My Worst Nightmare

My current dentist is a cheerful little Indian (I think) who is kind enough to pretend that I'm not being pathetic.

My big problem is that our GP has retired and I shall have to see one of the others. He always used to tell me I was lovely and I can't imagine any of the others saying it at my age!

I'm ashamed to say that, at the age of 63, I still sit in my dentists waiting room with tears streaming silently down my face. And that's before I actually go into the treatment room. My dentist knows to utterly ignore them now and just gets on with doing whatever needs to be done, but I just cannot help the tears falling. I feel a twit, sitting amongst small children who happily visit the dentist and don't give it a second thought, but for me, it's days and nights of anguish before I have to go to see him. I wish I wasn't like this.

Oh Parklife it is awful changing dentists, that is how we came to be on Denplan, ours used to be NHS then changed. we had to either look elsewhere or go on Denplan as we couldn't afford private.

I know what you mean angelab Hygenists lecture all the time, and I have been visiting mine every four months for all the good it did. To be honest I have a niggling feeling that all the digging and poking done to me over the years has made things worse.

Yep, Teeth are the work of the Devil!!

hopehope I really sympathise. My problem has always been gum disease, no matter how well I try to brush my teeth. Currently dreading going to hygienist but can't put it off much longer, really don't want another lecture - just fix them!
I've always thought teeth were a design fault in the human body.

Hopehope, I feel your pain. My teeth have always been a trial and I firmly believe that some people have poor teeth, just as some have asthma or IBS or any other problems. I had a vile dentist as a child, but have been to the dentist every six months, as well as he hygienist, since I was in my teens. It hasn't stopped the problems though.

I've recently had to change dentist as we moved some distance away from the one we've been to for years and we've also had to go NHS. The filling has dropped out of one tooth and it's crumbling, so will have to come out and there's a massive problem with one on the other side. Most of my back teeth have had it really and it's just a matter of time until I have the same as you, except horrible NHS dentures.

I'm not yet comfortable with my new dentist and I'm fed up that I've done everything recommended and my teeth are still awful. Not a massive thing in the scheme of things, but somewhat depressing.

morethan, you made me smile this morning, even though it is a slightly less toothsome smile .

Hopehope here's some I admire you when I'm feeling like you I either sit and mope or sit and eat. hmmmm that could be why I'm fat.

Thanks to you all for the support, and advise. Bluebelle I have been trying to hang onto them for a while now, seen a few Dentists, not just my own, and they all seem to have the same opinion . Tanit I am not on NHS, but have Denplan so hopefully they wil be not too bad. he has said that if I don't like the plastic mould they can do a metal one for on the roof of the mouth which is apparantly much thinner, something to think about anyway.

So this morning to take my mind off going I went mad in the kitchen, cleaned all the cupboards out, washed all along the tops, even got the washing machine out and cleaned all behind that.

have had my first two back ones out now, no pain at all. I go back in a month to have another two out, then rest the gums a while ready for the next step. Oh well....

I totally unerstand how you are feeling and it's horrible. Please take heart. I have had full dentures since I was 11 through parental neglect. I am in the process of having a set made (I am 67 now). Looking into the face of this handsome young dentist as he takes my teeth out is mortifying but it is what it is and I am dealing with it as best I can. It took me many many years to come to terms with it. Can you imagine being a teenager with false teeth? Anyway, I am treating myself to some expensive private ones and am hoping to feel a bit more confident. I have never really smiled but hope I will now a bit more. I know other people's experiences don't necessarily make us feel better but I am sending good wishes to you.

I am in much the same position I have gum disease that wont heal due to diabetes...for the last 5 yrs it has boon strong antibiotics every 3 months.....dentist feels infectious could cause problems in my whole body.....have to wait till 18 th may to start process and discuss replacements....have to give in now....

My husband had dentures because he was down to just a couple of teeth on each side, but he only wore them when he went out anywhere special, and if eating was involved, he`d go into the gents and take them out beforehand, as he couldn`t eat with them in!

