popo

I'll take any and all questions. No post goes unanswered.

Skettios

Sweet. My upper and lower canines on the left side collided the other week. It felt like there was a small divot in my top one, and they hurt like a bitch. Should I do anything special for them or just leave it alone?

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popo

Do you mean that you chipped the top one? If the chip is big enough it can cause sensitivity and need a "filling". But considering that they BOTH hurt like a bitch , I'd get it checked out.

I doubt you did much damage but anything that causes that much pain deserves to get checked out. If you want, let me know what the doc says and I'll tell you what I think.

crewsor

I had to have a lower molar pulled, last one back on the bottom. My dentist wants to do an implant, they cost tons and insurance won't cover it. You think its necessary? She says the top one may drift because of no pressure from below. Its not bothering me now.

PS. I hope youre not my dentist.

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popo

Hey, I remember you, you trouble maker!

You really have 2 choices here. Before suggesting one over the other, I'd need to know how old you are, medical status (smoker/diabetic/anything else?), why the tooth was pulled (do you take care of your mouth?), what the bone looks like in the area of the pulled tooth, and what your bite looks like.

The 2 options are:

1) Implant to replace the pulled tooth.
2) Pull the upper one too

Yup, the upper one will over time come down and it will become a pain in the ass even though it's not bothering you now. The question becomes whether you need that or not at all.

I'm not sure if it was your 1st or 2nd molar that got pulled (from your description, most likely the 2nd). You do not really need your 2nd molars to chew properly so pulling the upper tooth is a decent and cheap option. No, it's not ideal to pull a tooth that doesn't have problems, but better that than letting it slowly drop down.

The implant is also a good option, ESPECIALLY if it was your 1st molar that got yanked. Implants are very successful (~96%) if done properly. Most insurances don't cover it because, well, they're assholes.

If it's my mouth and I don't smoke or have any medical reasons eliminating the implant option, I do the implant. But I completely understand not being able to afford it. Pulling the upper tooth is an acceptable 2nd option.

Hope I didn't ramble too much.

termnl

Nice.

I had a few cavities up until I got insurance. I went to a dentist and got them filled....but I have not been able to chew on that side of my mouth (unless the food is VERY near body temp.) since I have had the work done.....and that wasnt the case before....even with the cavities.

I have talked to the dentist and he says its just because my teeth are so sensitive and I would need major surgery to take care of it.

I think is BS and he may have messed up my teeth in some way.

What do you think?

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TrollInvestigtr

i have no insurance and my wisdom teeth are coming in. the upper right one is already all the way in. the others still havent broken through the gumline. i dont notice any problems. should i still go get them removed anyway (considering i dont have insurance)? could something go wrong or somehting? they dont hurt or anything.

popo

Some people get some sensitivity after fillings just from the fact that teeth were drilled, especially with white fillings. This should go down within a few days. The fact that you mention temperature makes me think about the possibility that the nerves are infected/inflamed, especially if it's heat that causes the pain. The (costly) solution would be root canals on the affected tooth/teeth.

The only way your dentist could've screwed up here would be that he has horrible hands and caused the nerve inflammation with his drilling. It would be tough to believe that he's that bad. And it sounds like he's not pushing for you to go ahead with the root canals so he's not being overly aggressive for the $$.

So, if it's been less than 1 week then give it time. If it's been more than 1 week and they're white fillings, change them to silver. If you get a throbbing pain that comes on from exercise, lying down, or heat then you need a root canal.

This is a case where I'd really need x-rays to say for sure what's going on.

popo

Not everyone needs them out but I'm assuming that you've been told that you do.

If you will be getting insurance anytime soon then try and wait it out. Worst thing that can happen is you'll get an infection with lots of pain. Seriously, the different things that can happen are 1) you get an infection, 2) they cause lots of decay on the teeth just in front of them, 3) cysts grow around them.

If you've been told you need them out, I'd get them out. If you start feeling pain in the area (especially the lower ones), GO SEE A DENTIST since an wisdom tooth infection can become alot more serious than you imagine if left untreated.

If cost is an issue, I highly recommend going to the closest dental school. It'll be a lot cheaper. And usually tough wisdom teeth extractions are done by oral surgery residents (already dentists), not dental students. Very worth it.

User Name

You mean to tell me there is a person with an actual doctorate on TFP?

JangoFett72

When I wake up in the morning my teeth feel like they fit together perfectly. As the day goes on and I bite together, it feels like they are out of alignment. When I wake up the next morning, my teeth are feel like they are back in normal alignment and it starts all over again.

