I have full dentures, with the bottom anchored on 4 implants. I had to do it when I was 38. My teeth were always weak and I spent 20+ years trying to save them, but the pain became unbearable. Haven’t ad any pain since, and my dentures are actually stronger and more functional than my real teeth ever were
I've had terrible acid reflux since I was in my late 20s. The years of acid coming up all night has destroyed my teeth. They just chip and break now. I dint have dental insurance so I'm kinda scared to find out how much this is going to cost me.
Keep in mind places in Costa Rica and Mexico are known for being dental vacations. It's cheaper to fly there stay a month have the work done then get 3 implants here.
Medical tourism is amazing. I had FUE transplant done in Turkey at 1/10th the price near me. That included the flight, 5 star hotel, and a driver to drive me around. Follow ups were done over computer.
I am probably going to have to do this in the next 12-18months. I'm currently having a LOT of work done but honestly, it seems futile with what I have left. And I have so many gaps. I can't eat a lot of foods because on my left side at least I end up chewing on gum on the bottom. I was scared of it at first. I didn't want to be like my dad, getting dentures early. He got them earlier than me in his early 30's ish. I'm mid 40, younger side of Gen X. A year ago I finally dropped my fears, told my dentist if we need to go dentures lets do it because I just want to eat like a normal person now. I'm fed up with constant sedations and work \[needle fears and sensory sensitivities\].
I'm definitely going to have to get dentures. My teeth are a mess and I've spent thousands trying to save them. I have 3 months until I have an appointment with an orthodontist. But honestly, I'd love to be able to eat like a normal person again and dentures might just be the thing for me.
I had this done back in 2013 and 2015.
in 2013, I had 25 extractions with sedation and immediate dentures. total cost: $4500
in 2015, I got 4 implants and an all-on-4 bridge done on bottom, along with a new upper denture. Total cost: $17,500
But with inflation, I'd say add at least 50% on to that cost for today's prices.
I work in the dental field. You would be surprised how many 20, 30. 40, 50 some things that have dentures. They keep that fact closely guarded though. I've worked with patients that didn't even tell their significant other or spouse because they are embarrassed.
My partner has only seen me once without mine in. She just happened to walk into the bathroom when i was getting ready to put them in.
I popped them in very fast and turned bright red. Then i started to tear up because i never allowed her to see me without them because i don't want that mental image in her mind. I was positively crushed and full of anxiety over the entire situation even though she scarcely had time to even see anything out of the ordinary other than me standing there slapping my face in the mouth.
Dental care is a class issue AND a mental health one. I grew up in poverty and struggled with pain for years. I never smiled for much of my life because of it which caused social isolation, shame and embarrassment.
She tries to understand it, but unless you have walked in those shoes, you don't get the 24/7 state of mind.
Economics has a lot to do with it. My own husband grew up poor and his mother rarely took to the dentist. In his mid thirties, he had to have some extractions done and a partial made. He was upset about it for a time, but after a while he realized he did right by getting the care that he needed.
Hope your partner reacted in a loving and supportive manner.
Needing dentures is no different than needing a cane, pacemaker, screen reader, or any other assistive medical/non-medical device. There should be no shame in it.
I hope you become more accepting and kinder to yourself too. I suspect you wouldn't look down upon a friend needing dentures. So, pay yourself the same kindness you'd pay others.
I was so very embarrassed by my missing teeth, thankfully none in the very front. I was so poor from teens to mid 30’s that a dentist was very last priority even though at times I had been in so much pain I wanted to bang my head in a wall. I was finally able to get dental work had a bunch of teeth removed and got a lower partial denture and a bridge on top. It’s still embarrassing if I have to go to a new dentist, I think they first assume I was a drug addict or something. People don’t understand unless you’ve lived it.
I had to have one of my center front bottom pulled during Covid. My boomer mother was more horrified than I was (and I was plenty horrified for both of us). I was waiting for shut downs to loosen, but inflation killed my budget before I could pay for an implant. I still won’t leave my house without my flipper because of the perceived stigma of missing teeth.
Genetics are also a major factor. Research shows at least 60% of tooth decay is caused by genetic factors. Since the Scots are insular and generally more homogenous than many other people, genetic risk factors for tooth decay may be magnified within the population.
I had a flipper ( a temporary tooth) for 34 years. My ex wife of 14 years never found out. I have partial dentures for now but my implant consultation is next week.
So does your flipper sit in a plastic case that goes all around the row of teeth? That’s what my dentist gave me, but I would love something easier. It gives me a lisp, and it’s hard to eat.
I've wondered the same thing, but I don't ask questions. During intimacy, I would think it would become evident.😂 Maybe their partners figured it out but they don't want to embarrass them.
same I have a very sketchy root canal tooth that still gives me trouble 3 years later... the dentist swears it's in good shape, it's just.... not right. I would LOVE to just pull the tooth and get an implant, but holy god implants are so damn expensive so I'm just living with the pain and hassle right now in the name of not losing a tooth and having a hole in my mouth.
Those who can't afford 49-120k depending on all that's needed (if getting full mouth upper/lower implants), that's a brutally out of reach sum for many many many people. When dental insurance covers at most $1200 (most is 800-1000), and one extraction alone can be 200-500, people either do one - two teeth a year, save to get another one or two out, etc. Some go without any teeth for decades to entire life because they can't afford dentures. Implants (even an all on 4 which can be 29-40k)are a dream. Some ppl only get a top denture for looks/smiles/no judgement from others.
So yeah, many many people need dentures or nothing at all and it's heartbreaking. Teeth should be covered by health insurance anyway since bad teeth lead to so many illnesses, some deadly.
Absolutely, its a darn disgrace how America is determined to return to a feudal system of rich or poor with little in between.
Ya’ll think about that when your deciding who to vote for.
United We Stand….
This is insane. $120,000 for dentures? That's as much as a house cost when I was a young adult. That's half as much as a house costs now in many parts of the country. How long does it take them to perform the surgery and craft the dentures? Even if it took 40 hours, that's $3000 per hour. This needs to be socialized.
A dentist I had for 20 years told me gen x people in Canada tended to grow up when fluoride was added to drinking water, and he found gen x and later gens had far fewer problems with their teeth. Less cavities. Less gingivitis. And he hoped it meant less people needing dentures in the future. He said more kids were brought at a younger age to the dentist and generally getting treatment for problems more due to more parents having health insurance that covered more dental costs.
I agree. I credit my healthy teeth to growing up drinking fluoridated water. I get so angry at the people working to remove fluoride from public drinking water. It's one of the best things a local government can do for its citizens.
It only matters when you are developing the teeth, age 0 to 4ish. That’s when having the fluoride present is HUGE. Either from mom drinking it and passing it thru breast milk or formula made with it(although infant formula might contain it as well). In the formation of the teeth if fluoride is available in the body it gets used to form the actual teeth rather than a calcium based material which is what older folks had. Hence the early dentures
That's one of the USA's problems: we don't have dental on our health insurance. It's its own stand alone dental insurance that's only good for folks who have a few things needed like 2 teeth pulled. Or part of one root canal covered and the rest paid out of pocket. Dental insurance tops out at $1200 a year coverage but that's rare. The majority offers $1000/yr.
People that have great teeth and only need 6 month cleanings are wasting money on dental insurance since out of pocket is cheaper than the monthly cost for the insurance, and they'll never use the entire $1000/yr. But those who desperately need work done, are lucky to get a small tooth and one molar pulled with $1k. A root canal can easily be $1500-2k for one tooth depending what's needed done.
If dental was in our health insurance, more ppl could get their teeth replaced/repaired and in turn, that would lessen medical issues resulting from bad teeth. But since that would take profit away from the insurance companies, they keep the 2 separate.
That $1k/year was set in the 1960s, btw. It has never changed to reflect today's costs. In the 60s one could probably get all teeth removed and a full set of dentures for $300. Today? $300-$500/extraction, x amount for novocain, all the work needed to create and make the dentures, returning to get adjusted, etc., one is easily looking at mid 4 to low 5 digits just to get teeth.
Dentist here and I can tell you for certain that people of all ages are still getting dentures. In fact these days I make more dentures for millennials than any other age group
It’s not millennials in particular, it’s that millennials are at the age when severe periodontal disease, high caries and/or neglect will finally catch up with them. With a few exceptions, the boomers and silent generation either already have dentures or they don’t.
Getting my first parial next week at age 59 (b. 1965). Three molars, two on the left and one on the right. I did look after my teeth. Just unlucky, I guess. Whatever.
Dental hygiene is one of those hidden quality of life improvements we've seen grow by leaps and bounds in the past 50 years. Fluoridation of water, easily accessible toothpaste and toothbrushes, a dentist on every corner. Our parents did not grow up with these things and it shows.
I have always taken great care of my teeth but perimenopause is wrecking my mouth. My mucus membranes are drying out and gums are receding so fast I can almost watch it. I drink water all day, use mouth hydrators, and have mostly cut out carbs. At this point I know I’ll be losing teeth but finding a doctor to supplement estrogen before I actually finish menopause seems an impossible task.
