Just one question, what exactly is bonding??? My dentist said I may need some bonding done to my teeth because a few of em grew smaller than they were suppose too. My guess is that bonding means he's gonna fill in the cracks with some kinda atrificial filling, is that correct ??? Thanks

chipmunk cheeks
 

Hey doc, I just joined TFP (for the titty forum, i admit) as a diversion while waiting for my wisdom teeth extraction to heal. The dentist took them out on Friday morning, and it's now Sunday morning and my cheeks are swollen worse than they were on Friday. I'm still taking the extra-strength Vicodin I was given every 4 hours for the pain.

I'm an intern at a Manhattan newspaper and really need to go into work tomorrow. Do you think it's a good idea? Is there anything I can do to control the swelling/pain today so that I can get to work tomorrow?

Also, a second random question has to do with dental-issue narcotics and I'll understand if you won't want to answer them.

A friend of mine who works at a popular coffee-shop chain pilfers boxes of nitrous oxide cartridges. One evening I tried it with him (he stole one of those steel things you fill with cream and froth it up with the nitrous to make whipped cream) by inhaling the nitrous out of the nozzle of the thingy. It was a lot of fun - pretty identical to the feeling you get in the dentist's chair. I don't feel a physical or psychological need to do it again, but I think I'd indulge if there was an easy opportunity to in the future. Is nitrous addictive? Are there any negative effects of abuse?

Thanks for your help! I think it's really incredible that you're taking the time to help everyone out in this way.

Thanks for the thread popo, you already answered my questions about whitening.

Here's the secret test I always do: I stick it up my butt and if it smells better than before it went inside, it's time to replace it.

:D

But does she have big titties?

Electric toothbrushes aren't better on their own, they don't do anything that you cannot do with a regular toothbrush, IMO. Lots of people just don't brush long enough with a regular toothbrush and tend to brush longer with an electric so in those cases it's better. Some people like the feeling and then brush more often with electrics making it a good choice for them. Of the electrics, the Sonicare is best IMO but it's expensive (~$100).

About your flossing, keep it up. It will let you KEEP your teeth, not lose them.

Bonding is just another word for placing a white (composite) filling. Generally, it refers only to the front teeth. With bonding, he's not filling cracks... he's adding to your teeth, making them longer/wider/thicker/whiter or any combination of these. Depending on what he has planned, it may DRASTICALLY change how they look so you should have all the say in what he will do. Extensive bonding can be considered a poor man's porcelain veneers. They will not last as long as veneers and will stain over time.

Re: chipmunk cheeks
 

Hey Spaceman, welcome to TFP. It's a pretty cool place as I'm figuring out.

Sorry my answer is late but you shouldn't worry about the swelling & pain. It's absolutely normal for the worst swelling to be present 2 days after the surgery. Don't worry about taking the Vicodin if you need to but obviously don't drive while on it. I hope you got to work and that the swelling & pain is on it's way down now.

I honestly don't know the conditions under which you're taking the nitrous but I'll tell you the important points for us in gving it to patients.

1) DO NOT ever give 100% nitrous. We always mix it up with at least 50% oxygen. If you're taking a small squirt I doubt it's a problem but know that oxygen is VERY important if inhaling it.

2) DO NOT give on a full stomach since it causes nausea in lots of folks.

3) DO NOT give to alkies so if you drink alot and take nitrous, say sayanara to your liver.

Don't take it if you have pernicious anemia (you'd know if you have this). In general, YES it is addictive and long term it causes liver & kidney, neurological and bone marrow damage. Worth it? I dunno...

Good luck with the internship. NY Times editor in your future??

heh, here's hoping. It's a very exciting field and has a lot of potential for doing good, but it's also exhausting and pays little. Not an easy decision.

Thanks a lot for your thoughtful response to both questions. It's now late tuesday night - the operation happened friday - and I'm still swollen and in pain. I think it's my own dumbass fault, as I've been eating normal food and talking a lot (the vicodin makes it easy to forget) and since I've been at work I haven't been icing my face.

As for the nitrous, I was unaware of any negative side effects at all. Bone marrow damage? eeechhh. I think I'll save the giggly gas for (very) special occasions, in that case. It's good old college-style alcohol for me.

Anyway, hope everyone's week has been going well. Who would have thought that a thread on dental health could be so much fun?

I recently had root canal done--not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. My question is how long can I go with the temporary filling [instead of a crown and post, I guess] in? It is kinda outta my price range right now to upgrade.

Thanks!!!!

This is a tough spot, JR. It really should be done ASAP. The things that can go wrong are:

1) the tooth breaks because alot of it is removed during a root canal, leaving it weak. A broken tooth at this point could leave you needing gum surgery or an extraction. Not what you need after spending $$ on a root canal.

2) The inside of the tooth gets infected again. The seal with the temporary filling isn't 100% and right now the inside of the tooth is sterile. If it gets infected again, you'd need a cleanup of the root canal (basically a re-doing it). A problem is that you will not know if it's reinfected since you no longer have a nerve in the tooth that could feel it happening.

Now that you made a good decision to keep your tooth I really wouldn't wait too long, the potential for it to cost more due to waiting is too great. I read a study last year that showed that if a temporary filling was left in place for over 3 months, the root canal should be redone. I'm not sure if I'd go that far but it's food for thought.

Ask your dentist if you can pay in installments. They might agree to it since you'll likely need a few appointments for the post & core & crown.

Good luck.

Thanks!!!!!!!!

Popo, if you're still answering questions, I have one. Yesterday, I twisted my tooth (bottom row, one of the center four, furthest to my left, not sure what to call it) on the lip of a bottle. Hurt like hell, but the pain subsided. Later on, the pain came back. It came in waves for a bit, it would stop and start again if pressure was applied to it, just to give you an idea. I checked it out in the mirror and there was a little black line running down the center of the tooth.

