I have had horrible pregnancies for literally ten years in a row. I’ve thrown up for nine months straight before I would get a few months break then I was pregnant again. As a result, my teeth are in horrible shape, especially my upper teeth for all the acid in my vomiting. I can’t afford to fix all the teeth and they are literally starting to fall apart. I keep hearing about the danger of dentures but don’t know that I have any options. What do you recommend? I only get $1000 in coverage from my insurance and if you did the math, you know I’ve got tons of children to care for as well.
Tamara
Dear Tamara,
I’m sorry for what you’re going through. You are obviously in a tough spot. The good news, if there is any, is that what you need to replace is your upper teeth. Those are much better than having to get dentures on your lower teeth. They are easier to adjust, they are more stable, and they have a higher patient satisfaction rate than lower dentures.
Just so you are aware, once you remove those teeth, your body will begin the shrink the bone that was holding those teeth in place. It does that to be as efficient with the minerals in your body as possible.
If you are able to, I’m going to suggest leaving as many upper teeth as possible. You can get a cu-sil partial denture (pictured left) which allows you to keep your healthy natural teeth. If you end up losing them, it is fairly easy for the dentist to fill that hole with another false tooth.
I know you don’t have a lot of money, but I would be as careful as you possibly can given your circumstances to not miss any appointments for your cleanings and checkups from here on out. I do realize the challenge with that when you have so many children. However, losing your lower teeth is much more serious. You’ll save a TON of money catching things early rather than waiting until you are rushing to save them.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.
