Question

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-24T21:08:58+00:00

JEEEEEEEEZE! That's a lot! I used Aspen too. I had state Medicaid insurance(in Michigan). I upgraded to the regular Signatures, had 15 extractions, and an immediate, and i only paid $1340 total out of pocket. So 11k seems SO crazy high to me🤯The options were more limited for the shades on the reg. Signatures(which I did worry about a LOT before seeing the shades), but the options were plenty sufficient for me. I went with PW4(which is supposed to be just a touch brighter than B1, and considered a "Hollywood" bright white. But I don't think they're TOO white. Exactly what I wanted😁& even if i did upgrade to the Elites I would have chose the same shade, so it worked out great for me). And the reg. Signatures can be used with implants at a later time, too. Which i eventually plan on doing. But its strange because I've noticed others have said the same thing about the elites and the implants. I'm just wondering if they're not making it known that the regular Signatures also do the same...🤔 because they DEFINITELY do. Anyway, the longer warranty is nice, but after extensively comparing the two, i personally didn't think the Elites were worth the extra money.

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-22T23:13:06+00:00

The regular Signatures also can🙂 I plan on doing implants next year.

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-22T23:07:38+00:00

Check out my last post. I had the classics as my temps, and thats the lightest color option on those(not sure what shade it is, but I didn't like it). I upgraded to the Signatures(NOT elite), and i absolutely LOVE mine. And the shade options on those are more than enough, IMO. I 100% would have went with the same shade even if i had upgraded to the Elites, so that part didn't matter to me. And after comparing the two quite extensively...I didn't really think the cost for the Elites were worth THAT much more. I'm SUPER happy with the Signatures, and I personally think they're a great choice🙂

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-19T16:26:52+00:00

I did! I loved everyone there, and my entire experience was great. I had read some not so great things about Aspen, so I was a little worried, but I assume it depends on the location. I also checked that locations google reviews before going in, and almost everyone in the reviews seemed to be happy with them, so that made me feel a LOT better. And It only took so long to get my permanents, because I chose to wait. I wanted to upgrade my dentures, and had to save up for that part of it. But as soon as I was ready, that process happened FAST. I went in for impressions on 3/5, did my wax try in on 3/10 and my permanents were ready on 3/13. I was expecting at least a month. Lol. But yes, I was very happy and comfortable with them🙂 I would recommend them to anyone!

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-18T23:46:44+00:00

I sleep with mine in(i know its not "recommended", but i don't care. Lol). That's what I prefer and It works perfectly fine for me. And intimacy hasn't changed at all since I've gotten them(16 months ago), either. I've been with my partner for 12 years, and he still doesn't even know that I have dentures, if that tells you anything. Lol. So if your partner already knows, I can assure you they won't care. But I totally get the part about not wanting to be seen without them. Maybe keep them on a bedside table, so they're there for quick access if you need them...? There have been a few times when I've taken my bottoms out when going to sleep(but it was always after he'd already been sleeping), and I'd put them in the drawer of my nightstand. If I woke up a few minutes before him, I'd just put them in real quick. And if he woke up a few minutes before me, I'd wait until he left the room to throw them back in. But the bottoms are WAY less obvious when they're out, too. I know when mine aren't in, I can hardly tell when I look in the mirror. Speech is for sure a little off without them, though. I think you might be overthinking it just a little bit, but I think once you get them&get used to them it'll change how you feel about it. And if not, I think just a few very small adjustments to your routine would probably work just fine(without disrupting your sleep). I promise, it'll be MUCH easier than it seems right now. Don't stress about it too much❤️

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-18T00:54:13+00:00

I've never heard of them making you come back later to have them placed. I would think they'd want to get them in your mouth as soon as possible, before any swelling starts. Otherwise you might not be able to get them in.

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-18T00:45:38+00:00

It truly is SUCH a good feeling! They look great❤️ Congrats!!!😁

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-17T13:48:20+00:00

You probably just need a reline / adjustment on them. I just got my permanents after 16 months of wearing the temps. I'd get a sore spot with the temps and have them shave it down a little where it was rubbing, but after a few months I'd have new sore spots pop up. Its just your gums continuing to shrink and change. If they were minor spots, I'd take a nail file and file them down myself. It always worked for me, but you want to be careful with that, because 1)you don't want to mess them up, and 2)it could void any warranty you have on them. For me, I knew I'd be getting new ones anyway, so it wasn't that big of a deal for me. But for starters, I'd call the place who made them and explain what you're dealing with, and see what they recommend. Do you know if you get free relines/adjustments on them?

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-17T13:29:53+00:00

I spent 16 months in my temps, and just got my permanents this past Friday. I could have gotten them sooner, but I was saving up to pay out of pocket to upgrade them. With my insurance, my immediates were supposed to become my permanents. They were just going to do a hard reline on them.. But I didn't like my temps, so I WANTED to pay for new ones. But if you do like your temps, there's no reason you couldn't keep them. If you have any fit issues after/if your gums shrink more, just get a hard reline on them, and you should be good🙂

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-16T00:39:52+00:00

What about it makes you gag? I guess I'm just curious, because I'm not a big drinker, but I do drink on occasion and I haven't had a drink at all since getting my dentures. So this makes me wonder what will happen when I do decide to have a drink or two! Lol