I made an appointment with my dentist to see what the problem is and what would be done, but I was wondering what your take on the problem is and what the treatment would probably be?

Damn, Garic. That doesn't sound good. It sounds as if you have a cracked tooth but the fact that you get waves of pain from it makes me think that the crack went into the pulp (nerve space) of the tooth. If it did, and the crack continues down below the bone, the tooth is gone. As in it's gotta come out.

If the pulp is involved but the crack stops there, you'd need a root canal but you'd get to keep the tooth. That's really the best case scenario from what I suspect is going on.

Losing a tooth sucks but there are ways to replace it. Run from any dentist proposing a standard bridge in that area if nothing is wrong with the teeth nextdoor. Something called a "Maryland Bridge", though, is a decent idea. Another reat alternative is to get an implant to replace the tooth. It actually is the best way to go IMO but your finances will let you know which way to go. The reason the implant is better is because you would not have to touch the adjacent teeth and drilling teeth that have nothing wrong with them is not the best thing to do. It will likely lead to pmore drilling down the road.

Let me know what your doc says.

ok, so at night, i grind my teeth together while i sleep. i am slowly gridning my teeth down to nothing. i would like to know about solutions involving mouthguards or clips that you can put on your teeth to act as something else to grind on. any opinions on various methods that will work better/worse than others?

Popo, you are seriously the coolest dentist I know. Well, next to Dr. Esperanto anyway. Are you married? My sister's has said many times that she wants to marry a dentist.

YOU NEED TO GET A HARD NIGHTGUARD! If you already see that you're grinding your teeth significantly (and I assume that you're not 60 years old), then do something NOW. Trust me, I've seen people at 45 who have tiny stubbs for teeth and need to spend $40k or else live the rest of their lives in dentures.

A nightguard could cost up to $400 or so but it's worth it. One that is bought at the pharmacy or Walmart is worthless. Get the best one your dentist has to offer. He/She will probably have a range that they can offer but the cheaper ones just won't last as long so I'm not sure if you're saving any money going that route.

Don't play around with this. Go ask someone with dentures how they like it and you'll run to pay the $400.



Penington: Thanks, man. I'm just trying to help some people out. I realize that 99% of people feel like they have no clue if they're being told the truth at the dentist so hopefully I can clear some stuff up here. A few bad guys have ruined too many peoples' trust.

And yes, happily married. Doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy pics of your sister though. :D

I went to the dentist in January to have some cavities filled. I had had this hole in the emnamel for years and it bothered me off and on, so I had them take a look at it. Turns out, they said, that it was a very small, deep cavity. So, I had them fill it. Now, it's worse than it was before. I can't chew anything hard or even remotely hot or cold. What could be causing this six months later? Is there anything that someone could do to repair it?

The fact that it hurts now 6 months later and is very sensitive to pressure and heat makes it likly that the infection has gone into the pulp (nerve space). You say that it was a very deep & old cavity to begin with so this makes it even more likely. An X-Ray and a couple small tests and your dentist will be able to tell you if the pulp is infected. If it is, you'll need a root canal. If it's not a front tooth, then you'll also need what's called a "post & core" along with a crown. See my post from 6/16 for general prices. With front teeth, you can sometimes get away with just the root canal.

Hey Popo, this is kinda off topic actually. But I was thinking of applying for Dental School in the states. Any recommendations? Not a Genius here so Harvard and etc is out of the question.

I just have to say thank you for all the advice you're giving to all of us. I don't have any cavities and flossing is a way of life for me. I have had hundreds of compliments on my teeth and it's all due to my dad's genetics and the fact that my dentist is super cool. All he does is clean my teeth every 6 months. He says I'm a walking poster-boy for his business. You guys are the best, THANKS again.

Thanks popo. ive got an appointment in a couple weeks to get one made. it's costing me about $400 CDN, but im sure its worth it. thanks again :)

1.
ok, I have a few questions.
Im 19 and my wisdom teeth or something in the back of my mouth hurts. The other week my bottom right gum got really big , right above where my wisdom tooth would be(I dont see any wisdom teeth). Since then , the swelling has gone away .
Now the left side of my mouth hurts. Its just like the right side was. My gum got big(only in the very back of my mouth), and i could barely chew food. DO you think this is a sign of my wisdom teeth coming in?

2.
Also, what type of medicine do you recomend for teeth pain? Is advil better then asprin?

3.
Also, do they make pain medicine in liquid form or chewable? I have a hard time swallowing pills.

4.
Also, is it normal for blue mouth wash to stain your teeth ?

thanks for your help:)

It's not off-topic at all. I'll answer anything and everything I can.

It's actually a good thing that you're not a genius because Harvard is a terrible dental school. It lives off reputation but it does get it's students into specialty programs with ease. So it's not all bad.

That being said, I don't know of any other really bad schools. NYU doesn't have the best reputation and it's the most expensive. If you can, save some money and go to your state school. Most are pretty good. Where are you located?

The best advice is that it doesn't matter where you go. This is going to sound cliche but you only start learning the good stuff after you graduate. If you know that you want to specialize before you go further, make connections with the faculty in that department. It means alot, but you will still need to study like an ass. Specialty programs are generally very tough to get into but I highly recommend it if there's an area that interests you.

Don't hesitate to ask me for more info. And it's a great choice that you're making... it's an awesome career. I had no idea what it was before I started and there were times when I wasn't sure if it was for me but I've completely changed my view.

Go to a dentist ASAP. What you have (and had on the other side) is an infection generated by bacteria going into the pocket formed by your gums around the tooth coming in. It's called Pericoronitis and it can be very serious if it spreads.... much more serious than you can imagine. You need antibiotics and you'll get some painkillers too.

Then infections WILL come back if you don't get those teeth yanked and the infection WILL be worse then. So, as soon as the infection goes down from the antibiotics, get them out.

Really, you need to do this.

