I Have Never Been Put To Sleep To Have Anything Done On My Teeth. I Have To Have All My Teeth Pulled And They Are More Than Likely Gonna Do It All At Once Has Anyone Had This Done And How Does It Work And What About When They Put You To Sleep I Have Very Bad Anxiety Panic Attacks Plz Help Me.

Hello Winniethepooh26:

I am a licensed dentist who has been practicing for 14 years. I have seen nearly every typical scenario to be found in a general dental office, and beyond in some cases.
First of all, in order to give you advice on your situation, I would need to see your records. Most important of these are radiographs (X-ray films).
This would be to determine if you actually "NEED" all your teeth extracted.

I would caution anyone against having all their teeth removed in order to replace them with full dentures. Full dentures do not solve people's problems. They just begin a potentially new and different set of problems. No matter what anyone will tell you, a partial denture (one that is held in with some natural teeth) is ALWAYS preferable over a full denture. There are reasons for this.
You should be informed of these and other options before you have all your teeth removed. Ask a lot of questions of your dentist. Get a second, or third opinion on your case before you do something that may not be necessary- like having your remaining natural teeth removed.
I have seen many, many people who were told by others that they, "NEED", their remaining teeth removed. In many of those cases it simply is not true. But I can not diagnose your case wthout seeing you or your records. Just take this as a word of caution before you allow someone to do something as extreme as you mentioned. There ARE other options in many cases.

That being said- There are several methods of obtaining pain and anxiety control for certain patients who may be difficult to manage because of extreme anxiety or phobias over dental treatment. It is a complicated issue. And it depends on each individual's anxiety level and tolerance to procedures.
If you do need this type of service (tooth extractions, anxiety control) it can be accomplished simply by seeing the right dentist who has the skills to handle your anxiety without administering drugs. I have done this a countlesss number of times for people over the years
.
But if drugs are necessary to complete the procedure for you, there are many drugs and methods of administering these drugs to obtain varying levels of anxiety control. It may be accomplished by oral sedation, where the patient is still aware of the surroundings, but is not anxious about the procedure, to general anesthesia where one is "knocked out" completely for the procedure and is brought out of anesthesia after the procedure is complete.
All types of oral sedation, and general anesthesia have their risks and benefits. These should be clearly explained to you before hand in a way that you completely understand and consent to.
Either way is generally safe in the hands of trained and experienced practitioners. But there are risks. And you must be informed of these risks, and understand everything before you allow someone to do anything in a dental office.

A final word of caution: be very careful, a lot of dentists will do anything that you let them do, whether you need it or not. If you have not already done so, ask if this procedure is really necesarry. Ask if there are other alternative teatment(s) that will allow you to retain at least some of your natural teeth. Commonly patients become so frustrated with their situation pertaining to their teeth, because they have gotten so bad, that they simply want them all taken out. They THINK that this will solve their problem. It just is not so.
There is nothing that is currently available that is better than having your natural teeth in your jaws. That is a fact that you can believe in. If there is a possibility of saving AT LEAST some of your teeth- find out about that. I encourage you to go this route if possible. You may not realize it, but you will be glad you did. However- in ether case, partial or full dentures, it is dependent on the skill of the dentist and the skill of the laboratory that manufactures the dentures that determine the success of the case and the long-term comfort and satisfaction of the patient with their new dentures. But that is a whole different subject...

Good luck to you. I hope this helps. I will be following this message board in case you may need futher assistance with your questions.

i have been told by a dentist that they all have to come out. all are rotted and broken and really easily broken.

What the dentist has told you may be true and unavoidable. But often it may not be. I have seen it many times. You need to discuss your options with this dentist, and possible speak with another.
Removing teeth does not solve problems once and for all. Detures present with potentially a whole new set of peoblems for the remainer of time you are walking around on this planet.
If removable dentures are determined to be the best solution- dentures that are held in with at least a few teeth (partial dentures) are much better than full dentures- ALWAYS. This is ESPECIALLY true on the lower jaw.If anyone tells you differently, run from them. Because it just is not true.

