All on Four Lower - Full Upper Denture

One month down and five to go on my soft diet. I've lost about 10 pounds - from 180 to 170 but at 5'9" I overweight at a body mass index of over 26 so this is probably good anyway. I definitely miss eating snacks like chips and nuts and every meal out has to be ordered with care even breakfast as pancakes are fine as are hash brown potatoes but not breakfast potatoes that aren't shredded. I'm really not actually chewing - more like cutting everything into very small pieces and swallowing small portions. I have checkup with the surgeon in four days and ai hope the implants look like they're starting to integrate. Lots of compliments on my teeth - just wish they were mine! Bottom also on four has been absolutely no problem although it is a temporary - not much gets under the teeth and when it does a quick glass of water and swishing it under that are has done the trick. Still having issues with the upper full denture although the sore spots are gone - it just doesn't seem to fit real good and I was warned to sort of expect that as the denture was made when I had teeth that are now gone and the surgeon put a bone graft in the upper front in case I decide to go with an all on four on top. Plodding along without any real issues but I will say I'm still seriously considering a change up top.

The had an upper denture adjustment shortly after my last review and that helped and I'm getting much more comfortable wearing the upper full denture. I can't say I'm fine with it but I've gotten through the last week taking it out only at night to go to bed. It's nowhere near as comfortable as the lower all-on-four as that's given me zero trouble. The only issue with the bottom is that my jaw is still slightly numb - it doesn't bother me but I hope that it eventually goes away - the surgeon indicated it was common at this stage. So - things are getting better. My frame of mind in my last review is that I tried the full upper but decided to go with an all-on-four up top when I could (after the bone graft healed) but I'm now willing to see how much more comfortable I can get with the removable one. Besides cost savings, the removable upper will be easier to clean and likely less costly to maintain.

It's now been 12 days since my surgery. As the swelling of my gums continues to go down the upper denture continues to be uncomfortable to wear. I wear it at work and while I'm out and about but I take it off as soon as I get home and once in awhile if I know I'll be in my office alone at work for more than a half-hour.

I'm not giving up on sticking with the upper full denture but I will say the bottom all-on-four has really been a non-issue as far as discomfort - I really haven't had any. I have no idea of how a regular bottom denture stays in but I do know the plate on the upper denture that covers the roof of you mouth is going to take a long time to get used to - right now - I hate it.

I went back in for an adjustment to the upper yesterday - I had a few sore spots and the dentist trimmed a piece here and there and bent something else. It feels better but I still dread putting it in after showering in the morning.

If I had to make one statement right this minute it would be that in retrospect I may have explored other options for my mouth. I definitely needed four upper implants but my front teeth were nice and straight - just not as white as I'd like. Right now, the sinus lift I would have had to have doesn't sound anywhere near as bad as it did that got me going on this road. There is no substitute for your real teeth so get all you can get out of them before going the denture route because you simply can't go back.