Do those expensive electric toothbrushes really work that well? I'm talking about the Sonicare brushes that are like $100. What is it about them that justifies paying that much for a toothbrush?

1. Is it true that some people need more anaesthetic than others? Is this just a body chemistry thing or can people who routinely take too many pain killers build up a tolerance to any kind of anaesthetic. (My dad's done this for years and he says he always need several shots of anaesthetic at the dentist's office.

2. I have sensitive teeth and tried using Sensodyne for a while, but I'm also concerned about keeping my teeth white, so I've switched back to a whitening toothpaste (one of the Crest ones, I think). But my teeth being so sensitive is bugging me. Should I use a bit of Sensodyne and Crest toothpastes at the same time or use one a.m. and the other p.m.? What does Sensodyne do to fix tooth sensitivity?

3. A couple years ago there was a blue powder that was marketed towards smokers. You would dip your wet toothbrush in the powder after brushing normally with toothpaste, and brush with the blue goop. I don't smoke, but it made my teeth really white. It just disappeared from all the stores I've looked in a couple years ago. Have you heard about it?

Btw, thanks so much for doing this. I really appreciate it. My dentist gets sick of me asking him a billion questions when I go in to see him. :rolleyes:

Does lactating affect you teeth? I noticed after my daughter was born when I started nursing her that my teeth began to be very sensitive. I've been nursing her for 3 years. I know that from research I've done that lactation affects your bones. There are a number of studies that show that bone density is reduced during lactation but once the child is weaned the density goes right back up to normal or thereabouts. When I've even begun to mention this to dentists they've often even interrupted me to tell me that this is non-sense. I haven't found any evidence of even any studies being done on this subject so how can they know anyway. My question is - is this even remotely possible?
A number of women who I am friends with who have nursed have ALL experienced the same thing. Some of my friends who haven't nursed didn't have any trouble. It just seems to be a pattern to me.

I am careful with my teeth, brushing twice daily with Sensodyne, and rinsing with Act. I sometimes don't floss more than once every other day but I try to at least do that. My teeth haven't been sensitive since I switched to the Sensodyne and my nursing reduced to about once a day.

Hi Doc. My Dentist, who I inhereted when my Dentist of 30 years retired, always wants me to swoosh in my mouth a flouride treatment liquid after my checkup. I usually decline it after I saw that the cost is $25.00. Is this really necessary? My teeth are perfect ( his exact words after every checkup ). Also, how often do I need to get x rays. He wants to do them every year? Thanks for the advice.

shit

thanks popo. I just googled "Pericoronitis" and from what i read, it sounds exactly like what I have. I made an appointment, the earliest they could see me was Sept 12. I hope it doesn't get any worse by then damnit.

Thanks again popo!!

Doood, I wasn't kidding. Sept 12 is not soon enough. August 12 is not soon enough. Go as a 5 minute emergency apointment tomorrow. He'll take a look, clean it out a bit, and give you a couple of prescriptions. If he won't see you, go to another dentist and never go back to him. If you notice that you feel the swelling moving to your throat or under your tongue, go to the ER. I don't want to alarm you but this type of infection untreated can take a serious turn. But it does respond well to antibiotics.

I'll be back to answer the other questions tomorrow.

fuck, all of a sudden i cant feel my legs....dude, what you just said scared the shit out of me.
i'll give him a call in the morning for sure.
i'll let you know what happens. thanks for all the information.

thanks again dude

/weeps silently

By themselves, they do no better job than a regular toothbrush with proper technique. Some people find that they brush for a longer time with electric toothbrushes and so clean their teeth more thoroughly. If you are one of these people then an electric is a good thing. Of the electrics, the Sonicare is the best one IMO. It goes for around $100.

1) Yup, some people need more than others. One study published last year IIRC showed that red-headed people needed more anesthetic than others. The reason some people need more can be body chemistry (in the case of redheads) or anatomy (there is slight variation in the location of peoples' nerves so you might not get the one you're aiming for the 1st time), or built-up tolerance. You see the tolerance issue alot with (former or current) drug users. They're a real bitch to anesthetize.

2) Don't bother with the whitening toothpastes. I don't think they work and they are abrasive by nature, leading to sensitivity. If you want your teeth whitened, get home bleaching trays from your dentist. You can vary the % of the bleaching material so that you avoid sensitivity from it. Sensodyme works by adding Potassium nitrate... the potassium goes into the tooth and stops the nerves deep inside from sending pain signals. It works for most people.

3) I really have no idea. Remember that toothpastes that whiten your teeth do it mainly by abrasion of the tooth surface. This is not a good idea for people with sensitive teeth.

If you have anything else, don't hesitate.

They tell you that it's nonsense that bone density drops & goes back up to normal when you stop lactating? Next time someone does that, bring them a list of the studies and watch their reaction. Should at least be amusing to see if they're willing to learn something.

I haven't seen any studies on tooth sensitivity but it's possible that calcium is drawn from your teeth if your bones are calcium-depleted. That could cause tooth sensitivity. Try taking calcium supplements (with Vit D) if you don't already. See if that helps. If not, try using Prevident. It's a high fluoride toothpaste available by prescription that you can use a couple times/week.

Good luck.

A fluoride rinse is usually included in the cleaning visit. I haven't seen it go for $25, but hey...

Are your teeth going to fall out if you don't do it? Probably not but it's a good preventative measure. If you have perfect teeth, nothing close to a cavity starting, I wouldn't worry about not doing it.

X rays once a year are reasonable for someone like you. Most people get 4 specific ones done every 6 months but if you have nothing going on, once/year is fine. It's not too often IMO.

Thanks so much Popo. :)

Hope your patients realize what a great dentist they have.

Thanks lady. :)

I'm actually not in practice right now. I'm in a residency program until 2006.

Sigh...

Hey folks. I thought I'd see if anyone's got any new questions.

Shoot away.