I have gone to my doctor and to my dentist and they can't find anything wrong. I brush and floss regularly and have my teeth cleaned every six months. They both said its probably just stress related. (I do have this bad habit of biting the inside of my cheeks when I get really stressed out, but I'm working trying to stop.) There is no pain involved and its just so frustrating not knowing what it is.

Do you have any ideas? Could it be TMD or TMJ? Any help would be really appreciated!

popo

This is my way of saying thanks for the titty board.

popo

My guess would also be that it's stress-related. You may be clenching and/or grinding either at night or during the day throwing off the "muscle memory" that your jaw muscles have. Because of the clenching, they would not have a single comfortable position that they can stay at.

If you've been told that you grind, getting a night guard could solve both problems. Another option is to see an oral pain specialist who would have lots of experience with all sorts of facial muscle probs. They're not so easy to come by but you too can call your local dental school and ask if they have someone who deals with this. Perhaps an Oral Medicine specialist.

BTW, I also used to bite my cheeks & lips till they were raw. I just decided one day to stop it and that was it, haven't done it for a year. Good luck!

davidc209

Schwing! Score!

Ok... i'm 26 years old... Still got all of my wisdom teeth. All 4 are deeply impacted (ie. completely and totally under the gumline... can only be seen with exrays). I've never had braces and I have nearly perfectlt straight teeth.

My dentist recommends getting the wisdom teeth taken out soon. The longer they stay, the harder it will be to remove them later.

My question is... WHY will I want to get them removed later??? They aren't causing any problems now. Can they become a problem later down the road??? THANKS!

Ashton

termnl

Thanks popo....from what you said, it makes me think it was the dentist.

The fillings are silver. Its been over a month since I have had the work done. He drilled and filled 3 cavities in about 20 mins. He clamped my tounge in the metal thing he put around a tooth while he was filling it.....twice by mistake.

I also kinda get the feeling that he may be after the cash because:
Teeth didnt hurt at all
Found out I had some small cavities when I had an x-ray
Got them filled
Now, i suddenly need root canals to make my teeth stop hurting

Time to look for another dentist.

Thanks again.

__________________
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on the outside of my cocoon.
It specifies my release...
but im running out of room.

popo

It's tough to say without seeing the x-rays but impacted wisdom teeth can definitely become a problem later on. They can cause havoc with the teeth directly in front of them, possibly making you lose those teeth. Cysts can also develop around them, requiring you to have trhe cysts removed. Not fun.

At 26, I'd probably recommend the same. If you were 36 (or even 30), I'd say leave them alone because it gets much tougher to remove them from mid-20's on. You're really at the point where it's either take them out now or leave them in until they become a problem, when it'll be much more difficult to take them out.

Ask for a referral to an oral surgeon and see what he recommends.

popo

Pretty rare, moreso because of the straight teeth and properly aligned wisdom teeth. I've seen lots of people nowadays without any cavities. I once saw a girl, 26, from Africa who'd never been to a dentist before and she was exactly like you.

Trust me, there are enough people with bad teeth to keep everyone busy. You are by no means a dentist's worst nightmare.

My professional advice: change your font color.

popo

If they were small, then there's no way you should be needing root canals. Get a 2nd opinion. It could be something very minor like simply the fillings needing to be adjusted.

Good luck and let me know what the other dentist says.

jackassidy

why do dentist insist on putting in shit non-precious metal in peoples mouths just to save a few bucks? yet these same dentist use precious or all porcelain when it comes to themselves and family members? have they every heard of berilliums disease?

MSD

When i colse my mouth, my teeth all fit together and it feels like they should naturally be that way, but the gap between my fron two teeth on the top is directly over the center of one of my bottom teeth. all of my top teeth seem to be shifted half a tooth width to my right. I think this may be due to a missing molar, the second one from the back on the top right. Would those "invisible" tooth aligners be able to fix that? If so, how much would they cost and how long would it take to be fixed?

Second question, do any of the over the counter tooth whiteners actually work?

Skettios

Thanks for your help Popo, it doesn't hurt anymore, but it did hurt. I don't have dental insurance here at school, and they don't appear to be causing any problems so I might just leave it at that. Thanks for your advice, this is a great thread idea btw.

Peace.

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aciddrummer

Hey....

