I Had All My Remaining Teeth Pulled Today.

[Seven of Nine]

It was a weird experience.
My mouth feels really weird.
I feel really weird.
I had this done with no certainty that I'll be able to get dentures. How weird is that?
Now that I think about it, my whole life is pretty weird.
I feel reluctant to post in any other thread but this one for fear I'll write something really weird, but not in a good way.

So...how did everyone else's day go?

[Petra]

My days' going good so far, 7of9. My daughter played Netball this morning, and her coach said she is one of their best players, so that was cool.

She also has a new guitar and is taking lessons, so it's nice to hear her practicing.

The teeth thing, though - why did you get 'em pulled?

[viscousmemories]

Yeah that's pretty weird, Seven. It's far less weird to me now than it was when I was a wee lad, though. I suppose as I get older I get more and more accustomed to the idea of loss... I hope you're dealing with it okay.

[Ensign Steve]

The teeth thing, though - why did you get 'em pulled?

Probably her borg implants were acting up.
:7of9:

[Dingfod]

They can do pretty convincing implants.

[livius drusus]

I'm sorry about to hear about the weirdness, Seven. I'm concerned about the lack of dentures. Are you going to be able to eat right?

[albert cipriani]

I suppose as I get older I get more and more accustomed to the idea of loss...

As Gene Hackman said, in I thing Wyatt Eurp, something to the effect of: "living is all about loss; that's what we do." -- Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic

[koan]

Whatever you decide to replace them with, dentures or implants, I would see if they make them so they are not ultra perfect. It's really weird when people flash perfect teeth. No one really has perfect teeth.

[Seven of Nine]

Whatever you decide to replace them with, dentures or implants, I would see if they make them so they are not ultra perfect. It's really weird when people flash perfect teeth. No one really has perfect teeth.

Oh, you are so right!! There's nothing perfect about that perfect look. It cries out, "These aren't my actual teeth! I stole these from the dead body of an alien humanoid and put them in my mouth so I could get a leading role in Smallville!"
I know too many people who should have taken you advice, koan. I knew this guy with artifical looking implants...what a shame. They cost too much money, time, and probably agony to acquire just for a person to end up looking like they have a bad set of dentures. :eek:
Medicaid only pays for dentures (and they just voted to cut the dental program, so they may not pay for anything by the time I can get them), and the impressions they made aren't going to to be any real help because my teeth started breaking like crazy a few years ago, but they said they'd work with pictures, so I'm hoping they can reproduce my teeth, or come close, and I want our family overbite back, too! LOL
Either I'm going to end up looking pretty much like I did when my teeth were in good shape, or I'm going end up looking like a guest on the Jerry Springer show. :doh:

[Seven of Nine]

I'm sorry about to hear about the weirdness, Seven. I'm concerned about the lack of dentures. Are you going to be able to eat right?

Except for the pain, it's just strange; not bad strange. It's kind of interesting strange. For instance, my brain still believes that our teeth are there.

Well, liv, it's not like I was eating right before...
I did get pretty hungry today because I was too nervous to eat beforehand, and afterward it seemed to take forever for the local to wear off.
I discovered that it's pretty hard to take an antibiotic tablet when the water in your glass inexplicably winds up pouring down the front of your shirt instead of down your throat , so I felt eating was pretty much out of the question until I had waited longer.
Since regaining some ability to control the destination of items intended to be food and drink, I've had Instant Breakfast, soft boiled eggs all mushed up until they were more liquid than solid, a root beer, perhaps three Dr. Peppers, and not nearly enough pain pills to suit me.


I'm more concerned about never having dentures than I am about not getting them until everything has atrophied (the dental people refer to this as "healed", and that does sound nicer), so that they'll fit right.
My dentist is one of those rare birds who takes medicaid patients when he doesn't have to because he thinks it's the right thing to do, even though Medicaid doesn't pay nearly what it should...when it covers dental care at all.
He offers goods and services not covered by Medicaid to us at a substantial discount (the price of my dentures was so low that it shocked me when I saw it), so it's not as though he's not trying to keep them within my price range.
His staff are noticably upset about us losing out insurance, too, and last time it happened my dentist attended meeting without angry dentists in my state, signed petitions, called congressmen, and so on.
I feel worse for them than I do for me, really; they feel somehow responsible even though they aren't, I think some Medicaid patients are unloading on them, and a few who don't understand what's happened are even blaming them. :(

[MooseIBe]

Without meaning to be nosey how many teeth did you have? And, um, what was wrong with them?