My wife doesn't have a single sound tooth left. About 12 nearly completely broken down to the gum teeth. She also has some teeth "bits" or roots that have had the g um completely grow up over them. She is looking forward to getting them all pulled and getting dentures (that's been recommended). With that kind of gum inflammation, and pockets of infection, would what have to be done f irst before getting the dentures?
You so totally rock. Thanks for the thread!

There are a couple things that she can do depending on time &, unfortunately, money. The cheapest way of doing things would be complete upper & lower dentures. This is ok for some people but most people have a hard time with the lower denture staying put. Implants change everything here and even as few as 2 implants can mean a huge difference as far as stability and function. The downside is that insurance companies (in their huge-hearted quest for quality patient care) so far refuse to cover implants.

As far as the infections go, not a big problem. The problem IS going to be the fact that after the remaining teeth and root tips are extracted, the bone & gums will heal and change shape. As they change shape, the dentures won't fit as well. This is why most often, an "immediate denture" (one that's placed immediately after extractions), is often relined after ~3 months (once the tissue has healed enough) in order to get a better fit. I'll be honest and say that most still find this to be crappy. Hence, the implants.

Sorry to hear that she's in this situation but I'm glad that she'll be dealing with it now.

So even with having to peel the gums off of th e root tips, I'll still be able to get the immediate denture? Is there anything I need to do first, before they pu ll the teeth, other than antibiotics?
Wow, what a neet dentist you are. Thanx.

Well, I'm sure they'll have to do a fair bit of gingivoplasty/alveoplasty which basically means reshaping the gums & bone so that there no sharp bony edges or protruding gums anywhere. This is all meant to have the dentures fit better later on but like I said, it's iffy whether that'll happen.

Antibiotics and a prescription mouthwash may be used and that'll help the healing process. You should wear the dentures after the extractions b/c the compression will reduce swelling.

Not much else to do... just be patient and don't expect miracles. :)

This is for my girlfriends father:
He hasn't been to a dentinst in YEARS, (we're talking at least 10 here, probably many more) and as a result, his teeth are in pretty bad shape. The reason he won't go,(we feel) is that he has some deep seeded fear of pain, or maybe dentists in general.
We've been hearing about (ads on the radio and such) sedation dentistry, where they knock you out and do the work, just as if you were having your wisdom teeth pulled, and reccomended that he go and do that, but here's the thing...

He claims that he cant have novacaine and that he can't be sedated because he has a heart arythmia. Doesn't novacaine work by all the sodium (or is it potassium) ions blocking the transmision of nerve signals? If so, how would a heart arythmia be affected by it.
I also don't know if this is a legitimate reason for not being sedated. Is it? And if it is, are there any altenatives? Dental science has come a long way even in the last 20 years, and there has to be something that can put him at ease about going to see a dentist.
By the way, if and when he does go, he'll probably need major and extensive work, that is if he doesn't need to have most of his teeth pulled and get dentures. He's 45.

Wow. I'm always amazed that there are people who have such a fear of dentists but yet have no fear of losing all their teeth and the chronic pain & discomfort and inability to eat that takes them there.

As for your qusetion... were you a biochem major? ;) Good call on novocaine (we haven't actually used novocaine for many many years-we use lidocaine/xylocaine most often) blocking the Na channels in neurons.

He is onto something when he says that he can't take anesthetic because of his arrhythmia since lidocaine is typically used with epinephrine which could affect his heart. But because of the many many instances where we don't want epinephrine, there are numerous choices among anesthetics without epinephrine. So, he may have the wrong idea about anesthetics or may be trying to get out of going to the dentist. Either way, he can get whatever treatment he needs and not have fear wrt the arrhythmia.

Sedation is absolutely a great idea for someone like him. How insurance will handle payment is dependant on what type of insurance he has (I'll assume he has none since he hasn't been to a dentist in so long) and it's not cheap. Several hundred dollars for a couple hours worth. In his case, I'd say it's well worth it. Even something as simple as nitrous oxide would be a safe way to go for him.

I hope he changes his mind and gets on it.

I have a question, not as complex as the previous one, but one I'm sure you're able to answer.
Recently, I went on holidays with the GF, and noticed that when she brushed her teeth, she did not rinse the toothpaste out of her mouth after brushing. Is this weird?

I have a few small questions here:
#1. (most important) Ok, I had braces for a while and sorta didnt brush my teeth much I admit but they were still a pretty decent color however once I got my braces off, whenever I brushed my teeth my gums would bleed, my gums are very healthy personally and arent really swollen. It has gotten a bit better but nearly a year after I got braces off my gums still bleed from brushing my teeth, so question will it get better or any advice?

#2.Simple question: I had my wisdom teeth taken out a few months ago and do you have any estimate on how long it takes the wounds to close? 3 of my wounds have closed however the 4th is still there just curious when I can eat popcorn again haha

Weird? Sure. A problem? Could be. Excess fluoride is not a good thing. The amount you receive with brushing and mouthwash is precisely calculated and should not be exceeded unless for a specific medical reason.

This is all with the understanding that your grirlfriend swallows. ;)

1) Floss. your gums bleed because they are infected with bacteria between the teeth & gums. Infection leads to inflammation and if poked and prodded (brushing), inflamed tissue bleeds.

2) After a few months, they should all be closed. If it's not swollen or red or painful or bleeding then I wouldn't worry about it. If it does worry you, it wouldn't hurt to see someone to make sure it's ealing well (especially if you have any medical problems related to healing).

You should be very proud of me. Never flossed until last year- had mostly 4's, but now all are 1's-3's and best of all I love doing it- it feels good!
One question. What is the best way to brighten teeth? Besides having it professionally done, do you recommend a certain product? Does it also all depend on how stained your teeth are to begin with? Mine aren't that bad at all, I would just like them whiter.
EDITED: Nevermind, really- found a post you answered on the 1st page. Thanks, though!

