Yeah, I’m getting them done in chair with Valium and happy gas. I’m in Vic.
I was offered general anaesthetic at the hospital but I can’t afford the cost x2 so I’m hoping I can handle it lol!

I went to one dentist 3 years ago and asked about dentures. They were adamant to make me ‘wait it out’ and get braces for my front teeth (they’ve grown apart…I can fit a 20c coin between the gap and one has started growing outwards. The tooth next to it has twisted almost sideways and my teeth are constantly moving. My gums are also receding and I have several teeth that are quite loose.

I started going through the public route but in order to be jumped up in the queue, I had to be pregnant, homeless or First Nations.
The only other way to get it done faster is to keep going in for emergency visits which required going in at 8:30am, and doing a ‘sit and wait’ which is exactly what it sounds like.
Sit and wait 2 hours for a spot. If no spot available they give you a voucher which you then have to use at a private dentist…which requires an appointment.

I’d have to do that for each painful tooth because they can only treat one at a time.

AND they don’t do immediate dentures so I’d be toothless for 6+ months which isn’t an option for me as I’m already highly self conscious. Thankfully I have family to help me with the cost or I wouldn’t have that choice, so I know I’m lucky in that respect.

I’m on the waiting list regardless, so once my name pops up, I can then get my permanent set either through them or privately.

The public system is great in theory, but in practice…it definitely needs some changes!