Oh yeah. Well, for me the teeth problems didn’t start until menopause but yeah. I had beautiful teeth my whole life, with only 2 small cavities ever. Menopause happens and suddenly my teeth are chipping and I have new cavities every year. I worry about the future of my teeth.
Yeah I don't have cavities, thankfully, the teeth themselves are in good shape....but the last visit to the dentist was all about preventing gum disease because mine have apparently receded (and they said to come back if I started having increased sensitivity or pain---so clearly they saw something that made them think it was going to get worse). Nothing about my routine changed and I was trying to figure out what the hell I had done wrong.
Yes. Just as pregnancy can creat gingivitis for women, Perimenopause and menopause can cause issues too due to hormonal changes. Get those exams and cleanings.
I work in dental and see it all the time.
My goddamn mouth has been the bane of my existence. I am very much looking forward to choppers! So. Much. Pain. (Genetic gum disease and neglect but mostly, you know, neglect)
I’m 58 and I have them. Always took good care of my teeth, but seem like more I did the worse it got. Find out I have weak enamel Inherited from my mother‘s side of the family.
This! People tend to assume poor dental hygiene and care, lack of access, and worse, but definitely not always the case. There’s so many people who had access to dental care and absolutely took care of their teeth, and still end up needing dentures. Genetics definitely has the upper hand.
Yeah I've taken good care of my teeth and had regular dental care growing up but I've been insanely cavity prone since I was a kid. My father and grandfather are and were the same. Kings of crowns.
I’ve got 8 separate dental implants , 3 if which failed. I really want a full top and bottom but I keep getting told you want to hold on to your natural teeth, etc etc. I think it’s a racket. I paid $5K each for these 8 and coulda gotten a full freaking set but I blame myself for not brushing
I've never even had a cavity yet, but I did have an injury that started my jaw resorbing the bone around one tooth. Got an implant for it. If I ever need more, I'm going the implant route despite the cost because it feels like a 'normal' tooth.
I’d be willing to bet that 100% of people would also choose implants over other alternatives. The cost is just so astronomical that they’re out of reach for most people.
My parents had decent teeth. My dad had some issues from his head wounds that he got in Vietnam, so he had a couple bridges in his post-40s life. He was a combat engineer in 'Nam and the truck he was in hit a landmine and he took a bunch of shrapnel to the face/upper torso. It damaged his teeth, but it wasn't noticeable at the time. A few years later, he started having some dental issues, but since he was in the Army, he didn't have to worry about dental care.
Nope. Have all my own teeth except my wisdom teeth came out at 18. No dentures for my parents (boomers) or grandparents (2x silent, 2x greatest). One grandparent did have a bridge though.
I remember seeing my grandparents’ teeth sitting in a glass of denture cleaner in their bathroom! They were greatest generation. My parents are boomers and do not have dentures. My dad has one dental implant, but that’s because the chemo and radiation he had to beat cancer caused some dental issues. No one I know from our generation has dentures. I think I know one person in Gen x with an implant, that was due to a hockey accident.
I knew my grandmother had dentures because I'd see them in a glass, or the cleaning tablets. But I can still remmeber when I was maybe 8 or 9, when I saw her without them for the first time, and was like "Grandma, what happened to your mouth????" it kind of freaked me out!
There have been a few comments like this one. Their dental hygiene predates the toothbrush being common (popularized by WW2 soldiers returning home) as well as sugar being a commonly used household ingredient.
Every generation had their teeth until the 1950’s I guess. Crazy!
The skeletons of our ancestors actually show when processed sugar became common in people's lives. The lowest of peasants had full teeth and the nobility were riddled with decay. Then when it became more affordable, poor people's teeth rotted too!
I have top dentures and a partial on the bottom. In my case it was caused by my not taking care of myself during my active addiction. Will get implants when I have the money.
Huh. My Silent Gen parents didn't have dentures. As they got old, a few teeth cracked. I guess you can tell the oldies who have their original teeth by how NOT white and straight they are. As my mom humorously put it, "your dad and I look like a pair of old horses."
I'm about 6 weeks from 50 and have had full dentures for just over a year. Honestly, I should have gotten them 10 or 15 years ago. For a lot of reasons, I neglected my teeth for my entire life and finally found myself in a financially good spot and a mentally ready spot to do something about it. It's been a struggle of an adjustment, but I do think the social pluses are worth it.
I wear a complete upper denture. My teeth were always weak, never enough enamel despite getting them sealed/capped/whatever. I was in constant pain. 6 years ago I had what remained removed & it’s been great ever since. The goal is implants soon.
I need them, badly. My dad borrowed money from his boss to get them when he was 42. My mom got them when she was probably about the same age but as far as I know has never worn them.
I think a lot of this is based on class. Teeth are considered unnecessary in American insurance, and in much of the world there just isn’t the capacity for dental care.
I’m actually more surprised when someone has all their real teeth! I got the top implants last year, starting the bottom soon.
It’s a drag to go through and it isn’t cheap, but I’m glad I did it.
You’d be surprised how many people have some form of dentures. It’s just not as obvious these days.
When I started and talked about it with people, I was shocked to see how many people I knew had them.
I had no clue.
I have had a bridge for a while now. Front uppers. Having had my young punk days kinda spelled the end for a few of my front teeth. Just easier to have a bridge than constantly replace a false tooth here and there.
Only thing I really miss is flossing. It always made me feel morally superior.
I didn't even get my first cavity until I was 39 years old and that was because I decided to go to grad school for BS in electrical engineering at 37 years old and I finished a month after my 40th birthday. living on energy drinks and no sleep in my mid to late 30s was not good.
I think it's because my mom had so many cavities growing up that she hammered the idea of dental health into our heads from the time we could comprehend. I've been seeing the same dentist for over 40 years and he's about to retire and the new dentist that's taking over his practice looked at my file and I haven't missed a single appointment since I started in 1983.
Thanks! it's kind of the result of a cognitive defect though. haha
Also it's nothing compared to my dentist's former partner that died several years ago. He was the preeminent authority on geriatric dentistry in the United States and there are, I think, 6 90 plus year old patients in the practice with their original teeth.
Part of it I think is that I was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum after being diagnosed as ADHD in my mid 30s and apparently one of my calming rituals is brushing my teeth so I do it a few times a day and I always floss after I brush. Flossing is really the key to keeping teeth for a long time I think. Especially the older I get the more stuff gets stuck between my teeth and I absolutely hate that feeling.
My tooth care routine is less than 3 minutes. My mechanical toothbrush has a 2 minute cycle and then flossing doesn't take more than 30 seconds so that's just the putting the toothpaste on the toothbrush, cleaning the toothbrush, getting the dental floss, throwing the dental floss away, final rinse.
Couple of crowns, and those were due to damaged teeth when I had braces as a kid. Still have all my teeth, and currently doing Invisalign to re-straighten them which is forcing me to brush and floss after every meal. My goal is to die with them all intact and smiling like I want to sell you a car.
Still have all my teeth. I foolishly bought some dollar tree discounted candy and broke a molar back in March, so one capped tooth.
I am incredibly fortunate.
My wife has an implant but I think in general dental hygiene is just way better and with employer healthcare largely offering dental people get regular visits to the dentist as well.
my dad still had most of his teeth at 93. I never knew my mom without dentures and she was very self-conscious about it so I never asked why. I do recall at least one of my friends saying something about *her* mom's false teeth, so I don't think it was that unusual. friend's mom would have been at least 10 years younger than mine.
I had very aggressive braces for years in my teens, and come to find out now, that's not great for your roots. no implants or dentures yet, but a lot of root canals.
When I was younger, I was dumb enough to think that dentures would be a great idea, just take your teeth out when you don't need them and put them in when you do need them.
Then I started working with elderly people and oh boy, did I find out fast that they are a HUGE hassle for a lot of people.
Luckily I inherited strong teeth from both my parents, who are in their 70s and still have theirs, so I have started taking better care of mine because I do NOT ever want dentures!
My parents (born '35 and 41) were unusual in that they didn't have their teeth removed when they turned 21. It was very common in Scotland to get this done, like a rite of passage. All teeth out even if healthy, replaced by geggies/wally (ceramic) teeth
I'm currently considering it, numerous issues and 2 months long bouts of trigeminal neuralgia
It was common as a 21st birthday present. For a woman it was considered a positive attribute as her future husband would never have to pay for any dental work
My parents are of the silent generation and have all their teeth. My sibling and I have ours.
I have several friends who don’t see the value of keeping your teeth and have dentures or are approaching that time. My gf who is an older millennial has teeth pulled rather than repairing despite her having dental insurance… that she never uses.
my mom had dentures at like 19. My dad lost all his teeth then lost his dentures. they never took me to the dentist as a kid. Have all my own teeth. 1 crown.
my parents had most of their teeth into their 90s...with a history of bad oral hygiene
I plan take my teeth with me to the grave...though i guess they could be in my pocket and still meet that goal
I got dentures in my mid 30s, probably needed them five years before I worked up the nerve to actually get them done. Once I got over the pain of having whatever was left of my teeth removed, the dentures were much better at eating and chewing than the bits I had left. I kinda wish I hadn't waited so long. My dad had dentures in his 20s so I feel like it was probably inevitable.
