Another Weird Question About Teeth

[jfisher]

So, lots of you know I have chronic pancreatitis. I've had it for over five years and I've gone through periods of severe malnutrition. My weight goes up and down at a scary pace. I am told that due to the malnutrition, my teeth enamel is rotting away. On all four upper front incisors, at the gumline, they are literally eroding away. It looks like holes in the teeth along the gumline. I hate this and have NO idea what a dentist could do, if anything. You guys have any ideas? And oh yeah, what is the COST?! LOL!

-Jackie

[littledmc17]

OOOOH could be expensive sweetie

[jfisher]

I wonder if anyone would take a payment plan or do a discount work since it was caused by a health problem...Something I'll have to look into. Maybe a dental school could help too.

-Jackie

[jfisher]

If anyone has any dental knowledge, I can PM you a pic of the damage. I'm embarrassed to put it up on the public board!

-Jackie

[Chantell]

oh how I wish my mom was still alive, she was a dental assistant, I tried to call, the line is busy in heaven

[jfisher]

Awww... Thank you, that was sweet! Your mom is an now! My dad too.

-Jackie

[TaraM1285]

The only thing that comes to mind is veneers, but I don't even know if they can be done in that case. I have a friend who worked as a dental assistant and had them done. Her teeth were pitted and stained as a result of not getting enough fluoride as a child (I think). The downside is that they are hugely expensive, think thousands of dollars for multiple teeth, but she got a huge discount for working there.

[Barb E]

I have crappy enamel (gentics) and have a mouth full of crowns.
All the teeth on the top are crowns and all the molars on the bottom are crowns.

Crowns are expensive and so is the work and with crowns you really do want a good dentist and lab that makes the crowns - or you can end up with that black line at the gum. One of mine had to be sent back once because they didn't put the porcelain high enough.

One of my brothers now comes up here (hour drive) to go to the same dentist I do. After the first exam they worked out what needed to be done ASAP to save teeth (he got the bad genes too) and then are slowly working through the rest as insurance and $$ allow.

I'm not sure though with malnutrition if the root would stay stable enough for crowns.

If I were in your shoes I think I'd talk to folks that have had a good amount of work that is really good work and see if you can see that dentist for an evaluation. I don't think taking a referal from someone that simply has their teeth cleaned once a year would be enough for me.

[lmkersnick]

My DH's family have teeth issues, he claims that in their world growing up dental care was not on the high priority list (as it was not for my parents when they were growing up...). Anyway, a few years ago, they were all discussing their dental issues, and the youngest SIL said her enamel was rotting / dissolving or whatever it was, due to her one and only pregnancy, the developing baby sucked the Calcium out of her bones & teeth. We just recently found out from another SIL that she did get a full upper plate (false teeth).... these 2 sisters and my hubby all went to the same dentist for their work. --
I know my hubby said it was one of the best decision's he's ever made.

[Chantell]

Since this is medical, I am thinking false teeth are the way to go. Good luck!