Often when I eat chocolate, I get this insane pain in my teeth. Sort of like the pain you feel when you drink something really cold, only 5 times worse. What is this? It only happens with chocolate for some reason.

Uuudar

I have a question! What is the best non-professional way to whiten your teeth? Heh, I realize it takes away from your business but I'm looking for a cheap, effective way. Thanks in advance!

popo

Most dentists give the patient the option, but since the extra cost is passed on to the patient, it's not at all about the dentist being cheap. The vast majority of price-conscious patients don't see the value of paying extra for a better quality crown, ESPECIALLY since we're talking about the part of a crown that you can't even see. They think the dentist is just trying to up-sell.

Since any extra cost for all-porcelain or precious metal copings are passed onto the patient, I'm not sure how you come to your conclusion. All dentists I know try and convince the patient to go with the best restoration available.

popo

I'll warn you that one area I'm not up to snuff on is orthodontics. What you describe definitely can be due to the missing molar. This is why whenever a tooth needs to be extracted, you should always plan on replacing it either with an implant or a bridge.

Invisalign works only on mild-moderate realignment so I'm not sure if it'll work in your case. Get a consult to an orthodontist and see what they say. It's impossible to guess the cost without knowing what needs to be done and where you live. Plan on between $2000 and $5000 with Invisalign costing more than conventional braces.

Over the Counter Bleaching:

I've heard good things about Crest White Strips but I'm sorry to say that nothing will work as well as what you get from your dentist. Lots of dentists now have professional strength Crest White Strips which are much cheaper than custom-fitted bleaching trays (~$300-500) and one session in-office bleaching (~$500). It won't hurt to try it out and see if it works for you. Your dentist will still be there if you're not happy with it.

popo

It's likely that you have a new cavity or leakage around an old filling. It usually comes on when people eat hot or cold or sweet foods. Why is yours only with chocolate? Why is Jennifer Garner so hot? Sometimes the answer is "just because".

HeyAgain

I am currently using an older model of Sonicare Toothbrush, and would like to know if there are any advantages to upgrading to the newer models with the new design?

popo

This might disappoint you but this is something that you can't recommend. Some people with a regular 59 cents toothbrush do a better job of brushing than those with a $129 Sonicare. It's all in the technique. But whatever you feel makes your brushing last longer is what you should use.

In short, there's nothing in the new Sonicare that is a "revolutionary".

dimbulb

My wisdom teeth hurt when i eat extremely sweet stuff like candy bars. It might be the sweetness or the chewinesss, but I don't get pain with other chewy food. Whats up with my teeth?

thanks

Kyp

Every once in a while, when I eat sweet foods it can bother my teeth a lot. It's not every time, but just sometimes. I haven't been to the dentist in 10 years, so at first I thought I might just have cavities or something, but it seems to just be an occassional thing. Is there any kind of explanation for that or am I just insane?

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popo

I'll answer both questions at the same time:

Cavities!

Pain to sweets is almost 100% because of decay. It doesn't have to happen ALL the time for there to be a problem, either.

dimbulb: my guess is that the wisdom teeth will likely have to go.

kyp: although you may have some cavities, that doesn't rule out the chance that you are insane. Go to a dentist!

Halx

this is for my mom...

is there any way to improve tooth sensitivity after using whitening gel? She is soooo sensitive to cold.

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popo

Yeah, happens to lots of people. The best thing to do would be for her to try an over-the-counter toothpaste like Sensodyne or if that doesn't help, then to ask her dentist for a prescription for a high Fluoride toothpaste like Prevident.

Also, she should ask her dentist for a lower percentage whitening gel. If she's using anything higher than 10% carbamide peroxide, she should ask for a 10% syringe. That would lessen the sensitivity the next time she bleaches.

Jeff

Maybe this a commonly known and I'm just stupid, but why does aluminum foil make me cry when I bite it? It really hurts.

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Nad Adam

I know most dentists says that you should use the softest toothbrush you can find. I like to use the hardest I can find. I get no bleeding gums and my teeth feel a lot cleaner when I use the hard ones.

What is so dangerous with hard toothbrushes?

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popo

It's a galvanic reaction caused by metal (foil), metal (a silver filling), and water (saliva). Electrons are passed from the foil to a silver filling giving your tooth a little shock. Neat, huh?

The more important question is why you're chewing on aluminium foil...

popo

The reason you shouldn't use hard brushes is because it'll tend to irritate the gums where you brush them. Irritation makes the gum tissue say "sayonara!" and you get recession.

