Before DH had his uppers out they did the impressions so a transitional denture would be ready to put in before he left the hospital (1984). The dentis had DH return when the denture got loose or rubbed. A year later he had another impression made and the new denture made. He's never had a problem.

I got this off wiki.

Complications and recommendations

"The fabrication of a set of complete dentures is a challenge for any dentist, including those who are experienced. There are many axioms in the production of dentures that must be understood, of which ignorance of one axiom can lead to failure of the denture case. In the vast majority of cases, complete dentures should be comfortable soon after insertion, although almost always at least two adjustment visits will be necessary to remove sore spots. One of the most critical aspects of dentures is that the impression of the denture must be perfectly made and used with perfect technique to make a model of the patient's edentulous (toothless) gums. The dentist must use a process called border molding to ensure that the denture flanges are properly extended. An endless array of never-ending problems with denture may occur if the final impression of the denture is not made properly. It takes considerable patience and experience for a dentist to know how to make a denture, and for this reason it may be in the patient's best interest to seek a specialist, either a Denturist or a Prosthodontist, to make the denture. A general dentist may do a good job, but only if he or she is meticulous and usually he or she must be experienced."

Most people I know who have had full dentures have had the same experience as MSmarion's DH.

Is your DH diabetic or have other health issues that slow his ability to heal? After almost 8 weeks he should no longer be in pain as you describe.

No, he isn't diabetic and has no other health issues that should impede healing. He is, in fact, healed. But the extreme efforts of the dentist to just get these in (forcibly) and out several times during the visit bruises DH's gums. DH has actually had to tell them to "back off" and let them put them in himself. And by that time, when the dentist asks where it hurts, his answer is "everywhere".

My Mom had her teeth pulled today. They inserted the temp. plates at that time. She'll go in tomorrow at 10:00, and her dentist (not the same guy that pulled them, but the one who made the impressions, and will take over from here on out) will take out the temp. ones, clean her mouth and reinsert them. Maybe they'll teach her then how to do that herself. I hope your DH gets something soon, that works for him.
Leslie

I think you're correct at this point about the dentist office not knowing what they're doing. I've had a top denture for more than 25 years. The dentist who did it graduated from dental school in 1951, so making good dentures is not necessarily a modern thing. He pulled my back teeth, leaving the front six for chewing and not looking toothless. We waited for a few months, maybe two to four. He then took impressions. When the denture came in, he pulled my front teeth in one sitting and I was able to wear the denture with no problem. He told me that I would need a new one in about a year, due to normal gum shrinkage. I got the new one within a year or two. It needed a couple of adjustments,and has been fine since. I've never used any sort of glue, or had any problems with it whatsoever. The 'old' dentist told me that the safest place for a denture is in your mouth, so it comes out every day to brush it along with my teeth, and brush my gums while I'm at it. My biggest fear is that it will have to be replaced sooner or later, and the person who fits them won't be as good as the old guy.

My denture is shaped like a horseshoe, like you would normally think of a bottom denture. The old dentist said that the horseshoe shape gives you a little better sense of taste and if you easily gag, this will prevent it. Lots of people I know with a regular shaped top denture say they can't taste well. Ask around and find someone who is happy with theirs, and get their dentist to make you one. Sounds like it's time to find a new dentist anyway. Dental schools supposedly do pretty good work for lower prices if there happens to be one near you. Linda

Donna I had my teeth pulled in Nov 6 at a time and the impression were taken before they started pulling the teeth.
I got my new teeth just before Christmas and I did have to go back about 3 times to get sore spots taken care of.
Now my upper are a little loose and seem to loose
I have an appt in April and trying to put off going back til then because I know they sometimes reline the upper plate after the gum quits swelling.
My dentist told me if they start doing this come back and he would put some kind of liner in the upper plate but I would rather wait just so I dont let them fall out LOL
My dentist worked in a dental lab and made teeth before he went to dental school .So I think he knows both how to make them and also how to make the imppression,
I really have not had any problems I hate to tell you all this but I do feel sorry for your husband,
I think your dentist must have made some mistakes and is not acmitting up to them.
Maybe you should call the dentist assoc and ask some ???????
Something must be wrong......I hope he gets some help soon that has to be so hard not being able to eat well.wishing him some speed in getting that mess fixed soon hugs Imabest