[Beth]

I'm so sorry, sweetie. I know it must have been traumatic. I hope that you are able to get fitted with a nice set of dentures. I'm glad that you were able to at least get a good dentist who is kind enough to give you an affordable price on your dentures. I'm amazed that Medicaid does not pay for them...

[seebs]

Wow, scary. I've been afraid to have my wisdom tooth pulled. (I only got one, and it has nothing to push against so it's at a bad angle.)

FWIW, what's up with me is that I have a new Mac, because I am now doing freelance writing for Apple! (No, they didn't give it to me, but I expect them to pay for it soon enough.)

[Leesifer]

I too hope you can get a nice set of dentures/implants. I'm not surprised you're feeling weird.

[pescifish]

I hope you heal up quickly! It would be incredibly nervewracking and scary for me to simply not know whether the dentures were going to happen. I hope you find out soon and that the answer is "yes -- and right quick!"

Please keep up with the nutrition. I know lots of folks have said it here and there, but let me add me own "Glad to see you back and posting!" to the mix. Take care!

[Godwhacker]

I just can't imagine. My heart goes out to you.

[Ex-zombie]

Damn that sounds really painful, Seven. Are you drinking? I would be.

I hope your mouth heals up quickly.

[Shake]

The teeth thing, though - why did you get 'em pulled?
Yeah, I was wondering that too. :chin:

:waiting: :waiting:

[pescifish]

...because my teeth started breaking like crazy a few years agoIn case you guys missed it, that comment from post #9 seemed like an explanation. But -- I'm interested in anything/everything you would like to tell us, Seven of Nine.

I'm also hoping whatever problem you were having with your vision a while back is better. I know you had a bad display monitor, but I didn't know if there was also a physical issue. Anyway, I'm glad you are back to posting and hope all these things get fixed up as best they can as quick as possible!
:hug:

[Shake]

Ah yes, thanks, pesci!

[grapevine]

I dont know where you live but there is a franchise called Affordable dentures. They put them in the same day as your extractions. Putting dentures in immediately actually helps your mouth heal. The prices are really cheap. If they arent the look of your dreams you can wear them until you get a better set. If you dont get something. you will develope other problems like excruciating pain in your jaw. My 4 front teeth were knocked out in a car accident when I was 16 years old. It was an interesting life going to proms and stuff in that condition. I am a bit of a mouth expert.

[Seven of Nine]

Well, well, well. It's been over two years since I started this thread and my mouth still feels really weird.
It's upsetting. :(

[Smilin]

Seven,

My wife had this done last year. Her teeth were chipping away due to the calcium loss she suffered during her three pregnancies. While I haven't experienced it personally, I've dealt with the problems she's had to endure as a result of our decision to have all of her teeth pulled and implants installed.

Did you go with dentures or implants?:hug:

My thoughts are with you seven...

[Seven of Nine]

Seven,

My wife had this done last year. Her teeth were chipping away due to the calcium loss she suffered during her three pregnancies. While I haven't experienced it personally, I've dealt with the problems she's had to endure as a result of our decision to have all of her teeth pulled and implants installed.

Did you go with dentures or implants?:hug:

My thoughts are with you seven...

Thanks, Smilin. You're such a sweet guy. :cheerhug:

I went with dentures because that's what Missouri Medicaid would cover, but they don't fit. The dentist ripped me off for the Medicaid money, then the Medicaid dental program was cut, and I've never been able to raise the money to start over with another dentist.

Did your wife go with dentures or implants?
Are large areas of her mouth still numb? I hope not!

[Smilin]

[quote=Smilin;457902]
Thanks, Smilin. You're such a sweet guy. :cheerhug:

I went with dentures because that's what Missouri Medicaid would cover, but they don't fit. The dentist ripped me off for the Medicaid money, then the Medicaid dental program was cut, and I've never been able to raise the money to start over with another dentist.

Did your wife go with dentures or implants?
Are large areas of her mouth still numb? I hope not!

She went with implants on her bottom teeth and dentures on her top teeth.

Yeah, she's experienced that as well.

Did you find it impossible to be able to taste food with your dentures? That's been one of her biggest complaints to date.

Wow, have you considered legal action?

I'd haul his @ss into court in a heart beat if I were in your shoes. We're still paying for her teeth and will be probably for the next 10 years or so. :(

[Seven of Nine]

[quote=Smilin;457902]
Thanks, Smilin. You're such a sweet guy. :cheerhug:

I went with dentures because that's what Missouri Medicaid would cover, but they don't fit. The dentist ripped me off for the Medicaid money, then the Medicaid dental program was cut, and I've never been able to raise the money to start over with another dentist.

