Monday I went to Truman Medical Center's Oral Surgery and had my remaining 16 teeth removed. They also removed four lumps of superfluous bone from the interior of my lower jaw. My treatment was excellent, they put me at ease. They were sensitive to my high level of anxiety based upon my prior experiences. It will take about two months to heal. Thanks to my friend Chad for driving me to and from the appointment.
This was the culmination of a long series of unfortunate circumstances. I come from poor genetic stock... My maternal grandmother had needed a full set of dentures by the time she was 26, my mother made her own replacement teeth out of nontoxic sculpey starting at age 40, I am now 45 and not nearly as crafty as was Sandi. I suspect one of my 115 unidentified gene mutations may be related to my dental woes.
When I was six months old I had pneumonia accompanied by high fever. I stopped breathing and turned blue. My mother slapped me, I began to breath again and she transported me to Children's Mercy Hospital where I had febrile seizures. I was given penicillin, I was allergic. I was given tetracycline in its place. I was treated with tetracycline for nearly every ear, nose and throat infection I had throughout my childhood and young adulthood. I have heard anecdotal stories associating early tetracycline use with poor dental development. I was later prescribed dilantin for epilepsy resulting from the same episode at 6 months old. Dilantin caused sore gums and a reluctance towards proper oral hygiene at a young age. Add to the equation rampant consumption of coca-cola from a very young age.
At age 19, after a childhood of less than adequate dental and health care I went to a young enthusiastic dentist who had just graduated who drilled holes in my teeth along the gum lines in order to have me as a return customer; the result was that I did not return to a dentist until I was 29. In the interim I had pulled two molars myself at home because the pain was unbearable. Good friends, funding from my father and anti-anxiety meds got me in to a new dentist who was very kind but my health and finances gave out before I could complete the treatment plan. The pain had increased steadily over the years.
Last year I went to a Comfort Dental to get an estimate on getting dentures and was quoted $4,300 for extractions and their "premium" quality dentures. They recommended same day dentures even though I explained that I have genetic autoimmune and inflammatory issues. I had asked that they give me estimates for each quality of denture that they make yet they only gave me their highest priced option. After a lot of research I discovered that Comfort Dental was like many other chain denture places in that their highest quality dentures last 5-7 years and that same day dentures are temporary and need to be replaced at 6 months to a year. Many of these chain denture shops include the replacement of the initial same day dentures as part of the package price, however, Comfort Dental never clarified this point for me, it appeared their price was for the same day temporary set only and that they would charge to reline them. My mother had gotten dentures through Affordable Dentures at age 62. Her experience was horrible. Her dentures snapped in half on the way home from her final fitting and even after the repair and multiple fittings they fit so poorly that she could neither eat nor shut her mouth with them in. My beautiful mother looked ridiculous with horse teeth. This is my worst fear.
My oral surgery was free at Truman based upon my income. Unfortunately, even though I have both Missouri Medicaid and Medicare, there is no coverage for me to get a set of dentures made. It is considered cosmetic and not a necessity. I have contacted this wonderful dentist, John Goodman, DDS, who will give me a $1,500 discount on much higher quality dentures; instead of his normal $4,000 for both upper and lower plates, it will cost $2,500. This is an estimate and not a firm price and so I am going to try to fundraise for slightly more, just in case. $2,500 is more than 25% of my annual income. While there are those cheaper options out there, they are just that, cheap. The ones I talked to Dr. Goodman about will last up to 20 years. The ones that cost half as much typically need to be replaced every 5-7 years and are more likely to break, as my mom's did.
I want dentures for the obvious reasons. I want to smile again without fear of rejection. I want to be able to throw my head back and give a full throated laugh without fear of killing the jovial mood. I want to speak my mind with the exuberance that I feel instead of tight lipped so that no one can see what is missing, especially young children who have grabbed my mouth and tried to open it to see what is wrong with my teeth. I want to eat food other than soft carbohydrate loaded foods that I can mush up, I need solid nutrition to combat my IL-21r gene mutation which causes autoimmune issues. I want to be seen for the person I am, not other people’s assumptions, so many people assume drug usage is the cause of all bad teeth. So much of my personality has been suppressed by my dental issues. If my health ever improves enough for me to resume working teeth are a requirement.
