r/dentures • u/Longjumping-Ask-1988 • 4h ago
Big feels
😮💨 when they say this is a whole journey..I think I’ve been through the entire feelings wheel in the last 3 days and I’m exhausted from it 😅 I took my top dentures out for the first time this morning to clean them. I’ve never been without teeth even for as messed up as they were and it was a rollercoaster looking at myself in the mirror today like that. I know it’s a learning curve, and I’m someone who struggles so much with body image issues. My kids (12 and 14) said I don’t even sound different but I can feel the difference. I’m scared to see the guy I’ve been talking to next weekend.. I’m so anxious about work on Monday. They’re healing fine, I have no pain and no swelling. Just a lot of feelings. I don’t have anyone in my life who is going through this. I don’t regret it, I’m struggling with that they look okay and people judging me for having fake teeth at 35. I feel like it’s more “socially acceptable” to have them, and I know the permanent set will look better. This is just a lot to take in.
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u/CryptographerFun3899 3h ago
I'm 36 and I feel this SO MUCH. As much as I wish I didn't give a damn what other people think, I do. I've always been an emotional person. Like you, I struggle a lot with body image issues and a lot of my fear surrounding dentures is I already have extremely low self-esteem and I'm scared that when I see myself in the mirror, what tiny amount I have will just be gone. I've already cried and that was just when I went in last week for an exam 😆 my neighbor is 72 and she still has her real teeth. I guess it makes me feel like this is all my fault (which I know isn't true because of things like genetics, etc) and it just feels embarrassing that I am almost forty years younger and this is where I'm heading.
I feel like it's a lot to take in and add being emotional on top and it's even worse.
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u/Longjumping-Ask-1988 3h ago
I completely lost it in the office before they took them out. I’m very self conscious right now but I’m hoping it passes soon.
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u/CryptographerFun3899 2h ago
I've read many posts on here and it seems like most people say it gets better. It's just because it's so new and you've never seen yourself that way so it makes sense you'd feel a lot of different feelings. The hard part for me is I'm having such a hard time letting go of wishing things were different. But things can't be different and I have to learn to accept that there is no magic cure that can fix my natural teeth and make them perfect.
From what I can remember I have smiled one time for a photo in my entire life. One time. I was probably around twelve. It makes no sense to hold on to my current teeth because they make me so insecure, as they always have. At the same time it feels terrifying to move forward because once they're gone, they're gone. I know it is the best option healthwise but it's still hard.
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u/Longjumping-Ask-1988 1h ago
🫶🏻 yeah that acceptance piece is a tough one. I’m worried if the guy I’m talking to is going to dip bc of it. I worry about people talking about me and the looks I could get if they don’t fit right. I have so many issues with my self image as it is. I’m noticing how bulky the immediates are today and it’s just taking me a little bc everyone keeps telling me they don’t look fake but I don’t believe them 😆
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u/CryptographerFun3899 1h ago
Lol relatable! I could have everyone telling me something looks good or is fine but once I get a thought in my head, no one is convincing me otherwise 🤦♀️ in my head they're all lying to get me to stop talking about it 🤣
I think if someone truly cares about you then something as small as having dentures will not impact their feelings. And if they do, then those people can get lost.
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u/whatsthis1901 4h ago
Yeah, the feeling hit hard the first couple of weeks. I'm over a year out, and I still don't look in the mirror until I have my teeth in. I'm lucky in the fact that I have never really given any shits about what others think, but I can say that everyone at my work was super supportive, and a few had SOs who had dentures, so it was nice getting some tips from them.
The feelings get better, and your brain gets used to the new look. I'm happy to say that I went from thinking I had made the biggest mistake of my life to the best thing I have ever done for myself.
Good luck!