Young adult lost all her teeth!

[dieselhead]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1169764/NHS-scandal-I-dentist--Now-aged-21-Ive-teeth-removed.html

I know we have a few dentists and dental nurses on here and would be interested to hear your views on this story. I found it quite shocking, but also have a hard time believing that she couldn't have saved her teeth by looking after them.

I don't have a NHS dentist but I do have an excellent private one, and I too am a student, but it is just one of those things I have to budget for.

My dentist has told me that so long as I brush my teeth twice a day with an electric brush he doesn't forsee any problems. So why did this girl loose all her teeth so young??????

[annie2005]

She had a gum disease according to the paper I read. This could be related to the genetic one that runs in my family. Nothing to do with hygiene in that case. Just bad genes. Several members of my family have had all their teeth removed because they could not stand the agony any longer. You will note that it mentions that she might never be able to have false teeth because the gums might not heal enough. That is down to the flesh of the gums being very fragile down to continual inflammation. It's not always treatable sadly.

[Toothsmith]

So why did this girl loose all her teeth so young??????

Because she didn't brush them.

It takes a fair bit of neglect to lose teeth that young in that quantity.

I notice that her hair, make up and clothes all looked very nice, so she obviously has some money to spend on herself. Just didn't think dentistry was that important until it was too late.

[Toothsmith]

She had a gum disease according to the paper I read. This could be related to the genetic one that runs in my family. Nothing to do with hygiene in that case. Just bad genes.

Even people with genetic predisposition to gum problems would have to work very hard at neglecting things to loose them all by 21.

Even with the genetic cases, clean teeth can still last for many many more years than plaquey ones.

[annie2005]

Even people with genetic predisposition to gum problems would have to work very hard at neglecting things to loose them all by 21.

Even with the genetic cases, clean teeth can still last for many many more years than plaquey ones.

Not denying that clean teeth can last a lot longer than uncared for ones. But when you are in a state of continual agony you want every last one of them gone, gone and gone. I spent years begging my dentists to pull teeth and them not listening because they believed that they knew what was best for me. Then finally I had a dentist who actually listened and looked at my whole medical history. My health has never been better.

Instead of 8 pain killers a day nearly every day within two weeks of the last of the teeth going I was pain killer free. My mouth only didn't heal in one bit where it turned out there was a bit of root lingering. Once it had been removed for the first time in years there was not a bit of pain in my whole mouth.

If you have basically sound teeth and gums then it's probably impossible to understand the misery of not being listened too. Even when you are in tears with the pain. Years of not being able to sleep only because of the pain. Of being always on and off antibiotics because there was yet another round of infection.

Out of interest, Toothsmith, do you know why her mouth might not heal enough for dentures? I have heard about this from family members but always wondered what the medical explanation was?:confused:

[chazsucks]

It really isn't that hard to find a dentist. If you're teeth were THAT bad in the first place you WOULD find a dentist no matter what (unless you didn't care).
Anyone who can afford new clothes, makeup etc can easily save up to afford to go to a private dentist, even if it took a long time

[anewman]

She eventually found an NHS dentist who did the sums. The NHS dentist earned £x per tooth removed so removed them all :D

Oh ok that's me being cynical, but I'm sure it wouldn't be the first time that unnecessary dental work was carried out.

[suki1964]

Ive no sympathy for her. I have gum disease, have had since my teens and Im now 44. I have lost 5 teeth so far. I can no longer afford the fancy treatments the private sector offered me but with me cleaning them twice daily, using an electric soft brush, interdental brushes and flossing (where I can), seeing a Dentist twice yearly for a check up and a once yearly clean Im keeping the teeth in my head.

So if I can hold on to mine that long, the only reason shes lost hers is from her own neglect

[jugglebug]

She eventually found an NHS dentist who did the sums. The NHS dentist earned £x per tooth removed so removed them all :D

Oh ok that's me being cynical, but I'm sure it wouldn't be the first time that unnecessary dental work was carried out.

NHS dentists do not get paid per tooth (In england and wales that is)
They get paid per course of treatment, and so to get paid per tooth would have to extract 1 every 3 months.
Check up and prevention = Band 1 fee
Simple treatment such as an extraction (or 32 extractions) = Band 2 fee
More complex treatment such as denture or crown(s) = Band 3 fee.