Cool. ;)

Popo, I currently have all my teeth including 4 wisdom teeth. With all them teeth in there I have very small spaces between my teeth, this has led to shreading dental floss regularly and many cavities between my teeth, etc. The other problem is that my front teeth on my lower jaw are sort of bending backwards into my mouth creating less space for my tongue. Funny, but this makes me stumble words at times.

Do I need to have the wisdom teeth removed to straighten out that lower jaw? Will removing them help restore some space between my teeth so I can spend less money on dental floss? I have also seen some advertisements for these plastic insert braces that you can wear during the day or only at night, you think these may work in my case?

Hey Popo, another quick question here. Where can one write the American DAT test in Canada? Tried searching on the web, but it seems like its a computerized test now? I've written the Canadian DAT already but most schools in the states dont accept CDN dat scores. Thanks!

You picked an orthos topic, something I really don't know much about. I do know that removing your wisdom teeth will not straighten out your lower front teeth. I doubt it'll create spaces between your other teeth either but I can't be 100%. Sorry.

I suggest an ortho consult.

Woohoo, a dentist! :)

I don't know which schools you asked but I'd double check. I'm a Canadian and took the Canadian DAT, then went to school in the US. I applied to a few schools and none had a DAT problem, in fact a few told me that they liked the CDN DAT better because of the hand skills section.

I don't think you can take the American version in Canada but I really don't think you have to. Check again.

And good career choice!

Wow Fellow Canadian? Thats cool! Since you took the CDN DAT, what would be a "good" score? I got me 19 on manual Dex, 22 on PAT, 23 on reading, 17on Bio and 19 on Chem. Think I should take it again? Since I pretty much winged the Science part. People keep telling no one really looks at the science part. Its that true for US schools too?

WARNING! This is written by a tired Swede on painkillers at 5am. May contain bad grammars, spelling errors and nonsense.

I'm afraid of dentists. I'm extremly sensetive to pain and different sounds (hypersensetive) and the sound of the drill almost gives me a panic attack.

Anyway, here's a little history:
I have a severe overbite (according to me.) My upper jaw is 1.8-2 centimeters infront of my lower jaw.

Like this:
http://www.acc.umu.se/~lm/mouth.gif
(yes, bad drawing, but it was the best I could do atm)

I got bracers for this. First nigth bracers where you sleep with a hat on. I couldn't breathe because I had this big plastic thing in my mouyh, so that idea went to hell.

Then I got the Frankenstein Nightmare bracers. No wonder I got bullied in school. That didn't work either, because the "pumps" kept scarring my cheeks.

After that I got regular bracers with elastics. Which of course didn't work.

Then they gave up on me :P

Then I stopped going to the dentist, which was stupid because it's free until you turn 20 here in Sweden.

***

Seven years later, not having been to the dentist once since the bracers-thing, two teeth bitten off and not being able to eat hard things or chew properly the welfare office offered to pay for me to go the dentist. A special dentist, trained in handling people who's afraid of the dentist. Anyway, the welfare office lied and refused to pay for it.. which meant I went back to not going.

Luckily for me I had a nice dentist. He called me up at home and offered to help me for free, because he felt sorry for me.

He made an evaluation and came to the conclusion that I needed help fast and applied for a "green card" for me, which means he gets paid my the state for his work.

Now I get valium, some cream, anaesthetic and I try to not sleep the night before I go so I'll be next to uncounscius when I'm there. I also bring a minidisc-player and crank up the volume so I won't hear the drill.

This isn't working very well though, due to me being hypersensetive. Often I just start shaking and crying because of the pain and they are forced to restrain me.

Okay, on to the questions:

1) They suggested nitrous oxide for my next visit. How does it work? I have ADHD and I'm not sure if it will have the effect they're looking for on me.

2) How do I tell my dentist that I need more than the double dose anaesthetic that I already get without him viewing me as a junkie? I'm thinking I'm gonna need anaesthetic + nitrous oxide to cope.

3) He removed three teeth (the three furthest back) on the right side of my upper jaw. I think I need teeth there, because chewing with gums is not fun. What do I need?

4) How does anaesthetic work? A syringe in your gums, yes, but how does it go into the teeth?

5) Why does teeth have roots? :P

6) What can be done about my overbite?

7) After I've gotten fillings etc, it seems my teeth have lost their "feeling". Like they are dead. It like the difference of touching someone else or touching yourself. A one-sided sensation.Will they ever feel the same?

Okay, I'll stop now. Thanks for doing this popo.

From what I remember, the 22 and 23 are very good scores, the 19's are good and the 17 is ok. Pretty good overall I think. If your GPA is good, I wouldn't worry. If you also have research experience you're set.

What schools are you applying to? One thing I did was contact some people in charge of admissions and asked them questions. You may want to email them and ask them how they view your score. You show your interest, they'll remember your name and probably look for your application if you impress them in your emails.

Mehoni: :lol: Thanks for the laugh, it's a good read!

1) Surprisingly, no one's really sure how nitrous works. The effect on the brain is known but the receptors that it acts on is not. It's a topic of much debate and research. No problem taking it with ADHD.

2) Don't worry about the anesthetic. Even if you take nitrous, you still need anesthetic. It's a good sedative but not a good anelgesic. So, nothing to feel bad about at all.

3) You need teeth. If they are your 3 lat teeth, the only options are implants or a partial denture with implants being a way better choice but more expensive.

4) For upper jaw teeth, it works by infiltrating into the bone and gets to the nerve that supplies the teeth through the root. For lower jaw teeth, we can get to the nerve directly with the syringe. Once the lidocaine gets to the nerve, it blocks the conduction of nerve impulses.

5) :) They have roots so that they stay in your jaws.

6) You must be mistaken about a 2 cm overjet. Normal is 2 mm and I don't think I've ever heard of a 2 cm one! What to do depends on whether it's a function of your teeth or your jaws. Go see another orthodontist... sorry like I've said my ortho knowledge is lacking.