But every thing that you have done for you has potential problems. The success of a denture as far as your comfort and long-term satisfaction depends on the degree of skill and caring that your dentist has. Many general dentist just plain do not have what it takes to provide dentures as they are meant to be, even in the best of conditions. And be careful of those denture-only establishments. they are notorious for providing less than satisfactory results.
Be very careful about what you allow a dentist to do for (to?) you. You may have other options, other than having all your natural teeth removed. Ask A LOT of questions. Get other opinions. Do what you can to save the natural teeth that can be saved, if you can.
Many dentists will recommend full mouth extractions because it is the easiest hing for THEM. It is not their teeth that will be in a landfill. They will not have to live with the many potentail problems that may result from improperly made dentures.
There are many people who have dentures made, thinking that it will be a solution to their "problem" with their natural teeth. Often, the dentures become so intolerable to wear because the dentist can not correct the cause, that the patient just leaves the brand new dentures in a container.
Be very careful about this. Ask your dentist about the pros and cons and what you can expect... Do not accept vague, or quick andwers or excuses. Whatever you do you have a right to be satisfied with what you end up with. And it is a dentists responsibility to address your concerns after a denture, or anything else, is put in to your mouth.
Natural teeth will always be better than anything that is man-made is ever likely to be. Maybe you made mistakes in your life and let your teeth come to the condition that they are in now. that's okay. But you can improve your habits, etcetera. Forget about what happened in the past. But ask if at least some of your natural teeth can be restored and retained as retainers for a partial denture. Then take very good care of them thereafter.

Best of luck to you.

Really nice to have you on this board ....Willy....please keep
posting.....thanks. Karen

You're welcome Karen. And thanks for the kind comments.

I hope I can dispell some myths about dental treatment by commenting here. And there are several that are commomly heard.

All too often patients are subject to extreme treatments, such as removal of their remaining teeth for example. And they suffer needlessly thereafter with dentures that are ill-fitting, etcetera. In many cases it is just easier FOR THE DENTIST to go the route of full mouth extractions and dentures, rather than educating and motivating the patient to go with alternative treatments, that are by the way, more practicle and better for the patient.

Often times it revolves around money and ease for the doctor. It is a shame that pepole are this way. And it is a shame that patients are unaware. So myths get started about "soft teeth" , root canals, wisdom teeth and so on.

It would take up way too much space here to give more specific examples, and to explain them. But the topic of extractions and dentures, such as you describe, is VERY common. People often come in with badly decayed teeth and periodontal disease. So the dentists recommends extractions and dentures. What the patient usually does not know is that there are reasons their teeth got to that condition. And the reason is usually from long-term neglect, and not being informed.

It is a dentists responsibility to educate and motivate a patient. And dentists should work to help people RETAIN their natural teeth, if possible. But how would a patient know these things?

Patients are afraid to ask questions and to challenge a doctor. They should not be afraid to approach their dentist and to ask questions and to make INFORMED decisions. All to often the patient just goes along with the treatment and trusting the dentists as"taht's the way it is" or "I am going to lose my teeth anyway."

So if there is any way to save some of your teeth so that you will only have to have a partial denture to replace other missing teeth- I suggest that you find out about it. Partials are not perfect either. Anything depends on the skill and caring that the dentist has in making them. And if there is a problem, or series of small problems after a denture is delivered- what is very revealing is how a dentist handles them, and whether or not the dentist can solve these problems without making excuses, or placing the blame elsewhere. Many times a dentist will fabricate a bridge, removable denture or root canal. But when problems arise afterward they are unable to explain or fix the problem. It sounds crazy. But it is true.

Anyway- with regard to dentures- if it were me, I'll tell you, if it ever came down to a choice, I would take a partial denture over a full denture ANY day.
Maybe you should either discuss your options with your dentist, or look for one who you can talk to to discuss your options?

Again, good luck to you.

You're welcome Karen. And thanks for the kind comments.

I hope I can dispell some myths about dental treatment by commenting here. And there are several that are commomly heard.