Hopehope you gave me a good laugh when you said "they will still smile if I out them in the worktop"

I can imagine how you are feeling and you sounded just like I do sometimes when you told DH that you might as well just give up and let yourself go completely........

What I try to do (to get over myself) is to try and put things into prospective. "Yes you may have lost your teeth but you can still eat, there is a solution and no-one but you (and maybe DH) needs to know" then I think of the worst possible scenario and thank my lucky stars that it's only my teeth (or whatever) that I am worried about.
I have a bridge of 3 teeth quite near the front and have reoccurring nightmares about it breaking or falling out. I guess one day it might (probably inevitable) and Like you, I could never afford expensive implants either.

I have never had strong teeth although I have always looked after them well. My sister is the same. My mum had good teeth but my dads aren't so good, so maybe it's genetic. My son had lovely teeth (until a dentist wrecked them, another story) and my DD aged 32 has never had so much as a filling. Her teeth are perfect.

And if, after it's all done and when the dentures are fitted, you still feel really down and depressed it may be possible if you have a sympathetic doctor to get NHS help with having implants as it's affecting your mental health and well being.

HopeHope I'm sorry you feeling so sad. I've had dentures for a long time (long story) and if there is one thing I would recommend if you can possibly afford it ask your dentist if he can make the denture privately it will make such a difference to the fit and look of your denture. My private dentures cost £500 and are very comfortable and not obviously dentures as some of the NHS ones do.
I hope you will feel differently soon good luck.

Some things impact on us much more than others don't they? dentures are one of those things, I think as chewbacca says dentures are very different nowadays. I remember my mother only wearing her dentures if she went out or had visitors because they were not comfortable. I always thought I would never be like that. We are fortunate that our dental care is much improved now though expensive.
I am sure in six months time you will be wondering why you worried so much. Treat yourself to something pretty and feminine and enjoy your new look.

As one going through teeth trouble too all I can say is keep your chin up and contrary to how you are feeling keep all the other things up to the max I m finding this getting old business all a bit much I ve also got arthritis in some toes and can't wear pretty or even tiny heel shoes I feel dumpy and frumpy although everyone says I don't look it, that's how I feel

Are you QUITE sure you need the top teeth out because ' they might not last you' why can't you leave them and see, if they are not being a problem that is ...I do worry that dentists do more work than needed sometimes, my friend has just been persuaded to have a brace to make her teeth more even ( at great expense) she's 73 My own emergency teartment has ended but now the dentist has says he needs to cut two teeth down to make my bite better I ve refused I ve had this bite for 72 years so it can see me through a few more thanks matey as far as I m concerned it's NECESSARY treatment only for me

GOOD LUCK whichever way it goes but DONT lose them just because.....

You poor thing. I hope this all goes well and is not as bad as you fear.

Hopehope I don't blame you for feeling so fed up either. I'd feel the same, although I probably wouldn't be as honest as you. I think it makes us feel worse when we compare our own troubles with the woes of others/or the world. That saying "Well there's always somone worse off than you" was never helpful to me, quite the opposite on top of what was upsetting me it made me feel as if I wasnt as good as everyone else. Cry if you need to we're good at listening and mainly we understand. A lot of us are in the same boat or at least waiting at the quayside for the next boat.

You did make me have a chuckle Hope not at your dilemma but your dramatic way of saying you give up. Your husband telling you not to be daft, he probably loves you no matter what but still doesn't want you to let yourself look drab.

If it was me I would be mighty unimpressed too. I do know a few women with dentures and they dress really well. I know others who have nice teeth but they have let every thing else go. I suppose we have some choices left as we all fall on the old age heap!

Really sorry Hope, I don't blame you for being so fed up. It's a bummer when you know that you've looked after your teeth so well all your life and still have to face losing them. Dentures today aren't like the ones our grannies had to wear though, they're so much more realistic and easier to wear. I know it's rotten for you and I wish I had more to offer you than offering my hand to hold. I hope all goes well for you tomorrow.