7) Are you sure you didn't get root canals? That's what it sounds like from your description. If not, I have no explanation. Sorry. :(

But thanks for the great post! I loved the picture.

I was wondering because I heard about a person with Tourettes who just got worse (during the appointment, that is) and freaked out the dentist. :)

Phew.

I don't think money is a problem since the state pays for it.

Maybe he did a both-job on me, because It didn't help at all.. I was sore for a week afterwards and now I have a fab bruise on my cheek ;)

Bah.. I wish they could come attached to your jaw o something. ;)

No no, I'm not mistaken. I actually got out a ruler and measured it before posting. They were talking about surgery to correct it after the failed bracers-attempt.

Like whacking off my lower jaw and move it forward or something. I'm a freak ;P

Probably. I wasn't really awake during the procedure. :)

Thanks for your answers, you're great :)

What is the easiest insurance program to deal with?

One of my back lower molars that had a filling had a big hunk just break off, we are talking the whole part in the front...when I get the courage up to go to the dentist what will they tell me I need done? The filling and the back part of the tooth is still there.

To be honest, I don't know. I was in private practice for a short time before I went back to a residency program, where I am now.

I can tell you that after I get out, I will not be dealing with insurance companies very often. Insurance is meant to be there in case something big goes wrong for you. Dental insurance companies cover the small stuff but walk away when big jobs need to be done, leaving their clients (and our patients) up shit's creek. They suck ass.

Well, a few things can go wrong here. Best case scenario is that you just need a crown on it. Worst case is that it needs to be extracted (if the break went way below the gum line). Anything in between those 2 scenarios includes needing a root canal (if the break went into the nerve) + crown and/or crown lengthening (if the break went slightly below the gums).

Don't wait too long. If dentin (the soft structure under the hard enamel) is exposed, bacteria can eat away at it pretty quickly getting into the nerve, thus leading you to a root canal.

ooo I was afraid you were going to utter the dreaded words "root canal"

I dip tobacco, and have for about 7 years.
How serious is the risk of lip cancer?
You sure don't hear about it as much as lung cancer, and I know alot of old men that have chewed tobacco for years with no real affects. A friend of mine talked to a doctor that dipped, and he relayed to me that it was pretty much okay as long as you didn't do it all the time, and that it was more a matter of having something between your cheek and gum all the time than having tobacco in your mouth.
As long as my gums aren't receeding, will I be okay?
What were you told in dental school?

P.S. I haven't been to a dentist for a couple of years, but was okay at that time, and the dentist didn't ask me if I dipped.

Quit.

Cancer of the cheek, gingiva, lip, and tongue are all common and are not fun. The survival rate of oral squamous cell carcinoma (the most common form of oral cancer) is not high.

And survival is not fun either. You should see people who've had half their jaw/face resected because of oral cancer.

Check out these sites and hopefully get scared enough to quit.

http://www.oron.mas.lu.se/Oral/engelsk/oraleng.html

http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/pd...hprofessional/

Hey Popo, more question for you. I've got myself an admission interview coming up in march. Got any tips? Anything I should/shouldn't do or say? Any help would be great ! :)

They key at the interview will be to appear stable and mature and well-spoken. So don't mention TFP ;) . J/K.

Seriously, your grades and board scores got you the interview. They already like you. Unfortunately there are many weirdos and people who can't put together 2 sentences in dentistry and so the field as a whole is lacking young articulate people. Show them that you fit the bill. You may not have the absolute best answers, but the delivery is just as, if not more, important.

That being said, expect the usual questions such as "what is your biggest fault?", "what are you most proud of?", etc. Speak confidently, but do NOT be cocky.

As for your own questions, I always (in dental school and grad school interviews) use a two-part question: "what do you like best about the program?" and "what do you think can be improved in the program and how are you planning on doing that?" It shows that you are interviewing them too, that they still have to sell the school to you. It also gets them talking about things they like and everyone enjoys talking about things they like.

Relax, and don't be afraid to make them laugh. Good luck! Which schools, btw?

University of Alberta

Very nice of you to answer all this questions. I've had a root canal done 10 years ago on number 19. Once in a while the tooth aches and I went to the oral surgeon and he said that it may be broken under the crown. I have a very small infection on the root tip. I haven't had it pulled but I'm wondering how long and what damage is causing to have the low level infction going on, it's not going away.
I don't want to loose a tooth,

First of all, thanks for taking the time with these.

I posted this question in the ask an ortho thread, but I'm not sure if that's the right place. OK. Here goes:

When I smile, my upper lip rides up revealing a lot of my gum line. It's not that bad, and I'm not a seriously vain person, but I am aware of it. I still smile all the time, but I would love to do something about it. In worse cases, it's been called horse mouth. It's not that bad, but like I said, I am aware of it.

Anyways, I have noticed that if I have something in between my upper lip and my gums (as if I were dipping), my lip doesn't ride up when I smile. I don't dip though. Sometimes I will use a piece of gum.

My question is, do you know of any devices that are made specificaly to deal with this problem. Ideally I would like a soft plastic or was mold that I could slip in and out but that wouldn't move around too much.

Any ideas? Thanks again.

Like your oral surgeon said, it's possib;e that the tooth is cracked under the crown. This can cause lingering pain that really won't go away (especially seeing that having a crown on top hasn't stopped it). If you want to go all out to save the tooth, you could try removing the crown to see how big the crack is and if it can be fixed.

But since you say that there is a chronic infection going on at the tip, the pain could easily be related to that and not a crack. The question is whether it is really an infection or scar tissue left over from the original root canal.

Looking at X-rays from a year or 2 or more ago will tell you if the "infection" at the end of the root is worsening or if it hasn't changed. If worsening, it's robably causing the pain. If not, could be a crack.

