Dentures following mouth cancer surgery

Hi. 
Im sure somebody will be along with some personal experience soon

Meanwhile take a look at some of these threads. 

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/search?q=Dentures#serpq=Dentures&serp=1&serpgroup=100

Good evening, i had lower jaw reconstruction, but i had skin and bone grafts instead of a plate, so my experience with dentures was different from what is planned for your mum. After 18 months from my reconstruction i had 4 implants fitted to my lower jaw and a set of dentures clipped onto the implants. To be honest, they only lasted about 18 months as my body rejected the implants, which i was warned could happen so maybe its better to only have half a set rather than a full set. Wishing your mum all the best in her recovery and further treatment, take care.

                                                                       Chris x

Thanks Chris.

Sorry to hear about your experience, it does help hearing your story. 

We weren't aware that having the plate meant that she wouldn't be able to have bottom dentures. She already had full set of dentures before op and was just hoping for same type of bottom dentures just designed to fit the new gum shape. Thought the plate would support the bottom dentures. Even if she had half set for eating but had some clip on half set for talking and socialising so it wouldn't be noticeable. It has really deflated us at this late stage as she has been so much pain and discomfort. 

Hope everything goes well for you x

I had a right mandibulectomy but had a very thin strip of my lower jaw left so no reconstruction. I still at that stage had teeth in my left jaw. I had a half denture made but found that it was very uncomfortable although I persevered for some time. I could not eat properly when the denture was in so eventually gave up on it and remained toothless on my right side. Honestly only having half of my teeth in my lower jaw was no big deal for me as I could manage to eat O.K. The cosmetic look of only half of my teeth never worried me and it was not that noticeable. Your mother may get on fine with only a half denture so it's really wait and see how she copes with it. 

Lyn

Thanks for this Lyn. Hopefully mum will do fine as well. She is eating well without any bottom teeth but won't go out socialising because her speech has been affected and food/drink runs down her chin which she is so embarrassed about.  She has no feeling in her chin anymore so doesn't realise anything is running down her chin until it runs down her clothes. We thought bottom dentures would maybe prevent the dribbling so she would be less conscious of it when she goes out. I guess we just need to wait and see. Thanks again for your reply x

It's early day yet so thing should improve. I also have an issue with food, drink, dribbling out of the side of my mouth. I have found having a mirror in front of me when I eat and drink really helps as I can keep a check on what's happening. I also wear a pinafore type apron which really saves a lot of clothes washing. I have got to the stage now that I can eat and drink at times without the mirror without making too much mess although having the mirror really makes a difference. You find ways and means to manage the situation. I still do not eat when I go out as I am embarrassed about the mess so I eat before I go out but still attend all the social functions which are around food. 

Best wishes to your mother.

Lyn

That's a good idea about the mirror. I will mention that to mum which I think will be really helpful. Thank you so much for your response, I feel better with the information you have provided with ways to manage around everything and your experience.  Thank you and best wishes to you x

What might work on one day may not necessarily work on the next day. You just try another way and eventually something works that you are happy with. I have plan a, b and c and just keep trying until I hit on what works for me.  I do hope your mum finds a plan that works successfully for her. It then becomes your new normal. Feeling in control of the situation really helps. 

Lyn

Great advice, thank you so much x

Dont give up, as I'm sure your consultant will try different options, mine were only fitted for cosmetic reasons because i cannot swallow whole food, so I rely on a PEG feeding tube. Great advice from Sophie. Good luck to you and your mum.

                                    Chris x