What is actually involved in getting full dentures?

H

Hedge Hog

New Member
Hi, new member here.

Through no fault of my own, I have gotten old. I suppose everyone else here is in the same boat...

Anyway... For my entire life, my teeth have been against me. Years ago, I had good dental insurance, and I was able to have the dentist patch up any teeth that broke, and even replace a couple of them with implants.

In the last decade or so, however, I've only had Medicaid. That's insurance provided by the state for... sigh... poor people who can't afford anything else.

And Medicaid doesn't cover any useful dental work. Just cleaning, extraction, and full dentures. I can't get partials or bridges.

Another problem with Medicaid is that not every dental office takes it. You can't go to a good dentist. Good dentists don't take medicaid. I've spent the past 12 years going to really bad, scary dentists.

So... I've now reached the point where I need dentures. I can't put it off any longer.

And, frankly, I am terrified.

What's the procedure? Do they pull a few teeth at a time over several visits? Or do they pull them all at once? Does it hurt like hell afterwards? Are you able to eat or do you just live on mashed potatoes for a week afterwards?

I'm really scared, guys. Please, don't just respond with "Don't worry about it." Let me know what is actually going to happen. I need to know. I need to be prepared for it.

Thank you.
 

Don't know what to tell you about Medicaid not paying for good dentists. Where I live, and for years and years and years, I could never find a dentist who would even believe me that I thought I needed dentures. They wanted to keep me coming to constantly give them money. Finally, two years ago, I found one who agreed dentures would help ME...maybe not him, but me. Thing is, though, I'm not sure dentists do full extractions these days. I went to an oral surgeon who was recommended by the dentist. The dentist DID make the teeth but didn't do the pulling. I'm not on Medicare nor Medicaid so this was all on the credit card. And you're right, neither of those programs pay. I will say this - my oral surgeon was a dream. Put me to sleep and I woke up with new teeth. No pain. Ever. Not once. Not even a twinge. But I wish you the best. This is a tough decision to have to face.
 
I will be in the same boat. I have Periodontal disease and my teeth are getting worse and worse. I have one that is dead. Many of the others are loose and I will face full extraction.

All I can tell you is that my friend had all his teeth pulled at once and he was glad as they really hurt and bothered him. He said he didn't have any pain after. He got dentures and has had no problems.

I disagree that no good dentists take Medicaid. I had a really good one but he quit taking it--I suppose because of how long they wait to be paid. I am looking for another dentist and I'm going to think positively, that there are good Dentists who take Medicaid.
 
I've made the decision also to get dentures. I've had a throbbing toothache for quite awhile. I knew there was going to be a battle with the dentist because I have 5 good teeth that need work and two crowns for front teeth.
Sure enough I got the sermon of how they can save the roots and do all sorts of barbaric work on the rest. I won out. They took 2 out that were bothering me and I have to go back for xrays and a discussion about the dentures. I'm holding my ground on a partial also. I just know the teeth they attach it to will wear down and the partial will be useless.

My problem is, I decided to use gas which I never had before. I thought it was wonderful. They could have ripped my head off and I wouldn't have cared. I guess they pumped a ton of Novocaine in and after that wore off the pain from all the injections was worse than the toothache I had before. That was a week ago and it still throbs even though the site of the extractions is fine.

I don't think I'll be going back but will try someone else who will knock me out completely. I've had that done before. I think they use less Novocaine that way. It is extremely pricey but I probably will come out ahead in the long run. I have no dental insurance.
 
Ruth n Jersey said:
I've made the decision also to get dentures. I've had a throbbing toothache for quite awhile. I knew there was going to be a battle with the dentist because I have 5 good teeth that need work and two crowns for front teeth.
Sure enough I got the sermon of how they can save the roots and do all sorts of barbaric work on the rest. I won out. They took 2 out that were bothering me and I have to go back for xrays and a discussion about the dentures. I'm holding my ground on a partial also. I just know the teeth they attach it to will wear down and the partial will be useless.

My problem is, I decided to use gas which I never had before. I thought it was wonderful. They could have ripped my head off and I wouldn't have cared. I guess they pumped a ton of Novocaine in and after that wore off the pain from all the injections was worse than the toothache I had before. That was a week ago and it still throbs even though the site of the extractions is fine.

I don't think I'll be going back but will try someone else who will knock me out completely. I've had that done before. I think they use less Novocaine that way. It is extremely pricey but I probably will come out ahead in the long run. I have no dental insurance.
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If it still throbs after a week it could be a case of dry socket.

Call the dentist and check to see if they can pack the area to prevent air from getting to the nerve.

Good luck!
 
Welcome Hedge Hog: I so feel you with this issue. I experienced frightening dentistry since I was in my teens. My teeth were very soft, had started to rot and break off. Dentists treated me as if I had leprosy or something but it was through no fault of my own. Only my top teeth were affected. My mother found a miracle worker dentist who did something called a roundhouse. He pulled some teeth, kept others and built a partial bridge connected to capped teeth, backed with gold. Other dentists were amazed when they saw his work. After 20 or so years, it began to deteroriate so I wound up having to get a full upper denture. The roundhouse was removed and the remaining teeth were pulled by an oral surgeon all on the same day. I didn't have to wait long for the denture, which is good because I was working and part of my job involved talking (counseling). I looked into several options during the time I knew I'd need a replacement.

I have heard from several people that dental schools are a good place to go. They don't charge much and supposedly do fairly good work. I'd say research that option. I also knew a few people who headed to a dental clinic down south to get dental work done because it was so cheap, my uncle being one of them. I don't know if that's feasible for you however due to your financial situation. Here's a search link that may connect you to free dental services.
https://www.smarter.com/web?q=Free+Dental+Services&qo=relatedSearchNarrow&o=764245&l=dir
 
Medicaid for adult dental extractions typically covers but 2 teeth extractiions per visit.
 

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