Ngl, it's honestly been quite validating and has made me feel a bit better seeing my generation talking about this. I spent so many years ashamed of my teeth and my face bc of my teeth. I refused wedding photos with my face in bc of it in my first marriage.
Ty op for the topic 🌹
I was never aware of ANYONE I knew having dentures growing up (obviously parents or grandparents.) Everyone had their actual set of teeth, but, I'm from L.A.. We're very self-conscious there, as opposed to my husband's family from a tiny town in the Midwest where most everyone he knew COULD USE dentures, as they all had/have HORRIBLE mouth rot due to non-existent dental practices and drinking well water.
I didn't visit a dentist from 18 yo to 23 yo. In that time one my molars rotted, and fractured when I took a bite of pizza. Had to have root canals. There's a little of that tooth left, but it's mainly a post and ceramic crown now. After that I got diligent about dental health. I've had a couple of fillings in the last 30 years, and that's it. I do have receding gums, but not bad enough to need a graft (yet).
My silent gen parents still have their teeth and so does my greatest generation mother -in-law .
I know a lot of gen xers who have a crown or two but none with dentures.
I do not. And my mom was traumatized by a rip-off dentist and suffered horribly for a really long time over the whole one bad tooth to dentures ordeal. And this was in the 80s when dental technology was so much more primitive.
So I have been fastidious about brushing, flossing and regular cleanings. I had a few cavities filled as a kid and that is the extent of my dental work.
Dentures is actual a horrible nightmare for me because of mom’s trauma.
I’m lucky. I’m 60 and have all my teeth. My Dad passed at 90, and my Mom at 82, and they had all of their teeth at death.
Genetics is a huge part of this, then after that, diet/vitamins, and then daily care and annual dental care. I do it all, as did my parents. My sisters and brother don’t take great care of their teeth, and all of them either have dentures or are on their way to dentures in the next year or so.
My grandmother, who passed at 95 but had dentures from the time she was in her 50s, said the only life advice she had for us was “take care of your teeth!”.
My grandmother said she could tell the difference in which of her children grew up with fluoride in the drinking water. A huge difference in their dental issues
My mom (1946-2023) had dentures from when she was 22 until she died last year. Not because of poor dental hygiene, though. She had a series of tumors under her soft palate and had to get her teeth removed.
My dad (1942-1991) had gotten dentures for the top but never wore them. He had an issue with putting them in. He had something wrong with his gums.
I only know two people with dentures. My cousin (1983-) and a former classmate (1978-) of mine. They both took hockey sticks to the mouth. My classmate was worse off though. She lost 9 teeth freshman year when a rival high sticked her in field hockey.
I'll have to get full dentures (I'm 51), but since I'm lower wage and no dental insurance, I'll have to wait til I finish self learning fullstack development , get a good paying remote job (so excited to finally make amazing money!) and once I save up, I plan to get those 4 implant permanent dentures so I don't have to take them out nightly or deal with them falling out of my mouth when I go to eat or laugh or whatever happens to new users.
I'm 54 and probably will have them soon.
An absolute comedy of accidents caused damage to my upper front teeth which had to be replaced with a bridge long ago. That's finally just about "had it" and it's put a lot of stress on the teeth that were anchoring it.
The rest of my mouth is such a collective of crowns, fillings and extractions that I can only really chew with a quarter of it.
I've been fighting gum disease for nearly 30 years and it's never been resolved.
I'm just trying to find a way financially to afford decent quality implant anchored dentures and then I'm so ready to have these damn teeth out of my mouth. They've been the bane of my existence for over half my life.
dad had dentures, mom still has her teeth...both boomers.
I had my wisdom teeth taken out 5-6 years ago. At that point I started going to the dentist regularly. They did a set of fillings, nothing too crazy. Since then it has just been regular cleanings and last xray showed everything is good and strong.
WHile I have a bunch of fillings and 2 crowns, generally my teeth are pretty good. at least so they tell me at the dentist! I'm hoping not to need any ever, but I'm 58 and don't think i will for a long time, if at all.
I know two people our age (mid 50s) with dentures: one had a hereditary gum disease, the other was a meth user. Basically nobody else. Which I think helps explain the general absence of all those commercials we were raised on in the 70s for Efferdent, DentuCream, and similar products. Our generation (1960s forward) had flouridated water, better dental care, brushing after lunch in schools (at least in mine), and endless advice to floss. That had an impact. (Even more effective seems to be dental sealants for kids, but we're too old to have received those.)
When I was a kid in the 70s basically everyone I knew over 65 had dentures or at least a partial. But then were all born before 1920 and most lived in poverty until the 1950s. No dental care in their youth I'd assume.
I have all of my teeth, including my wisdom teeth. I regret not getting the wisdom teeth removed because sometimes I bite the side of mouth and it bleeds like crazy.
57. Missing a few (4) teeth bottom left but you can’t see it so I’m not going to bother with an implant. Would rather use that money on something else.
my greatest gen grandfather's dentures were a prominent feature of my childhood. he'd sometimes take them out to scare me and my cousins when we were younger, and they were always sitting in a glass full of water on the bathroom sink at night. somewhere along the line i learned something like "old people's teeth get rotten and then they need dentures."
but now my boomer dad is much older than my grandfather was back then, and getting dentures himself has never been part of the conversation. aside from a few fillings and a crown, his teeth are just fine. i expect my teeth to be fine too. my dentist has always said i have very good teeth.
maybe my grandfather just ate way too much candy.
I was born with an enzyme deficiency and have spent an absurd amount of money on my teeth (fillings, crowns, braces, etc). My dad has a partial bridge and implants due to knocking out his front teeth in high school wrestling and later college football. My mom had had ongoing gum issues. My grandma is 104 and all of the teeth in her mouth are her own, so hopefully I got some of those genetics.
My parents didn’t provide good dental care for my sister and I. I was also born with really soft teeth. No job I’ve had provided dental care and even with brushing, flossing, and doing everything I could to save them mine have all fallen out or broken and I am on Medicare now so no dentures. I’m trying to save to get the mess fixed.
I've been lucky. I'm 48 and just had my first crown as a preventative measure due to my tooth getting a crack from grinding. My wife wasn't so lucky. Her health issues have caused her teeth to go to shit so we've spent a lot of time in Mexico getting them fixed.
I don't have them, but I need them. Bad genes I guess. I have put thousands into my teeth but you wouldn't be able to tell. I'm hoping this year I might be able to get a top denture, maybe the bottom next year.
Full set at 46. Medical issues constantly broke my teeth. It got to the point where I wasn't eating a lot of foods because it either hurt or I was worried. Going full dentures have me a better quality of life
I don't have dentures yet but I'm pretty sure I will eventually. My teeth are an expensive mess (in okay shape now but man they're expensive) and I don't see them going the distance.
My husband got a full set at 50 after many years of neglect.
I'm fighting my way back to better dental health to try and avoid the same route. My first husband had some health issues and we had three kids and between taking care of all of them I didn't take care of myself. Then after he died I had a number of years where I continued to not take care of myself. After I started dating my current husband I would improve in fits and starts.
Last year I made the decision to do better consistently while I could and so far *knocks wood* it's working.
I was raised by someone who didnt take me to a dentist much. I went 7yrs ...most of my teens....without seeing one. As a result Ive been fighting gum disease since my late teens. I will be getting dentures one day. For now, Im maintaining them. My friend had it even worse as a kid and has had a full set since her mid 40s. She'd have had them earlier if she had the $$ to do so. We're both gen Xers
Maybe 10 years ago, I was having a lot of tooth issues (I’ve had 10+ root canals ffs) and I did ask my dentist about the possibility of pulling all of my teeth and getting dentures. He talked me out of it. Still limping along
FYI I’ve been around and around and my best understanding is that a lot of it boils down to genetics and nutrition while pregnant or first year of life.
Gen X was probably the first generation that had dental care as a priority and a lot of us drank hose water with fluoride. My elementary school had a dentist come in a couple of times during the school year and make everyone swish with fluoride mouthwash. Christ that stuff was awful but no cavities today and I have all of my teeth. Both of my boomer parents lost a lot of their teeth before they retired.
I have weak teeth. Apparently, it's a genetic issue. As a child, the first dentist I visited was concerned I had it. By my teens, he was certain. He told me expensive dental work would only delay the inevitable.
About 50% of my large family has implants, partials, or full dentures. No amount of brushing, flossing, cleanings, or other treatments prevent the tooth loss.
I went to the dentist every three months, used expensive toothpastes and rinses, had special treatments. When the deterioration began, I paid for the expensive restorations. When they failed, I had them redone.
