My Journey with Dentures from Dahlia Dental, Amsterdam N.Y: A Cautionary Tale
Over five years ago, I began my journey with dentures. At the time, the dentist made a mold of my gums and had me return a few weeks later to pick up the finished set--both uppers and lowers. When I arrived, her assistant handed me the dentures to try on. Immediately, I noticed a problem: they didn't fit at all. They were so loose that they kept falling out.
The dentist came in, observed the poor fit, and pulled out some denture adhesive--Polygrip or something similar. She demonstrated how to apply the adhesive and sent me on my way. At that moment, I trusted her expertise, not knowing any better.
It wasn't until later that I learned dentures are supposed to fit properly without needing adhesive--at least not right away. Adhesive is typically only required years later as gums wear down or shrink.
Shortly after, I went back to her and explained that I couldn't eat properly unless I loaded the dentures with adhesive. She attempted to fix the problem by shaving the dentures down while I was there. However, she told me she couldn't remove much more material, as it would make the dentures too fragile. That was the extent of her solution.
Since that day, I've struggled immensely. I can't eat more than one meal a day without the adhesive failing, which causes the dentures to come loose and make my gums sore. After years of this, I've resorted to wearing them only for cosmetic purposes. Even then, I need to use a significant amount of adhesive just to keep them in place. Wearing them for more than half a day leads to soreness and discomfort.
I deeply regret using her services and have carried this frustration for years. To this day, I feel upset whenever I think about the experience. It's particularly disheartening when I see others who have well-made dentures that fit comfortably. My mother-in-law, for instance, has a set that she simply puts in each morning--no adhesive needed. She can wear them all day without any issues eating or speaking. Seeing her experience made me realize how much I had been failed by my dentist.
Now, I've retired and moved to Florida. I'm hoping my new insurance will cover the cost of a properly made pair of dentures. I refuse to go through the same ordeal again or let another dentist dismiss my concerns.
I'm sharing this story to vent and to warn others about neglectful care of this dentist or any other. If you're starting your own journey with dentures, please advocate for yourself and don't settle for ill-fitting appliances. Someday, I hope my suffering will be alleviated, but until then, I remain frustrated by what I endured. read more
