some information here.

It sounds like you have not had regular dental care for quite some time. So usually this means that at this point there are several problems occurring at one time and many of which are at the hopeless stage. When this happens, it is best to take into consideration the whole picture and not just one area of your mouth because any residual infection from teeth that are not being cared for will prevent the areas being taken care of from healing properly. Which means you will find yourself having one dental problem after another.

Although it can be overwhelming to think about dealing with the whole mouth at one time..... in the long run, it may be the easiest, least expensive and certainly the healthiest way to go about doing it.

A note about dental implants..... aside from the expense for a minute .... dental implants are a risky option for people who do not have a healthy jaw bone. Anytime there is lack of dental care and teeth have been let go for years... not only do the teeth break down but the jaw bone deteriorates too making it not really ideal for holding implants. In many of these cases, in preparing the bone for the implants, extensive oral surgery needs to be done when removing the teeth and diseased bone. Then sometimes more surgery to attempt to build up the bone. These cases work out best in people who have NO medical conditions, take NO medications, do not smoke, and have a very nutritious diet. Generally people who have a lot of dental problems are not in the above category. So if you have not been informed about those things prior to now, then know that they need to be taken into serious consideration.

Regarding removable dentures....... The advantage to having full removable dentures at your age is that you most likely have enough supportive bone to hold dentures comfortably. Whereas in another 5 years or so, you may not.

I know none of this makes you feel better, I'm sorry about that. Your situation is severe and intuitively you know that it is best to deal with it now rather than later. So due to the extent and the longevity of your dental problems along with the financial burden of trying to afford the exorbitant costs of dental implants, your best option may be to consider extraction of your teeth and having removable dentures made. You can only do what you can do... and no more than that. So think of what you can honestly afford to do to improve your dental, physical and mental health and let that guide you.

You will be okay. This journey is not a quick one but many people have taken it and the outcome turns out okay.

Bryanna