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- Nov 8, 2016
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So...I've received a bit of bad news and I'm looking for some feedback from the members of this forum if anyone has any first hand experience to offer.
For years I have been living with declining gum disease, which had already forced the extraction of two upper molars. Yesterday I scheduled an emergency appointment with my dentist, as I have noticed some discomfort in my gums over the past week that finally escalated to a point that I knew it was time to get a professional opinion. My dentist informed me that I have an abscess in the gum, with significant bone loss on another one of the upper molars. He stated that I will need to have it extracted after a brief course of antibiotics has handled the infection. With this news, he presented me with a few options, both of which involve two sessions or oral surgery and bone grafting, followed by either a permanent implant of a new fake molar, or a prosthetic (such as a denture). I will need one or the other as I will no longer have any molars on the top left side with which to chew my food.
In addition to this news, he also suggested that I give up the pipe. When I asked "for how long?",he replied with "probably forever". This is the most depressing of all the news, as the pipe smoking lifestyle, pipe collecting, and my involvement in the pipe smoking community has been a really bright spot in my life - One which I do not wish to give up. It is one of my few joys in life. This is all going to be hugely expensive, and I am already planning to sell off about half of my pipe collection to fund my upcoming medical expenses. I'm also going to be getting a second opinion before I proceed regardless.
Now a few questions: Has anyone else (or someone close to you) had a similar experience with gum disease and having teeth extracted? Is it possible to smoke (or even limit my smoking) after the bone grafting and implant surgeries? Any thoughts? suggestions?
I will do whatever I have to do to preserve my health, but if I could still participate in a pipe every now and again it would be comforting to know.
Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. I'm trying not to jump to any conclusions, but this news is a bit depressing.
Best regards,
Loren
For years I have been living with declining gum disease, which had already forced the extraction of two upper molars. Yesterday I scheduled an emergency appointment with my dentist, as I have noticed some discomfort in my gums over the past week that finally escalated to a point that I knew it was time to get a professional opinion. My dentist informed me that I have an abscess in the gum, with significant bone loss on another one of the upper molars. He stated that I will need to have it extracted after a brief course of antibiotics has handled the infection. With this news, he presented me with a few options, both of which involve two sessions or oral surgery and bone grafting, followed by either a permanent implant of a new fake molar, or a prosthetic (such as a denture). I will need one or the other as I will no longer have any molars on the top left side with which to chew my food.
In addition to this news, he also suggested that I give up the pipe. When I asked "for how long?",he replied with "probably forever". This is the most depressing of all the news, as the pipe smoking lifestyle, pipe collecting, and my involvement in the pipe smoking community has been a really bright spot in my life - One which I do not wish to give up. It is one of my few joys in life. This is all going to be hugely expensive, and I am already planning to sell off about half of my pipe collection to fund my upcoming medical expenses. I'm also going to be getting a second opinion before I proceed regardless.
Now a few questions: Has anyone else (or someone close to you) had a similar experience with gum disease and having teeth extracted? Is it possible to smoke (or even limit my smoking) after the bone grafting and implant surgeries? Any thoughts? suggestions?
I will do whatever I have to do to preserve my health, but if I could still participate in a pipe every now and again it would be comforting to know.
Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. I'm trying not to jump to any conclusions, but this news is a bit depressing.
Best regards,
Loren