If it is an infection that's reappeared then you have 2 options: 1) have a surgical root canal where they go in from the gums directly to the root tip. 2) extract the tooth and get an implant. Believe it or not, most of the literature shows that implants have a higher rate of success. The conservative (and potentially costly) way to go would be to see if the root canal surgery works and have the implant as a backup plan.

I agree with what the ortho in the other thread said about this but I'll just add that depending on your situation, it may be advisable to have "crown lengthening", where some gum tissue and bone is removed elongating your teeth and making your smile less gummy. Of course, if your teeth are already on the long side, it won't look nice to do this but it's something to get an opinion on. This is often done in coordination with veneers.

In an extreme situation where you have excess vertical growth of your upper jaw, maxillofacial surgery (where a horizontal portion of your jaw bone is removed) would be the ideal treatment.

Thanks popo. I've been trying to just pop off the crown myself to see if the pain increases. 97 % of the time the tooth doesn't bother me at all.

I saw there's been a few mentions of whitening, but it would be great if you could clarify a bit.

My teeth are naturally a bit yellow. I believe this runs on my mother's side of the family. I do not smoke or chew tobacco, drink lots of soda or anything like that, in fact I have never had a cavity and I'm 22. I read that you think the OTC whitening pastes don't have much effect, so I won't bother with those. So my main q's are:

1. Does the typical bleaching at dentist's office work on people with naturally yellow teeth?

2. For how long will the bleaching be effective?

3. Is it pretty much a given that my teeth would become sensitive after the bleaching?

Thanks !!

yer i have a question , well here it goes my son went 2 the dentist about 6 months ago,he was 2 have a filling it all went ok.nor,as soon as the neddle went into his mouth 2 numb his gum,he turned his head, and the neddle caught his cheak. ever since then ,he wont have a fillin if he has got 2 have a neddle ,he would preffere 2 b knocked out with gas. what can i do 2 tell him that it is not that bad the injection, he hates going 2 the dentist at the moment, please help.

Am i suppose to have any kind of feeling in a tooth that has had a root canal done on it over six months ago?

ps: no crown

I saw a commercial for these "invisible braces" on T.V. last night and I was wondering what you thought of them as a dentist. How much does it usually cost to have your teeth fixed by these? Also, are they generally covered by dental plans or no?

Thanks,

J

Hey popo - sure nice fo you to do this!
I have a question for you. 5 days ago I got the first part of my implant placed in tooth # 36, I think? (1 molar on my left side). So what I have right now and for the next 3 or so months is the titanium screw with healing cap placed over it. I want to get my teeth whitened prior to haveing the abutment and porclean tooth placed- so that the implant matches my other teeth. I think I will get the trays made at the dentist and go that root. I am just wondering it the gel can damage my gum and or the implant and its healing?? thanks!

Hey my parents never took me to a dentist so i have 2 cavites that are sensative one to heat and one to cold I cant chew without it hurting but there on 2 of my molers bottom left bottom right so if there too deep i need a root canal huh? I dont have insurance so i have to wait like maybe a few year or until i get married to my boy friend cause then he can put me on his insurance but how much would like 4 fillings cost with out insurance?

I've got the poping jaw thing. Do I need to get it fixed, or can it be let go? It doesn't hurt, just is annoying.

I hope this thread is still active.

I was hoping someone could tell me what (if any) are the possible health related problems associated with untreated severe tooth decay?

For example: Can severe tooth decay, if left untreated, contribute to other ailments such as stomach or duodenal ulcers, fibromyalgia like symptoms, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, menstrual problems, or anything else.

I greatly appreciate any and all comments.

Thank you,

EDIT: Since this thread was bumped, my issue was solved, so no need to answer if you were planning on it...thanks.

Crest White Strips....what's the story? Dentist whitening procedures....are they worth the big bucks? And then there are the dentist Crest White strips. This is all confusing.

Can you help sort through all the marketing?

*bump* :)

popo, looks like you're still around, so I'll ask here...I think I may have receded gumsfrom brushing too hard (pretty sure of it actually)...is there anything less brutal than what was described in post #39 to address this problem? Cause that solution creeps the hell outta me, especially after a quick google search into the surgery. :(

Oh, and for someone who just can't give up the wonderful fizzy flavor of pop (1, because it tastes good; 2, because it's the cheapest flavored drink available and I'm a poor college student; and 3, because I swear I have an oral fixation because I seem to have a constant need to be drinking something), what would you recommend to be a reasonable amount per day? As it stands, I drink in excess of 40oz on most days but worry about the negative impact this could have and likely is having on my teeth.

I reread that #39 post and that's the 1st time I've heard anyone complain like that about that procedure. I had one done on myself, my wife had one done and I just did one on a patient 2 weeks ago. None of us took anything more than Motrin (extra strength Advil) and we were fine. Very little swelling (no one else would notice), little discomfort with the plastic stent on your palate and most use a technique that causes less discomfort than when I had mine done (connective tissue graft vs. free gingival graft).

Then again, you don't NEED to get it done, unless you have sensitivity on the area or you don't like the esthetics of it. Otherwise if you stop brushing like mad and keep it clean, it shouldn't progress.

Stop the pop. 40 oz is too much, especially if not sugar-free. You will rot your teeth and although I personally focus on replacing teeth with implants, I don't want to have to give you a TFP discount ;) . Switching completely to diet pop won't solve the problem because the acidity of it does lots of harm as well. If you're going to drink it, drink it with a meal. Do not sip it throughout the day between meals, and especially not before bed. That's when you produce less saliva and so you don't wash it away. If you don't want to use the TFP discount one day, I'd highly recommend switching to water or something like Fruit2O, Propel, If you like the carbonation, 1L bottles of sugar-free carbonated flavored water is in your supermarket for around 69 cents, cheaper than pop.

Good luck.

