Friday, August 16, 2013

Best Part About My Dentures - My Confidence and Self-Esteem Improve Drastically

Perhaps the best part of getting dentures for me, besides the fact that I can eat better and be healthier, is that they have given me my confidence and self-esteem back.  Before my teeth problems began, I was a very outgoing, social and friendly person.  I love to laugh, loved to pose for pictures, and had a smile I was so proud of.  My dentures have allowed me to have all of those things back.  After getting them, I spent a lot of time taking pictures of myself, because it was fun and because I finally could enjoy it again!






 
After I had all of my teeth extracted on January 6th, 2013, I then had to face the process of getting my dentures.  I chose to go to my own, regular dentist to have this done.  For my dentist there were 4 steps:  1) Impressions done  2) From the impression, a model was made to check bite and make sure things line up.  3)  Wax Try In  4) Delivery - Actually getting my dentures. 


Appointment #1 - Impressions.   
  *This appointment was the shortest out of the 3.  All that was done was my dentist taking an impression of my gums. The "goop" as I called it was put into the plastic things and he did my upper and lower gums separate.  For each, I had to hold it there, pressed against my gum for I believe 5 minutes or so.  And, that was really it for this appointment. =) 

Appointment #2 - Checking bite/alignment and picking out my teeth.
  *At this appointment, my dentist first used the model of what looked like to me just the "gum" part of dentures to make sure my bite was correct.  He placed it in my mouth and I had to close my mouth naturally.  At first, it was too big, but with one quick adjustment, it fit great.  After that was settled, my dentist then had me pick out what color/shade I wanted my teeth in my dentures to be.  I did not go with the very whitest shade, but the next step down, as I felt it looked more natural.  After that was done, I was off. 

Appointment #3 - Wax Try In
  *This was a very exciting appointment.  At this stage, a set of dentures, with the teeth set in wax is put into my mouth so my dentist could make sure everything lined up good, and that I was happy with how everything looked.  If I wanted any changes made, this was the time to say so.  But, I was happy with my teeth anyway.  They look absolutely perfect!  Here is a picture of me on this day.  I look very uncomfortable, and it is because when you wear dentures for the first time, they feel just so big in your mouth, and it is an uncomfortable feeling.  Also, I immediately noticed an increase in saliva.  This continued for awhile after I got my actual dentures, but does go away with time.     

Appointment #4 - Delivery - Getting My Dentures!
  *This was the day I had anticipated for weeks.  I was finally getting my dentures.  Despite the initial awkwardness, I was so happy!  I could finally smile again, and within just hours, my confidence was back.

  

From Bad Teeth to Dentures, and Why it Took Me So Long to Get There

Even though I learned in the Summer of 2011 that I needed dentures, getting myself to go through the process of extractions and getting the dentures took me longer than it should have.  Maybe I was in a bit of denial, or maybe I just did not want to face it, but it took a long time.  Part of the reason was financial too.  My insurance only gave me $500 a year for dental work, not anywhere close to enough for extractions and dentures!

Finally in the summer of 2012, my mother came to me and asked me why I had put it off so long.  I told her my reasons, and she then gave me the greatest gift - she offered to pay for all of it, no paying her back.  I cried, I laughed, I hugged her, and am still so grateful.   It took me a few months to get my butt in great, but finally I got going on my journey.

I had the pre-op. with the oral surgeon about a week before Christmas, and then my surgery was on January 6th, 2013.  I had planned to be put to sleep, but when I got there and got in, they could not get a good vein, so I had two choices:  either come back and try again, or just get novicane and laughing gas.  Even though surgeries and dentists terrify me, I just wanted it over with at that point.  It took the surgeon about 15 minutes to give me all the novicane shots and then another 25-30 minutes to pull all my teeth.  It was over seemingly quickly, and the experience was not as bad as I had thought it would be.  My recovery went well, or as well as it could.  I wont lie - the first week was awful.  Besides being in pain I felt physically sick to my stomach constantly tired.  However, slowly, over time I became my old self again. Unlike many people, I did not get immediate/temporary dentures.  Instead, I had to wait a few weeks and then began the process of getting my dentures with my regular dentist. 

