What to Expect...

Since I don't know anyone with dentures that I can talk to, I did what I always do. I went on-line and started googling phrases like "what to expect new dentures". I got back a plethora of information, and most of it is in agreement with each other. This is always a postive sign about the veracity of the inforation, but in this instance, I wish that it had disagreed a little bit more.

So what can I expect? Facial swelling for up to a couple of weeks. A sensation like my teeth are too big for my mouth. Difficulty speaking, most likely will be expressed as a lisp. May not be able to eat real food for up to six weeks or more. What?!? No Way! I'm doing this because I can't eat!

Rewind 40+ years to 1969. My mom was 29 years old and her teeth were in terrible shape. Her only option was dentures. On a Friday afternoon, they pulled all of her teeth, and put her dentures in. The next day she was eating pork chops off the bone. By Monday, she was eating apples and corn on the cob.My mom just a couple of months after her dentures. The little charmer in the red dress was me. I was not happy about gaining a new father and upsetting my status quo.

I grew up on those stories. Now, I'm hearing that I should eat "soft foods" for 2-3 weeks before even attempting something like a very tender hamburger. Many people say that they never have been able to bite into something like a sub sandwich or a hamburger, because they haven't learned how yet. That their dentures don't bite into foods the way they were used to, and they just can't get the hang of it.

So, was my mom some kind of super woman? Admittedly, my memories of her include feats like carrying a 50 lb sack of feed on each shoulder, and building a 6 foot diameter brick fire pit in the back yard. My mom was 6 foot tall. I only got to 5'7". I grew up expecting to be able to do the same things that she did and I feel like a terrible failure when I'm not able to do those things. I can't break concrete with a sledge hammer. I know, because I can't swing a sledge hammer without falling over. But pain tolerance is a whole nother story. I have huge pain tolerance. I've been living with jaw, ear, and sinus pain for several years now, and have had mouth pain for most of my life. I still function quite well in spite of the pain. I don't expect this experience to be any different.

Do I expect to be able to chew pork chops off the bone the day after my teeth are done? Well no. I would like to be able to eat meat loaf or a hamburger patty though. I think I can handle some sauteed zucchini. Potato salad would be nice. Some pulled pork with bbq sauce would suit me quite well. I'd like some fajitas with onion and peppers. I think I've had quite enough mashed potatoes, soup, and oatmeal to last me quite awhile.

So if you're reading this, please wish me well. I think that for the most part you do get back what you put into something. I'm going into this expecting my life to improve. I'm expecting a pretty smile (I bought new lippy thank you very much!), and I expect to be able to eat again. Soon.