Therefore if you need 1 tooth out you pay the same (and the dentist receives the same funding) as someone who has all their teeth out.

[jugglebug]

Out of interest, Toothsmith, do you know why her mouth might not heal enough for dentures? I have heard about this from family members but always wondered what the medical explanation was?:confused:

I would imagine it is more to do with the amount of bone she must have lost during the gum disease.
The teeth get loose because bone is destroyed, this wont regenerate up to the level it once was, as the body has no teeth for it it support any more.
The residual bone ridge left behind will therefore leave little surface area for the dentures to sit on. Particularly in the lower that tends to get very narrow and sharp. The upper jaw has the hard roof of the mouth to help out where the lower doesn't of course
I am also guessing it is slightly poor reporting on the part of the journalist, paraphasing what the patient had been told. I suspect the dentists have been trying to get across to her how difficult it is to get used to dentures, particularly in this situation. Rather than saying she may never have them.
Essentially Dentures are a compromise. I once heard someone far cleverer than me describe them as the alternative to "No teeth" NOT an alternative to "real teeth".

[Toothsmith]

I would imagine it is more to do with the amount of bone she must have lost during the gum disease.
The teeth get loose because bone is destroyed, this wont regenerate up to the level it once was, as the body has no teeth for it it support any more.
The residual bone ridge left behind will therefore leave little surface area for the dentures to sit on. Particularly in the lower that tends to get very narrow and sharp. The upper jaw has the hard roof of the mouth to help out where the lower doesn't of course
I am also guessing it is slightly poor reporting on the part of the journalist, paraphasing what the patient had been told. I suspect the dentists have been trying to get across to her how difficult it is to get used to dentures, particularly in this situation. Rather than saying she may never have them.
Essentially Dentures are a compromise. I once heard someone far cleverer than me describe them as the alternative to "No teeth" NOT an alternative to "real teeth".

Couldn't have put it better myself!

[Toothsmith]

She eventually found an NHS dentist who did the sums. The NHS dentist earned £x per tooth removed so removed them all :D

Oh ok that's me being cynical, but I'm sure it wouldn't be the first time that unnecessary dental work was carried out.


I very much doubt 'unnecessary' dental work has been done on the NHS since the eary 90s!

The problem since then has been getting NECESSARY work done!

Money is made on the NHS by getting people in and out as quickly as possible. Access is king, bums on seats.

Slowing down to actually DO something for somebody COSTS money - not make it.

[annie2005]

I would imagine it is more to do with the amount of bone she must have lost during the gum disease.


:beer:Thanks for the answer to this. It's fascinating to know. Also it explains why my own face has changed shape since my latest dentist made me the happiest of patients. With my own much welcomed full extractions. Not only pain free after years but as a side effect ... :jcheekbones :j

[Loopy Girl]

Even people with genetic predisposition to gum problems would have to work very hard at neglecting things to loose them all by 21.

Even with the genetic cases, clean teeth can still last for many many more years than plaquey ones.


I get that quite alot - the old 'soft gum' excuse! When I am speaking to a parent and their 3 year old is booked in for a GA for a full clearance I am oftem met with the 'oh I've got soft gums so she must have'!!

Or the best one was when a parent was forcefully telling me that the reason her daughter had decaying teeth was because she was drinking 'too much milk'!! It's a fine line when you are out in the community between educating and trying not to call them a liar!!

But I agree...to lose your teeth at 21 and blame the lack of a dentist is just not acceptable. Brush you teeth twice a day and keep sugary drinks and snacks to mealtimes and to be honest you could probably get away with not seeing a dentist if you couldn't find one.

[Pssst]

She apparently failed to look after her teeth,now shes lost them and is looking to blame someone else. She has only herself to blame.

[jenhug]

my mum had a full set of false teeth at 21! Her original ones were brown and very brittle, she broke one once on a jam sandwich!

[annie_d]

A lot of people from previous generations had all their teeth removed when they were pregnant didn't they? I am sure I heard that from my mother. Gum disease I assume.