I’m so depressed about the condition of my teeth and I’m only 23 years old. When I was a kid, my parents didn’t encourage or pressure me to brush my teeth. I think this was mainly due to the fact that we never had dental insurance. So basically the only time I went to the dentist was to get my wisdom teeth removed. As an adult, I have severe tooth decay on most of my teeth. I don’t think they can be saved because several of my teeth are virtually gone and I’m supposed to get surgery to get another one removed. Dentures seem silly for someone my age, but I don’t know what else to do. Is there anyway that my teeth can be saved? I already am in debt from college and I don’t think my current dental insurance will be much of a help. My teeth have been holding me back for too long and I’m ready to get them fixed. I just don’t know how I could possibly afford the right treatment. Have you ever heard of charities or other programs that could help out with the costs? Do you think that I could have an extensive amount of dental work done in one sitting? I want to get this taken care of once and for all so I don’t have to be so depressed about how I look and feel.
- Carolyn from New York
Carolyn,
Getting dentures placed at such a young age comes with serious repercussions. Many dentists don’t tell you what happens when you are missing all your teeth. Facial collapse is a condition where your jawbone shrinks and will eventually disappear. It happens very slowly but since you are so young it should be something you are very concerned about. The body senses that the bone is no longer needed to support your teeth so it takes the minerals to be used in other parts of your body. As the condition worsens, you can become a dental cripple. This means that you won’t even be able to keep a denture in your mouth, you will have trouble eating, and will likely be so embarrassed that you won’t want to go anywhere. At that point, the only way to fix your mouth will be with a full mouth restoration with a complete jaw reconstruction surgery and the placement of dental implants.
Although, dental implants actually prevent facial collapse and they may be more expensive than dentures, they may end up costing you less in the long run. The right dentist may empathize with your situation and may work with you on costs.
Also, the answer is yes that there are programs and funds available for individuals that require extensive dental care. It may be difficult to find them but you can begin by researching local dental schools and dental societies.
In regard to the teeth that are not salvageable, they probably need to be extracted. Although, if you have teeth that aren’t infected, you can have the large cavities filled with temporary glass fillings. Although not the ideal solution, they could buy you some time as they may last for many years. Another way to mask the appearance of your teeth is with the Snap-on Smile. This temporary smile makeover will give you the appearance of straight, white teeth. Again, this may give you some more time to make such a big investment.
I hope this information was helpful to you and presented some other options than complete dentures.
This post is sponsored by Oklahoma City dentist Dr. Forth.
Dr. Forth offers full mouth reconstruction options and cosmetic dentistry services.