It's the same reason why you need to floss. The food/bacteria stuck between your teeth causes irritation and inflammation and this leads to your gums and bone between your teeth to recede. Not good.

Heel Turn

I never post in this forum, but since the topic has turned to gum recession, I feel the need to reply.

Quick background, I'm 22 years old, white, male, in good health...and I've had insane amounts of work done on my mouth. Braces, fillings, caps, sealents, extractions (last count, 12 teeth extracted - 4 baby teeth, 4 adult molars, all 4 wisdom teeth), palatte expansion, bridges, you name it, I've had it done, and nothing, nothing was more unpleasant to have done than a gum graft for gum recession.

I was 16, and my braces had just come off, but as a result of having the braces, I experienced some gum recession on my bottom four eye teeth. "No problem," says my orthodontist. "We'll just get you a gum graft to take care of that." The way he said it, I figured it wasn't any huge deal.

I was wrong.

Quick warning, if you're eating, or going to eat after reading this, stop reading now. What they do is, after about a dozen shots of novocaine (this is if they don't use nitrous or conscious sedation on you), they use a scalpel, yes, a scalpel, to cut away gum tissue on the affected area, and then they again use a scalpel to slice away strips of gum tissue from the roof of your mouth, and proceed to sew it on to the affected area, and then pray to god it takes hold. This is, basically, the closest thing to medieval torture that a human being in North America will ever experience, and it SUCKS. The process was so horrific, I actually blocked it out, and I still can't look at the photos of the procedure from my medical chart. The entire thing takes a good hour and a half, and you'll be bleeding like a motherfucker the entire time.

Even worse than the procedure itself is the recovery time. You'll be laid up for AT LEAST a whole week, on prescription pain meds (I got Percosets, but god knows what they use now, maybe Vicodin) waiting to heal. You'll be doped up, woozy, with little appetite. Which is a good thing, because you won't be able to eat anything but yogurt and Jello for a good week, since, if you move your jaw too much, you'll tear the stitches, and everything goes to hell. Oh, and as for drinking? I couldn't move my jaw more than a half an inch, so I had to drink through a freaking turkey baster. My mom would bring me a glass of water (or juice, or whatever), and a turkey baster. Put baster in glass, suck up some fluid, deposit into mouth, gingerly swallow. What's even worse is, you're still waiting for the roof of your mouth to heal up, and you have to wear a protective retainer so you don't disturb the process. And let me tell you, the worst part of recovering from the surgery was getting used to the feel of the healing roof of my mouth. It feels slick, slimy, and just somehow wrong while it's healing, and you get used to that retainer quickly. Trying to wean yourself off of it is a tough psychological thing to overcome. Oh, and I hope you don't have to go anywhere while you're recovering, since your entire jaw is going to swell up while you're getting better. I looked like Jay Leno for about a week due to that. And you'll develop bruising, too, which also isn't fun. To this day, I still have scar tissue on my gums from that operation.

Take it from me, avoid causing gum recession AT ALL COSTS. It's probably the worst thing you can have done for your mouth, and to this day, I'd gleefully take half a dozen root canals over a single gum surgery. Unless you want someone going to work on your mouth with a scalpel, be very careful about your gums. If you notice recession occurring, consult a dentist IMMEDIATELY so you can figure out how to stop it. You will be insanely glad that you did.

BBtB

Here is a question that you have sorta answered for other people but I wanna ask again because I am like that. I am 19 and my wisdom teath have been comming in. It hurt alot at first (obviously) but now it dosn't really hurt anymore. On my upper right side it feels like it has completly broken through the gum but it is still a whole lot higher then everything else (It may just still be comming in.. been along time since I got a new tooth) On the upper left side it has also mostly broken through. I can feel the majority of the tooth but part of it is still in the gum. Now I can take my finger and run it along my tooth on my right side and they are all straight but the one right in front of the wisdom tooth is leaning inwards a bit. On the bottom I can not tell if they have come in or not. My question is should I get that all checked out? I havn't been in for a checkup in about 4 years but I do brush (about) every day. I rarely floss. None of which has anything to do with my wisdom teeth but still. I have no insurance and am living on a fixed income. I can not really afford to go in for a check up much less major surgery.

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Meridae'n once played "death" at a game of chess that lasted for over two years. He finally beat death in a best 34 out of 67 match. At that time he could ask for any one thing and he could wish for the hope of all mankind... he looked death right in the eye and said ...

"I would like about three fiddy"