I'm curious...

I'm 23. never had a cavity, brush two to three times per day, remember to floss more often than not.

How long is too long between dentist visits? It has been about two years, just received dental insurance so I'm planning on making an appointment before the end of the year... Still, I'm curious if I'm doing myself a disservice by not seeing a dentist every 6 months.

The other question: Who do I see regarding difficulties with my jaw? For the past 6 years, it has popped out of joint regularly (basically every time i open my mouth wide it pops), and can sometimes be painful. I have mentioned it to dentists and orthodontists in the past, but they have dismissed it as nothing. I would like to have it investigated and dealt with appropriately.

First off, great investment on choosing to take care of your mouth. Not only will you look and smell good but it'll save you a ton of money later on.

Even though you take such good care, I'd still suggest you get a professional cleaning every 6 months or so. Stuff naturally builds up after a while and it's covered by your insurance so you're paying for it anyway. Because you have such a low caries index (tendancy not to get "cavities") you probably need x-rays only once/year. But I'd still get things cleaned up twice/year. Ounce of prevention and all that...

As for your TMJ problems, ask for a referal to a prosthodontist or oral surgeon who deals with a lot of this in their practice. There are options outside of surgery like making a splint to fit your teeth that might help.

Good luck.

Thank You!!!! You're a great resource.

I brush twice a day, floss before bed; and rinse with Listerine.

About 3 weeks ago my gums started to turn red a swell, and ever since it has become increasingly difficult to floss. My gums will commonly bleed now when I brush & floss. It appears to be gingivitis, but I'm not sure why I'm getting it if I brush/floss regularly, and rinse with a mouthwash said to fight gingivitis specifically. I wear a positioner (had to stop because of swelling) if that makes any difference.
Any idea on what might be going on?

have really horrible teeth and i would like them extracted and then implants put in their place. Would this be possible and would a denist be prepared to do this even though my teeth are prefectly healthy?

I had my top teeth extracted about a month ago and I've got a lot of bone spurs under the flesh in my gums . The dentist said its common and they will likely cover over with flesh or work their way out .they only bother when I'm putting in or taking out my dentures . How long can I expect this to last before they are healed or come out? I plucked a couple out, and there feel like theres about three more that want to break through the skin. Any way to speed up the process? She seems reluctant to extract them for me. Thanks in advance for any advice.

As I understand you, it's a single localized area. Sounds like there's an irritant in your gums, probably a piece of food... popcorn is common. If it hasn't healed by itself after a week or so, see your doc. They can get it out.

You say that your teeth are horrible but yet perfectly healthy.... not following you.

If your teeth are beyond repair, yes they can be replaced with implants, but you need to know why your teeth got to this point. If lack of home care was the problem, you need to know that implants are not permanent. They are expected to last a long time *with proper home care* but without it.....

Regardless, as it sounds like a large case I would seek treatment from a prosthodontist, rather than a general dentist. As this is my field, ask any implant questions you have.

This should not be happening. It sounds like you're right... she doesn't want to extract them. Ask for a referral to a periodontist or oral surgeon to do it for her. That'll get her attention.

Popo, we have two dental related questions going on in General right now that I would appreciate you input. You can find one of them here:

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=108914

and I am having trouble finding the one Cynthetic posted concerning a 5 yo that would appear to have been over medicated prior to dental work.

Heyas, I take generally good care of my teeth (brush several times a day, hopefully after each meal) though I fail to floss. Never gotten a cavity, so I consider my teeth generally strong. Oh, and I have drank milk like nobody's business since I was a kid - I'm in college now and drink about 4 glasses a day.

At the end of this summer I was working on a construction job and accidentally smacked my mouth incredibly hard with a socket wrench. My top 2 front and bottom teeth hurt like hell for a couple days, but I figured it was just the nerves regrowing. A couple days later, though, my gf pointed out that one of my teeth was fractured. There's a 'bullet' fracture in roughly the center with 4 hairline cracks going up down left right. They're incredibly difficult to see, I had examined my mouth in a mirror in bright light previously and failed to see them - no one else is going to notice (no one else is near my mouth).

I just wanted to know if it is cause for alarm - I think it's just the enamel that is fractured, but is there a good chance that it extends past that?

Oh, and there hasn't been any pain for a good month now.

Thanks!

Not being in pain is a good start but yeah, it's possible that goes deeper than enamel. And with any blunt trauma, it's possible that the blood supply to the tooth has been damaged, necessitating a root canal. The tooth will start to turn gray. A quick exam and an xray will tell all though sometimes it's questionable.

Sensitivity Following a filling.
 

I had 3 white fillings 9 days ago and for the past 9 days I have had what I would call severe sensitivity to cold on my rear bottom left molar which happened to cause the most pain when drilled. The dentist did remark that this one was not the deepest. However, I can not let anything remotely cold touch that molar without causing a lot of pain. I have read that with the white composite fillings it can be normal to have sensitivity anywhere from a week to a month. I guess what I am wondering is since it is only sensitive to cold and not hot or sweets should I be worried and call my dentist in 3 days when he opens up, or should I just give it another week or two to run its course and do my best to avoid cold food and beverages? By the way I have a great fear of serious dentistry such as root canals and I think I would have to find a sedation dentist to do this kind of work if that is what you think I may need.

Hey there popo,
I have a molar, bottom back left, second 'big' molar if it makes any difference. About 6/7 months ago i needed a filling, and went through all the procedure. Since then i've been brushing twice a day with mouthwash, laying off the overly sugary stuff and drinking plenty of milk, but i've noticed a little black spot on the tooth (similar to, but smaller, than the one i saw before i got my filling).

I am incredibly loathed to go back and get it redone, with proper care will a tooth 'heal', or am i just going to have to accept the inevitable and go to the dentist again?

It really depends on how bad it is. Yes, sensitivity could occur for up to a few weeks but if it's debilitating then maybe you shouldn't wait that long. I wouldn't want my patient to be in severe pain while I tell them to just wait it out. And it might not need anything more than a minor adjustment for you to feel better.

The black spot isn't likely to be decay as it'd need to be pretty damn big to be visible by you. It could be that the filling fractured. I dunno. Whatever it is, have your doc take a peak.

word to the wise

i finally went to a dentist bc i cracked yet another :(

bottom line, 2 extractions, 4 root canals, 4 crowns, fix several old fillings (silver to composite) fix new cavities...$8K estimated...

Its probably about the size of a pinhead, so teeny tiny.

But, cheers for the advice, off to the dentist with me.:cool:

Hi, I'm a new poster but I've been following this thread for a while and am glad to see it's still active. Before I start with the questions, I just want to say yet again that it is very cool of you to be doing this Popo! There aren't many people who would take the time to answer so many questions on an internet forum.

Anyway, here's my situation. Two of my bottom front teeth are a little loose and have been for several months now and I am not sure what is causing this. I'm very anal about my teeth and brush and floss daily. They aren't so loose that I feel them when chewing or when my teeth are clenched. In fact, the only time I notice the looseness is if I hold the teeth and wiggle them. There's no pain or discomfort whatsoever.

I went to my dentist and told him about my concerns. After examining me he declared that although there was some movement it is nothing to be concerned about. He said it's probably because of my bite and that the front upper teeth are putting a bit of pressure on the lower teeth which is causing the slight movement. Have you ever heard of such a thing happening? I'm not comfortable having loose teeth in my mouth and I'm considering getting a second opinion.

Good for you for not being comfortable with any change in your mouth that doesn't feel right. Most would wait until it's too late.

Yes, it's fairly common for your bite to cause tooth mobility but that doesn't mean it's fine to watch it. The good news is that once dealt with your teeth will firm up. The bad news is that your bite is a problem. It can usually be dealt with conservatively by grinding down your teeth to make them "fit" better. Don't worry, it's very little and anesthesia is not even needed.

Tell your doc that you'd like him to take care of it. If he still resists then get a 2nd opinion. In the meantime, stop wiggling your teeth with your fingers!

Thanks so much! I'm due for my 6-month checkup soon so I'll ask my dentist to do something about it then. And although it's hard, I'll stop with the teeth-wiggling :D . Thanks again, Popo! :thumbsup:

Sure Ill bite... no pun intended... lately I have noticed that when I brush I am bleeding particularly around the front teeth. I brush twice a day as has been my daily routine for years. The toothbrush is the same, soft adult bristles, the toothpaste has been the same now for about a year, colgate total (or is it complete?) but now for about the last month or so I have been bleeding bright red... I dont brush hard or agressively... Im not under undue stress... not sick, not taking any meds that I havent been taking before... nothing has changed... I do grind my teeth at night however. And I do have some extreme jaw pain right now... could the two be connected? Ok youre the expert you tell me... :D

My dentist said that I had a cavity inbetween 2 of my teeth last check up. Weird thing is, last time I had a cavity, I totally knew I had one (I could feel pain). Right now, everything feels fine. Is that normal?

i'm not a dentist, nor do i play one on TV, but i can pretty much say that a lot of cavities are pain free....be glad it was caught ahead of time.

Are porcelain veneers tax deductible? I had 4 of them at about 1k each.

Nope, not connected. Your gums will bleed if they're inflamed. Gums get inflamed when plaque (combination of food & bugs) is present. It's possible that something got lodged in there like a popcorn kernel but it's most likely that there's plaque retention. Rough tooth surfaces also retain more plaque. It's great that you're brushing often but flossing might be the key here...

Yes. Sometimes you'll feel it, other times you won't. It depends on how deep it is and the condition of your "nerve" inside the tooth. There's a huge gray area between a perfectly healthy pulp (where the nerve & blood supply to the tooth is found) and a dead one.

I have no idea but I doubt it unless it was for functional (as opposed to esthetic) reasons. Check with your tax CPA.

Thanks for answering all of our questions popo! :)

Here's another one: After I got my filling, I noticed that my tooth is super sensitive. I can't even drink milk without feeling pain. It's already been a week. Is there anything I can do about this? Or will it go away on it's own? My sister used those "sensitive teeth" toothpastes for a while but stopped when she found they were next to useless.

Hi
 

I have a real dilema here, my wisdom teeth are cummin out, ive had braces, wheni first got them, orthodontist told me i needed to getthem pulled, i didnt because i wouldhave hadto havemy braces on like two extra years, i wasnt haven that, but now its happening, what should i do, go to a dentist havethem pulled and just have them bill me? would it be worth it? and what would the costs be?:confused: im 18 btw

The OTC toothpastes for sensitive teeth are iffy but there is prescription high fluoride toothpaste that is much more effective. Whether it'll help you in your case is another story. If sensitivity persists after time and adjustment and more time, it comes down to redoing it. Some initial sensitivity with white filling is expected. Prolonged sensitivity is not.

Sorry man, I'm trying hard but I don't understand....

Hi Popo - thank you so much for answering our questions.

Mine is this: I have receeding gum lines on my....ok....there's my front teeth, then the next two (on either side), then the next two are ok, but THE ONES AFTER THAT (I guess they're the first molars on both sides) I went to a local dentist once to check on this, and he told me to sit back and relax, and then he proceeded to bring this air-blowing monstrosity to my very sensitive teeth, and then he put on this plastic on the teeth and gums. He was a bit old, and got offended when I grabbed his arm as he blew cold air on my poor teeth! Just 24 hours after he did this the plastic came off, and I've dealt with it ever since.

Am I doomed to have exposed gums now? I'm in my mid 40's, so I'm not a youngster, and I have very good teeth, for the most part, and good gums too.

Do you ever get belted by patients, by the way? :icare:

Edited to add: He didn't tell me before he blew the cold air on my teeth, by the way.

i'm proud to say, after years of neglect, i am finally able to take care of myself...


which means an extraction, several crowns, etc...

i just had my first (of four) visits and he removed a molar. He gave me some gauze and 800mg motrin for the pain. My issue: 4 hrs and still bleeding and i've been swapping gauze out and i'm out right now. I am trying to eat potato soup and ...it's a bit of an issue, to put it mildly. Any tips? this is the first 9 hrs home now and the bleeding is pretty much gone. is there anything i really need to watch for. I can't drink much and i still taste blood, and it's just very uncomfy. The pain isn't bad at all, though, after the first 2 hrs. I think i was biting improperly with the gauze in my mouth.

I'm really scared of removing the bloodclot in the socket accidentally. I dont' know how easy it is to do that and i REALLY do not wish to have a dry socket.

:D Nope, haven't been belted by a patient yet. Yet.

The receding gums could be fixed with the composite (white) fillings and it sounds like that's what your doc tried to do. You should go back if they came off (it's pretty common when used for this purpose) and maybe he'll try again. It depends on a few things that I can't see on a message board but I'd prefer to do gum grafting to cover the exposed roots. Ask him about it and he'll send you to a periodontist for eval.

In the meantime, don't brush so hard on these teeth. I have a feeling that's how this happened.....

Well I hope that it's all more comfortable now, a couple days later. As long as you avoid using a straw, smoking, and spitting you should be fine. Now, props to you for getting things straightened out. You should be like a beacon for lots of other folks reading who have neglected themselves out of fear for years. Can you imagine if someone didn't wipe their ass for years and it constantly bled on touch due to infection but yet they didn't see a doc out of fear??? Same thing here, just opposite end of the hose.

:thumbsup:

hey dentist
 

iv been in the dentist clinic constantly for the last 2years-i got braces but also have to get my canines extracted.i now have an appointment nearly every month
things are goin fine im nearly finished my treatment but the last two weeks my guns have been so so sore.it started with some inflammed gum that nearly covered all of my tooth but now it has spread to the rest of my teeth,the swelling went down but between all of my teeth the gum is really raw and brushing is a pain in the ass
iv been putting bongela on it
i ALWAYS brush my teeth.my gums have always bled a bit but i have never had this happen before. they all bleed when i brush.just wondering if you could give me some advice.my dentist barely talks to me but he has never mentioned me having bad plague or gum diease or anything.:thumbsup:

honestly, no blood and no pain, what brought me in was an elbow to the jaw that cracked one of my rears..sadly, the one that had to be removed :( It's a couple days later and i still ooze a bit of blood when i sleep. I say ooze bc it's not open and bllleeeeeeeeeeeding like it was at first, but i can tell it just oozes a bit in my sleep. i can eat, just very carefully now.

and yeah, it took quite a bit to get this taken care of..3 more visits and i'll be shipshape :)

Okay, here's a weird one for you.
My gums are receding away from my jawbone. Meaning, that in the back of my mouth, just behind my last molar, my jawbone is protruding into my mouth through the gums.I can actually reach in and touch bone. Needless to say, it's kind of painful. I visited my dentist two weeks ago and he cut the gum open and filed the bone down with his drill so that the gum would close over it, but he wasn't able to put a stitch into it. Now it has opened back up and the bone is sticking out once again. I travel a lot, and my company has arranged for me to see another dentist in a few days. Do you think putting a stitch into the gum will help keep it closed?
My dentist deduces that this whole thing was caused by a bone chip that came through the gum, and the gum pulled back from it, and then just kept on going after the chip fell out. But my last major operation was wisdom teeth about 20 years ago. Does this sound plausible?
Do you think that this is the start of an endlessly recurring thing, that every couple of weeks, I'm going to have to go the dentist to have him file my jawbone down?

Are you diabetic? If not, are you certain? Are you taking any medications such as Fosamax?

While your doc's explanation is very plausible, you're right in thinking that it has potential to occur following a recent surgery in the area. With no recent history.... I dunno. Do you wear a partial denture over the area? Any habits of note? Do you smoke? Chew?

Go see an oral surgeon or periodontist. If an infection gets into the bone, it could turn serious. Of course I could be overstating it without having seen you.

Okay, so not diabetic, and quite sure. I've been on antibiotics to prevent any infection (novo-clindamycine) and dilaudid for the pain. I don't smoke or chew and I don't wear dentures. I'm getting finished work for the year at the middle of December, and I'll take your advice and seek some more medical advice. Thanks

all i have to say on this: any amount of pain that i am in or am going to be in for my issues...is NOTHING compared to that...WOW.

seriously, wow.

I've often wondered what exposed bone would feel like, but never thought about how easy it would be to find out....that makes me cringe just thinking about it.

Good choice on the antibiotic. But if dilaudid is the only thing that helps for pain I'd recommend that you not wait until the middle of December. Really.

Ok Popo, here's a different one:

My mom is 72, and has dementia, and I've just come home to help care for her this past year. My sibs don't know who her dentist is, and the "usual suspects" as to who could be her dentist have all retired over the past few years.

I need to make an appointment for my mom to see a dentist, just for a regular check up and cleaning. She has mentioned going to a dentist in a nearby town, but this particular dentist has retired, but another has taken over his practice. Should I take mom to this new dentist and start up a new relationship with him? I can't find her dental records anywhere in our county!

How often should I take my mom to the dentist, as an adult?

Wow, you're a good one. :thumbsup:

I can't think of a way to find out who her dentist is aside from calling everyone you can think of. It's possible that she hasn't seen anyone for a while with the dementia and the retired dentists.

At this point it really doesn't matter who she goes to. She can start a new relationship with anyone as the focus will be on maintenance and cleaning up any messes. I doubt she'll be walking in with a picture of Julia Roberts in hand.

As for how often it really depends on her needs. If she can't physically (or mentally) keep up with hygiene she may be better off going anywhere from once/month to once every 3-4 months. It depends.

Good luck, you deserve it.

Thanks so much for this thread popo. This is simply spectacular. I'm sure this has already been addressed, and I'm sorry for that.

I'm having all four wisdom teeth pulled next month (waiting till after the holiday rush). I'm wondering what to expect on the recovery time, and also what to expect for the diet immediately afterwards. I imagine lots of milkshakes and puree'd food. I plan to take a day or two afterwards off work, but if 4 days later I plan to go snowboarding is this a problem? Obviously, if I'm still taking pain killers I will not bother.

The other question I have, my front tooth (I believe 9) was severely chipped as a child. Because of insurance reasons they normally only replace it with a filling. After a few years it gets discoloured, and after a few more years it will fall out (it's extremely sensitive when it falls out). I'll have another filling put on. I've wanted to put a cap on it, something permanent to avoid that visit, but this is considered "cosmetic" by the insurance companies. Is there anyway around this? The other front tooth (8) has stress fractures all through it from the same incident that chipped (9) is there anything I should do about that one, or just let it be, it does not bother me; just every dentist I go to points it out.

All of my wisdom teeth are grown in and I have room for all of them except for one. Its been killing me! I can't tell if theres not enough room for it or that its just the actual growing in part thats making my mouth hurt so bad. Its finals week for me at college and I really need some quick fixes for pain until I can get to a dentist or at least afford one! Ugh. :|

Hi popo,

I just got some fillings done today. I have a couple of questions about this:

1) It took only a bit of novocaine to numb the upper part of my mouth, but it took a lot more to numb the bottom. I had to make the dentist stop and use more novocaine twice. So, why does it take so much more for the bottom?

2) Despite hitting the limit for the novocaine, I was still feeling some pain, so the dentist used a lower speed drill which was not as painful. Why are higher velocity drills more painful?

Thanks! :)

ktspktsp: I have been through 2 of 4 3 hr visits to the dentist and i can help with some things from another patient's perspective:

1. My upper is much easier to numb than the lower. my doc said it was just bc of how the nerves are routed and how much harder it is to numb the lower. My rear right bottom took 7 full vials of stuff, 3 of which were some off teh wall stronger stuff that he didn't use often. I burn through it pretty quickly, apparently. I don't know why, maybe the caffeine i drink or my past reliance upon painkillers to get through the day. my upper took 2 and was much smoother. The bottom required sticking the needle directly into the nerve chamber of my tooth which ...well, let's just say i'm still trying to unclench from thinking about it. My last visit was EXCRUCIATING for the lower jaw, left side. Again, about 7 vials and 2 shots into 2 teeth directly into the nerve chamber (root canals). took forever to numb. He gave the first vial and went away, came back and NOTHING was numb. so 2 more, then did some work on the upper side that took less than one to completely numb for 2 hrs.. after 3 vials in the lower, i was numb for about 40 minutes, then had to re-numb to complete 1 canal, then numb again for the rearmost tooth to do a pulpotomy so i wouldn't have trouble between now and my next visit.

2. i have the same thing. apparently, the higher speed drill has cold water it sprays which my teeth are almost always sensitive to. either that, or the assistant just sprayed cold water in, but just thinking about ti makes me cringe. The slow speed drills dont' really bother me much comparatively.

and yeah, i hit the limit for anesthetic both times. I have been going for 3 hr sittings just to get hte most done in the shortest amount of time possible, and i have to be re-numbed repeatedly. The upper is NOWHERE near as sensitive or resistant as the bottom.

ah vell, lesson learned..don't neglect your teeth..i'm just happy i can replace or repair all the damage for under $12,000 :)

Thanks Paq!

Wow, 3 hour sittings! I don't envy you.

The interesting thing for me is that when the dentist moved to the big vial ("let's cut to the chase", in her words :lol:, I couldn't feel the needle at all, so she could stick the needle away in so many places without a bother :).

12k, :eek:.. I have 4 cavities (one left to do, on the other side) so it should cost me 200$ given that I have insurance. I'm definitely gonna start flossing now!

Popo,

I just read something scary. I read that the silver amalgam for fillings may contain toxic amounts of mercury. A study was done that links Mercury poisoning from fillings to autism in children (from the parent) and other potential health issues. I just had 10 fillings replaced over the last year and a half. How worried should I be? Should I have replaced the silver with porcelain?

yeh, i have 2 3 hr visits, 1 1.5 hr visit, adn 1 probably 3 hr visit, then 2 more to set my crowns then 2 more to put in implants.

Dear PoPo,

I was reading about wholistic dental care.

This one dentist recommends making a paste of 3Parts Baking Soda, 1Part table salt. Then pour a tiny bit of hydrogen peroxide into your hand with the mixture. Mix it up to make a paste. Then getting a soft bristle tooth brush and take the paste and work it into your where the top of your gums overlaps the bottom of the tooth. There is a name for that part, I just forget, you probably know. :rolleyes:

This is suppoused to strenghten the gums and make sensitivity on teeth less painful.

He also says to use a rubber triangle pick thing once the gums have grown a bit and flossing.

I have not tried it yet, but am interested and was wondering what you thought about this.:o

1) cool soft foods. no straws, no smoking, no, um, sucking motion. i wouldn't recommend snowboarding 4 days later as this is the prime dry socket period. while exerting yourself you could dislodge a blood clot and end up on a lot of pain.

2) it sounds like you will need at least one crown, it's just a matter of when. i would delay it as much as possible since a crown preparation removes far more tooth structure than a filling preparation. with a crown lasting on average 12 or so years, think of how many times it'll have to get replaced with each time the doc needing to remove a bit more tooth. same with the other tooth.

if it really hurts, you need to see someone. there could be a flap of skin over it allowing for bugs to get under. this could cause a pretty good infection. no quick fix unfortunately.

1) blame god. ;) it's much easier to get at the nerves around top teeth than it is for bottom teeth. the bone in the bottom jaw is much denser so while for the top teeth we can just let the anesthetic seep into the bone for bottom teeth we have to get the nerve at the source way back there. it's not a big deal (medically-i'm sure it is a big deal to the patient ;) ) to have to give a couple.

2) the limit is pretty up there, ~11 full carpules for an average male. the slower one could be considered less painful because it doesn't spray water. but it can only be used a bit at a time (it doesn't drill much and it's not cooled by the water).

i'd like to read that study if you have the reference. as far as i know, there has NEVER been a study linking the mercury in amalgam to anything. and it has been studied ad nauseum. even if worried, i would not recommend that you replace the fillings since drilling them out releases far more mercury than leaving them alone.

baking soda has been studied extensively and was popular in the 70's. the research shows that it does nothing. the one thing that has been shown in each and every study to make a difference is....... guess.... brushing. if you live in a fluoridated water area then the tooth paste is only there for flavor. brushing alone (with floss) will cure gingivitis (unfortunately not periodontitis). get rid of the plaque, period. if you like baking soda, ok. if you like toothpaste, ok. but brush.

i'm curious, one of my old instructors still was adamant about using this technique. and he's in california.... where was this? private practice or university? you can give his initials if you like.

I got this off of a website of a private practitioner. I forget his initials.

I think the purpose of the baking soda was to change the Ph in the gums to a less acidic and more basic balance to make an unfavorable environment for bacteria.

I will however step up the brushing to more than just morning and night.

thanks PoPo

just a quick question here.

first off, thanks for all the useful info.

Second, i had my wis tooth removed...then i had to have the one in front removed due to a nick that was missed and became infected...so they removed that one and did a root canal on the one in front...well, i took an elbow to the jaw and lost that one recently...

so i have a weird feeling in my mouth, but no biggie..i'm mainly concerned bc i have a sharp area at the junction where the 2 teeth met when they were there. I can just feel something hard and pointy and i don't feel any gum tissue on it...i have no idea what it could be. any ideas?

the good thing is that i have an appt on jan 4th for my 3rd of 4 major visits and i can find out then what it is, but iw as just wanting to be prepared.

btw, it does not hurt at all, just that i can feel it.

Chris, it sounds like it could be anything from a sharp piece of tooth to a sharp piece of bone. Either way, let your doc know and he'll get rid of it for you.

sounds gross. :)

nah, you want gross just ask for gross. i got pics. ;)

Hi popo

I asked for your advice earlier in this thread, in regards to an odd crease I had in my face after having a wisdom tooth pulled. Unfortunately for me, it wasn't just premature aging, but I guess my muscles were spasming in that side of my face. Over the next few months I developed an earache, headache, neck pains, and a tight feeling on my face and forehead, all on the left side. I noticed I could no longer open my jaw straight. My face also became more lopsided. At this point both sides are kind of messed up, and I look different as the musculature of my face has changed and become strained. I went to a different dentist 3 months later and he said that I had tmj, and that my jaw disc was displaced. He said it would go back to normal in time and prescribed muscle relaxers and jaw exercises, but it got worse. I sought a second opinion from a neuromuscular dentist who said my face and neck muscles were "a mess" from this and fashioned me an orthotic. I wore it for 2 months and my neck and ear felt a bit better but the headaches got much worse. I don't clench or grind my teeth during the day, and both dentists said that they didn't think I did while sleeping as there were no signs of that on my teeth. I have never had any jaw problems before this.

I realize that this may be somewhat outside your realm of expertise, but I was wondering if you know or have heard of anyone who was cured of this, and by what methods they did so. It has been 7 months since the injury, and I'm worried I may be stuck like this for the rest of my life. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Angel, sorry it's taken so long for me to reply.

I have to say that I have no hands-on experience with this type of thing. It's also a bit beyond giving out advice without an exam. Check out http://www.abop.net/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={7B822CB1-8BA9-48B3-89F4-E0CDC19B4345} for a diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain. There are also a few centers in the US that deal specifically with Orofacial pain. I'd highly recommend you see someone at a local dental school. They can more easily take their time to figure out the case that has no easy answer.

I wish I had a better answer. Best to you, and keep us all up to date.

Ok this made me laugh! :lol:

One of my molars on the left side of my lower jaw has what appears to be a small hole on the side of it. I don't know how it got there. It's not causing me any pain, and I do brush religiously so I'm not too worried about it but I'm wondering how it got there.

Any ideas?

The outside of lower molars have a groove in them that is notorious for getting decayed. That's what it sounds like.... you need a filling! Not causing pain b/c it's not deep enough yet. Psst: don't wait until it hurts. :)

Thanks for your reply. I've already met with a diplomate from the Board of Orofacial Pain, didn't make much progress unfortunately. However, there is a large dental school nearby, so I'll definitely give them a call to see if they can help. Thanks again for the advice.

Thanks popo. :)

Can I ask you another question? Are teeth whitening treatments safe? Toothpastes? Which ones are more effective than others? Which are the least expensive / best value?

Sorry for all the questions... it would be good to get an opinion from an expert who couldn't give me a self-interested opinion based on which one would be most profitable. My dentist doesn't seem like the type, but second opinions are always good. :)

hey popo, i just finished my 2nd to last visit to basicaly rebuild my mouth :) anyway, i just had impressions taken for my crowns and i am currently sporting some acrylic temporaries. I was wondering if there were any special instructions/anything i can't eat, etc, with the permanent crowns. I've been told to avoid sticky food and anything raelly hard, so popcorn and gum are out, but is there anything i have to worry about with the crowns?
also, the dentist i use has a 5 yr warranty on his work and the crowns themselves, and i was just curious as to the average life of a crown? if ti helps, these are my my lower molars and premolars. not sure of the names, but basically the last two teeth before the wisdom teeth.

and now my dr is talking about doing some more cosmetic work/whitening/replacing old fillings with porcelain, etc. Any tips?

oh, and i am going ot have an implant on my upper right to replace one he couldn't save. kinda bummed, but whatever. Any idea what i can expect in cost/pain/longevity?

Thanks again, so much.

Bleaching systems are safe but they obviously vary in effectiveness. This isn't my area of knowledge but I'll tell you what I know. Least expensive is definitely any of over the counter stuff but of course it's the least effective. On the positive, it's cheap so you can try it and see if you like the results. If not, the dentist will have the stronger stuff. We always do. ;) Whitening toothpastes don't do anything from what I've seen. Your dentist will have a home bleaching with trays and in-office bleaching. The home is cheaper but takes longer. The in-office is faster and sometimes comes with home bleaching for upkeep. If your teeth are sensitive, go with home bleaching so you can titrate it in a way.

Good stuff.

The permanent crowns can be made of gold, ceramics, or a combination. If they contain ceramics, treat them like fine china. They can chip/crack and will if you crack nuts, bite into ribs, etc. with them. Gum shouldn't be a problem. A 5 year guarantee is pretty good, lots of folk give a 1 year or 2 year or none. The average lifespan is in the range of 10-15 years for a single crown.

The implant is my area... All I can suggest is that you go to someone who has years of experience with documented successful cases that he can show you. If you're not seeing a specialist for it, don't hesitate to ask for one if you sense BS. Inexperienced people tend to paint too rosy a picture. In general, it doesn't hurt any more than a tooth extraction but I have no idea if you'll need a bone graft or gum graft, etc.

If you have questions, I'm here.

Once again, useful advice popo. Can I assume that the over-the-counter stuff is safe and harmless if used as directed? And it won't cause uneven bleaching? I have some demineralisation damage (the damaged bits look very white) to my teeth from a bad Diet Coke habit I had for years and was looking at this to even the colour out.

Aah, different story here. Bleaching (OTC or dentist's ) likely won't even out your spots to the degree of you being satisfied. Most people who want to even out white blotchiness like this go for veneers.

Damn, not exactly what I wanted to hear since veneers are another price bracket altogether. Having said that, nobody really notices it about my teeth, most people have said I have a killer smile... I'm the only one who spots it when I look at my teeth from certain angles under bathroom lighting, so maybe it's not something I should be too worried about.

Once again, thanks!

Hi popo, I wanted to send you an update on what you advised me to do a few months back about my mom (who has dementia, and whose dental records we could not find.) Very good outcome.

My niece has just become a licensed Dental Assistant, and in a most wonderful turn of events, she has procured a part-time/temp job situation in one of the most reputable dentists in our county, mostly because she did her internship with them and they liked her. There is a potential that she will go on board there when another DA leaves in May.

Anyway, I made an appointment with this dentist office, and they treated my mom like gold. Of course, my niece was there, and I could tell their office atmosphere is very genial and open. The dentist called me back after x-rays and an initial exam on my mom and explained that she had a filling missing, and it was a massive one at that (about half of her tooth!). He said he could do a crown, but that it was expensive, so the cost had to be weighed. He offered to put in a (ok, here's where I didn't get it all) sort of a temporary filling like thing that would stay in for quite a while. He was also talking to my niece at the time, and they were all "dentisty-talking" and so I relied on my niece for an interpretation. She explained that this "temp" filling like thing would be good for a good while, at least until my mom could save some money to get a crown if she wants. Maybe even up to two years.

The dentist was one of the partners, and the head partner even came by and examined my mom and her x-rays and introduced himself and was very nice. Everyone was just great. We scheduled a cleaning for here in about a week.

The great thing - they refused to charge my mom for the visit. They said that she was my niece's grandmother, so they would not charge her, even for the materials of the super wonderful goop they put in her tooth.

My mom still remembers this, even with her dementia. She mentions it at least once a day.

God bless good, kind dentists!

:)

I recently had 4 of my teeth extracted last monday. 2 in top, 2 in bottom.

one tooth in the upper right had a very long root. he was pulling at it for atleast 5 minutes. this side also took the longest to stop bleeding.

everything has seemed to healup nicely except for the top teeth. the left side of my mouth has a significant bump where the toothth was pulled but there is no pain. im assuming that this is because he expanded my jawbone to extract it. well the top right tooth has a similar bump. but there is a small cut going up pretty high in my gum. he said the tooth had very long roots. at the top of the cut, there appears to be something like a canker sore and it feels like the bone is very close underneath.

will this go away? i read about the horrors of the jawbone growing through the gums, the infections, and complications this creates. will the jawbone eventually shrink back down? or will it get bigger like other bones do when they break. as for the sore at the top, i tried girgling some salt water. i dont know if it will help yet.

just a quick question...i'm almost in flyingcow's position, but anyway


i now have 3 crowns cemented into place...2 porcelain over noble metals and 1 gold in the very rear. my question: How long will these last, on average, assuming good care before i have to have them replaced.

I have an upper molar (second from the back) that's cracked. It cracked during a normal meal, so clearly it wasn't a healthy one to begin with. From what I've felt with my tongue, there's a piece of it loose, yet attached. I won't get in to see a dentist for about two weeks, and have been careful not to chew on that side or mess with it much with my tongue, for this fear of mine that if the loose piece comes off, there'll be like root or something exposed and massive pain will ensue from there on. However, now there's an unpleasant and constant taste in my mouth, doesn't matter how much I brush or gargle Listerine, it remains. My uneducated guess is that there's an infection or something that that cracked, mostly loose piece of the tooth is nesting, and it's puss that I keep tasting... :no: I guess I am wondering what I should do about it during these couple of weeks before I get to go in...

It's really hard to say what's going on based on this. I wouldn't be worried about long term "jawbone growing through the gums" etc. If you see a canker sore type of lesion I'd have it checked since it could be an infection... though I'm not sure how or why you're looking way back in there...

Yes, gargle with warm salt water but I'd have it checked.

The all gold one should last longer since there's no porcelain to fracture but either should last an average of ~7-12 years. The gold could last way longer.

I wouldn't wait a couple of weeks. If it fractures more you could be looking at an extraction and replacement vs. a possibly more simple fix. Unfortunately there's nothing you can do that will get rid of the infection on your own. Salt water rinses to keep it under control a tiny bit but it won't do much.

Why wait a couple weeks?

hey popo,

i asked you a question a good while ago and then went in to get checked out for a cavity. Well I went to the wrong dentist. Then after getting a a whole bite wing Xray for peace corps my new dentist did a whole ton of work replacing bad old fillings and such.

Then three days ago I started getting a toothache on my lower left 1st molar (not the twelve year one). I had some work done on that tooth about 2 months ago, but now my insurance through COBRA is over and all these medical expenses just keep delaying when I can leave for Peace Corps.

Is there anything I can do to judge how serious this thing is?

It's not a heat/cold sensitivity, but if I bite anything harder that a soft pineapple I'm in incredible pain.

It also get worse through the day, it seems fine in the morning, but now at 1pm i want to hit it with a hockey skate. It's only slightly tender if I push it side to side with my fingers, but hurts a ton if i bite down on it. I've also flossed thoroughly around the tooth.

thanks for any help, and if this doesn't go away by Wednesday I'm probably just going to go to a dentist as it's affecting my ability to work. Oh and I can't take any painkillers b/c I'm on dicluflocan (or something like that) for, get this, arthritis in my foot (I'm 23).

Sorry it took a while... I've had a rough couple weeks culminating with my dad passing away after a battle with cancer. Not a fun time.

Anyways, it's tough to say what the problem is but it sounds like the tooth might be fractured/cracked. Depending on how bad it is it might be fixed with a white filling or a crown. If deep, it could require a root canal or even extraction. Get it checked again.

popo, very sorry to hear about your dad. I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say I am grateful for your generosity in helping us out with this thread, but I'm glad you took the time out to focus on more important priorities. I wish you and your family well in coping with your bereavement.

Need info on Temporary Bridges
 

I have been having a hard time with my temp bridge. The Dentist Asst put one in on Mar 28th. It really wasn'y very good to start. Anyway it came out 3 weeks later I glued it back. Then it came out again I went back and the Asst out back in place. By this time the plastice temp was broken on the backside. 2 days later it breaks again (I should be saying comes out), this time it cracked at the front tooth. Part stayed on the ft tooth the rest came out. This is a 3 crown bridge starting at the right ft tooth. So I go back the asst used the same broken up temp and some material so you won't see the crack and sends me on my way. The temp breaks at the ft tooth later that night and the rest comes out. I have been very careful not to eat anything too hard. So I go back this morning and request they make a new one. The Asst does so, the gives me the mirror. This is the worse one yet. The ft tooth is very crooked, and the the next two teeth are quite a bit shorter than they should be. I told the Asst I was unhappy and it did not look good. The Dentist came in, and basically said these temps are cost them a lot of money and are timely to do. They do not have a problem with other people. (back at work I spoke to 2 other people who had their temps come off by the same dentist). She proceeded to buzz down the temp a bit. When she was done the ft tooth was somewhat straighter but much narrower. And all teeth are noticeably crooked. She said there was nothing more she could do, I would have to wait until the real bridge came in (about 10 more days). I was so angry when I left there. I originally went because I swallowed a post & crown and wanted her to replace it but she said it would be better to do a bridege because of decay. Then after she does her grinding she says we have a problem, the 3rd tooth of the bridge is wobbly, I felt it and it was not. This would have costed me $1,500.00 out of pocket. On the next visit I told them I did not want the 6 tooth bridge, I was going to go with the 3 tooth. This is when I thought her attitude changed. Would you agree that it is hard to make a temp fit right when soemone has a small or closed bite. Also is it normal for the Asst to make the temps. I know my bottom teeth would hit the top, but that did not affect the legnth, I don't see why the temp has to be shorter & crooked looking. People at work definetly noticed. I appreciate any answers. Thanks. MM

Without knowing all the details it's impossible for me to give a real opinion. But I would definitely have a sit down with the doc and explain your frustration. If you don't like the reaction, I would get a 2nd opinion. If you want the expert opinion, look for a good prosthodontist. Something doesn't sound kosher here.

Thank you Sharon.

Thank you for your response to my question. There really aren't too many more details. After searching on the internet it appears that an asst can be the one to make the temp bridge and install it. Maybe I am uneducated on this subject, but I do not see why the teeth on a temp have to be crooked and shorter. The denist said because of my bite. But the teeth being longer have no bearing on that, when I bite down my lower teeth hit the very top of the ft teeth. And being crooked as no advantage. I was very upset by what she said. She stressed how much this cost her to do a temp, and then repair it 3x's and finally repl it. I'm sorry but I don't see how that is my problem. But as I said maybe I am just not educated in this area. After the final bridge is in, I will make a call to our provider and give them the details. I wouldn't want to do it now because who knows how I would be treated after that.

Again thank you so much for your time.

The provider doesn't care. What I meant about details is that I don't know both sides of the story. I believe what you're saying is accurate but sometimes there are confounding variables. Again, I'm not saying that you're fibbing, or exaggerating. I DO think that it doesn't sound right and that you should seek another opinion. I don't think you've been treated properly from the sound of things.

Hey popo I hope you can help me out. I went to a new dentist and said I needed a lot of work...which I knew. Questions:
1) my insurance covers porcelain fused to metal crowns but they are charging me an extra $350 per crown for a "procelain upgrade". It's not empress and I already thought my insurance was coving a porcelain crown. so what could this be?
2) I have a cavity between two molars and they are charging me for 2 onlay metallic-three surfaces and 2 Cerec upgrades. The onlays are $105 which I expected but I need 2? And what is this upgrade again for $350 per tooth?
3) Do I need to pay the extra money to be sent to an oral surgeon to extract a tooth that had a crown and then broke...and now needs to be pulled?
Thanks for the help!

For the first 2 questions I really don't know about insurances. I have zero experience with these types of issues. For the 3rd question, there's no way for me to know without seeing you and knowing the comfort level of your GP when it comes to extractions.

This might sound rough but.... you say that you knew you'd need a lot of work. Typically that comes from someone who hasn't been to a dentist in a long time. It sounds like you're now getting on the horse again... and good for you. Now consider all the money/time you saved by not going before and get the proper treatment now. Trust your dentist and listen to him. If you're seeing one you don't trust off the bat, find another one. Don't just go to the lowest price. Like I've said before, if you need a low cost dentist you can get great work done at a discounted rate at a local dental school. If the case is big, ask for the Graduate Prosthodontics dept.

Thanks a lot popo. Very sorry to hear about your loss. I'll see if I can hit my parents up for some dentist money this weekend. After the dropped 5k on orthos i'm sure they won't want to see it pissed away over something like this... let's hope

I've been told I need braces to correct my bite (I have no canines to guide my bite and the only real contact between my upper and lower teeth is between my back molars), what I don't understand is how braces could possibly fix this?? Its understandable that crooked teeth can be corrected with braces, but mine aren't crooked!

Also, because of my bite I am developing TMJ, every morning my jaw is sore and clicks out of place in such a way that I can't open my mouth. So, I started wearing a night guard two nights ago and it has worked wonders for the TMJ...however this morning I woke up and one of my front teeth hurt, almost like the night guard was trying to move it, like braces would move a crooked tooth. Is it possible for a night guard to cause teeth to move over time?

I know these are more ortho related questions, but any help would be appreciated!

I'll add another completely pedestrian question - I just got an electric toothbrush. How long should I be brushing with it for? It seems a LOT more efficient than a manual one.

I woke up yesterday with a numb pain in my 14th tooth on the top left. The pain would let go if I didn't put any pressure on it, but would come back once I would bite down on it or chew on that side. I went to the dentist without an appointment and they took a look at me as an emergency case. X-rays were taken and the dentist said that my filling is very close to the nerve. On top of it all, my nerve appears to be dying and that's what's causing the pain. She prescribed me Amoxicillin and Ibuprofen with a note that if the pain does not let go in a couple of days, to make an appointment for a root canal.

I really don't want to get a root canal. Is there anything else I can do?

Also, what is the procedure like for the root canal? A quick answer would be appreciated since the pain is still present.

Hi Logan,
I'm not a dentist, but have been a Registered Dental Asst. for 23 years and have worked for and endodontist (root canal specialist) for 18 years. I can tell you that if your nerve in #14 is dead/dying, you have two choices: either extraction or a root canal. The antibiotic may make the pain/pressure sensitivity go away temporarily. This is because a dead nerve causes an infection inside the tooth, in the nerve space. The infection is calmed down by the antibiotic. However until a root canal is performed the infection will return eventually. I can say that root canals have gotten a bad rap in the past. Nowadays, as long as your dentist can get you numb, you should not have any pain during the procedure. Since my experience is with specialists, a general dentist experience may be a little different, I would hope not, but maybe. It takes about 1-2 hours to do, depending on the number of canals (usually 3-4 canals on #14), and the anatomy of the roots. The dentist will drill a very small hole into the biting surface of the tooth, and file the insides of the canals until all nerve tissue has been removed. Once the canals are cleaned and shaped, he will fill the canals with a material called gutta percha, which is a type of rubber that is heated and packed into the canals with a sealer(glue). It's important to fill all the nooks and crannies of the canals to prevent reinfection. He will most likely take x-rays at certain points during the procedure to make sure he has filed/filled the canals properly. The tooth may be painful to biting for about a week or so after, just from the work done on the tooth. Kind of like a bruised area. After the root canal, you will need a post/core buildup and a crown to restore the tooth. We do at least 5 root canals a day in our office, and I talk to hundreds of patients about this every year. I myself have had 10 root canals over the years. The experience should not be a painful one if your infection is under control. Good Luck.

Yeah, a guard can move your teeth slightly. If you feel that it's happening, your dentist can adjust it very easily and quickly to relieve the area that's putting pressure on the tooth. Braces don't just move teeth sideways (horizontally), they also move teeth vertically (up and down). So, move some teeth up, some down and soon your bite will be better.

Still 2 minutes, I think there's even a timer on most models.

It sounds like you may have a cracked tooth and/or a diseased pulp (nerve). One doesn't necessarily come with the other but without seeing the xray I can't say much about that. If needed, a root canal basically goes like this: teeth have a blood supply with a nerve. If it gets infected or inflamed beyond a certain point, it can't heal on its own. It needs a root canal treatment. What this means is that the root canal system (blood vessels & nerve) are removed and the canal is sterilized and then packed & sealed with an inert material. It's not complicated, just very technique-sensitive.

Here's a tip: If it's really #14 that's getting done, ask your dentist how many canals he found and make sure the answer is 4, not 3. Personally, I would have it done by someone who limits his practice to root canals. This can be a general dentist or an endodontist (a root canal specialist).

So true. My boss says upper 1st molars ALWAYS have 4 canals. We do a lot of retreatments on teeth that only had 3 canals done. I think I misspoke yesterday, we usually say 3 or 4 canals to patients on the phone before they have a consult on a molar because it's not always the tooth they think it is. So generalizing you know.

ug, tell me how to pop my jaw back into place! My nightguard didn't work for some reason, and I haven't been able to fully open my mouth since 4 am this morning.

I can't really go to the dentist right now because I have no health insurance and no $$. Please help!

I have a cracked (hairline) molar and was told that I need a crown in the near future (6-12 months).

Should I wait or just get the thing done? Dentist didn't stress it immediately.

I can't stop eating smoked almonds... but can only do it with only one side of my mouth now.

Here's a question.

I've always basically thought that my family's dentist was an asshole, as he just has that arrogant, cocky attitude going for him. That may bias my views.

Last time I visited the dentist, he tried to sell me a system to fight my supposed gum disease. He looked in my mouth, said I had "stage 3" gingivitis, and then had the hygienist show me a 10 minute video on this system called PerioProtect. I had originally thought this was just some system that he had found useful and effective in treating patients with gum disease. However, as I'm watching the video, I realize, holy shit, there's my dentist, subtitled "CEO of PerioProtect Inc." trying to sell me this system. It seemed to basically consist of plastic tooth molds, which you squirted some anti-gum disease gunk into and then left in place for 30 minutes a day.

Anyway, the fact that it was my dentist himself who had apparently come up with this system and had made a slick DVD to sell it and thereby line his pockets immediately put me off to the whole proposition. The funniest part was, though, that my dental hygienist (an extremely nice women, who is basically the entire reason my family goes to this dentist in the first place) said immediately afterward, "You don't really need this."

I am not opposed to the idea that my gums are not in the best of shape, although I am only 23 years old. I've even been brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash more regularly since that visit. However, I was curious as to your opinion on this "PerioProtect" and as to whether you think my dentist was just trying to fleece me. BTW, his system would have cost me 1500 dollars "plus additional unforeseen costs" had I agreed to it. He even had me sign a document saying that I had been made aware that my teeth may fall out of my head at a moment's notice (an exaggeration, but not much of one) if I didn't agree to use his system, and had decided not to anyways. He also had me sign a document saying that I was aware that he was not, infact, a licensed periodontist, which cracked me up. I guess he figures most people are stupid and don't actually read this stuff.

Let me know your opinion, thanks.

There's no way for me to do this on a website. See a dentist, go to a dental school or go to an ER and ask to be seen by an oral surgeon on call.

Trouble with these cracks is you never know how deep they are until it breaks completely. Lots of teeth have small cracks on them but again, you never know. It's a judgement call. My wife's got a molar with an old filling and a small crack in the tooth. She's getting an onlay (a partial crown) done.

I'd advise you to stick with your hygienist. PerioProtect is a crock IMHO.

Four days ago I had my wisdom teeth removed by an oral surgeon. They seem to be healing alright except my left lower one much slower than my right lower one. My left lower one I believe may have had pericoronitis and my oral surgeon removed it anyway. Was this a good move? I was under the impression that it should have been treated with antibiotics before its removal. I am on penicilln now but am just a little worried. Is there anything I should do to insure it heals/kills the infection?

