Do you have dentures? What is the process?

[demtenjeep]

I think I may be headed in that direction at least on the upper teeth. Do you have them pulled and have dentures right away? Does one need surgery or is it done at the dentist chair? Do you have a mold first before the teeth are gone or must you wait and let the gums heal?

The concept makes me a bit nervous, but bad teeth run in our family. My mother had dentures by the time she was 28. At almost 50, I consider myself lucky.

[Roon]

1. It's a long, icky, gooey practice

They will sew up your sockets when they pull your teeth out and develop and strong "ridge" to hold your dentures in place.

It takes about 2 weeks before your teeth are ready.

[demtenjeep]

3. so milkshakes and applesauce would be a diet

I can live with that

[Roon]

5. cool!

I know dentures are in my future...ok for now.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. It all depends...

When I had mine done, they did the mold and then had the teeth ready for oral surgeon to put in when he yanked the last of my teeth.

An afternoon of something between discomfort and extreme agony ensued when the novocaine wore off, but by that evening everything was fine. A few painless followups to get stitches out and adjust the new teeth as your gums heal and you're done.

Do it and save yourself the pain and expense of dealing with bad teeth for years-- I should have done it long before I did, but although I inherited the bad teeth gene, too, I let myself be talked into more and more expensive ways to "save" my teeth.

[demtenjeep]

4. That is what I am thinking

I will pursue it this summer.

[dmr]

6. What's the cost like? I imagine it's expensive.

:hi:

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Well, it was over $1,000 for the top plate 15 years ago, but...

I found a discount dentist who specialized in dentures and got a pefectly good bottom one for less than half of that. Extractions were extra, of course-- the oral surgeon for the top one charged about $200 per tooth, while the discount dentist charged a hundred.

I found my discount dentist through a newspaper ad in New Jersey, but I have no idea how to find one anywhere else.

[blogslut]

7. With both of my parents

...they stayed in the hospital overnight after having all their teeth removed. I'm pretty sure Mom and Dad were under age 50 when they got dentures.

As for me, I got a partial top plate and I am supremely happy with it. They took a mold, made the thing and fit it to me all in one day.

If you have dental insurance or the funds to get the best, then go for it. I don't have any of that and therefore, went to the local franchise for this company:

http://www.affordabledentures.com/

[Iggo]

8. I had a few appointments before "the day."

My dentures were made from whatever molds and measurements they took during those visits. That way my dentures were ready to "install" on the day I had all my teeth pulled, and my dentures were fitted that same day. I had several appointments after that, one per week if I remember correct, for refitting. That was that.

ADD: This was about 5 years ago.

[a kennedy]

10. Don't do it if at ALL possible......

people think it's the end all to all their dental problems.....believe me, it's just the start. I don't have them and never will if I can help it, but I did work in a dental office for years, and all the folks who did go that route, did not enjoy the process OR them after they received em. Bad idea and only if last resort. Good luck.

[Orsino]

11. I don't have dentures, but this is the process.