Today the swelling has been at its worst, I am afraid I am getting an abscess. My face and jaw are bruising. From my eyes down to under my chin I am developing a multitude of pimples, all the toxins are trying to escape. I have reduced my smoking to one cigarette a day since the extractions!! I have a follow up appointment at Truman on Monday the 16th. More updates to come.
This was the culmination of a long series of unfortunate circumstances. I come from poor genetic stock... My maternal grandmother had needed a full set of dentures by the time she was 26, my mother made her own replacement teeth out of nontoxic sculpey starting at age 40, I am now 45 and not nearly as crafty as was Sandi. I suspect one of my 115 unidentified gene mutations may be related to my dental woes.
When I was six months old I had pneumonia accompanied by high fever. I stopped breathing and turned blue. My mother slapped me, I began to breath again and she transported me to Children's Mercy Hospital where I had febrile seizures. I was given penicillin, I was allergic. I was given tetracycline in its place. I was treated with tetracycline for nearly every ear, nose and throat infection I had throughout my childhood and young adulthood. I have heard anecdotal stories associating early tetracycline use with poor dental development. I was later prescribed dilantin for epilepsy resulting from the same episode at 6 months old. Dilantin caused sore gums and a reluctance towards proper oral hygiene at a young age. Add to the equation rampant consumption of coca-cola from a very young age.
At age 19, after a childhood of less than adequate dental and health care I went to a young enthusiastic dentist who had just graduated who drilled holes in my teeth along the gum lines in order to have me as a return customer; the result was that I did not return to a dentist until I was 29. In the interim I had pulled two molars myself at home because the pain was unbearable. Good friends, funding from my father and anti-anxiety meds got me in to a new dentist who was very kind but my health and finances gave out before I could complete the treatment plan. The pain had increased steadily over the years.
Last year I went to a Comfort Dental to get an estimate on getting dentures and was quoted $4,300 for extractions and their "premium" quality dentures. They recommended same day dentures even though I explained that I have genetic autoimmune and inflammatory issues. I had asked that they give me estimates for each quality of denture that they make yet they only gave me their highest priced option. After a lot of research I discovered that Comfort Dental was like many other chain denture places in that their highest quality dentures last 5-7 years and that same day dentures are temporary and need to be replaced at 6 months to a year. Many of these chain denture shops include the replacement of the initial same day dentures as part of the package price, however, Comfort Dental never clarified this point for me, it appeared their price was for the same day temporary set only and that they would charge to reline them. My mother had gotten dentures through Affordable Dentures at age 62. Her experience was horrible. Her dentures snapped in half on the way home from her final fitting and even after the repair and multiple fittings they fit so poorly that she could neither eat nor shut her mouth with them in. My beautiful mother looked ridiculous with horse teeth. This is my worst fear.
My oral surgery was free at Truman based upon my income. Unfortunately, even though I have both Missouri Medicaid and Medicare, there is no coverage for me to get a set of dentures made. It is considered cosmetic and not a necessity. I have contacted this wonderful dentist, John Goodman, DDS, who will give me a $1,500 discount on much higher quality dentures; instead of his normal $4,000 for both upper and lower plates, it will cost $2,500. This is an estimate and not a firm price and so I am going to try to fundraise for slightly more, just in case. $2,500 is more than 25% of my annual income. While there are those cheaper options out there, they are just that, cheap. The ones I talked to Dr. Goodman about will last up to 20 years. The ones that cost half as much typically need to be replaced every 5-7 years and are more likely to break, as my mom's did.
I want dentures for the obvious reasons. I want to smile again without fear of rejection. I want to be able to throw my head back and give a full throated laugh without fear of killing the jovial mood. I want to speak my mind with the exuberance that I feel instead of tight lipped so that no one can see what is missing, especially young children who have grabbed my mouth and tried to open it to see what is wrong with my teeth. I want to eat food other than soft carbohydrate loaded foods that I can mush up, I need solid nutrition to combat my IL-21r gene mutation which causes autoimmune issues. I want to be seen for the person I am, not other people’s assumptions, so many people assume drug usage is the cause of all bad teeth. So much of my personality has been suppressed by my dental issues. If my health ever improves enough for me to resume working teeth are a requirement.
Today the swelling has been at its worst, I am afraid I am getting an abscess. My face and jaw are bruising. From my eyes down to under my chin I am developing a multitude of pimples, all the toxins are trying to escape. I have reduced my smoking to one cigarette a day since the extractions!! I have a follow up appointment at Truman on Monday the 16th. More updates to come.
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