Zoot’s dental background: I was born without permanent replacements for my eyeteeth (the two teeth on either side of my two front teeth). When I lost the baby teeth, since there were no teeth to replace them, the other teeth scooted over to fill in the gaps. This gave me several sexy gaps between all of my top teeth, which mandated orthodontic interference. (So did my massive overbite, which had me wearing headgear both day AND night in Junior High. I was DAMN SEXY.)
When I got braces, the goal was to move the teeth back where they belong to make room for fake eyeteeth. They put the fake teeth on a temporary bridge and glued the bridge to the back of my two front teeth. This bridge started falling out a few years ago, whereby providing me with several humiliating blog entries. There is a $3000 procedure that could give me a permanent bridge, but two insurance companies have already denied me coverage.
For some reason, when the bridge pops out (making me toothless and ruthless. Humiliated), I am able to pop it back in and it stays. I have no idea why this works, but it does and I’m grateful because it pops out ALL THE DAMN TIME. The last cementing I got only lasted four weeks before the bridge came loose again. And if you’ve never spontaneously lost your two eyeteeth – then you don’t know the humiliation, so you’ll have to trust me. It’s really damn humiliating. It has popped out while I’ve been talking to people; it’s fallen into my plate of food during dinner, and its simply fallen out in my mouth while I’m doing nothing more than sitting. Minding my own damn full-mouth-of-teeth business. There is something incredibly demoralizing about having to scramble to find two of your teeth in a plate of rice at your favorite Mexican restaurant.
Where we are today in Zoot’s dental realm: I’m getting new teeth!
We finally worked out a payment plan with our dentist and I go to the first of two procedures next Thursday. They have explained it to me several times, but each time I only care about one thing: “I won’t be stuck between procedures without teeth, will I?” They have reassured me dozens of times that when I leave the office after the first procedure, I’ll have a temporary bridge (with teeth) that will last me two weeks until I go back for the permanent bridge. There is a chance it could take six weeks, but I’m hoping for two.
If the two-week mark holds solid, I’ll have new (and permanent for all practical purposes) teeth on April 6th. I’m thinking about scheduling some time with corn-on-the-cob, overcooked steak, gobstoppers and bubble gum to celebrate.
Here’s my old smile document it!
My friend had that done a few years ago. She had the same problem, no eye teeth. When she got her bridge she also got porcelin (sp?) veneres on the front four as well. She has BEAUTIFUL, fake teeth now. 🙂 And loves them. 🙂
Congrats on the new teeth!!! Yay!!!
Would it be too much to ask to see some pictures of you with the headgear? Come on Zoot… PLEASE!!!!!!
Hi Zoot, I found this link on another site and thought it might be something you’d be interested in. I’m not sure if it’s reputable or not, but what they’re looking for sounds like what you’re already doing! 🙂
http://blogs.clubmom.com/clubmom/2006/03/wanted_mom_blog.html
PS- Best of luck with the dental work! Also– the latest photos of NikiZ have been fantastic! She’s just lovely.
hey congrats on the teeth! what a pain — sorry you’ve had to deal with it for so long.
Ugh. I’m missing an eye tooth (for different reasons) and I had an implant put in. Which got infected and then fixed and then infected. I’m finally almost maybe going to have a new ‘permanent’ tooth put in. I’ve been wearing a stupid flipper for a year. So I know about the toothlessness and the falling out while eating/talking/smiling. They are expensive and a pain in the arse but it will be so nice to finally have a (cross your fingers) permanent solution. Good luck! Here’s to no pain!
I had adult braces…so I can sort of understand what it must be like to have to deal with “teeth issues”.
I am so happy for you and know that having this done will make your life better. I know that having my braces has made me a happier person!!!! (Or rather, having beautiful teeth has made me a happier person!)
oh my god. i’m sorry but you created far too realistic a visual for me and all i can do now is imagine you sitting there with your teeth popping out! 😉
good luck with the procedure!
I’m so happy for you! You’ve been such a good sport about the bridge, you especially deserve the procedure!
OH I can say been there done that. All 5 top teeth in my mouth are a bridge but they are also an implant bridge so there is no way they can come out. As a result of a car accident of course. I know how expensive they are. Also, I had to wear fake ones for about two years and they fell apart all teh time. I had to hold them in with pollygrip cause at first they had metal rings on the side to hold them in but I messed him them so much they fell off. By the day I got my implants they had broken completely in half for about the 10th time and I would not be able to super glue them together again…I had even lost one of teh teeth and had to superglue that on but the whole piece was cracked in half the acrilic from the teeth and I had to keep gluing them together. I still have nightmares about my teeth coming out and I am so glad that can never happen again!
I have a permanent bridge, and they make a temporary one (which looks just fine), and then put the new one in. They’ll take molds and things. Since you’ve already had one, it shouldn’t be too much of a process I wouldn’t think! I had just a stub of a tooth for an eyetooth a couple of weeks ago after having broken my crown. Now that was SEXAY!
I, too have no laterals. My little sis only has one and it is a “peg”, tiny and hilarious looking!! I didn’t know we could do a bridge…all they tell me is veneers and things of the cosmetic procedure, not covered by insurance variety…yick!
We have talked about our similar teeth before. I am so jealous, but happy for you at the same time. Are you getting implants? If so you can tell the internet, think of the hits you will get off of that post. Can’t wait to hear how they work out, is about time for me to decide what to do with my lovely teeth as well. Cant’ wait to see your new pearly whites!!
my filling in the front of my mouth , the big front tooth has gotten very loose, then i was trying to eat a hamburger and it fell out, can i glue it back in with some supre glue until the doctor can see me, it might take a couple of days before i can get in and i need something quick i have to go to work, can’t afford to miss work.
Haha, sucker! Actually, I’m about to do through the same operation, only with molars. Less visually evident, more physically intensive. I still have my own molars, but due to a slew of British genes ruining my teeth and a nasty case of bone disease that’s extended to my enamel, Two of my molars are, well, fragile decoration, basically. I hope yours turn out well.
ON JULY 28,06 I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT,AND MY FRONT TOOTH BECAME VERY LOSE AFTER HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL..NOW MY FRONT TOOTH IS GONE.
I’AM FILING A CLAIM WITH THE OTHER DRIVERS INSURANCE COMPANY,IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN GET MY TOOTH FIXED AND BILL IT TO HER INSURANCE COMPANY??IF SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
ON JULY 28,06 I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT,AND MY FRONT TOOTH BECAME VERY LOSE AFTER HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL..NOW MY FRONT TOOTH IS GONE.
I’AM FILING A CLAIM WITH THE OTHER DRIVERS INSURANCE COMPANY,IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN GET MY TOOTH FIXED AND BILL IT TO HER INSURANCE COMPANY??IF SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
Hi, just a quick comment – I also was born with no replacement eye teeth and so the pointy canines have moved in next to the front teeth. This leftlme with gaps, but I have never tried to fix this and have never had problems except for gaps. I actually think it might be good because wisdom teeth have also never been a problem (i’m 35) and I’m guessing that may be because of the extra room.
Hope that it has worked out for you.