è linda longstreet said:
è Yes, I did switch dentist, I am trying to stay postive as I will have a
smile
è to be proud of again. I am worried about gagging on it,
è that was the hardest with my partial. I am also worried
è that i will not be able to eat foods I use to.

Knowing that I would be able to laugh and smile like I used to kept me going
through the first initial weeks after my extractions.

I'm one year post extractions, still in my immediates because they're still
working for me. I am an advocate of adhesives; it gives me a feel of being
'one with my teeth'. I had the gagging thing going on with my upper for the
first few hours. I went back to my dentist and she did a trim until my top
didn't
rub against my 'gag spot'. Using the adhesives on an upper will stabilize it
and eliminate the rubbing of the upper against the roof of your mouth,
thereby stopping the gag reflex.

I can chew peanuts, carrots and apple skins. I can bite into pizza, Subway
sandwiches and hamburgers. I've yet to find something that I cannot chew
(although somethings, like apples, I slice and eat). It's all a matter of
experimenting and finding the best way to eat what you want. I've been out with
a
crowd for meals and nobody questions me about how I may eat certain foods.
We're
all too busy gabbing away anyway =).

I'll be going for my permanents soon. After living with my temporaries for a
year, I know what I'll want in my next set. Although I love my dentist who
got me my smile back, she doesn't have an in-house lab. I'm going to work with
someone who has a lab on site so I can see what they'll look like before
they're cast in resin.

Like Margaret said, hang in there and keep us posted. All I can say is that
getting your new smile will be like getting your life back. My only regret is
not doing it sooner.

Pat








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