Donna, I had my upper and lower teeth all pulled at one time, and intermediates placed in immediately. I have had NO PROBLEMS with the upper plate, but have tried, time after time, to get the bottom ones adjusted so that I can wear them - hasn't happened. They are just too large and I can't get any made to fit. I have spent $800 (with insurance) on two different bottom plates, with no luck. I am going to look for a prosthodontist, as mentioned above, and see if that will work.

I wish your husband much luck in finding someone who can fit his dentures - it's miserable without them!

Mine were ready so when they pulled the top teeth they put the denture in right away. I had to go back a couple of times for relining and then everything just kind of fit (with tooth glue) I'm thinkin of having a new set made like the horshoe ones. IBefore I retired I had my dentist make me another denture just in case. I told him you have more than one pair of glasses don't you? and he then understood why I wnted them.

I think you need a different dentist.

When DH was ready to have his teeth pulled, the dentist made up a temporary plate ahead of time. He pulled the teeth and popped in that plate. DH went back a couple of times to have adjustments made, but nothing major. He never went one day without teeth.

His permanent plate was made about six months later, after all the swelling had gone down. He's had these about 10 years now, so he'll probably get a new set this year.

Do dentist these days make their dentures? At least where I live your impressions are taken and sent to a dental clinic where all they do is make dentures, partials, etc. I've had mine for fifty some years and no problmes. No, I'm not telling you how old I am !! LOL I was quite young when my teeth went from bad to worse! They pulled my last four top teeth and put my dentures right in , both top and bottom plates. I went back for cleaning and how to put them in and out, no problems. I really think you need to take this dentist to task and get some answers. Has he done work for any other people you know? Why did you choose him for a dentist? His answers just don't add up. Good luck !

Dentists don't make dentures as far as I know. Mine made the impressions, but another person made the denture. Linda

Please contact the American Dental Assoc for help. It sounds like your dentist is not capable of making dentures. Are you near a large dental teaching hospital, like USC etc Find out Who is making the dentures and why he needs to keep coming back. By the way each time the gums heal and the teeth are not put in is inviting trouble and/or infections. I personally would insist money be returned and/or contact your insurance company. Be poliet, but firm and insist for help.

Someone is taking you for a ride
I have worn dentures now for 35 years...yup,since I was 16,upper only
had the impressions done while I had my own teeth,went without after they were pulled for 11 months..all the way thru gr. 11
had them put in,wore the exact same set for 27 years...wore them out,literally
just got this last upper in 2000 or so.....its not as good as the last.

My dentist did make my dentures and about 20 years later when DH went to him, he no longer made the dentures, had them sent out.

I did go without teeth while my gums shrank and only had to go back one time after dentures were fitted, for a sore spot.

Have had no problems since. Something is not right that your DH is having so many problems and the dentist should not be forcing them in place. If they are fitted right they would go right in without any problem.

I say contact your State Dental Assoc. and see if there have been other reported problems with this guy.

There's something wrong with either the dentist or the lab or both.
Impressions are made, the teeth are pulled, the new plates are put in and then adjusted as the mouth heals.
It's not the complicated.

I think you need a different dentist. I hope this one hasn't already gotten his money!!!

DH still can't wear the denture he was given. And they actually look pretty goofy when he has them in his mouth (can't wear them for more than 10-15 minutes per day). Instead of the front teeth meeting in the middle of the denture, one of the front teeth is directly center! And I guarantee you that his front teeth were not that way. When we were at the grocery store this weekend, DH asked if I would pick up some emery boards for him. I said sure, but asked what he was going to do with them. He said that the dentist told him that if he had a sore spot he could use the emery boards to file them himself. I said "Absolutely not". A piece of very fine sandpaper, maybe. But I told him that I was sure that the emery board would leave the surface much too rough for him. I finally was able to contact a specialist in Wyoming (I'm in California, I found him via email and didn't know where he was) who actually was familiar with someone relatively close to me. So DH saw this prosthodontist on Monday and he explained why the denture he now had would never work for him.