Did your wife go with dentures or implants?
Are large areas of her mouth still numb? I hope not!

She went with implants on her bottom teeth and dentures on her top teeth.

What do the implants feel like? How much did they cost you, if I may ask?

Yeah, she's experienced that as well.

Oh, Bummer, Smilin. Does she have numbness in her nose?
My dentist told me that the numbness would go away in a year and a half to two years. Perhaps that will be true for your wife. I hope so.

Did you find it impossible to be able to taste food with your dentures? That's been one of her biggest complaints to date.

I can't keep them in long enough to eat with them. The upper plate extends so far back toward my throat that it triggers my gag reflex.

Wow, have you considered legal action?

I'd haul his @ss into court in a heart beat if I were in your shoes. We're still paying for her teeth and will be probably for the next 10 years or so. :(

Medicaid dentures are cheaply made and only cost about two hundred and fifty dollars (it cost more to pull my teeth), but if a dentist has a lot of Medicaid patients and works on them in a kind of 'assembly line' fashion, he or she can realise a nice profit for the small amount of time and effort involved.
I've had a number of doctors rip me off for Medicaid money by doing quick and useless procedures. I've found that ripping off the poor is a sort of cottage industry.

If I were going to sue anyone, I would go after a couple of orthopedic surgeons for making my back worse instead of better: they charged big bucks, enough to interest a contingency fee attorney.
But if I sued, word would get around and I'd have leave the state to get more orthopedic surgery, not that I can get any now and boy am I whiny today! Eek, sorry. The last member of my pedigreed whippet family line died unexpectedly day before yesterday, just when we were going to breed her, so I feel quite sad today...

I had to sue to get worker's compensation when I was injured on the job. It took three years and was an exhausting and almost traumatic experience. I'm in much worse health now than I was then, so I'm not sure I'd be up to it now, even if I didn't have to worry about being ostracized by every surgeon in town. I guess I'm not acquisitive enough want money I know I'll have to suffer to get?

[Seven of Nine]

oops, double post.

[Smilin]

What do the implants feel like? How much did they cost you, if I may ask?

They don't feel like real teeth if that's what you're enquiring about. Cost for the implants alone was 200-250.00 per tooth (after my insurance paid it's part) sooooo it definately wasn't cheap!

(around $7,000 for our part of JUST her lower teeth, which are implants. An addtional $3,500 after that for her upper dentures.)

We just financed it and I'm treating it like a car payment. In 10 years time, these chompers will be all hers! :yup::D

[Dingfod]

What do they do if you don't pay, repo them?

[Shelli]

What do they do if you don't pay, repo them?:lol:

I'm so sorry to hear about your problems, SofN. :hug:

[Caligulette]

As someone with chippy, crumbly teeth, I sympathise. (Even now I have a broken tooth- or, sort of. It's a tooth which was mostly filling and part of the "colloseum" shaped natural tooth slid away on halloween. It does not hurt.)

I see a LOT of people these days who are missing teeth or whose teeth are in jjust awful shape. Again, I think it's a sad sad society wherein people cannot afford their own bodies.

[Qingdai]

A relative of mine had her teeth removed and dentures for years (about 40 years now) it takes time to find someone who does a good fitting, time to get used to the new dentures and then they wear out. Seems like an on-going process for her, even with good dental coverage. She mostly complains about having to eat softer foods and sour foods, such as vinegar, being unpleasant experiences for her.

For me, also a frequent broken tooth sufferer, it takes about 6 months to a year before my caps feel normal.

I am sorry that your mouth (and back) are causing you trouble.

[Dingfod]

My dad just had his remaining 16 teeth pulled and dentures fitted. It's weird seeing him with relatively straight teeth*.


*They actually made them imperfect in an attempt to make them look natural.

[Qingdai]

One dentist went a little too far with the "natural" on my dad's bridge and gave him green teeth. Twenty years later they are a nice yellowish.
Green, blah.

[Petra]

Wow, you're having a really rough time of things, 7of9. I'm sorry to hear it. :hug:


I hope your mouth settles down and becomes more comfortable soon. :glomp:

[Stormlight]

I just wanted to thank all of you for digging this thread up a day before my dentists appointment. :glare:

Also, I'm very sorry about the problems you have 7 of 9. :(

[Shelli]

For Stormlight...

:hoot:
:giggle:

[Stormlight]

:glare:

[Shelli]

* Shelli gets a chance to use the glare glomp! :excited:

:glareglomp:

:pleased:

[ShottleBop]

I went in yesterday for one of my four-a-year cleanings, and was told I had a broken tooth that will need to be crowned.

[Shelli]

:hug: