Recently, I broke a front tooth clean in half, not horizontally, as you might imagine, but vertically, from top to bottom. I wasn’t eating anything tough, like nuts or toffee, but just tucking into a vegan cream cheese and chive sandwich with cucumber – one of my favourite combinations. My NHS dentist had tried to repair it with filling material. The first try was successful for eight months, then it broke again. I returned a second time and she refilled it, but I hadn’t even got through my front door when it fell out again!
I phoned her straight away in despair. I felt so self-conscious, with a big gap at the front of my mouth. It is very obvious to all. You could hardly miss it! I went back to see her, but she said there was nothing else she could do … the tooth would have to come out! My heart sunk to my stomach, remembering last year’s experience where I had a back tooth out, had to have stitches, got infection after infection and was in so much pain my doctor prescribed Gabapentin and Morphine! That went on for six months before it healed.
What’s just as upsetting is that I have to have it done privately, like last time, by a qualified oral surgeon. The reason for this is that I have to take an NHS-prescribed medication called Alendronic Acid (AA), which is a ‘bisphosphonate’ drug, for my severe osteoporosis, which I have through no fault of my own. Because of this drug, if you have invasive dental treatment, such as having a tooth out, the bone in the jaw must not get infected. If it does, the bone can die, causing something called Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (meaning death of the jawbone). If this happens, the infection can spread to other bones in your face and even your ear. In the worst cases, the bones in your jaw and face collapse, causing severe disfigurement.
I have an appointment to see the oral surgeon at the private clinic next Friday. I will then have to make another appointment to have the tooth taken out. One of my friends is coming with me, as I am terrified after my last experience. Once the tooth is out, I will then have to have a dental plate or denture with a tooth on it to fill the gap at the front. That’s not cheap; neither is the extraction.
If I had been able to have this tooth out and a dental plate from my NHS dentist, it would have cost me £329 (still a lot of money). However, having to have this done privately is going to cost me well over £1,000!! I don’t have that sort of money, so I had to approach my bank to ask for an extension on my overdraft, which I’ve never touched before. Luckily, they agreed. It will all have to be paid back, though, with interest added. I have no choice other than to go through with this. The other option would be to leave the half-tooth where it is, which I would be very self-conscious of and make me reluctant to smile, say hello or good morning to every person I go past on my way into town, as I always do.
Having read this, perhaps you think me too proud or vain, that I am making a fuss about nothing, or that I should choose to put up with a gap at the front of my mouth indefinitely and save myself an awful lot of money. What would you do?
Essentially Ellie (My Heart's Tales) 
I’ve had to remove teeth when I couldn’t afford a root canal. Admittedly they’re not in the front. We do what we need to for our heath. My daughter is getting dental implants for her upper teeth. An alternative, and her dentist has a payment plan.
Oh, how awful for you, Tamara, to have to remove your own teeth because of not being able to afford the dental fee. You must have been in agony.
Dental implants always look good but come with a massive price tag – well out of my league.
I wonder if the private dentist I’ll have to go to has a payment plan. They certainly didn’t mention it to me when I went there to have my back tooth out last year. I have some dental insurance, but it only covers NHS treatment, which is useless for this job.
I do hope your daughter gets on well with her implants. I would love to have white, even teeth, but mine are yellowed (and I’ve never smoked) and uneven. My son said on Thursday evening that, with all the trouble I have with my teeth, he doesn’t know why I don’t have them all removed and replaced with dentures! That’s a bit drastic, and I’ve heard that dentures bring their own problems. Apart from this, I don’t feel ‘old’ enough to have a set of false teeth! It’s bad enough having an upper and lower plate already to replace the back teeth I have lost over the years. They don’t make an easy job of eating many foods, which I’ve had to give up. X
Oh, no, I didn’t remove them by myself. I had the dentist pull them. It was far less expensive than the root canal and crown. My apologies for not being clear about it!
Ah, thank goodness for that. No need to apologise. I had visions of you with the classic piece of string around your tooth, tied to a door handle, and then you slam the door shut, and out comes the tooth if you are lucky. Perhaps, I’m harking on about the olden days when people really did have to do just that! X
Welp, that sounds terrible! Even as a kid with a wiggly tooth I couldn’t! 😬😬
Oh Ellie 🙄 what a lot of money to pay !
And, after your experience last year the thought of it must be making you anxious😪
You never seem tonget a break my friend 🙄
Why does everything cost so much money?
Hugs to you my friend 🤗🙏❣️💞🌹
Xxx
Thanks so much for caring, dear Maggie. It’s a tremendous amount of money for me. I only have my pension and some PIP, which pays for my electric wheelchair, Alfie, who I couldn’t live my life without. Thankfully, the bank was very understanding, but it must all be paid back with interest added. When I think about what I could do with that £1,000 … It does seem to be one thing after the other with me, although I do get a few gaps where things are okay, and for these, I am grateful. I am anxious and worried sick about having it done. I can’t face going through all I went through last year. I just hope this extraction will be more straightforward. Thank you for your much-appreciated hugs. That means a lot. Hugs for you, too Xxx 🤗💖🥰💕
Ellie I remember what happened last year 🙄 and totally understand your anxiety 😪.
I too hope that is a straightforward procedure 🙏🙏.
You are such a strong person, I don’t know how you cope with it all.
I hope the rest of the year is more settled after this!.
You need some respite from stress and chaos.
Much love always xxx
You are in my thoughts dear friend.
Look after yourself ❣️🌹🥰❤️🙏
I hope it goes well for you Ellie and you do not get any infections! It’s a lot of money, but front teeth are what people see, so I don’t blame you for wanting it fixed. Good luck and a hug 🫂 🤗
Thanks very much, Brian. I appreciate your thoughts. When I had my back tooth out, I was in agony for six months and had endless infections. I couldn’t get antibiotics from my doctor, which would have been far cheaper. The private dentist said they had to prescribe them. One of the prescriptions for antibiotics they gave me cost £23 in a normal chemist, but on a private prescription! It seemed a bit of a rip-off, but I was in no position to argue. Thank you so much for the good luck and even more so for the hug. You are very kind. X 🤗💕
You’re very welcome Ellie, hugs don’t cost a thing, but can be the best medicine!
I totally agree with you, Brian. You are very kind X 🤗😘
I think you are wise to get the tooth fixed! But I’m sorry it’s so expensive. My dentist allows people to pay in installments, so it’s worth checking if yours does too!
Thanks, Ann. It is extortionatlely expensive for me. Thank you for the suggestion. I have my first consultation on Friday. I will ask then if they allow people to pay in installments. It would certainly help if they did. X
What would I do?…..I would bite the NHS Dentist!
I think I’d rather bite the private oral surgeon, as he’s the one who’s charging me over £1,000 to do a job my NHS dentist could do for £329 if she were allowed to. At the rate I’m going, I won’t enough front teeth to bite any dentist for much longer. Oh, the joys of getting older! X
I’m gritting my teeth as I read because dental complaints and visits to the dentist are generally unpleasant. I hope everything goes as smoothly as it can.
I’ve not replaced a missing tooth, but it’s inside my mouth. I certainly would fix a front tooth though.
I reckon we are entitled to basic vanity guilt free.
With love
DD
XOX
xox
Dental visits are never nice, I agree. My NHS dentist is lovely, having said that, but I have met the private oral surgeon before when he took my back tooth out last year. He’s not the kindest or most sympathetic dentist, I must say, but I have no choice. I’m absolutely dreading it and just hope I don’t have as much trouble afterwards as I had with last year’s extraction. I’m glad you don’t think me vain for getting my front tooth fixed. I have the consultation on Friday afternoon and will probably have to have the tooth removed the following week. With love, Ellie Xox xox
Here I go again Ellie, presumptuously offering advice, uninvited. Forgive my impulsiveness, I’m hopeless in this way.
Someone taught me a mantra or affirmation a long time ago. You repeat something like the following to yourself in the time leading up to and during surgery.
~
I relax and allow this procedure, knowing that it is for my own good and that by letting go I will heal more quickly and so I let it be.
~
With love
DD
XOX
xox
Dearest David, You’re advice is always welcome and you are from hopeless to me. Neither do I thnk of you in the least bit presumptious. In my mind, you always have something helpful to say. I will try and remember that mantra. To be honest, anything is worth a try. Thank you. With love, Ellie Xox xox
It works for me, to keep anxiety in check.
Love
DD. XOX xox
Thanks, David. That’s good to know. For some reason, your comment here has come through from ‘Anonymous’, which is very strange. With love, Ellie Xox xox
It was me.
Love
DD
XOX
xox
Of my 32 adult teeth I only have 11 left. And 4 wisdom teeth I hope will never give me a problem that I still have. Don’t be embarrassed, it happens.
Thanks, Brian. I had my wisdom teeth out with four back teeth at the same time when I was 21. I have a small mouth, and there wasn’t room for all those teeth. I’d hoped I’d get away without too many problems with my remaining teeth, but they are breaking or decaying one by one. My front teeth are my own, although I don’t like them; they’ve yellowed over the years (I’ve never smoked and don’t drink a lot of coffee) and aren’t straight anymore. This is a front tooth that I have to have taken out, probably next week. I’m dreading it after the last tooth I had taken out at that private dentist gave me so much pain and trouble for six months afterwards. I only hope this one is more straightforward. X
Unfortunately, I know this feeling well. I broke off a crown at my gum line in early February. The soonest they can start working in it is the end of June when they remove the rest of the tooth. They say after surgery I won’t be ready for a new crown until October, so I’ll be running around the better part of a year missing a tooth. Luckily in Gettysburg there are plenty of people missing teeth. I try to think of the money as divided by the number of people who will see my tooth. Quickly , it will be just pennies per person.
