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Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / May 2007frustration with new upper denture
I had an upper denture put in last week. The last 6 front teeth were extracted and an immediate denture was put in. I know it's only been a week, and the dentist said it would probably be 4 or 5 weeks before I get used to it, but this SUCKS! It's difficult to eat, and when I do it often comes loose. Will this really get better? I read here to give it time and soon I'll be able to eat most foods I did before, I just can't see it! And this feeling of marbles in the mouth and lisping when I pronounce my S's and X's. Of course I have no choice but to give it time I guess I just want some positive comments that things will get better from people who have been through this. I'm 52 years old, my lower teeth are in good shape or at least will be when I have work done on them, but the uppers were not. Sometimes I think I should have just paid to have had the uppers worked on (they said it would be upwards of $15000 or more). So I settled for the upper denture but now I wonder. Implants are a little too much for me and I have bad credit! Thanks for letting me vent. An immediate denture will probably require some follow-up with your dentist and will also most likely need some relining as bone gets resorbed after the extractions. So you can mention any problems you've encountered so far to your dentist and discuss possible ways to get past them. I think what you really need is reassurance? A well-constructed denture will certainly be usable by most people (keyword here is most), but of course some take more time to adapt to it than others. One week is a very short time, especially if you factor in the added trauma of the extractions. I remember my professor saying that a denture is not a substitute for natural teeth, but it's a lot better than having no teeth. A denture is a huge piece of plastic floating in the mouth - it is something that was not intended to be there! That many people can use them successfully is testimony to the ability of the human body to adapt. Many other things, like typing or driving, may be frustrating in the beginning, but sooner or later they become second nature. Be patient, discuss things with your dentist and you'll be fine. Regards, George Thanks for the info George. I think you're right, it only being a week and the frustration of not being used to it, I guess I just wanted to be reassured that things will get better. Everyone says that of course, and the sites I've visited here stress patience, I guess you just wonder will I ever get used to these things! I'm not complaining, it sure looks better than the spaces I had before! Thanks again and take care. > An immediate denture will probably require some follow-up with your > dentist and will also most likely need some relining as bone gets [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Regards, > George > Thanks for the info George. I think you're right, it only being a week and > the frustration of not being used to it, I guess I just wanted to be > reassured that things will get better. Everyone says that of course, and > the sites I've visited here stress patience, I guess you just wonder will I > ever get used to these things! I'm not complaining, it sure looks better > than the spaces I had before! Thanks again and take care. Are you using any adhesive? That can make a big difference for 'rookies'. Steve I might also add: Do more 'chewing' with your knife and fork (smaller bites). Toast is much easier to handle than white bread. Balance food on both sides of your mouth when chewing. More mashing of food straight down than grinding side to side. Ground or chopped meat and fish are better than cuts of meat. Reading out loud by yourself helps you practice your speach. Adhesives come in three basic types: cream/paste, powder, and wafers. Buy a small pack of each and experiment. You are 'eating with crutches' and the whole process is possible, but you can't move as fast as you used to. Good luck, Steve > Are you using any adhesive? That can make a big difference for 'rookies'. > > Steve > I might also add: > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > > > Steve Interesting. The advice also works well for people with significant loss of jaw function; especially the loss of lateral/excursive movement (mashing is the only option). But, in all fairness to the people trying to adapt to the denture/s ... someone who *can't* grind side to side won't be be successful at trying. In those cases, the frustration of the disability complicates the adaptation process *emotionally*; but, it may in some ways make the physical adaptable less difficult because of fewer physical movement options. (I get claustrophobic just writing this.) Now... if you have someone who has a jaw function disability *and* denture/s become a necessary dental tool ... the adaptation might be very interesting to follow. Few, if any, practices will see a concentration of such potential cases. But spread across the total population, they're out there. Webby Webby |
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