False teeth or fix mine?

I had great teeth growing up, but after having four children my teeth are horrible! I went to the dentist and they want to do root canals and everything else on them! The cost is over $6000.00 to fix them! I am afraid they will just keep getting worse and I do not want to have to keep paying a big dental bill every time I turn around!
It is around $3,000.00 to get them all removed and false teeth put in! I am only 30 but I am so stuck on what to do! Please help!

Invest in your own teeth. Yeah, it sounds cheaper on the bottom line to have them all pulled and replaced with dentures. I don't think your total cost reflects the cost of the dentures, though. In most places, a set of dentures alone costs that much. Root canals and caps/crowns will let you preserve the teeth, where they belong. Dentures just sit in your mouth, and wearing them changes how and what you can eat. Think of it as an investment, if nothing else. Fix them and then do the maintenance. And consider, maintained natural teeth last a lifetime. Dentures have a life expectancy of around a decade. During that time they will need to be periodically realigned, and eventually replaced. They may break and need a repair. So dentures are not a one time expense either. And when they need replacing, you are looking at chucking out several thousand again to do it. You are young, so you can look forward to paying for several sets over your lifetime. I vote to fix and maintain what you have. Plastic is not a choice, it's just a second best replacement.

fix yours, it will be worth it in the long run

I know how you feel, I had great teeth too growing up,and done the same thing that you are going through. I guess, do what you can with the money I've got. I have 4 false teeth on a metal plate. If you was like me, I would try to borrow the money. Having nice teeth, makes your whole outlook and make you feel good too.

This is a common problem for people who return to the dentist for the first time in years, get a complex treatment plan, hear the fee, and then panic.
You need a dentist that will prioritize treatment into manageable portions so you can spend the time and money. I'll occasionally see people as young as you are with significant problems, but I can't remember the last time I recommended dentures at your age.
Don't think there is just one way to approach the problems you have. Find a dentist that will lay out treatment options you can understand, and work on a plan that will get you from point A to point B to point C. This stuff didn't happen in a day and it won't be fixed in a day either--but you should be able to figure out how to get it done eventually.

Steve Bornfeld, DDS

Actually, there are surprisingly many people your age who have dentures. If that is something you are seriously considering, there are a few things you should think about. One is that getting dentures is pretty costly, too. I'm not sure EXACTLY how much you will be charged, it varies from dentist to dentist. But it will probably be AT LEAST $100-$200 per denture (UPPER and LOWER).

This is also not a one time cost. Ideally, in a perfect world, it would be. But the fact is that things will happen, and you will need to get it repaired, etc. They're easy to drop and step on and break. Or bite something too hard and they crack. Also, your mouth changes with time, and even if you don't break it you will probably have to get it relined from time to time (adjusted to fit your mouth right again). These repairs and relines all cost a pretty penny as well.

If you have some teeth that are still good, you may consider getting a partial denture. There are temporary partial dentures that are made of all acrylic, sometimes with some clasps and the teeth you need. These are just that: TEMPORARY. Although people sometimes use them as long term solutions, they are not meant to be. There are also partial dentures made with metal frameworks. Those are made to last much longer. It's still very important to take good care of the teeth you do have remaining, however.

Your very best option, I believe, is to get dental implants. However, these are VERY pricy, and I'm not sure of your situation, you would need to discuss it with your dentist.

I also recommend getting a second opinion from another dentist.

Spend the $6,000.00. Your natural teeth will be much better than the best dentures out there. That is not a lot of money to spend to preserve your teeth. Dentures will always be available down the road if the costs and care get to be too much.

Dentures are not a once and done thing. They take time to get used to, they take time to get to fit just right and since your mouth will be ever changing you will need to replace your dentures periodically. There are physical and emotional issues that you will have to deal with too.

If mine could have been restored for $6,000.00 they would not be parked in a cup overnight!

Why don't you consult with several other dentists, ask them how either decision would affect your life. Ask second opinions like you are doing here. Also, look for alternatives to high costs, for example through Denture4Less.com if you decide to go that route. If you shop around, you could save 50% or more!