I know I should have done it all sooner, but at least now it is done.  I got over my fear, my denial and came to terms with my situation finally.

My Background - What Led Me to Needing Dentures

I was blessed with a very nice smile when I was younger.  I never needed braces and was often complimented on how nice my smile was.  While I was a child, and through my teenage years, my parents made sure that I received regular dental care and that I took care of my teeth.  I moved out a few months after graduating high school, and after a couple of years my dental health began it's decline.  Actually, this journey technically began when I was a child - I was told by my dentist when I was about 8 years old or so that I had "soft" teeth/enamel and that I would probably need dentures sooner then most  - "Probably by the age of 35."   She was right.

I moved into an apartment a few months after high school with my boyfriend (now husband) Jarred.  That was in September 2002.  We got engaged for Christmas in December, and then in May 2003 found out, very unexpectedly, that I was pregnant.  I was on the pill, and it was a shock, but after a few weeks we were so happy!  My oldest son, Xavier, was born in December 2013.  I first noticed dental issues when he was about 6 months old.  My very back teeth, my molars, began to literally fall apart.  I did not think too much of it, but I should have.  Also during this time, I had medical insurance, but not dental, so I missed out on getting regular check-ups, which further pushed my teeths' decline.

A few years later I had my 2nd son, Aiden, born in December 2006.  Again, during the pregnancy and especially after he was born, I experienced more decay and destruction of my teeth.  This is also when I began to experience pain and sometimes infections with my teeth.  But, I continued to be naive, and did not realize how poor I was in my decision making.  With each passing day, my teeth were getting worse and worse.  By this time I was  22 years old.

I had my 3rd son, Conner in January 2011.  My pregnancy and months after delivery with him did my poor teeth in.  A few months after he was born I finally was able to see a dentist and the news I received was devastating - my teeth had become so decayed, so broken, that I would need to have all my teeth pulled and get full upper and lower dentures.   By this time pain had become an everyday occurrence and the infections I got in my teeth and mouth were happening more and more.  Some mornings I would wake up with a hugely swollen face from an infection, and I was taking so many over-the-counter pain medications that I began to worry about causing damage to my stomach, liver, etc. 

I also began to not want to smile and had become so, so ashamed of how my teeth looked.  Me, the girl who had a smile that so many people loved, was now barely smiling in pictures at all, as you can see here:


Looking back, there were definitely plenty of warning signs that I should have heeded and acted upon.  However, life is about moving forward, not dwelling on the past, so I have made peace with it.  I can't go back and change it, so why stress over it? 

So that's why I wear dentures, for better or worse. =)  My process of realizing I needed dentures to actually getting them, however, was another battle in itself.

Introduction - Hi everyone!

When you find out at the age of 27 that your natural teeth are beyond repair and that you will need to have all of your teeth removed and get full dentures, life can seem pretty lonesome and scary.  That is what happened to me, and as I have gone through this process I have learned so much about myself, and found support that has made a huge difference.  Because of the help and support I have received from others in my situation; other young denture wearers (especially Kristi Lind, also known as Kalinjax on youtube - and she had a blog), I too have decided to share my journey with others so that I can help people.  I currently have a youtube channel, and do videos as often as I can.  I also created a Facebook page to offer help and support, and now I am taking on the task of creating my own blog.   Before I began my store, here is my contact info.  I always tell people who watch my videos or visit my page - please feel free to ask me any questions you have about this process, or if you just need someone to talk to who understands.  My greatest challenge in my own journey was that I felt so alone - that I was the only 20-something year old woman who had to wear dentures.  Finding out that I was very wrong, and finding others going through it, helped so much.  I hope I can help you too!

You Tube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/user/foreversmiling3716
Facebook Page:   http://www.facebook.com/foreversmiling3716
Email:  foreversmiling3716@yahoo.com