I need dentures and I'm terrified. I need upper and lower dentures. I heard a lot of horror stories about lowers...that they float when eating and are painful to get used too. How long before I could speak properly. Please help. I'm so distressed about it my hair is falling out.
I need dentures and I'm terrifed...
- Thread starter crispy
- Start date
Jillaroo
Demented
- Location
- Mid North Coast NSW Australia
Crisp try not to worry, obviously someone has been trying to scare you, they won't hurt or float around in your mouth. And i didn't have any trouble talking so i don't know why someone would say that.
So please take a deep breath and look forward to getting your new teeth, you will be so happy you did.
So please take a deep breath and look forward to getting your new teeth, you will be so happy you did.
I'm not so much worried about them floating when I eat because I live alone. I can improvise with no lower teeth by eating soft foods, if necessary. But I dread the thought of going to the grocery store or having to talk to anyone. I am really distressed over this and I'm taking many deep breaths. 
Jillaroo
Demented
- Location
- Mid North Coast NSW Australia
You will have no problem talking with false teeth, you may experience a bit of a lisp for a few hours, you will be pleasantly surprised how comfy they are , it may take a meal or two to get used to eating with them, i never found it a big problem,
Katybug
Senior Member
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
I can't speak from personal experience, but I have heard they are like everything else new to us in just getting used to them. As seniors we get changes thrown at us all the time, only to find out it wasn't nearly as bad as expected. I remember going through this with my mom, took great care of her pretty teeth, but due to gum disease she lost all of them at my age. She was just like you and scared to death. It wasn't a walk in the park, but it didn't take her long to adjust and she had no complaints at all. And she never mentioned her lower teeth floating around, nor was there a bit of difference in her speech. Someone didn't get a good fit and that's what it's all about, but you have to give it some time.
It's my nature to end on a light hearted note, so I'll say I'm still trying to get used to this boob I bought 20 years ago. It's not the same, but we do what we have to do and it's way better than nothing. (HUGS and best wishes)
And I want to add....how lucky we all are to be able to discuss our problems as we age with a group who completely understands. I feel so fortunate to have found this place.
It's my nature to end on a light hearted note, so I'll say I'm still trying to get used to this boob I bought 20 years ago. It's not the same, but we do what we have to do and it's way better than nothing. (HUGS and best wishes)
And I want to add....how lucky we all are to be able to discuss our problems as we age with a group who completely understands. I feel so fortunate to have found this place.
Diwundrin
Well-known Member
- Location
- Nth Coast NSW Australia
Crispy, the day I had all my teeth removed and dentures fitted was one of the happiest ones of my life! I was around 27 at the time!
A childhood illness (nephritis) had been treated with massive doses of sulphur right at the time my new teeth were forming and they came through 'old'. They were chalky and I spent my whole childhood at the dentist every second damned week for so long I had more fillings than teeth! The fillings fell out after a couple of months and would have to be done again. Even the dentist gave up eventually and said I had the teeth of a 90 year old! ... and you thought you had problems?
I was soooo glad to be finally rid of them all that the minor discomforts of coping with full top and bottom plates was blissfully trivial.
Sure, there will be some form of aggravation, maybe they'll rub in the wrong place, but take them back, get them adjusted and it may take a few weeks but you'll overcome that.
Life isn't a free ride and a few weeks discomfort is a small price to pay for having dentures that will become 'part of you', and improve life overall. Some people have more problems with that 'floating' thing than others, it depends on the shape of your palate and the way the lower jaw is formed and the amount of gum shrinkage etc, there's no hard fast rule and no one person's experiences indicates what other's can expect.
If they 'float', get some sticky liner stuff, not a problem.
We had a friend who had all kinds of problems keeping his teeth inside his head. His nickname, that he knew and laughed about, was 'Clatterin tats'. He didn't care, they worked for eating and that was all they had to do for him, he didn't even bother with the liners.
I don't get that talking thing, are you a voice-over professional or opera singer or something? Talking comes natural, you'll manage just fine. People get used to the new look, and if it's even noticeable, the new speaking style. They won't even remember noticing the difference 2 seconds later.
If it's something that seems necessary to be done then what is the point of stressing over it? Especially since you have no idea that it won't go smooth as cream and make a wonderful improvement. Are you stressed that it might go really well? That could happen you know. What a worry eh?
Chin up Crispy, get it done, good luck, and enjoy your steak dinner.
A childhood illness (nephritis) had been treated with massive doses of sulphur right at the time my new teeth were forming and they came through 'old'. They were chalky and I spent my whole childhood at the dentist every second damned week for so long I had more fillings than teeth! The fillings fell out after a couple of months and would have to be done again. Even the dentist gave up eventually and said I had the teeth of a 90 year old! ... and you thought you had problems?
I was soooo glad to be finally rid of them all that the minor discomforts of coping with full top and bottom plates was blissfully trivial.
Sure, there will be some form of aggravation, maybe they'll rub in the wrong place, but take them back, get them adjusted and it may take a few weeks but you'll overcome that.
Life isn't a free ride and a few weeks discomfort is a small price to pay for having dentures that will become 'part of you', and improve life overall. Some people have more problems with that 'floating' thing than others, it depends on the shape of your palate and the way the lower jaw is formed and the amount of gum shrinkage etc, there's no hard fast rule and no one person's experiences indicates what other's can expect.
If they 'float', get some sticky liner stuff, not a problem.
We had a friend who had all kinds of problems keeping his teeth inside his head. His nickname, that he knew and laughed about, was 'Clatterin tats'. He didn't care, they worked for eating and that was all they had to do for him, he didn't even bother with the liners.
I don't get that talking thing, are you a voice-over professional or opera singer or something? Talking comes natural, you'll manage just fine. People get used to the new look, and if it's even noticeable, the new speaking style. They won't even remember noticing the difference 2 seconds later.
If it's something that seems necessary to be done then what is the point of stressing over it? Especially since you have no idea that it won't go smooth as cream and make a wonderful improvement. Are you stressed that it might go really well? That could happen you know. What a worry eh?
Chin up Crispy, get it done, good luck, and enjoy your steak dinner.
I have no experience with dentures, but I've read that a lot of people have allergic issues with Valplast dentures. I imagine they will be slightly uncomfortable until your used to them, think positive. Also, if you do have any problems with them, let the dentist know in a timely manner, to make sure everything is fitting properly.