Typically it is treated with antibiotics first but it's not an absolute. It should all heal fine on it's own now, 4 days later and on Pen. Things you should watch for are a bad taste in your mouth, growing redness or heat on your cheek, throbbing, etc. You should note a lot of improvement over the next few days. Rinsing with warm salt water is a good thing but do it gently, not like on a Listerine commercial.

Hi, my teeth/gums are in not so great condition right now. My upper set of teeth are in good shape but as has been the history of my teeth, my lower are troublesome, my lower teeth have grown in an untidy way, so that I can't actually close my front teeth together properly. This actually I guess is to do with my jaw rather than teeth, because no matter how I look at it, even if they were replaced or anything, they still wouldn't meet my top set. Anyway because my teeth are untidy arranged and I'm not massively well behaved with keeping up with brushing properly every day(my own fault yes I am lazy) a lot of hard plaque has built up.

Usually I go to the dentist every 6 months, and they find it and remove it with a drill/pick thing and say everythings fine, never has any dentist helped me with the lower teeth arrangement, and so I never really took it as a problem, and I never bothered to ask until now. But now I've been in China for 9 months without seeing a dentist and I don't really trust chinese dentists, plus i have no healthcare here, so I'd have to pay for anything, not that its actually expensive but if they ever messed up, fees would mount.

So as its been so long, the hard plaque has started to build up again, I've recently been brushing a lot frequently to try to make up for lost time as it were, but I'm not so naive as to think that would work. There's no pain yet but I'm just wondering what I should do with this hard plaque buildup and no imminent travel back to the UK to see a trustworthy dentist. And whether my lower set can actually be tidied so they look ok and my jaw fixed or anything done about that. It's not terrible, but its just something that bothers me a little.

I am wondering is act restoring mouthwash any better then listerine?

or for that matter are any of the mouthwashes really better than others. Is it really worth it to buy name brand mouth wash rather than Target brand? ATM I am using crest prohealth, does it matter?

Tough situation. In reality, it's not the hard stuff that causes disease, it's the soft stuff that does it. Without cleaning, the soft stuff hardens over time. Kinda like when you cook & get a mess on your kitchen counter. If you clean it right away you just need a soft sponge or paper towel (i.e. toothbrush). If you let it build up you need to scrape it off the counter (i.e. dentist's scraper). So while it's the soft stuff (bacteria) that causes disease, the hard stuff makes it very difficult for you to get rid of the bacteria.

I have a buddy training over here from China and I know that they don't learn/teach proper hygiene over there so finding someone who can help you might be tough. He is planning on going back there when finished training and so I can't believe that he's the only one to do this. Is there a way to find US/Canadian/European or Australian-trained dentists? I know someone very good in Malaysia... do you ever travel there??

If not, the best you might be able to do is to keep things spotless (completely free of soft plaque) until your gums do not bleed at all on brushing & flossing. Do this until you get back to England and then change your habits so you don't lose your teeth! Good luck.

No, Listerine is actually the most proven. In reality I'm not sure of the need for a mouthrinse if you brush & floss well. In those more susceptible to disease there are advantages to using an antibacterial rinse like Listerine or Chlorhexidine (Peridex). Personally I use Crest ProHealth because I prefer the taste and lack of alcohol burn. But brushing & flossing is WAY more important.

Thank you for the reply!

crown and galvanic shock
 

Hello!

My dentist has a good reputation in our area, but I am a new patient, due to a change in insurance. I had to have my lower right first molar crowned, and I was reluctant to get one, because of the experiences of some of my friends and family. When the dentist recommended it, he said that he didn't feel I need a root canal, and that put me a little more at ease. During the first appointment, he said there was a lot more decay under the old filling than he had thought, and he had to put some material inside the tooth to reinforce it before the impression was taken. When they sent me home with the temp crown, it remained painful all the way to my second appointment.

My permanent crown was cemented in place on June 19th. It wasn't fun. The dentist has assistants who fit the crown and do all the adjusting, and she popped it on and off several times before the bite was right. It was very painful, and she told him that the mesial area of my tooth was very sensitive. I was instructed to baby that tooth, so the nerve would settle down, giving the tooth a chance to heal itself, and I did. When I went back on July 2nd to have 2 fillings replaced, it had only been feeling calm for a few days, but I felt encouraged that it was healing. Unfortunately, the teeth I needed worked on were the first and second molars right above the crown. When the assistants (who put the amalgam in place and shaped them) were finishing the adjustments on the filling, I couldn't tell if the bite was right because I was having galvanic shock between the newly crowned tooth and the one above it.

Fast forwarding to today: I have finished the Medrol dose pack he prescribed July 2nd to lightly supress my immune system and allow the tooth to settle. I only noticed the shock for the first day, as eating eggs seemed to help, but my crowned tooth still seems very upset by all this, and perhaps more so today than a couple days ago. I have noticed that my bite doesn't seem right, and it seems like it's the filling in the second molar, so it might not be directly over the crown. I have an appointment to get it adjusted next week.

The questions I have are: 1) Could the galvanic shock have interrupted the healing of that tooth under the crown, and can galvanic shock promote abscess? and 2) How long can it take for a tooth to settle down and heal under a crown? Liquids and even air hurt right now. Thanks for your time.

1) No, it can't cause an abscess.

2) It shouldn't take longer than a week or 2 but if the bite isn't right it should be adjusted instead of waiting for things to settle.

This isn't an issue, I just want to thank popo for continually checking these threads after all this time.

You rock pal! :thumbsup:

Thanks for your response. I've been back to see him and got the high spots in the filling above the crown taken down, but I've realized that some of the pain I'm having from the crowned tooth is associated with sweet things like fruit juice and grapes. The discomfort when I eat or drink things like that seems to linger for quite a while. I've left a message at his office for an appointment. Perhaps I can get in early next week and see what that's all about. Maybe I bit down too hard and too much of the cement squished out for it to seal well. Anyway, I wanted to tell you I really appreciate your answering my question. Have a great day!

I had to get a tooth pulled (lower left molar second to last) because I chipped it while skateboarding and didn't go to the dentist and for some reason it got an abscess. So when I went to the dentist, I got the tooth behind it filled because there was a cavity. Now that tooth that I got filled seems like there is something wrong with it, it doesn't hurt at all but I have a funny taste in my mouth and I know it's coming from that tooth. It's not affecting my breath because I do not have bad breath but it's just a funny taste in my mouth. I don't have insurance so I am worried about that. Also my wisdom teeth are coming in, could that have an effect on my tooth's health? I feel I am going to be looking at a huge bill if I go to get this fixed because for some reason I feel that I might need a root canal and getting my wisdom teeth taken out is going to cost a fortune.

I have had trouble with my teeth my entire life (I'm only 22 now) and I take excellent care of my teeth. I brush 3-4 times a day for 3 minutes, I floss everyday, I don't eat candy, drink cokes, or coffee and I eat a bunch of fruit. My mom had problems with her teeth her entire life as well and she took care of them. Are there any hereditary diseases or something that gives teeth poor health for no real reason? It really irritates me because I take such good care of my teeth and a friend of mine has never once had a cavity and has perfect teeth, even though he eats tons of candy, and all he drinks is cokes and he says he like brushes his teeth once a day and sometimes even less.