L.,
First of all let me tell you it is not an easy decision to make to have teeth pulled! Let me tell you my story so that you can understand a little about what I am saying.
I am 29 years old. When I was married to my first husband, he took me to a dentist that someone had recommended for me. This dentist scraped my teeth and did not polish them, so from that point on they started to deteriorate and fall apart. I was 20 at the time and did not know any better, so I just let it go. After about 5 years, you started to see the damage. By this point it was to late to save my teeth because they were basically rotting from the inside. Due to lack of money and insurance, I let them go until finally some of them were breaking when I ate. My mom finally said (after 2 years of missing a tooth in the front) that she would pay to have them pulled and pay for a partial since most of the damage was to my front teeth. I put it off and put it off, for fear of pain and embarassment from people knowing that I had fake teeth.
This past Monday, I went in and had them pulled (another nightmare and story in itself but that is not the issue here) and a partial plate put in.
I guess I like that I can smile now and noone can see the damage that was done, but I am still adjusting to the fact that I have no front teeth of my own now. Implants were not an option for me because of the money it would have taken for 5 teeth. So, my decision was based on money and the fact that I would not be in pain from my teeth anymore.
It was not easy to do and I still get depressed about it everytime I try to eat something that I have to bite into but like I said I am still adjusting to it. I guess when I get used to it and they get the adjustment right it will be ok.
I wish I had more information on the procedure that you are thinking about having done, but at this point I don't. All I can really say is that you will feel better about it when it is all done and over with, and know that you are not the only one out there that has had to think about it.
Best of luck to you! And HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!