Today, I filed a grievance with our dental insurance provider asking that they retract payment from this man, because it is now very clear to me that he has no idea what he is doing and we will have to spend more money elsewhere to get this done.

The dentist or orthodontist or whoever-he-is ... is your only point of contact through this whole thing. If the lab did a poor job making the dentures, then he should be the patient advocate to ensure they do it over, until they're done correctly.

Good for you, for filing a complaint! It's traumatic enough to have a major procedure done, like removing all your teeth, and then to pay hundreds of dollars for ill-fitting dentures is just totally unacceptable. I just can't imagine how your husband has felt through all of this.

Your poor DH! He should also be compensated for pain and suffering! I'm glad you filed the complaint and I hope you get some financial compensation. I hope he gets a new set of teeth and this time is absolutely free of problems.

I'm so sorry about the problems your DH has been going thru, That dentist doesn't sound like he knows what he is doing. I had all my teeth pulled in the hospital under gen anesthesia (sp?) my dentures were put in imediatly while I was still out. This was in 1967, and have had some trouble with the lowers, and finally got a dremel (again, sp?) drill with a grinding tool, and when I get a sore spot on the lowers, I just grind the spot a little. I thought having the same dentures for 41 yrs was kind of strange, but hearing about some of you who have had your dentures for a lot of years, guess not. Good luck to you, donna and your hubby, and keep after them untill you get FULL satisfaction. Dottie

Donna, sorry that he is going through so much.

Out of curiosity, if uppers are not normally horseshoe-shaped, what shape are they? Also, which typically is harder to fit, uppers or lowers?

Uppers are usually the full plate, covering the roof of the mouth as well, which I am told makes them stay in better than lowers because there is more contact with the mouth and it creates a bit of suction.

I'm so glad to read you've filed a complaint. Keep complaining until you get some answers. This dentist is a fraud, IMO. "forcing" in the dentures? Uh, that should have been the first clue that something was off. I so hope he can get the help he needs & deserves.

Lynne, the lower plate is the hardest to fit.

I havn't read all these post but here is my experience.

I had all my teeth extracted after the birth of my 3rd son in 1963.They were pulled at a navy base in New Hampshire.After the gums healed i was sent to a dentist in town to have impressions and dentures made.I had never seen that dentist before,nor he me.He asked me to bring a picture of me smiling,he also asked me to try and remember any imperfections in my teeth ,which i did.

So he got all that info,took impressions and made me the dentures.I swear they looked exactly like my original teeth.He didn't make them a snow white either as he said no one has them that way.He put in all the little imperfections i told him about etc.To say i was blown away is an understatement.

He told me to try and keep them in all night and to put a lifesaver in my mouth when i went to bed the first couple nights til i got used to them,he said if i woke up in the morning and found them on the floor,to just rinse them off and put them back in.Said the trick is to keep them in so you get used to them,i did.

I went back one time to get a rough place sanded down.That was the one and only time i had to go back.Those dentures lasted me for over 30 years and probably would have lasted longer had i left the ice,hard candy etc alone,but i didn;t.

People always complimented me on my beautiful teeth and asked if they were mine.I always told them yes they were mine and thanked them.I didn't lie,they were mine,i paid for them.LOL

Then several years ago i had a new set made,and the new dentist used the old set ,and new impressions.When i got them the top ones were like bugs bunny and had an overbite,so back i went.He only had to redo them once and they were fine.

So i say no your DH shouldn't have to go thru all that,time for a new dentist,i'd say.

I must also say,no one ever sees me without them.I keep them in all the time,and only take them out while i shower,and as soon as i'm out they are back in.

Kathi