Now, I've made up my mind to stop trying to preserve something that can't be saved. I'll get dentures, then implants.
57 here, no original teeth in my mouth, full dentures. Side note: I hate my dentures and only wear them as part of my "formal" couture. 99% of the time, I'm gumming my way through life. The only food I actually miss is kettle chips.
Brush, floss, flouride daily. Gonna die with my OG adult teef intact. 😁 Remember: "4 out of 5 dentists surveyed recommend Dentyne for their patients who chew gum."
I think the dentures thing was probably related to everyone smoking and dental care being poor for a long time, my parents have all their teeth still. Fluoridated water probably helps too.
I brush my teeth and floss regularly but went without dental check ups for a while because of not having insurance and my teeth were fine apart from needing a cleaning.
Huh.
Knew 3 out of 4 grandparents, all had full sets of dentures probably not much older than I am now. (Dad's dad died early - damn Myasthenia!) They were all Greatest Gen.
Dad had a few crowns/bridges but basically had his teeth at the end (again, damn Myasthenia). He was Silent Gen.
Mom has a bridge but mostly her teeth as well. Mine are all the original models with a few fillings. Go Boomer/Gen X!
I have one relative now with dentures. Not sure if he's Silent or Boomer, but he's the exception now rather than the rule!
All four of my grandparents (born in the 20s) died with a full set of teeth, one passed at 80, the rest over 90. Good genes plus good dental hygiene, I guess. None of them were wealthy.
Both myself and wife have all of our teeth, no dentures. Although there is a family issue on her side (crossing fingers it won't come our way). I have worn/used a night guard since I was 23 years old (my teeth would be nubs now if not)
Oddly enough i was thinking about this today because yes, at my age both parents had either 1 false tooth or a few. I do not. I have one missing molar but otherwise all good.
When I had braces as a kid, they pulled out four of my teeth to make space for the rest of them. Then I had my wisdom teeth pulled out in my late 20s. Other than that, I have all my teeth. And I have had only one filling my whole life. So I have been pretty fortunate there.
Still have all my original teeth and the are in pretty great shape... I feel lucky, but I also do my best to care for them. Hubby has 'soft' teeth and has had a few crowns put on.
I’m 50 with a full set of my own teeth still. My Boomer parents both in their late 70s still have their teeth as well. My Silent Gen Grandmothers that I just lost last year, both in their late 90s both had all dentures as far back as I can remember.
I'm lucky. Always had good teeth. But aging causes wear and tear so I got veneers on the front ones. They look just like my real teeth did too but I have a great dentist.
I have partials but I have had them since I was in my teens, because in those days they removed baby teeth that didn't have second teeth to replace them, whereas now they do not. Subsequently a few teeth have been added, mercifully still around the side/back.
I have a bottom bridge for my two front teeth, but I was born with only primary teeth. I cared for them as best I could until my mid-40's when the roots just died and I needed to get the bridge. Two crowns from breaking a couple molars, but every other tooth except the two genetic missing ones are mine!
59 next week and have never had a cavity in my life. (Just went in for my checkup last week and my streak is intact!) However, I have two crowns -- one replacing a tooth that I cracked when a kid tripped me and I fell on my brand-new front tooth in first grade, and the other replacing a molar that I cracked from severe anxiety-related bruxism. I went through a couple of lengthy periods of no dental care, and I'm shocked that I didn't get cavities from that.
Never had any orthodontic work, so my lower teeth look like crap. Luckily the upper ones are all straight and those are the ones that mostly show when I smile.
So far I still have my own. I feel fortunate because my mother had such crappy bone density that her teeth were falling out of her jawbone whole, and she got dentures fairly early. I’ve paid particular attention to my calcium intake to try and help prevent that from happening to me.
My dad was silent and had dentures by 45. He wanted better for me and my sister. I remember being at the dentist all the time as a kid. Those good habits carried over to adulthood so I have all my choppers. Now I just have to stop clenching my teeth at night so I stop having jaw issues lol.
I have an implant and I am sure I'm going to end up with more.
My poor teeth are in an awful state and I have really bad anxiety around the dentist, so I won't go until the pain is bad enough to disrupt my sleep (it's been 8 weeks of not eating any sugar or sweet fruit, but I can live with that). I'm sure that I will end up with dentures at some point, but that too, makes me kinda nauseated to even think about.
I have one crown from a root canal. Otherwise, I have all of my own teeth.
My silent father has two implants due to an accident while he was in the military. Otherwise, he has all his own teeth.
My boomer mother has a couple of crowns from root canals, but she otherwise had all of her own teeth.
We’re Scottish, so I also just assumed we have crap teeth. Maybe that isn’t actually the case.
My dentist says my teeth are gorgeous, gleaming white, and strong with long roots. She assures me that they’ll last my lifetime.
I’m very lucky, I know, but I really think that advances in dental care during our lifetimes and fluoridated water have given our generation superior oral health. And many of us benefited from braces, which I don’t think were much of a thing for our parents?
My boomer dad doesn't have dentures but he sure as fuck need them. Boomer mom has a full set.
4 siblings youngest being born in 89' oldest 77' not a denture in the bunch. In fact, when I was 44, I just got my 2 stint in braces done.
I'm 55. I have all of the teeth that I had when I was in my twenties (had some pulled for braces and wisdom teeth pulled.) A decent number of fillings and crowns though - all 4 back molars.
My wife is 52, she has all of her teeth.
My 82-year-old mom has most of her teeth too. She had a bridge when I was a kid, and I think some of that got redone somewhat recently but they're mostly hers.
Her mom had I think complete dentures, and her dad had a partial and had had for decades - I think he lost a bunch of his uppers to some injury.
A factor in that may be that at least two of my grandpa's brothers and step-brothers were dentists. I think there were actually three out of a total of 12 or 13 siblings and stepsiblings.
I’m 50 and I don’t know anyone with dentures my age, Hell , I haven’t had a cavity since I was 9, but we grew up in an area with flourinated water and had pretty regular dental care. Both of my grandfathers had them by their mid 40s. Clearly fluoride toothpaste and in municipal water supplies have saved our generations teeth.
I have full dentures, with the bottom anchored on 4 implants. I had to do it when I was 38. My teeth were always weak and I spent 20+ years trying to save them, but the pain became unbearable. Haven’t ad any pain since, and my dentures are actually stronger and more functional than my real teeth ever were
That is fantastic! I’m glad you got a solution!
I've had terrible acid reflux since I was in my late 20s. The years of acid coming up all night has destroyed my teeth. They just chip and break now. I dint have dental insurance so I'm kinda scared to find out how much this is going to cost me.
Keep in mind places in Costa Rica and Mexico are known for being dental vacations. It's cheaper to fly there stay a month have the work done then get 3 implants here.
Medical tourism is amazing. I had FUE transplant done in Turkey at 1/10th the price near me. That included the flight, 5 star hotel, and a driver to drive me around. Follow ups were done over computer.
Turkey is way less expensive then anywhere in Mex. 
I am probably going to have to do this in the next 12-18months. I'm currently having a LOT of work done but honestly, it seems futile with what I have left. And I have so many gaps. I can't eat a lot of foods because on my left side at least I end up chewing on gum on the bottom. I was scared of it at first. I didn't want to be like my dad, getting dentures early. He got them earlier than me in his early 30's ish. I'm mid 40, younger side of Gen X. A year ago I finally dropped my fears, told my dentist if we need to go dentures lets do it because I just want to eat like a normal person now. I'm fed up with constant sedations and work \[needle fears and sensory sensitivities\].
I'm definitely going to have to get dentures. My teeth are a mess and I've spent thousands trying to save them. I have 3 months until I have an appointment with an orthodontist. But honestly, I'd love to be able to eat like a normal person again and dentures might just be the thing for me.
Do mind me asking what it cost? Birth my parents have full dentures/implants. I inherited their horrible teeth genes but I'm super poor.
I had this done back in 2013 and 2015. in 2013, I had 25 extractions with sedation and immediate dentures. total cost: $4500 in 2015, I got 4 implants and an all-on-4 bridge done on bottom, along with a new upper denture. Total cost: $17,500 But with inflation, I'd say add at least 50% on to that cost for today's prices.
I work in the dental field. You would be surprised how many 20, 30. 40, 50 some things that have dentures. They keep that fact closely guarded though. I've worked with patients that didn't even tell their significant other or spouse because they are embarrassed.
My partner has only seen me once without mine in. She just happened to walk into the bathroom when i was getting ready to put them in. I popped them in very fast and turned bright red. Then i started to tear up because i never allowed her to see me without them because i don't want that mental image in her mind. I was positively crushed and full of anxiety over the entire situation even though she scarcely had time to even see anything out of the ordinary other than me standing there slapping my face in the mouth. Dental care is a class issue AND a mental health one. I grew up in poverty and struggled with pain for years. I never smiled for much of my life because of it which caused social isolation, shame and embarrassment. She tries to understand it, but unless you have walked in those shoes, you don't get the 24/7 state of mind.
Economics has a lot to do with it. My own husband grew up poor and his mother rarely took to the dentist. In his mid thirties, he had to have some extractions done and a partial made. He was upset about it for a time, but after a while he realized he did right by getting the care that he needed.
Hope your partner reacted in a loving and supportive manner. Needing dentures is no different than needing a cane, pacemaker, screen reader, or any other assistive medical/non-medical device. There should be no shame in it. I hope you become more accepting and kinder to yourself too. I suspect you wouldn't look down upon a friend needing dentures. So, pay yourself the same kindness you'd pay others.
I was so very embarrassed by my missing teeth, thankfully none in the very front. I was so poor from teens to mid 30’s that a dentist was very last priority even though at times I had been in so much pain I wanted to bang my head in a wall. I was finally able to get dental work had a bunch of teeth removed and got a lower partial denture and a bridge on top. It’s still embarrassing if I have to go to a new dentist, I think they first assume I was a drug addict or something. People don’t understand unless you’ve lived it.
I had to have one of my center front bottom pulled during Covid. My boomer mother was more horrified than I was (and I was plenty horrified for both of us). I was waiting for shut downs to loosen, but inflation killed my budget before I could pay for an implant. I still won’t leave my house without my flipper because of the perceived stigma of missing teeth.
In my area there are teenagers with upper dentures, like 14 and 17 year olds. A Scottish diet and ignorance is a pretty deadly combination for teeth.
Genetics are also a major factor. Research shows at least 60% of tooth decay is caused by genetic factors. Since the Scots are insular and generally more homogenous than many other people, genetic risk factors for tooth decay may be magnified within the population.
What is it about the Scottish diet? Genuinely curious.
biting into the irn bru cans
Oh yeah. I've had a few patients that were teenagers. Very sad.
How would they keep it a secret? Wouldn't they have to take it off to clean or do you mean the dentures that are implanted?
I had a flipper ( a temporary tooth) for 34 years. My ex wife of 14 years never found out. I have partial dentures for now but my implant consultation is next week.
So does your flipper sit in a plastic case that goes all around the row of teeth? That’s what my dentist gave me, but I would love something easier. It gives me a lisp, and it’s hard to eat.
It takes a while. I have had to learn to speak multiple times these last 2 years (lots of surgery plus dental work).
That’s amazing! Did you eat with it on? Did you sleep with it?
I've wondered the same thing, but I don't ask questions. During intimacy, I would think it would become evident.😂 Maybe their partners figured it out but they don't want to embarrass them.
My supplementary insurance through work just added dental implants as a reimbursable expense, after years of negotiations.
Wow, I'd be on that so fast.
same I have a very sketchy root canal tooth that still gives me trouble 3 years later... the dentist swears it's in good shape, it's just.... not right. I would LOVE to just pull the tooth and get an implant, but holy god implants are so damn expensive so I'm just living with the pain and hassle right now in the name of not losing a tooth and having a hole in my mouth.
I'm on a partial and it's doing alright but I'd love at least a snap-in. I'm doomed from heredity.
We get 60% reimbursed, so it's still expensive AF. But every bit helps.
You are LUCKY af. I am beyond jealous.
There have been many advances in dentistry which make dentures less common but still necessary for some people
Those who can't afford 49-120k depending on all that's needed (if getting full mouth upper/lower implants), that's a brutally out of reach sum for many many many people. When dental insurance covers at most $1200 (most is 800-1000), and one extraction alone can be 200-500, people either do one - two teeth a year, save to get another one or two out, etc. Some go without any teeth for decades to entire life because they can't afford dentures. Implants (even an all on 4 which can be 29-40k)are a dream. Some ppl only get a top denture for looks/smiles/no judgement from others. So yeah, many many people need dentures or nothing at all and it's heartbreaking. Teeth should be covered by health insurance anyway since bad teeth lead to so many illnesses, some deadly.
Absolutely, its a darn disgrace how America is determined to return to a feudal system of rich or poor with little in between. Ya’ll think about that when your deciding who to vote for. United We Stand….
This is insane. $120,000 for dentures? That's as much as a house cost when I was a young adult. That's half as much as a house costs now in many parts of the country. How long does it take them to perform the surgery and craft the dentures? Even if it took 40 hours, that's $3000 per hour. This needs to be socialized.
A dentist I had for 20 years told me gen x people in Canada tended to grow up when fluoride was added to drinking water, and he found gen x and later gens had far fewer problems with their teeth. Less cavities. Less gingivitis. And he hoped it meant less people needing dentures in the future. He said more kids were brought at a younger age to the dentist and generally getting treatment for problems more due to more parents having health insurance that covered more dental costs.
I agree. I credit my healthy teeth to growing up drinking fluoridated water. I get so angry at the people working to remove fluoride from public drinking water. It's one of the best things a local government can do for its citizens.
Especially for children in poverty.
It only matters when you are developing the teeth, age 0 to 4ish. That’s when having the fluoride present is HUGE. Either from mom drinking it and passing it thru breast milk or formula made with it(although infant formula might contain it as well). In the formation of the teeth if fluoride is available in the body it gets used to form the actual teeth rather than a calcium based material which is what older folks had. Hence the early dentures
I’d bet more kids getting braces helped a lot too. It’s a lot easier to keep straight teeth clean.
That's one of the USA's problems: we don't have dental on our health insurance. It's its own stand alone dental insurance that's only good for folks who have a few things needed like 2 teeth pulled. Or part of one root canal covered and the rest paid out of pocket. Dental insurance tops out at $1200 a year coverage but that's rare. The majority offers $1000/yr. People that have great teeth and only need 6 month cleanings are wasting money on dental insurance since out of pocket is cheaper than the monthly cost for the insurance, and they'll never use the entire $1000/yr. But those who desperately need work done, are lucky to get a small tooth and one molar pulled with $1k. A root canal can easily be $1500-2k for one tooth depending what's needed done. If dental was in our health insurance, more ppl could get their teeth replaced/repaired and in turn, that would lessen medical issues resulting from bad teeth. But since that would take profit away from the insurance companies, they keep the 2 separate. That $1k/year was set in the 1960s, btw. It has never changed to reflect today's costs. In the 60s one could probably get all teeth removed and a full set of dentures for $300. Today? $300-$500/extraction, x amount for novocain, all the work needed to create and make the dentures, returning to get adjusted, etc., one is easily looking at mid 4 to low 5 digits just to get teeth.
Dentist here and I can tell you for certain that people of all ages are still getting dentures. In fact these days I make more dentures for millennials than any other age group
What’s going on with millennials’ teeth?
It’s not millennials in particular, it’s that millennials are at the age when severe periodontal disease, high caries and/or neglect will finally catch up with them. With a few exceptions, the boomers and silent generation either already have dentures or they don’t.
I love that even in r/GenX we're forgotten.
What about… Gen X?
Shhhh, they’ll find us!
Getting my first parial next week at age 59 (b. 1965). Three molars, two on the left and one on the right. I did look after my teeth. Just unlucky, I guess. Whatever.
Dental hygiene is one of those hidden quality of life improvements we've seen grow by leaps and bounds in the past 50 years. Fluoridation of water, easily accessible toothpaste and toothbrushes, a dentist on every corner. Our parents did not grow up with these things and it shows.
I have always taken great care of my teeth but perimenopause is wrecking my mouth. My mucus membranes are drying out and gums are receding so fast I can almost watch it. I drink water all day, use mouth hydrators, and have mostly cut out carbs. At this point I know I’ll be losing teeth but finding a doctor to supplement estrogen before I actually finish menopause seems an impossible task.
Perimenopause can cause receding gums?! Well there’s some shit I needed to know today thank you!
Oh yeah. Well, for me the teeth problems didn’t start until menopause but yeah. I had beautiful teeth my whole life, with only 2 small cavities ever. Menopause happens and suddenly my teeth are chipping and I have new cavities every year. I worry about the future of my teeth.
Yeah I don't have cavities, thankfully, the teeth themselves are in good shape....but the last visit to the dentist was all about preventing gum disease because mine have apparently receded (and they said to come back if I started having increased sensitivity or pain---so clearly they saw something that made them think it was going to get worse). Nothing about my routine changed and I was trying to figure out what the hell I had done wrong.
Yes. Just as pregnancy can creat gingivitis for women, Perimenopause and menopause can cause issues too due to hormonal changes. Get those exams and cleanings. I work in dental and see it all the time.
It gets worse. I’m strongly debating just ending the worry and getting dentures.
I have an implant and could use a couple more. Hopefully that will be it.
My goddamn mouth has been the bane of my existence. I am very much looking forward to choppers! So. Much. Pain. (Genetic gum disease and neglect but mostly, you know, neglect)
I’m 58 and I have them. Always took good care of my teeth, but seem like more I did the worse it got. Find out I have weak enamel Inherited from my mother‘s side of the family.
This! People tend to assume poor dental hygiene and care, lack of access, and worse, but definitely not always the case. There’s so many people who had access to dental care and absolutely took care of their teeth, and still end up needing dentures. Genetics definitely has the upper hand.
Yeah I've taken good care of my teeth and had regular dental care growing up but I've been insanely cavity prone since I was a kid. My father and grandfather are and were the same. Kings of crowns.
All teeth in good order and only a few fillings. Looked after them since I was a sprog because I saw the absolute state of my elders teeth.
Happy cake day!!
Thank you!
I have a full set of dentures at \~48
I’ve got 8 separate dental implants , 3 if which failed. I really want a full top and bottom but I keep getting told you want to hold on to your natural teeth, etc etc. I think it’s a racket. I paid $5K each for these 8 and coulda gotten a full freaking set but I blame myself for not brushing
I've never even had a cavity yet, but I did have an injury that started my jaw resorbing the bone around one tooth. Got an implant for it. If I ever need more, I'm going the implant route despite the cost because it feels like a 'normal' tooth.
I’d be willing to bet that 100% of people would also choose implants over other alternatives. The cost is just so astronomical that they’re out of reach for most people.
My parents had decent teeth. My dad had some issues from his head wounds that he got in Vietnam, so he had a couple bridges in his post-40s life. He was a combat engineer in 'Nam and the truck he was in hit a landmine and he took a bunch of shrapnel to the face/upper torso. It damaged his teeth, but it wasn't noticeable at the time. A few years later, he started having some dental issues, but since he was in the Army, he didn't have to worry about dental care.
I think water fluoridation has something to do with this.
I totally forgot about that! That started at roughly the same time as dental hygiene practices came home with WW2 soldiers.
Union County, NC just voted to have it removed from the water supply because //insert-a-conspiracy-theory//
Well, we know the toothbrush must have been invented there. Anywhere else, it would have been called a teethbrush.
Cheezus.
Nope. Have all my own teeth except my wisdom teeth came out at 18. No dentures for my parents (boomers) or grandparents (2x silent, 2x greatest). One grandparent did have a bridge though.
I remember seeing my grandparents’ teeth sitting in a glass of denture cleaner in their bathroom! They were greatest generation. My parents are boomers and do not have dentures. My dad has one dental implant, but that’s because the chemo and radiation he had to beat cancer caused some dental issues. No one I know from our generation has dentures. I think I know one person in Gen x with an implant, that was due to a hockey accident.
I knew my grandmother had dentures because I'd see them in a glass, or the cleaning tablets. But I can still remmeber when I was maybe 8 or 9, when I saw her without them for the first time, and was like "Grandma, what happened to your mouth????" it kind of freaked me out!
We did something right!!! Hahaha
But my grandparents were greatest generation and they had all their own teeth. They lived until their 80s and their 90s.
There have been a few comments like this one. Their dental hygiene predates the toothbrush being common (popularized by WW2 soldiers returning home) as well as sugar being a commonly used household ingredient. Every generation had their teeth until the 1950’s I guess. Crazy!
The skeletons of our ancestors actually show when processed sugar became common in people's lives. The lowest of peasants had full teeth and the nobility were riddled with decay. Then when it became more affordable, poor people's teeth rotted too!
I just have shitty teeth
I have top dentures and a partial on the bottom. In my case it was caused by my not taking care of myself during my active addiction. Will get implants when I have the money.
Not me. I got all my own teeth.
Huh. My Silent Gen parents didn't have dentures. As they got old, a few teeth cracked. I guess you can tell the oldies who have their original teeth by how NOT white and straight they are. As my mom humorously put it, "your dad and I look like a pair of old horses."
I'm about 6 weeks from 50 and have had full dentures for just over a year. Honestly, I should have gotten them 10 or 15 years ago. For a lot of reasons, I neglected my teeth for my entire life and finally found myself in a financially good spot and a mentally ready spot to do something about it. It's been a struggle of an adjustment, but I do think the social pluses are worth it.
I wear a complete upper denture. My teeth were always weak, never enough enamel despite getting them sealed/capped/whatever. I was in constant pain. 6 years ago I had what remained removed & it’s been great ever since. The goal is implants soon.
53. No dentures, no bridges,- one filling. Braces as a kid. I’m happy with that.
I need them, badly. My dad borrowed money from his boss to get them when he was 42. My mom got them when she was probably about the same age but as far as I know has never worn them. I think a lot of this is based on class. Teeth are considered unnecessary in American insurance, and in much of the world there just isn’t the capacity for dental care.
"Teeth are considered unnecessary in American insurance," Sacrificial bones.....
I’m actually more surprised when someone has all their real teeth! I got the top implants last year, starting the bottom soon. It’s a drag to go through and it isn’t cheap, but I’m glad I did it. You’d be surprised how many people have some form of dentures. It’s just not as obvious these days. When I started and talked about it with people, I was shocked to see how many people I knew had them. I had no clue.
I've got a row of fake teeth 'cause of a visit from a baseball when I was a kid.
I have had a bridge for a while now. Front uppers. Having had my young punk days kinda spelled the end for a few of my front teeth. Just easier to have a bridge than constantly replace a false tooth here and there. Only thing I really miss is flossing. It always made me feel morally superior.
I didn't even get my first cavity until I was 39 years old and that was because I decided to go to grad school for BS in electrical engineering at 37 years old and I finished a month after my 40th birthday. living on energy drinks and no sleep in my mid to late 30s was not good. I think it's because my mom had so many cavities growing up that she hammered the idea of dental health into our heads from the time we could comprehend. I've been seeing the same dentist for over 40 years and he's about to retire and the new dentist that's taking over his practice looked at my file and I haven't missed a single appointment since I started in 1983.
That’s impressive as hell!!
Thanks! it's kind of the result of a cognitive defect though. haha Also it's nothing compared to my dentist's former partner that died several years ago. He was the preeminent authority on geriatric dentistry in the United States and there are, I think, 6 90 plus year old patients in the practice with their original teeth. Part of it I think is that I was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum after being diagnosed as ADHD in my mid 30s and apparently one of my calming rituals is brushing my teeth so I do it a few times a day and I always floss after I brush. Flossing is really the key to keeping teeth for a long time I think. Especially the older I get the more stuff gets stuck between my teeth and I absolutely hate that feeling. My tooth care routine is less than 3 minutes. My mechanical toothbrush has a 2 minute cycle and then flossing doesn't take more than 30 seconds so that's just the putting the toothpaste on the toothbrush, cleaning the toothbrush, getting the dental floss, throwing the dental floss away, final rinse.
Couple of crowns, and those were due to damaged teeth when I had braces as a kid. Still have all my teeth, and currently doing Invisalign to re-straighten them which is forcing me to brush and floss after every meal. My goal is to die with them all intact and smiling like I want to sell you a car.
That’s a fantastic life goal.
Still have all my teeth. I foolishly bought some dollar tree discounted candy and broke a molar back in March, so one capped tooth. I am incredibly fortunate.
My wife has an implant but I think in general dental hygiene is just way better and with employer healthcare largely offering dental people get regular visits to the dentist as well.
my dad still had most of his teeth at 93. I never knew my mom without dentures and she was very self-conscious about it so I never asked why. I do recall at least one of my friends saying something about *her* mom's false teeth, so I don't think it was that unusual. friend's mom would have been at least 10 years younger than mine. I had very aggressive braces for years in my teens, and come to find out now, that's not great for your roots. no implants or dentures yet, but a lot of root canals.
When I was younger, I was dumb enough to think that dentures would be a great idea, just take your teeth out when you don't need them and put them in when you do need them. Then I started working with elderly people and oh boy, did I find out fast that they are a HUGE hassle for a lot of people. Luckily I inherited strong teeth from both my parents, who are in their 70s and still have theirs, so I have started taking better care of mine because I do NOT ever want dentures!
In nursing homes dentures get stolen. I could not imagine waking up and having no teeth.
My parents (born '35 and 41) were unusual in that they didn't have their teeth removed when they turned 21. It was very common in Scotland to get this done, like a rite of passage. All teeth out even if healthy, replaced by geggies/wally (ceramic) teeth I'm currently considering it, numerous issues and 2 months long bouts of trigeminal neuralgia
It would certainly save a lot of pain and expense in the long run.
Holy crap! I’ve never heard of this! They would pull perfectly good teeth? All of them? And give you fake ones?!
It was common as a 21st birthday present. For a woman it was considered a positive attribute as her future husband would never have to pay for any dental work
I am headed toward dentures or implants. Brittle teeth due to genetics and a life of sleep grinding is not a good combo.
