lateeth

If you could go to a dental school and were able to get them to make a few suggestions, you would not necessarily have to do the work there. I have heard that they will be more frank about what can and should be done, although my experience was that i went directly to the specialist there so i did not get an overall suggestion. I think it is possible that what Kikki is suggesting could happen where a professor could consult with your "student" dentist and they might come up with several options which are viable all in one visit and then you could go back home and find the dentist there who is willing to carry out the choice you have made. The professor might even suggest some dentists in your area as many of them may have been former students.
I know it is hard making this decision. Whatever you decide on you will need to live with so it is important to be completely satisfied you are making the correct decision for you.
I don't know the distance you would need to travel but if you called them first and then they confirmed they would be able to consult on the whole process in one visit, your husband would only need to take off one day. The other option would be to learn how to drive (lol). I didn't learn to drive until i was 29. I thought i was the only adult around without a liscense!
Do you think your original dentist is reconsidering evaluating your situation since he invited you in for a cleaning? Have any of them told you what they think might happen if you hold off pulling the better teeth? Will they ruin anything or make things worse? I have read many stories of people who were told they needed to have teeth pulled, did not do it and still have those teeth years later. Of course, I am sure there are many who didn't have the teeth pulled and ended up with something worse going on, but if the worst outcome would be having them pulled eventually, that would buy you some time to see how they would respond to therapy. I know you have bone loss already, but how fast do they think it will get worse? With my own teeth, i am pretty sure i heard it is a slow process. the infection recurring constantly seems to be my biggest problem if i leave teeth in.