I am having all of my teeth pulled and getting dentures Monday. I am kinda nervous about it, but I am also excited. Does anyone have any tips or advise that can help? Thanks!!!

Can I ask why you're getting all of your teeth pulled?

I am 33 years old and have had problems with my teeth all my life. I would much rather keep my teeth, but I have had nothing but trouble and can't afford to spend anymore money. I have thought about it for a few years and decided that this was the best thing to do. I just hope everything turns out well.

I hope so too! Good luck with everything! Hopefully someone can provide some useful info for you :)

Well, if you really have no other option, here are a few tips about what to expect.
Obviously, you will expierence some discomfort for awhile. Please be aware that dentures will not function as well as natural teeth. You will have trouble speaking perfectly in the beginning, and you will have to adjust to eating with them as well. you will probably need to visit your dentist a few times for adjustments. (very few dentures are just put in and fit perfectly for the get go) Lower denturers are more of an adjustment than upper ones. After awhile (it varies from patient to patient) you will be able to function fine. I hope this helps. Good luck to you.

Hi Crisma, first let me tell you that there is life after denture. It is a long journey and it takes quiet a bit of work getting used to functioning with a lot plastic in your mouth, but it can be done, and millions of people are doing it every day. It probably will be an emotional shock to you for a few days, until you get used to it, some people really never get used to it, and choose to go the implant route, and some people adjust very fast and live a long happy life with dentures. A lot will depends on how much effort your put into your recovery and how much support you have around you. I hope you do have support, very important. If you can communicate with someone you know that have gone thru it, or with a support group, that's even better, and talking about it to the people close to you will make things easier for you. If you have a spouse or a partner, be open about your treatment. Ask all the questions from your dentist, and make sure your dentist is a caring person, who will care when you go to him or her with denture problems (and you will, often) for the first 2 or 3 months. If you do not trust of feel good about your dentist, find another one before you even go through with your extractions. Good luck to you, and keep us posted, you should get some feed back on this board to help you along. Marti

Thanks everyone for your replies! I have talked to everyone I know who has dentures so much, I think they are all tired of my questions, LOL ! My dad, aunt, grandma, and one of my best friends all have dentures, so they have been great to talk to. The denturist(is that what they are called?) seems to really know his stuff. That is where my best friend went, and she has had a great experience. Her friend has went there too and she hasn't had any problems either. The dentist seems to be real helpful too. I really think I am making the right decision. I am so tired of being in pain all the time. I cannot afford anything other than a quick fix or extraction on the teeth I have problems with. I need several root canals and crowns. There is absolutely no way I can pay for that. I am from a small town in Oklahoma and there aren't any dental schools or any lower income clinics that even do crowns and root canals. I have tried every other way before coming to this decision, but I know it is the right one. I am even getting excited that soon I will have a pretty smile again and I won't be ashamed to show my teeth! I know it will be a bumpy road, but I think I am ready. Thanks everyone!

Glad things are going so well!

Sounds like you already made your decision, so good luck to you, it's great that you will have lots of support Marti

I have a temp lower denture(getting the final in April). I am finally to the point that I can eat normally(still can`t eat steak). I had trouble speaking the first few days and keeping it in my mouth but after that there was no problems once my mouth adjusted. Also if you get sore spots see your dentist as they just aren`t going to go away. He will need to adjust it in that area to help you heal properly. Good luck and hope this helps.

Do you sleep in yours or do you take them out at night? Thanks!

The first night I was told to leave it in. Since then I have taken it out and soaked it overnight. I thought I would be too embarrassed to do this in front of my wife but it wasn`t so bad. It was much better than the intense pain I was in before.

My biggest fear in getting this done is that if I sleep in them, somehow I will choke to death on the bottoms, but I really don't want my hubby to see me without them. I haven't asked the dentist if I can sleep in them. Thanks for your help!

There's a wonderful denture board [Removed] - check it out you'll get lots of support there.

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My biggest fear in getting this done is that if I sleep in them, somehow I will choke to death on the bottoms, but I really don't want my hubby to see me without them. I haven't asked the dentist if I can sleep in them. Thanks for your help! Never heard of anyone chocking to death on lower or upper denture. I saw one case of chocking on partial "plate", but it was smaller then a denture. Many of my female denture patients say, that their husbands have no idea about their dentures.

I didn't think it really happens, but you know how fear can make you come up with some strange things sometimes! I will check out the denture board. Thanks everyone for your help!!!

As others have said, it sounds like you have a fairly good support network of other denture wearers to bounce ideas off of. As far as sleeping with or without your dentures- do what the dentist suggests. I sleep without mine and so many others.

About not letting your husband see you- this is a very personal thing. My personal experience and thinking on this is to include your husband in the healing process. This affects him as well, maybe not to the degree it affects you but he will suffer some anxiety right along with you. While you are concerned about what you will look like and so on, your husband will be having concerns over that too and how will he be able to help you. He will have some selfish concerns as well- will people know MY wife wears dentures, what will they think of her, what will they think of me?

If he is involved in the adaptation period along with you- then both of you will heal at the same time. Allowing him to help you experience the frustration of wearing dentures- and seeing as well as experiencing his reaction to you without your teeth will help reestablish your self esteem. He is a friend in this, not the enemy.

Above all, remember- attitude is everything in this!

Sandy