Dentures

[bones-bones]

Thanks to Sjogren’s and Chemo my teeth are wrecked !

My dentist think dentures are the only answer but I have heard that this is difficult because of the lack of saliva. If there is anyone there who has cracked I’d love to know !

[smudge1980]

Hi bones-bones, sorry to hear your going through this problem. I also went through the same thing in 2018. I suffer bad dryness in the mouth and also needed a lot of extractions leaving me with two teeth in upper and five in lower mouth. I was lucky to find a dentist who'd had dealings with Sjogrens and together we found the best dentures to suit me. Upper denture is made from a very thin metal and I hardly notice I have it in. Lower dentures is a flexible denture, also very thin. It just clips in between the teeth I have. I did have to pay privately and it was costly but worth every penny. Hope you manage to find something suitable that works for you.

[bones-bones in reply to smudge1980]

Thank you for replying. I didn’t realise you could have dentures and existing teeth. I have five upper and seven lower teeth. And some of them are bit rickety. My dentist didn’t mention this way of doing things. I’m not sure how much he knows about Sjogrens but probably as much as our Rheumatologists do ! Your dentures sound a great success....I think you’ve struck gold. I hope I’ll be as lucky !

[SusieW2]

Dentures around existing teeth are called partials. I had them for several years, first one then two, top and bottom. They are OK. Be sure to persevere with adjustments until they are comfortable, not just tolerable.Faced with losing my last big molar where I could chew harder things, I'm just now moving to full dentures. I spent a lot of money trying to preserve what teeth I could. But it just became silly to keep spending on things that only lasted a short time. And it was getting harder to eat.

It has been difficult emotionally losing my last teeth. Most people don't think it will come to this for them. And It has been quite painful. The literature says to expect "some pain". That is an understatement and the Oxycodone didn't really work for me. So I had to take big doses of regular analgesics which started to bother my stomach. The pain was the worst where they tied the knot for the sutures.

The pain of the extractions has finally diminished but the temporary denture which you get until your mouth heals up have been a nightmare. I'm going in for my 2nd adjustment on Wednesday and expect many more until they actually fit.

In the meantime I can't chew anything. I can't stand to have the bottom denture in for more than an hour and it doesn't mesh with the top. They have to guess where your gums will be after the extraction. I don't think I got a good guesser. I have to eat only soft food that I can just swallow. 3 weeks in now.

I have spoken with several people who have denture with which they are very happy. I think it's like giving birth. After the pain is gone you only remember they good part of the baby. I sincerely hope so for me and for you.

[bones-bones in reply to SusieW2]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. You seem to have had a horrendous time. It has frightened me to death but not enough for me to go for the toothless gummy look ! Mind you at my age I doubt anyone would notice ! Did you have it done privately? Anyhow thank you for all the info and tips. I will keep them.

I really hope things are getting better for you by now.

[SusieW2 in reply to bones-bones]

I'm in the US and have private dental insurance. It paid for about 20% and I get another discount as the insurance company and dentist have an agreement to lower the cost. Very expensive, though. We have very poor dental coverage here from the state or federal government. They do not cover dentures but you can often get a payment plan if you have a good credit rating. If you have a good job you will get some decent coverage there.Yes, If you can get by with partial dentures, go for it.

I'm still hopeful for a good outcome in the long run. I am pretty good at self-advocacy.

[maggielee]

So sorry about your teeth...I am desperately trying to hang on to mine remaining ones... I hope you get a good dentist....teeth a topper to our sjogren challenges & nightmare....

My last one was pulled before chemo & it was quite secure, but worries if they didn't pull it & also a really slow healing process even though it was stitched....still healing almost a year on due immune suppressions....

Good to hear others experience, teeth are so much a part of us sad to loose them lime this..... ml

[bones-bones in reply to maggielee]

Thank you Maggielee. Perhaps I have hung on to my teeth too long . It’s a slow process and I won’t have impressions taken until August . I have gone private for this as I don’t think I’d trust my nhs dentist with this. I don’t want to end up looking like an elderly Bugs Bunny ! You and I have a double whammy to deal with....Chemo and Sjogren’s. Neither are much fun but the steroids they give with chemo improved my Sjogren’s no end. ......till they stopped !I am hoping for the best...what more can I do ? I hope your problems are sorted out.

[maryweldon006]

Hey bones-bones,It's hard to hear you are suffering from Sjogren's. I suffer from Swollen salivary glands, Persistent dry cough, and dryness. And severe and progressive tooth decay leads to the loss of many teeth. However, I'm glad that I had found the right dental expert [ appletondental.ca/services/... ] for choosing the right dentures. You should discuss this with your dental expert and select the best dentures that suit you. But you should be extra vigilant to prevent fungal infections due to the lack of saliva. You can avoid bacteria or fungal infections by thoroughly washing your dentures every single day. You should soak them in an anti-fungal denture solution overnight to kill bacteria and fungi.

[bones-bones in reply to maryweldon006]

Thank you Mary. I see you live in Canada. Unfortunately I live on an Island off mainland U.K. where there isn’t much choice in the way of dentists. I think the one I’ve found is good but I don’t think he knows a lot about Sjogrens. I am definitely dithering. I’m not getting any toothache and am wondering what would happen if I just stay where I am now.I’m 77 and am not going to live for ever and my husband won’t be able to sell my expensive new teeth on e Bay !

Sorry. Laughter is apparently the best medicine !

[tcromp888]

I lost my teeth at age 49. It was devastating. However I have come to terms with dentures and am 67 now. Could not have continued with abscesses and severe infections all the time. The sjogrens caused the damage. Didn’t want dentures but there was no alternative. Good luck with everything.

[bones-bones in reply to tcromp888]

Thank you tromp…….I’m afraid I fell at the last jump. Or rather the dentist has put the matter on hold . I just thought I’d got enough on my plate without having to get used to new teeth !It’s good your new teeth were a success…..well done !