Expert: Tony Appleton BDS DPDS - 10/10/2008

Question
Hello,
I really need help.  I am 25 and when I fell pregnant with our first daughter 7 years ago when two of my teeth started decaying.  I went to the dentist who couldn't do anything as i was pregnant and to come back after baby was born.  I felt disgusting and embarrassed that I had let this happen and also too embarrassed to go back. Now 7 years on I am in agony with grossly decayed teeth at the sides and back, more upper than lower, have been back and forth to the G.P's for antibiotics to get relief from abcesses over the years and have had horrific sinusitus for the past 2 weeks, with bad lower jaw ache where a tooth is decaying and upper left pain in a tooth.  I have been on a cepholosporin and then doxycycline but this time neither has touched the infection.
I am a nurse at a hospital and I was refered there by my dentist but was too mortfied to go as I work near the orthodontic dept. and see the dental team in passing everyday at work.  I manage to talk without really showing my teeth to other's even my partner doesn't know the full extent of damage and i use cordisol mouth wash so I don't have an odour.  basically I am going to ask my dentist to refer me to another hospital and just wondered if you have any advice on dentures that look like real teeth even being that I am young even if I have to pay for them could you let me know of costs, what types are avail etc.  
I have to get this sorted as the pain won't subside this time and I can't cope.
I feel such an idiot for letting it get this far.  Please any advice??????
My daughter's teeth are extremelly well looked after incase you were wondering.

Please help,

Amy

Answer
Hi Amy

The first thing is please try not to be embarrassed about this - people get their mouths into quite a state for any number of reasons, and fear of the dentist is high on the list!

What you need to do is go and see a sympathetic dentist - discuss your fears with them and develop a plan to sort your mouth out.

Dentures may well be an option, and there are many different types dependent on what teeth are missing and your mouth in general.  Dentures can give a really natural appearance, so that no-one knows you are wearing dentures.

Go and get your pain sorted out first - by a dentist.  Don't go back to the doctor for antibiotics as that won't help in the long run.

Regards

Tony Appleton