All too often patients are subject to extreme treatments, such as removal of their remaining teeth for example. And they suffer needlessly thereafter with dentures that are ill-fitting, etcetera. In many cases it is just easier FOR THE DENTIST to go the route of full mouth extractions and dentures, rather than educating and motivating the patient to go with alternative treatments, that are by the way, more practicle and better for the patient.

Often times it revolves around money and ease for the doctor. It is a shame that pepole are this way. And it is a shame that patients are unaware. So myths get started about "soft teeth" , root canals, wisdom teeth and so on.

It would take up way too much space here to give more specific examples, and to explain them. But the topic of extractions and dentures, such as you describe, is VERY common. People often come in with badly decayed teeth and periodontal disease. So the dentists recommends extractions and dentures. What the patient usually does not know is that there are reasons their teeth got to that condition. And the reason is usually from long-term neglect, and not being informed.

It is a dentists responsibility to educate and motivate a patient. And dentists should work to help people RETAIN their natural teeth, if possible. But how would a patient know these things?

Patients are afraid to ask questions and to challenge a doctor. They should not be afraid to approach their dentist and to ask questions and to make INFORMED decisions. All to often the patient just goes along with the treatment and trusting the dentists as"taht's the way it is" or "I am going to lose my teeth anyway."

So if there is any way to save some of your teeth so that you will only have to have a partial denture to replace other missing teeth- I suggest that you find out about it. Partials are not perfect either. Anything depends on the skill and caring that the dentist has in making them. And if there is a problem, or series of small problems after a denture is delivered- what is very revealing is how a dentist handles them, and whether or not the dentist can solve these problems without making excuses, or placing the blame elsewhere. Many times a dentist will fabricate a bridge, removable denture or root canal. But when problems arise afterward they are unable to explain or fix the problem. It sounds crazy. But it is true.

Anyway- with regard to dentures- if it were me, I'll tell you, if it ever came down to a choice, I would take a partial denture over a full denture ANY day.
Maybe you should either discuss your options with your dentist, or look for one who you can talk to to discuss your options?

Again, good luck to you.
I am so impressed with your insight into these problems. I am 77 years old and have been doing everything I can to save what natural teeth I have. I just went through a painful extraction of an upper back molar that had previously had a root canal and will now have to have another partial constructed to fill in the extraction sites, but as long as I can keep enough teeth to support a partial I will continue to do so. I did not have any dental care as a child other than painful extractions for abscessed teeth as they happened. Through three pregnancies I never took prenatal vitamins and I breastfed my children for 8 months each time, so I'm sure I lost a lot of calcium. If I could go back and correct these problems I surely would, but since I can't, I will continue to do whatever I can to keep the natural teeth I still have (luckily there are still 16 of them). Thank you for all the sage advice you provide.

Pattymelt-

Thanks for the kind words. I am happy that I can help.

As for your past experiences with child birth and breast feeding- it has no direct effect on your teeth. The idea of loss of calcium and having teeth affected from that simply is not reur. So forget about that idea. it is a common misonception.

As for having a new partia; after having this tooth extracted- not necessarily so. Depending on the location of the extracted to, you can have a false tooth added to your existing partial as a replacement. No need to have a whole new denture made.

It is extremely important to keep your teeth brushed and flossed to prevent decay. And it is important to watch your diet as well, for the same reason. And it is important to have regular dental exams to catch things when they are small and not wait so you may need to have another tooth removed.

One thing that is a possibility- as we age we tend to be placed on medications by physicians, for one condition or another. Sometimes people are on muliple medications. In fact, it is very common. These medications cause dry mouth as a side effect. Having lowered saliva output will cause a higher probability of having tooth decay- especially if roots are exposed from recession of the gums. Most dentists won't tell you this. But maybe this is one reason why you are having to have teeth removed at your age?

So it is VERY important to watch what we eat, take care of our teeth as if they were newborn babies (brush and floss effectively) and have regularly scheduled dental exams. Check in to the dry mouth thing... And keep on trying to keep those natural teeth. You are right to do so.

Good luck