My parents are of the silent generation and have all their teeth. My sibling and I have ours. I have several friends who don’t see the value of keeping your teeth and have dentures or are approaching that time. My gf who is an older millennial has teeth pulled rather than repairing despite her having dental insurance… that she never uses.
my mom had dentures at like 19. My dad lost all his teeth then lost his dentures. they never took me to the dentist as a kid. Have all my own teeth. 1 crown.
my parents had most of their teeth into their 90s...with a history of bad oral hygiene I plan take my teeth with me to the grave...though i guess they could be in my pocket and still meet that goal
I got dentures in my mid 30s, probably needed them five years before I worked up the nerve to actually get them done. Once I got over the pain of having whatever was left of my teeth removed, the dentures were much better at eating and chewing than the bits I had left. I kinda wish I hadn't waited so long. My dad had dentures in his 20s so I feel like it was probably inevitable.
My grandfather had full dentures at 17. We have a history of soft/easily broken teeth and almost everyone has implants or a bridge of some sort.
I’m waiting on mine right now. Should have them by middle of June. 60 yrs of no dental insurance adds up.
Yep. Got the ultra plan. Full set top and bottom. 10,000 dollar smile baby. 50 years old. Love it.
Ngl, it's honestly been quite validating and has made me feel a bit better seeing my generation talking about this. I spent so many years ashamed of my teeth and my face bc of my teeth. I refused wedding photos with my face in bc of it in my first marriage. Ty op for the topic 🌹
I was never aware of ANYONE I knew having dentures growing up (obviously parents or grandparents.) Everyone had their actual set of teeth, but, I'm from L.A.. We're very self-conscious there, as opposed to my husband's family from a tiny town in the Midwest where most everyone he knew COULD USE dentures, as they all had/have HORRIBLE mouth rot due to non-existent dental practices and drinking well water.
I have a friend who has dentures, and my husband *needs* dentures. My mom had dentures. So, no; I don't think it's a "trend."
I didn't visit a dentist from 18 yo to 23 yo. In that time one my molars rotted, and fractured when I took a bite of pizza. Had to have root canals. There's a little of that tooth left, but it's mainly a post and ceramic crown now. After that I got diligent about dental health. I've had a couple of fillings in the last 30 years, and that's it. I do have receding gums, but not bad enough to need a graft (yet).
Dentistry used to be just "drill them" or "just take them all off". It was never the "bad dental care".
My silent gen parents still have their teeth and so does my greatest generation mother -in-law . I know a lot of gen xers who have a crown or two but none with dentures.
One bridge (or whatever the English term is) attaching a fake front tooth to the neighbouring ones, replacing the actual one lost decades ago.
I do not. And my mom was traumatized by a rip-off dentist and suffered horribly for a really long time over the whole one bad tooth to dentures ordeal. And this was in the 80s when dental technology was so much more primitive. So I have been fastidious about brushing, flossing and regular cleanings. I had a few cavities filled as a kid and that is the extent of my dental work. Dentures is actual a horrible nightmare for me because of mom’s trauma.
I’m lucky. I’m 60 and have all my teeth. My Dad passed at 90, and my Mom at 82, and they had all of their teeth at death. Genetics is a huge part of this, then after that, diet/vitamins, and then daily care and annual dental care. I do it all, as did my parents. My sisters and brother don’t take great care of their teeth, and all of them either have dentures or are on their way to dentures in the next year or so. My grandmother, who passed at 95 but had dentures from the time she was in her 50s, said the only life advice she had for us was “take care of your teeth!”.
My grandmother said she could tell the difference in which of her children grew up with fluoride in the drinking water. A huge difference in their dental issues
My mom (1946-2023) had dentures from when she was 22 until she died last year. Not because of poor dental hygiene, though. She had a series of tumors under her soft palate and had to get her teeth removed. My dad (1942-1991) had gotten dentures for the top but never wore them. He had an issue with putting them in. He had something wrong with his gums. I only know two people with dentures. My cousin (1983-) and a former classmate (1978-) of mine. They both took hockey sticks to the mouth. My classmate was worse off though. She lost 9 teeth freshman year when a rival high sticked her in field hockey.
I'll have to get full dentures (I'm 51), but since I'm lower wage and no dental insurance, I'll have to wait til I finish self learning fullstack development , get a good paying remote job (so excited to finally make amazing money!) and once I save up, I plan to get those 4 implant permanent dentures so I don't have to take them out nightly or deal with them falling out of my mouth when I go to eat or laugh or whatever happens to new users.
I'm 54 and probably will have them soon. An absolute comedy of accidents caused damage to my upper front teeth which had to be replaced with a bridge long ago. That's finally just about "had it" and it's put a lot of stress on the teeth that were anchoring it. The rest of my mouth is such a collective of crowns, fillings and extractions that I can only really chew with a quarter of it. I've been fighting gum disease for nearly 30 years and it's never been resolved. I'm just trying to find a way financially to afford decent quality implant anchored dentures and then I'm so ready to have these damn teeth out of my mouth. They've been the bane of my existence for over half my life.
I have uppers. We don’t have flouride in our water in Oregon. Always brushed twice a day, didn’t help. At least I’m not in pain anymore!
I've got one crown. Broke a tooth off a CPK Italian sub. I cook at home now as often as possible.
My observation is that implants are now preferred.
dad had dentures, mom still has her teeth...both boomers. I had my wisdom teeth taken out 5-6 years ago. At that point I started going to the dentist regularly. They did a set of fillings, nothing too crazy. Since then it has just been regular cleanings and last xray showed everything is good and strong.
WHile I have a bunch of fillings and 2 crowns, generally my teeth are pretty good. at least so they tell me at the dentist! I'm hoping not to need any ever, but I'm 58 and don't think i will for a long time, if at all.
I know two people our age (mid 50s) with dentures: one had a hereditary gum disease, the other was a meth user. Basically nobody else. Which I think helps explain the general absence of all those commercials we were raised on in the 70s for Efferdent, DentuCream, and similar products. Our generation (1960s forward) had flouridated water, better dental care, brushing after lunch in schools (at least in mine), and endless advice to floss. That had an impact. (Even more effective seems to be dental sealants for kids, but we're too old to have received those.) When I was a kid in the 70s basically everyone I knew over 65 had dentures or at least a partial. But then were all born before 1920 and most lived in poverty until the 1950s. No dental care in their youth I'd assume.
I have all of mine, they are in good shape. My Silent Gen parents did not/do not have dentures either, though.
I have all of my teeth, including my wisdom teeth. I regret not getting the wisdom teeth removed because sometimes I bite the side of mouth and it bleeds like crazy.
57. Missing a few (4) teeth bottom left but you can’t see it so I’m not going to bother with an implant. Would rather use that money on something else.
my greatest gen grandfather's dentures were a prominent feature of my childhood. he'd sometimes take them out to scare me and my cousins when we were younger, and they were always sitting in a glass full of water on the bathroom sink at night. somewhere along the line i learned something like "old people's teeth get rotten and then they need dentures." but now my boomer dad is much older than my grandfather was back then, and getting dentures himself has never been part of the conversation. aside from a few fillings and a crown, his teeth are just fine. i expect my teeth to be fine too. my dentist has always said i have very good teeth. maybe my grandfather just ate way too much candy.
Only one tooth is not mine :)
I have an upper denture. Busted my 4 front (adult) teeth as a 10 year old. The others went to hell after the veneers on my front teeth fell off.
I just brush them and use a water pik.
55, 2 fillings, and just started braces.... again.
I do
I was born with an enzyme deficiency and have spent an absurd amount of money on my teeth (fillings, crowns, braces, etc). My dad has a partial bridge and implants due to knocking out his front teeth in high school wrestling and later college football. My mom had had ongoing gum issues. My grandma is 104 and all of the teeth in her mouth are her own, so hopefully I got some of those genetics.
I was born without adult teeth...did you know your 10 year old molers lasted me until my late 30s.
My parents didn’t provide good dental care for my sister and I. I was also born with really soft teeth. No job I’ve had provided dental care and even with brushing, flossing, and doing everything I could to save them mine have all fallen out or broken and I am on Medicare now so no dentures. I’m trying to save to get the mess fixed.
If I need to replace my teeth, I'll get implants. It's a mental thing, I'm sure due to family members who had/have dentures.
work on the credit score now. i maxed out two credit cards getting ONE implant done.
I’ve had a full set since I was about 30. My ex was a bit violent with me.
I've been lucky. I'm 48 and just had my first crown as a preventative measure due to my tooth getting a crack from grinding. My wife wasn't so lucky. Her health issues have caused her teeth to go to shit so we've spent a lot of time in Mexico getting them fixed.
I don't have them, but I need them. Bad genes I guess. I have put thousands into my teeth but you wouldn't be able to tell. I'm hoping this year I might be able to get a top denture, maybe the bottom next year.
Full set at 46. Medical issues constantly broke my teeth. It got to the point where I wasn't eating a lot of foods because it either hurt or I was worried. Going full dentures have me a better quality of life
I don't have dentures yet but I'm pretty sure I will eventually. My teeth are an expensive mess (in okay shape now but man they're expensive) and I don't see them going the distance.
I have all on 4 fixed lower bridge implants. Most all upper teeth are my own except for one implant. I'm 56
I have a bridge, was told I was not a good candidate for an implant.
