I just had 20 teeth pulled---Don't ask me anything.

[panader0]

A couple were loose, two molars were broken in half, a couple were discolored.
In all, I had about six good ones, but had 'em all pulled so I can get dentures.
Here in Az there's a system called AHCCCS and because of my meager income
I was entitled to $2000 dollars of dental work. On Jan 1st, I'll be entitled to next years
benefit, though it will go down to $1250. So if I wanted to take advantage of the
deal, I had to do it now. Quite a trip to get all of 'em out at once. In all, I'll have to
come up with about $1000 out of pocket.
In a month I'll have new teeth!

[angstlessk]

1. I hope you get a great smile

It's all about smiling!

[panader0]

2. When my six year old grandson was visiting two months ago,

I gave him a big smile and he said, "Grampa, one of your teeth is dirty."
So I had to give half smiles. But now I'll have a smile that would make
a game show host jealous.

[angstlessk]

3. Good for you!

[TexasTowelie]

5. After grey and yellow teeth

get that brand new white smile again! I became tired of them trying to match the old porcelain crowns to rest of my other teeth.

[TexasTowelie]

4. I was in a somewhat similar situation.

I had the five remaining teeth in my upper jaw removed in June 2012, then the 11 teeth in my lower jaw removed in October of that year. I spent a small fortune (at least $25K) having fillings, crowns and bridges over the years then everything more or less gave way in 2011. I would get finished with taking care of one tooth and then something else would occur. The dentist was about to engrave my name in one of his four chairs because I saw him so frequently.

I will say that dentures do suck--I miss eating corn on the cob and biting into apples so I hope that you have better success with them than I have. I will advise you to keep some money set aside in the future so that you can re-line the dentures with the plastic molding. The upper denture usually isn't much of a problem since they have the extension that fits against the palate. The lower denture presents more problems since the only thing that they grip on is the mandible.

Take care and I know it will be rough for you for the next 3-4 days. Have plenty of soft foods available like rice and potato dishes and if you do have anything solid to cut it into small pieces to avoid choking.

[panader0]

6. I probably won't eat for a few days.

Water, juice and broth. Then I'll ease into pudding and applesauce and then
mashed potatoes. Any needed adjustments are included in the price.
The worst part--no beer for a week.

[kaitcat47]

7. At least the pain meds are really good

I had 24 removed, but lucky for me I found a sleep dentist to do everything, so I went to sleep with thrush and a horrible overbite and a broken off front tooth and awoke with cute pearlies and Percocet. It took about three post-removal fittings for them to feel just right.

(Thanks for the welcome. Longtime lurker.)

[awoke_in_2003]

8. I had to get an upper about 5 years ago...

I had to take Dilantin from the age of 17 to about 27- it did a number on them. What sucked is my upper jaw bone arched out and back in- the gums had to be split, then they used glorified side cutters and file to shape it, because a good seal would never be made. The place I went to didn't have a license for Nitrous- this was all done under what ever they shoot in your gums. I could have gone elsewhere, but I wanted it done now. I didn't feel anything but pressure, but after 20 minutes of hearing my bones crunching, I am glad the wife drove me. I was a nervous wreck.

Oh, and don't listen to the BS they tell you. No matter how well a plate is fitted, you will need adhesive.

[Iggo]

9. I got a full upper plate ten or twelve years ago.

Seventeen teeth out in one day. Like you, some loose, some broken, some dead. I had a whole team of dental professionals working on me for most of a day. I've forgotten over the years how many times they shot me up. Probably ended up in the mid-twenties. ("Raise your hand if you feel anything." My left shoulder got a workout...lol.)

I still have bottom teeth, so I still make semi regular dental appointments. But I'm content in the knowledge that a visit to the dentist is never going to be any worse than that day. I walk into the dentist's office smiling now. Do your worst, madams and sirs!

And don't forget the hot pizza thing. That's totally true.

[Kali]

10. I would have advised loading up on some high fat foods to tide you over a week or so

gonna be some swelling and pain but lots of people live through it. follow care instructions from dentist and enjoy your new smile!