I hope this hasn't been posted before... but my wisdom teeth have started to come in. No big deal, but it seems as though the upper right one may either slightly crooked or too big (can that happen?!). I'm lead to believe this, because whenever i chew food, the upper right molar ends up slightly rubbing my inner cheek, which makes it feel like i'm biting it..=(

popo,
I want to say thankyou for allowing us to ask ? It is really a big help to a person who is severly dds phobic amonx other things.
I do have a fiew questions hopefully the answers will help calm me down.

I saw someone mentioned sedation dentistry. And that it is just a pill. What is the pill made of (meaning medication)

Also with implants is it true they actually drill the Jaw bone then screw the stud into the jaw . what type of sensetivity can be expected after everything is done.
Lastly after a tooth dies is extraction easier.

thanks much

Ok, to start, I haven't seen a dentist since I was about eight (I'm 19 now). The other day I noticed that I had a little plaque buildup on one of my lower molars. So I tried to scrape it off with my finger nail, and it kind of broke in. Now there's a little hole where that plaque used to be and when I touch that space with my fingernail, it's really tender. I know I need to see a dentist about it, but they scare the shit out of me. So i'm wondering if this is something that needs urgent care.

Seige: I hope this hasn't been posted before... but my wisdom teeth have started to come in. No big deal, but it seems as though the upper right one may either slightly crooked or too big (can that happen?!). I'm lead to believe this, because whenever i chew food, the upper right molar ends up slightly rubbing my inner cheek, which makes it feel like i'm biting it..=(

Sounds like they'll need to come out. Not a big deal.

Cudaboy: I want to say thankyou for allowing us to ask ? It is really a big help to a person who is severly dds phobic amonx other things.
I do have a fiew questions hopefully the answers will help calm me down.

I saw someone mentioned sedation dentistry. And that it is just a pill. What is the pill made of (meaning medication)

Also with implants is it true they actually drill the Jaw bone then screw the stud into the jaw . what type of sensetivity can be expected after everything is done.
Lastly after a tooth dies is extraction easier.

thanks much

Sedation dentistry can mean different things. It can mean that a pill is used to make you a bit drowsy. The pill(s) is/are typically Halcion (triazolam), a drug similar to Valium but better for short term use. Otherwise, IV sedation can be used typically with Versed and Fentanyl, sometimes with Propofol. All are safe if the dentist has training, which they must have in order to use these drugs.

Yes, that's how an implant is placed. Surprisingly, it doesn't cause much discomfort at all unless more invasive procedures such as bone grafting is also needed. I've had many implant patients jokingly ask to see the xray to prove that I actually placed the implant.

When a tooth dies, it actually makes extraction more difficult b/c the tooth tends to break more easily.

StormBerlin: Ok, to start, I haven't seen a dentist since I was about eight (I'm 19 now). The other day I noticed that I had a little plaque buildup on one of my lower molars. So I tried to scrape it off with my finger nail, and it kind of broke in. Now there's a little hole where that plaque used to be and when I touch that space with my fingernail, it's really tender. I know I need to see a dentist about it, but they scare the shit out of me. So i'm wondering if this is something that needs urgent care.

Not much of a choice here. You need to see a dentist. I have no idea about your tooth without seeing it but I'm pretty sure you need to be treated. If you really are scared, go see a pediatric dentist to get started. Explain that you're scared to death and they may see you even though you're 19. Really, look for someone who deals with frightened patients and GO THERE! I hate to say it but you'll likely regret it one day if you don't.

Good luck!

Geographic tongue:

I know it can cause occasional denuding of the tongue in places. But does this happen to the back of the tongue? Like the way way back, down your throat, causing minor pain in the throat and ears? There is a pattern of large deunded buds that are just parely visible at the far back of my tongue. A gag-inducing glance down my throat with a mirror revealed that they continue down my throat. Is this normal, an extension of geographic tongue, or do I have deadly tongue cancer?

hmmm. I had a dentist once (no longer obviously) who would rest his fore-arm on my chest as he was working. I thought it was weird, but it only happened a couple of times.

he also asked me out for lunch. when I told my BF ( i was in unversity at the time) I had to restrain him... funny when i think back on it.

Actually I'm interested in this too. My dentist wants to offer me a very expensive proccedure (around $500) which I would rather put towards something less trivial. but 20- 30 bucks for the white strips is more reasonable.

what's the deal here?

I'd like to hear about Whitening as well...

I'd also like to know when in the right age for a kid to get braces? My son will be 11 this December and really needs braces, I'm just not sure I can afford them right now but if he needed it now I would find the money somewhere.

It doesn't sound like tongue cancer but I cannot say one way or the other based on a message board. PLEASE see a dentist if you are concerned.

It also doesn't sound like geographic tongue, which is completely benign and asymptomatic except for the funny-looking tongue. You may actually be looking at your circumvalate papillae (google it so you know what they look like), and these are supposed to be there along the back of your tongue. The pain in throat & ears could be a concern and I'd have it checked by both a good dentist and MD

WRT Crest White strips, see my answer to this question in post #26. I'm here if you still have questions.

Charlatan: I'm sorry but I really don't know much about ortho (we learn a very limited amount of it in dental school so that we don't realize how easy it is). I do know that it is MUCH easier to move teeth at a young age.

Just had the wisdom teeth out, how long till the hole close??? :)

Thanks. Ya. That's what they are. Whew.

Hey, Charlatan. I started my orthodontic treatment in 6th grade.

Thanks Clavus and popo... My son will be going into Grade 6 in the fall... I figure he can wait until then...

Oops, I should have remembered this thread before I posted my own. Well, I'll just quote myself for good luck...
No one in that thread had heard of it, and I just got off the phone with my dentist, and they hadn't heard of it either. I was thinking that it might have been a reaction to a larger-than-normal dose of fluoride, but they said that the dental pumice they use in the polishing step doesn't have a large amount of fluoride in it.

Any idea what's happening with me?