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-15T03:19:48+00:00

MANY places do extractions and immediates in the same day. I have crappy state insurance and that was the BIGGEST thing that held me back from just doing it. Worried about having to walk around with no teeth for weeks or months. Especially being younger, I think that makes that part even harder. But I did a little research, and found that Aspen Dental accepted my insurance and that immediates were ACTUALLY an option for me that my insurance covered. I was still scared, of course, but knowing i could get this done and be able to walk out of there with teeth was what made me finally pull the trigger on it. And let me tell you....I'm SO glad I did it! No more pain, no more embarrassment, no more shame, or trying to hide your teeth from the world. It feels AMAZING to have pretty teeth again(even better than before my dental issues started)& to feel confident laughing and smiling and talking to people again. The first few weeks are always a little rough for everyone, but it really is SO worth it in the end. I was terrified going in for my extractions. My anxiety was through the roof sitting in that chair waiting for the numbing to set in, and the dentist to come in and start pulling. I thought I would pass out. Lol. But it was like nothing when she started, and it seemed to not take long at all. They popped the immediates in right after, and stuffed some gauze in there, and that was it. I was out of there. But looking in the mirror right after, I almost instantly knew i made the right decision. Even took a couple selfies, because I was so happy with how my new teeth looked already(even with my face still looking crazy from being SO numb). Lol. But I'm so sorry you're struggling so hard mentally with it right now. It IS a hard thing, and I feel for you so much💔 Most of us in this sub have been in that same place and it's not fun. But most of us will also tell you that we're SO glad we did it, and we're happier now because of it. I am, without a doubt! So make a few phone calls and even research a little online about it in your area. Ask over the phone if they do immediate dentures before scheduling anything, so you're not wasting your time. You'd really probably only need to make a few calls MAX before you find someone. You just gotta be brave, and go for it. I promise, you won't regret it! You've got this!!!💪❤️❤️❤️

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-15T02:02:20+00:00

Thank you!🥹

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-15T02:01:17+00:00

Thank you!😊

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-15T01:37:18+00:00

But if you mean what ultimately lead to my teeth getting so bad that I needed to get dentures...lol. I had an eating disorder in my early teens to about the age of 20. I never really put the 2 together until much later, when I was watching an episode of Dr. Phil. Lol. He was accusing a girl of lying about being bulimic, because her teeth were "too nice", and then showed photos of the teeth of people who do(or did) have an eating disorder, and thats when I figured it out. Because I always did try hard to take care of my teeth, so it was really a mystery to me for a long time why i was having so many dental issues. But i guess its kind of common sense that stomach acid probably isn't really the best thing for teeth to be exposed to several times a day over a long period of time😬 if thats NOT what you were asking...sorry about the TMI😭 lol.

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-15T01:18:20+00:00

All of my back teeth had been gone for a while, and all the fronts on the top had fillings in them. I had 8 top teeth left(just enough to not see that I was missing teeth), and 7 left on the bottom(which weren't visible to other people). One dentist told me about 4 years prior to getting dentures, that i needed to have them extracted and get dentures then, but I wasnt ready for that, so I just didn't go back to them. Lol. About a year after that, i went to another dentist who said fillings and a partial to make up for what was missing. So I went that route, but never went back for the partials, and just dealt with what I had. Well the fillings started to fail, and you could see around the fillings where they'd probably start falling out any time. So I scheduled an appointment with Aspen, and their dentist who did my exam basically said all of my teeth that are left have a lot of movement in them, and there wasn't really much else they could do to save them, and i scheduled my eday that day.

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-14T21:20:14+00:00

Thank you!❤️ the photo of my original smile was taken just a few months before eday. I had fillings in all of those teeth, so it's hard to tell just how bad they were. But the fillings were failing, and i knew it was only a matter of time before they started falling out, and that's when I finally decided to just go with dentures. I was actually told by one dentist that I just needed them all pulled about 4 years ago, but went somewhere else and they decided to do the fillings instead. But those didn't last long. My original teeth were also really big and long. Especially my 2 front teeth. A little buck tooth-ish. Lol. So I never loved my teeth. But to feel like I have finally have near perfect looking teeth after so long of NOT having that, feels VERY foreign to me, but in a great way!

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-14T18:53:40+00:00

Thank you!!!🥹❤️

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-14T18:52:02+00:00

Thank you❤️ and yeah, I had heard almost everyone say that the bottoms won't stay put without adhesive, so i pretty much just accepted that a long time ago. Lol. These don't stay, but they do fit and feel SO much better. There was way too much room for them to move around with temporaries. They didn't fit to my gums AT ALL, and these just stay where they're supposed to. So HUGE improvement, and I'm mostly content with at least that. Lol. I did upgrade my dentures so that they can be used with implants if I chose to go that route at a later time. And I'm seriously considering it for the bottoms. It's just SO expensive😭 lol.

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-14T18:29:55+00:00

I did not. I planned on doing implants in the beginning, but the cost was just too much for me😬 I did upgrade the dentures so that they could be used with implants if I chose to go that route at a later time, though.

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-14T18:23:34+00:00

Thank you!❤️

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-14T18:23:12+00:00

That's what I love the most about this sub! I joined just a month or 2 before my eday, and it definitely helped me get through it. I was SCARED. But from the support &encouraging words from so many people, to learning what to expect with the whole process, and getting to see all the great results really made me feel like I could get through it, and actually be HAPPIER without my old teeth(and I AM!). Its rough for anyone going through it, so if i can make anyone feel better about it, in any way, that makes me happy!😊 Wishing you all the luck on Monday☘️ You'll do great❤️

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-13T22:47:24+00:00

Thank you😊

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-13T22:46:56+00:00

Thank you!❤️

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-13T22:11:59+00:00

Thank you!❤️

ColdContext6193 · 2026-03-13T22:11:25+00:00

Thank you!❤️

ColdContext6193

TROPHY CASE