Not fishing related but....

[M R Dux]

.....I'm needing some advice. I have had issues with my jawbones (4 surgeries)and teeth all my adult life. I have lost so many teeth to breakage and cracks that I'm being forced to do something. I know zero about dentures or partials. I do know my lab broke and chipped 5 of my teeth recently and I have to look into some kind of replacement.

1st; since my insurance will pay some toward accidental damage ,and we have dental coverage thru my wife's work, and the scenario with my lab head-butting me was accidental, should I seek the services of my dentist or a lab that specializes in dentures/partials? I've read some reviews of horror stories some folks have had with the labs but they have to be less expensive than going thru my regular dentist. I'm sure either way I will still be out-of-pocket for a portion.

2nd; is it possible to only have an upper denture and my bottom teeth? All my surgeries have been on upper jawbone areas. This is really starting to be an issue of embarrassment since I deal with the public so much.

Anybody who has had similar issues or has done business with any office in the western end of the state, I would love to hear from you here or on PM.

Thanks.

[wilbur]

Teeth aint all they are cracked up to be. They have places up hear that say Teeth in a day. As you can tell I never visited one. People get used to you with out them. I wouldn't worry about it.

[wannabe fisherman]

and YES you can have just a upper or just a lower. I had only a upper until I broke one of my lower teeth and went ahead and had a couple of bad ones removed now I have both.

[2004Rhino]

My wife works at a local dental office and he is getting big into the dental implants. They screw a stud into your gum then the tooth fits over the stud and locks onto it. Looks better than the original teeth.

[Cray]

Think I would go to dentist and get a estimate then check one of the labs. Personally I would opt for my own dentist. Have had bad teeth all my life and now have a partial. I would try my best to keep all the originals I could long as I could.

[colayn]

I feel for ya.... I hate dental issues. Im not for certain but I think you may have to go to your dentist to get a referral to the specialist

[jigflinger]

Checked into the implants several years ago when my black lab butted me and broke all of my upper front teeth off at the gums. Lowest estimate was $16,000. That was for four(4) studs and a bridge that snapped onto it. Told wife there was no way I was putting $16K in my mouth. Went to the dental college at University of Tennessee, Memphis. They surgically removed 17 teeth/roots and then made me a full upper. While it did take a few weeks to get the plate(it is a school) but I have been perfectly happy with it. Fits great, stays put without any gooey glues. I eat corn on the cob just fine. They told me that uppers weren't a problem. But lower plates were hard to get accustomed to.

[wannabe fisherman]

But lower plates were hard to get accustomed to.

and BOY is that right!!

[slabseeker1]

I'd research the implants. No need for Polygip and keeps my wire rim glasses from falling off going down the lake at top speed. (but seriously) Magnets are used to hold plates in place.

[CrappiePappy]

My dentist told me that partials would only hasten the deterioration of the teeth next to them. Dentists usually opt for giving you whatever their specialty allows them to perform for you ('cause then "they" get paid for doing the work).

There are "dentures" that have a couple of metal studs implanted into your jawbone, and they lock down on those studs. They're called implant supported dentures.

Those "all in one day" implants that you see advertised on TV ... take more than one day to complete ...

... cp