At 32, just been told I need dentures!!!?

Question

Just wondering if anyone else is in ( or has been in) my situation and how you coped with it all. Any advice?

Answer 1

Hi Bee..
I think I can put you mind at rest..I'm 35 living in Ireland
I am a dentist ,as are both my parents, still practising part-time and one of my brothers..so I know a bit about teeth.. unfortunately I also know from experience!my teeth aren't fantastic.
My top upper teeth are crowned, I have a gap at back of bottom teeth and I need work done on front bottom teeth after 2 painful abscesses since september!but enough about me..

Dentures in early 30's are much more common than you realise.We tend only to notice and compare ourselves to people with perfect teeth..but remember they have things about them they're unhappy with too.

Progressed caries (or decay) in teeth can occur for many reasons, not necessarily to do with inadequate oral hygiene..
genetically some people have weaker teeth..as I do.
Antibiotics (tetracyclines) taken whilst permanent teeth are developing in a child, or taken by the mother during pregnancy can discolour the developing teeth..
Your bite can place more pressure on teeth if its not well aligned (again I'm stuck with that one!)

Anyway enough of reasons.... firstly todays dentures are much improved cosmetically and will probably look better than teeth that are decayed enough to need extracting..they can be sore on the gums at first especially the lower set but you will adjust to them.

I do often advocate people travelling abroad for work in Hungary and so on, mainly for less expensive crowns,implants but for dentures I dont think it will make a difference to the outcome, indeed you would be advised to have these done at home where its convenient to get them altered,repaired and that.

To rest your mind do get a second opinion as ewll as your own dentist though be aware the advice will probably be same if there's advanced decay.

Implants are an alternative,expensive though yes less expensive in East Europe, they will only work on you if any decay problems have been sorted..this is better done at home.

You could get front implants and back dentures.
The important thing is to treat the problem as bad teeth are very unhealthy for the body.

You wont be the first or last to have this work done (I need it!) and you'll look feel and be better health-wise when its done,its a scary prospect But its not painful these days and when its done its done..your appearance will be enhanced if anything not reduced.

Good luck my friend!

Answer 2

Don't worry man, there are ALOT of people your age out there with dentures, you just don't know it, they make them so well nowadays you can have a hard time telling. I got dentures a year ago (i'm 26), and have been dealing with it a day at a time. Make sure you pick a good place for your dentures. Ask to see some pics, or talk to some people who had them done where you are going. Try to go to a specialist (or try affordabledentures.com) or someone who does a lot of dentures, most normal dentists don't make too many dentures so it might be a crap shoot on what the results are. Just try to keep a positive outlook on things, things won't be perfect like with your natural teeth, you'll have to learn to talk again (just saying certain letters, thats all) learn how to chew again, take small pieces till you learn. Good luck man.

Answer 3

Similar situation, I'm 28. My teeth started falling apart when I was about 23. I brushed all the time so it had nothing to do with hygiene. I never had insurance until about 2 months ago so I was only going to the dentist to get broken painful teeth pulled. My problem is mainly with my top teeth for some reason. Every single tooth on the top is either broken to some degree or had been removed. My dentist recommended dental implants but I can't afford it. They have told me that they have rarely seen someone my age with teeth like mine unless the person had some sort of history of drug abuse or never brushed. They said they would expect it in the mouth of someone in their 50s or older.

I honestly don't really care anymore. I've been through so much pain with these teeth and they've been such a source of embarrassment over the past few years that I would do anything to not have to deal with this anymore. I would love to get dental implants if I could afford it. Instead I need to settle for what looks like extensive bridge work if the insurance covers it. If insurance does not cover bridge work, I will be left with about 7 teeth on the top (all needing work) I'm actually looking forward to having 'fake' teeth which will not decay or cause any pain!

A friend of mine (age 34) has a complete set of dentures and you can't even tell. She's very happy with them. She wound up with dentures after destroying her teeth through heavy drug use in the past. She got them when she was around 30 and they look great.

Answer 4

I'm sorry to hear that - it sounds drastic! Have you sought a second opinion? I know it's not easy to find a dentist these days but this is definitely a time when you need to. Is it not possble to look at implants or anything (costly I know). Dentures aren't as bad as they used to be and you can have what seems like a normal set of dentures (ie not implants) and they can fix them permanently in place so no taking them in and out and they'd seem like your own teeth and no-one would have to know. It seems harsh as you're pretty young and dentists usually do everything possible to help you keep your teeth. If it's gum disease there are 3 monthly injections you can get to help and other treatments. If there's no option but to have them out ask your dentist about having dentures fixed in place. I saw the info at a private dentist's but I'm afraid I've no first hand experience. Better dentures than bad teeth though. Life's no fun if you can't eat properly and are in pain.

Answer 5

My husband has been wearing full set of dentures since he was 16 yrs old He is now 63. Never had a problem with them. In the beginning if he got a sore spot he went to dentist to have adjusted. He said they are better than what his natural teeth were. He eats nuts, bites into apples corn on the cob. No chewing problems. There can be worse things to wear. What would people do without them? Doesn't have to worry about biting ito anything and breaking a tooth.

Answer 6

I have had dentures since I was 14 I am now 55 and it's never been a problem. Ask your dentist for a partial metal plate, they are much more comfortable and secure than full plastic ones, especially if you can get him to fit it staight after extraction because the false teeth fit into the sockets left by your old teeth. Good luck

Answer 7

having dentures, will never be like the real thing.. but getting the right fit and wearing them all the time is a must.. if you don't wear them, your mouth bone will wear down and no dentures will fit .. yes your gums will get sore at the begining.. but after 2 weeks and there is still a problem, go back and have them fitted again and keep going back till they fit comfortable.. using baby oragel on sore spots also helps.. you can do it : )

Answer 8

It's OK to me getting dentures . I ways the looks sexy . And it's ok the look great in ever one month . Your will get use to them i a week or a a Little bit after a week . But there not as good as your normal teeth were for biting into things . I hope this answer helps you .

Answer 9

I am a mother of a 24 year old son who had dentures at 21. The medication he was on detereated his tooth enamel. Hang in there. It will get better. My sons dentures are alot prettier than his old teeth were.

Answer 10

My husband is 31 and had a terrible abscess (sp?) in his for upper front teeth when he was 18. The infection was so terrible that they had to pull the teeth. He has only recently looked into dentures. We are trying to find a way for the insurance to pay for dental implants, which I feel are the best substitute.