Let's see.. probe, mirrors, ball-peen hammer...

[gridlore]

Saw my new dentist tonight. As expected, dentures are in my immediate future.

Current plan is I go in for a couple of extractions on Feb. 7th and we deal with the happy colonies of bacteria that have established themselves in the nooks, crannies, and cavernous holes of my remaining molars. Then I get what are called immediate dentures. I like the idea of not being toothless for a month or more, do not like the idea of increased cost and the need to buy a whole new set six months down the road.

Comments

[glinda-w.livejournal.com]

*mumble* yearsdecades ago, I got the immediate dentures (combo of inheriting soft teeth and having cavities on the sides of molars and back of front teeth when braces were removed¹) and only needed the reline, which lasted about four years. Probably would have lasted longer if I hadn't been rather calcium-deprived for two years of that time.<sup>2

1</sup>insert rant here about only orthodontist in town being not very competent.

²another long story, not something to worry about if you get adequate dairy products and/or take calcium supplements.

[john-appel.livejournal.com]

Funny you should mention hammers. I had my wisdom teeth taken out at Womack Army Hospital at Ft. Hood, and they wound up using the dental equivalent of a hammer and cold chisel to break the lower ones up into pieces so they could be extracted.

(Assistant: "Aren't you going to put him all the way under?" Oral surgeon: "He's Airborne, he can handle it." WHACK!)

The immediate dentures thing actually sounds like a good idea, despite the cost. A month of not eating anything solid would drive me nuts.