7 teeth |
Chewing Smiling Embarassment |
Chewing is not the same as with normal teeth. […] it gets harder, even because I don't have the lower prosthesis. Sometimes it affects the smile, as I said I don't have the lower one so there are those gaps, it is embarrassing. So I prefer not to smile very much. (Woman, 42 years old, anterior and posterior missing teeth, user of superior partial prosthesis) |
15 teeth |
Chewing Speech Weight gain Social interaction Feelings of embarrassment and shame |
I have to try to eat soft food, […] such as coffee with a wet bread, beans, very wet rice, apples I need to blend to eat […] I can't chew a fried chicken anymore […] I chew more to this side because I still have teeth, on the other side I don't chew anymore, the upper teeth hits the gum and it hurts. […] I have to slice it very well. […] They (the doctors) are also thinking that because I cannot chew the food properly I am getting fat. I am embarrassed, I don't get too close to my relatives anymore, even brushing my teeth and doing the oral hygiene I know that there will be a smell and many times I stay quiet, because I want to talk and in a bit I realize that the words are not leaving correctly. […] when I had teeth I spoke very well. Now I have to think very well, but still there is that whistle. So I get embarrassed. What I can improve at the moment would be to take it all out and put a prosthesis. That would be ideal to me. Then I would smile, play, chat, because I really like to chat with people. (Man, 44 years old, anterior and posterior missing teeth) |
16 teeth |
Chewing Smiling Feeling of shame |
I can chew, but it is not very easy, […] I don't have all the upper teeth, only two. Teeth don't keep me from talking. With the prosthesis it would improve, I think so, from starters we would find it weird, but then we would get used. I feel shame only to laugh, because here at the front I don't have any upper teeth. […] People with spoiled teeth, you know how it is… (Man, 70 years old, anterior and posterior missing teeth) |
22 teeth |
Chewing Speech Social interaction Work |
[…] I don't eat some things because I can't chew. […] I avoid opening the mouth too much to speak […] meetings, parties and birthdays I feel bad. […] There is no way I arrive at the place and talk to people and work with teeth like these. I used to sing in a group, I stopped because of the teeth. (Man, 67 years old, edentulous in the superior arch and with missing teeth in the inferior one) |
23 teeth |
Speech Smiling Physical appearance Chewing Work |
I have a problem to speak because upwards I don't have anything, I don't have my teeth. […] the tongue goes up here, so to speak it feels like I am gagging, it feels like I am spitting. […] And to smile too, I want to smile as I like to, but I don't feel comfortable. It looks ugly. I am like this. I had to be with my mouth shut because I don't have teeth in my mouth. I chew slowly. It has to be slowly. I can eat meat but not barbecue. A chicken, a very tender meat, not tough. I still intend to eat a steak […] It does not interfere in the relationships now, but when I start working… because I have always worked in restaurants, mainly at the counter. How will I be at a counter like this? (Man, 68 years old, edentulous in the superior arch and with inferior missing teeth) |
26 teeth |
Smiling Speeking |
[…] it is so hard to laugh, for pictures I never could, I am always serious. The upper prosthesis is well, it is new. But in the lower one I have this pain, and sometimes I bleed, but I have already seen the doctor. There are some days when my voice fails, I really want to speak but my voice doesn't come out. With the prosthesis it may get better, I have to do it. (Woman, 75 years old, edentulous in the superior arch, user of Total Prosthesis and with inferior anterior and posterior missing teeth) |