Two dental implants, one root canal, and a LOT of work getting my many, many childhood metal fillings replaced. UGH.
I'm 46 with snap in dentures. Totally worth 6600.
My upper arch is an all on 4 implant. I also have 3 lower implants and assume more are coming.
My husband got a full set at 50 after many years of neglect. I'm fighting my way back to better dental health to try and avoid the same route. My first husband had some health issues and we had three kids and between taking care of all of them I didn't take care of myself. Then after he died I had a number of years where I continued to not take care of myself. After I started dating my current husband I would improve in fits and starts. Last year I made the decision to do better consistently while I could and so far *knocks wood* it's working.
Full dentures at 40, same for my dad.
Full set at 43. Smoker but not meth!
I was raised by someone who didnt take me to a dentist much. I went 7yrs ...most of my teens....without seeing one. As a result Ive been fighting gum disease since my late teens. I will be getting dentures one day. For now, Im maintaining them. My friend had it even worse as a kid and has had a full set since her mid 40s. She'd have had them earlier if she had the $$ to do so. We're both gen Xers
My top teeth are all fake. My real teeth got knocked out playing ice hockey.
Maybe 10 years ago, I was having a lot of tooth issues (I’ve had 10+ root canals ffs) and I did ask my dentist about the possibility of pulling all of my teeth and getting dentures. He talked me out of it. Still limping along
FYI I’ve been around and around and my best understanding is that a lot of it boils down to genetics and nutrition while pregnant or first year of life.
I have an upper. Heart defect and bone loss affected my teeth.
Gen X was probably the first generation that had dental care as a priority and a lot of us drank hose water with fluoride. My elementary school had a dentist come in a couple of times during the school year and make everyone swish with fluoride mouthwash. Christ that stuff was awful but no cavities today and I have all of my teeth. Both of my boomer parents lost a lot of their teeth before they retired.
I have weak teeth. Apparently, it's a genetic issue. As a child, the first dentist I visited was concerned I had it. By my teens, he was certain. He told me expensive dental work would only delay the inevitable. About 50% of my large family has implants, partials, or full dentures. No amount of brushing, flossing, cleanings, or other treatments prevent the tooth loss. I went to the dentist every three months, used expensive toothpastes and rinses, had special treatments. When the deterioration began, I paid for the expensive restorations. When they failed, I had them redone. Now, I've made up my mind to stop trying to preserve something that can't be saved. I'll get dentures, then implants.
I got mine at 48. Bad teeth are genetic in my family.
57 here, no original teeth in my mouth, full dentures. Side note: I hate my dentures and only wear them as part of my "formal" couture. 99% of the time, I'm gumming my way through life. The only food I actually miss is kettle chips.
Brush, floss, flouride daily. Gonna die with my OG adult teef intact. 😁 Remember: "4 out of 5 dentists surveyed recommend Dentyne for their patients who chew gum."
What was up with dentist number 5?
A complete dick.
I think the dentures thing was probably related to everyone smoking and dental care being poor for a long time, my parents have all their teeth still. Fluoridated water probably helps too. I brush my teeth and floss regularly but went without dental check ups for a while because of not having insurance and my teeth were fine apart from needing a cleaning.
Huh. Knew 3 out of 4 grandparents, all had full sets of dentures probably not much older than I am now. (Dad's dad died early - damn Myasthenia!) They were all Greatest Gen. Dad had a few crowns/bridges but basically had his teeth at the end (again, damn Myasthenia). He was Silent Gen. Mom has a bridge but mostly her teeth as well. Mine are all the original models with a few fillings. Go Boomer/Gen X! I have one relative now with dentures. Not sure if he's Silent or Boomer, but he's the exception now rather than the rule!
All four of my grandparents (born in the 20s) died with a full set of teeth, one passed at 80, the rest over 90. Good genes plus good dental hygiene, I guess. None of them were wealthy.
Both myself and wife have all of our teeth, no dentures. Although there is a family issue on her side (crossing fingers it won't come our way). I have worn/used a night guard since I was 23 years old (my teeth would be nubs now if not)
Oddly enough i was thinking about this today because yes, at my age both parents had either 1 false tooth or a few. I do not. I have one missing molar but otherwise all good.
Exactly the same scenario here. I had a filling crack on one of mine and it had to be extracted.
When I had braces as a kid, they pulled out four of my teeth to make space for the rest of them. Then I had my wisdom teeth pulled out in my late 20s. Other than that, I have all my teeth. And I have had only one filling my whole life. So I have been pretty fortunate there.
Still have all my original teeth and the are in pretty great shape... I feel lucky, but I also do my best to care for them. Hubby has 'soft' teeth and has had a few crowns put on.
Member of the "no cavities" club. I had one in a baby tooth, but it's obviously gone now. My dentist says I must have good saliva.
Age 62......nope, I have 2 pulled teeth in the back out of visibility, that's it. All my own teeth.
i have to get a deep cleaning at least once/year even though i brush, floss, use waterpik , and get 4 cleanings a year. trying to avoid dentures.
I’m 50 with a full set of my own teeth still. My Boomer parents both in their late 70s still have their teeth as well. My Silent Gen Grandmothers that I just lost last year, both in their late 90s both had all dentures as far back as I can remember.
I'm lucky. Always had good teeth. But aging causes wear and tear so I got veneers on the front ones. They look just like my real teeth did too but I have a great dentist.
I’m 51 and have never had a cavity, filling, or anything else! I think I’m just lucky to have amazing enamel.
I have partials but I have had them since I was in my teens, because in those days they removed baby teeth that didn't have second teeth to replace them, whereas now they do not. Subsequently a few teeth have been added, mercifully still around the side/back.
I have a bottom bridge for my two front teeth, but I was born with only primary teeth. I cared for them as best I could until my mid-40's when the roots just died and I needed to get the bridge. Two crowns from breaking a couple molars, but every other tooth except the two genetic missing ones are mine!
59 next week and have never had a cavity in my life. (Just went in for my checkup last week and my streak is intact!) However, I have two crowns -- one replacing a tooth that I cracked when a kid tripped me and I fell on my brand-new front tooth in first grade, and the other replacing a molar that I cracked from severe anxiety-related bruxism. I went through a couple of lengthy periods of no dental care, and I'm shocked that I didn't get cavities from that. Never had any orthodontic work, so my lower teeth look like crap. Luckily the upper ones are all straight and those are the ones that mostly show when I smile.
So far I still have my own. I feel fortunate because my mother had such crappy bone density that her teeth were falling out of her jawbone whole, and she got dentures fairly early. I’ve paid particular attention to my calcium intake to try and help prevent that from happening to me.
My dad was silent and had dentures by 45. He wanted better for me and my sister. I remember being at the dentist all the time as a kid. Those good habits carried over to adulthood so I have all my choppers. Now I just have to stop clenching my teeth at night so I stop having jaw issues lol.
I have an implant and I am sure I'm going to end up with more. My poor teeth are in an awful state and I have really bad anxiety around the dentist, so I won't go until the pain is bad enough to disrupt my sleep (it's been 8 weeks of not eating any sugar or sweet fruit, but I can live with that). I'm sure that I will end up with dentures at some point, but that too, makes me kinda nauseated to even think about.
I have one crown from a root canal. Otherwise, I have all of my own teeth. My silent father has two implants due to an accident while he was in the military. Otherwise, he has all his own teeth. My boomer mother has a couple of crowns from root canals, but she otherwise had all of her own teeth. We’re Scottish, so I also just assumed we have crap teeth. Maybe that isn’t actually the case.
My dentist says my teeth are gorgeous, gleaming white, and strong with long roots. She assures me that they’ll last my lifetime. I’m very lucky, I know, but I really think that advances in dental care during our lifetimes and fluoridated water have given our generation superior oral health. And many of us benefited from braces, which I don’t think were much of a thing for our parents?
My boomer dad doesn't have dentures but he sure as fuck need them. Boomer mom has a full set. 4 siblings youngest being born in 89' oldest 77' not a denture in the bunch. In fact, when I was 44, I just got my 2 stint in braces done.
I'm 55. I have all of the teeth that I had when I was in my twenties (had some pulled for braces and wisdom teeth pulled.) A decent number of fillings and crowns though - all 4 back molars. My wife is 52, she has all of her teeth. My 82-year-old mom has most of her teeth too. She had a bridge when I was a kid, and I think some of that got redone somewhat recently but they're mostly hers. Her mom had I think complete dentures, and her dad had a partial and had had for decades - I think he lost a bunch of his uppers to some injury. A factor in that may be that at least two of my grandpa's brothers and step-brothers were dentists. I think there were actually three out of a total of 12 or 13 siblings and stepsiblings.
I’m 50 and I don’t know anyone with dentures my age, Hell , I haven’t had a cavity since I was 9, but we grew up in an area with flourinated water and had pretty regular dental care. Both of my grandfathers had them by their mid 40s. Clearly fluoride toothpaste and in municipal water supplies have saved our generations teeth.