Oh, Jeff. I really feel for you. Why is there such a long wait between the crown breaking and for them to start working on it at the end of June. That’s seems an awful long time to wait. And then, having to wait until October for a new crown all seems a bit slow and soemwhat extreme. Have they explained why you have to wait so long for all of this to be done?
I’ve lost and broken plenty of back teeth, but they usually get treated and mostly crowned quite quickly. This is the first front tooth I’ve lost and I am conscious of the big gap when I smile. I just hope my other front teeth don’t decide to follow suit. As my son said, I’d be better off having them all taken out and replaced with a top and bottom denture, but from what I’ve heard, dentures bring their own set of problems, so I think I’ll try to hang onto the few I’ve got left. X
We only have a couple of dental surgeons where I live so the waits are looong. They will put an implant in the bone to anchor the new crown and they say it needs 4 months to heal. This is a canine so it’s visible when I smile. Luckily, I’m not a big smiler.
I’m surprised that there are so few dental surgeons where you live. I’ve always had the impression that dentists there would be two a-penny. I think I presumed that because many photos or people on TV, being Americans here have gleaming white and even teeth, which I’ve always thought must be implants. Implants here cost several thousand pounds each! I believe that when you have implants, the dentist has to remove all your own [mostly] front teeth, which then have to heal over a period of months before they have their implants screwed into the bone. I may be wrong about this, though.
I can appreciate that you would be reluctant to smile if your missing tooth is a canine. Mine is a front incisor, so it is even more noticeable. I’ve been trying to smile with my mouth closed, but it just doesn’t look natural or genuine, as I always smile broadly when I smile. I do a lot of smiling, too, as I like to say good morning or hello with a genuine smile as I travel down the cyclepath going into town. My appointment for the consultation is on Friday afternoon. That’s not to remove the tooth; it’s just to assess the situation and let me know how much extra having a tooth added onto my existing dental plate would be. I expect to get an appointment to have the tooth out the following week. I’m dreading it. I hope you get your tooth sorted as soon as you can get another appointment. I feel for you, having to wait so long. X
Here’s to our hillbilly missing teeth.
I hope you get denture. It’ not expensive. dental implants are very expensive.
Thank you, Rajkkhoja. I couldn’t afford dental implants. Just having the tooth taken out and one tooth added to my existing denture is going to cost me £1,000, as it is. Xx .🌹
So sorry to hear about your broken tooth situation!! No fun!! I hope you can find a really great Dentist to fix it!!
😟😧
Thanks, Chuck. There is only one option and that it is to have the tooth taken out and an artificial tooth added to my existing dental plate. There is only one private dentist I can go to, and he’s the one who took that back tooth out last year, which led to six month’s worth of infections and pain. I hope I don’t have the same problems with this tooth. Xx 😞😖
OMG, Ellie!! I’m sorry you only have one choice for a dentist! Hope You don’t have a repeat of your last experience!! Have a great day, My Dear!!
xoxo 😊💕🌹
We all have tose things that we need to be… I hope it’s sorted quickly.
I would have done the same thing!
Thank you, Captain Q, for your kind support X
Oh Ellie – that’s a bloody disaster! Most definitely get it fixed. Your smile is many things to many people in your day, regardless of what your smile is to you – you can’t disappoint them! Your smile is priceless ❤️ 😊
Thanks for such kind understanding, Kait. I have a consultation with the private dentist tomorrow afternoon, so see what he can do and how much he will charge, although I know it will be in the region of £1,000! If I were able to have it done with my NHS dentist, it would only have cost me £329 – quite some difference, isn’t it!?
I make a daily habit of saying good morning or hello and smiling at everyone I pass on the footway/cyclepath on my way into town. I feel very self conscious without my front tooth when I do that, and have been trying to smile with my mouth closed, but that doesn’t seem genuine or natural for me. Hopefully, I can have it dealt with very soon. Thanks for caring. It means a lot to me. You are very kind. Xx 😘💕
Here’s to it all getting sorted ASAP! Never understood why dentists are so crazily expensive!!🙏🩵🌻
Thanks, Kait. Unfortunately, because of a medication I have to take for my severe osteoporosis, I have to have private dental treatment and any teeth or invasive treatement has to be done by a profesional oral surgeon. The NHS are not allowed to carry out any invasive work on my teeth, which is why this is going to be sooo expensive. If I could get the treatment done on the NHS, it would cost me an awful lot less at £329. X 🙏🏻🌹💕
Wow, I am sorry to hear of this experience Ellie. I hope you are feeling okay at the moment.
Thank you, Tangie. Fortunately, the dentist I saw was able to save my tooth. He put a particular type of ‘wraparound’ filling over it, and it looks as good as new now. I am very pleased and grateful I didn’t have to have the tooth removed. I’m just hoping that it lasts now. I am being very careful about what and how I eat now. Xx