Dental Update #8 Worst Is Over. I Hope!

 So. I still have no teeth. But I do have the pins in for my bottoms plate.

At the last appointment, I had another scan done, and the doc was pleased to let me know that I have lots of bone - enough for at least 2 pins on either side of the bottom, which will give more stability to that plate. Because I have a deep arch (?) to my upper front gum line, the top plate will be secure enough that I might not ever have to use adhesive. 

Am I bummed that I have to wait up to 3 months to have teeth? Of course. But, once I got the pins in (and that is the last of the nasty work), the only thing left is doing the impressions for my actual dentures. That should be in a few weeks. The doc wants to make sure my gums are completely healed from the pin surgery.

To be honest, after hearing about some other people's ordeals, I am happy that my doc took the long way around. My gums are totally healed up from my extractions. I had enough room for 3 pins to be put in to anchor my bottom plate, and I have been healing really well from each procedure. I am happy that I have a careful, caring and conscientious dentist. 

Funny thing: the whole time I knew I was going to have pins put in, I thought they were going to be in the back part of my mouth. I even told people that I was having pins put in the back. Nope. The pins are in the front. Because I was so numbed during the procedure, I couldn't really tell where the dentist was drilling and stitching. Because I thought he was working at the back of my mouth, that is where I felt all the pressure and movement. It wasn't until he was finished, and I saw the work that I knew the pins were in front. (My brother laughed at me because the dentist had clearly said where the pins would be placed!) Whatever. The best thing about that appointment was there was very little blood, and it was put me in the home stretch.

Apparently, I will be able to just clip in my bottom plate and not have to worry about it lifting or shifting. I can't help but wonder what my younger self would have thought of all this. 

What a journey this has been. I am so thankful for getting to this point. I can remember being so disappointed when the dentist at a community center wouldn't take me on because of my other medical issues. I can't blame him for being wary, and now I am SO glad that he didn't do the work. He did my neighbor's teeth, and she stopped wearing them after a couple of weeks. They were free (our insurance covered the clinic's work and plates 100%), but are useless. She is saving to have her teeth done by the dentist I use. 

I so love my family for going through this with me (and, you know, footing the out-of-pocket costs!). I do know how blessed I am.

Peace

--Free