Cavities and the Dentist

[PKTrekGirl]

That sucks PKTrekGirl! I didn't have those health issues, but chipped my two upper front teeth and ground my molars. Multiple fillings, 15 crowns on 8 teeth (molars), 3 of those root-canal-Ed, one of those yanked and replaced with an implant ($2500!!!---don't do that). So I've spent some "good times" at the dentist. Oh, and pain killer wears off fast.

Egads! I thought I'd win the prize for most time spent in a dentist's chair, but I concede that place to you!

It's been no easy road, as I'm sure you know. I still hate going in there, even though I have a dentist who I like very much, a hygienist who I also like alot, etc. They try to make it as painless as possible, but it's never gonna be fun.

I wouldn't wish this on anyone...but I *am* glad that someone around here appreciates the fact that no amount of brushing could have prevented the hand that I was dealt in this regard.

I do hope the OP gets to the dentist though. Because as I said, I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

 

[Mr Light]

I have resumed flossing in anticipation of a dental exam First time I bled like a stuck pig.... second time not at all!

 

[farmkid]

Yeah, he is squirting a white paste into it, but only after the drilling. The white paste is the filling. But you need to remove the caries/cavity first. That's what the drill is for.

And yeah: there's no need for needles and drilling if you go to the dentist regularly.

Some people go to the dentist regularly, have their teeth professionally cleaned two or three times a year, and still get cavities. It’s mostly genetics. Some folks just unfortunately have crappy teeth.

Yeah, I know a couple of those. The only time they brush their teeth is before they go to the dentist, and then blame it on genetics.

My wife is one of those in spite of her brushing habits. She thoroughly brushes faithfully twice a day, flosses every day, etc. Yet she still usually has a cavity or two every time she goes. When she's pregnant, it's even worse.

I used to be. When I was younger, I hated the taste of toothpaste, so I wouldn't brush my teeth. It never occurred to me that toothpaste wasn't absolutely required. I usually had a few cavities every time I went to the dentist. About the time I left for college, however, I began brushing every day. That was nearly 20 years ago, and I haven't had a new cavity since. I've had a few fillings replaced, but no new cavities.

 

[farmkid]

I haven't been to the dentist in seven years unfortunately. I moved to another state and never found a dentist up here. And the reason I keep putting it off is because I'm terrified of needles and drills.

But yesterday someone at work told me that when she gets a cavity, the dentist doesn't use a needle or a drill, he just squirts this white paste into it that hardens and THAT'S IT.

Is this true? Is this some new dental technology advancement in the past seven years?

A few years ago, I sat in my dentist's waiting room and read about a couple of new dental technologies that are coming (or at least looked promising at that time). One was a paste that would dissolve decayed enamel, but not healthy enamel. In other words, the dentist puts the stuff in the cavity and it removes all the bad stuff, and just the bad stuff, with no need for drilling. The other was a paste that is essentially non-crystallized enamel. As it cures, it hardens into what is basically natural enamel, and it can bond molecularly with existing enamel. Using this stuff to fill a cavity would result in true tooth repair, rather than just a patch. Combining the two technologies would result in superior repair of cavities without injections or drilling.

I don't know when either of these technologies will become available, but I eagerly await them. Perhaps your friend was one of the first people to get the first one.

 

[Nick086]

Do they still do the gold and silver fill ins? I was thinking of getting a gold fill in when ever I do get one. Not that I plan on purposely getting one.

 

[propita]

Gold is usually used for crowns, usually for those of us who would literally destroy ceramic crowns with a too-heavy bite or night-grinding. After I broke my first crown, a ceramic crown, the other 14 crowns were gold. It gets expensive.

(As I posted above, 15 crowns on 8 molars. While I destroyed the one ceramic crown, I “merely” deformed the gold ones until replacement was required.)

 

[KJbushway]

I don't trust dentist. Those bastards told me that my chipped tooth would grow out all the way by the time I turned 18, but nope that bottom half cement is still there and that tooth didn't do any growing.
And I got a root canal, had to hold my own mouth open for a good 2 hours. Come to find out they have things that hold your mouth open for you.
Plus I produce a lot of saliva and am afraid one day that I will choke on it and get a drill through the side of my cheek.

 

[propita]

They have little devices to hold your mouth open. Ask for it next time.

As a queen of saliva, I can assure you that you won't choke. Dentists have a nice little suction device that keeps sucking the saliva out. Noisy, but effective.

 

[KJbushway]

Yes I know about the suction device, but the dentist puts the damn thing in the wrong place, not only that but they let the saliva get to extremes, to the point where I swallow to actually use that device.

As for the holding the mouth open, I don't plan to get a root canal again.
Also I don't have any insurance, so its not like I can go to the dentist.

 

[SG-17]

A good way to prevent cavities is to prevent your enamel from getting frakked up. Use toothpaste that is advertised to reduce sensitivity or build enamel. Use mouthwash that advertises the same, don't just use base listerine, go with something like ACT Total Care. If you want to be cheap brush with baking soda and peroxide. Don't brush right away after eating, if you eat/drink something acidic it will soften your enamel and you can literally brush the enamel away when it is soft. It is best to brush before you eat or a few hours afterwards.

 

[Nick086]

Gold is usually used for crowns, usually for those of us who would literally destroy ceramic crowns with a too-heavy bite or night-grinding. After I broke my first crown, a ceramic crown, the other 14 crowns were gold. It gets expensive.

(As I posted above, 15 crowns on 8 molars. While I destroyed the one ceramic crown, I “merely” deformed the gold ones until replacement was required.)

How does it feel to have gold in your mouth?

 

[KJbushway]

I brush very hard, my enamel is going away due to me. However, I have switched to a enamel strengthener toothpaste and soft tooth brushes. I actually use that mouthwash that lets you see what it gets up by turning in a dark green. Its not a kids brand.

 

[propita]

Gold is usually used for crowns, usually for those of us who would literally destroy ceramic crowns with a too-heavy bite or night-grinding. After I broke my first crown, a ceramic crown, the other 14 crowns were gold. It gets expensive.

(As I posted above, 15 crowns on 8 molars. While I destroyed the one ceramic crown, I “merely” deformed the gold ones until replacement was required.)

How does it feel to have gold in your mouth?

It doesn't feel like anything different. The only time there's anything different was when a crowned tooth needed a root canal. The metal transmitted cold much easier than the regular teeth. Cold sensitivity is a sign of a problem, like nerve damage due to night-grinding.

 

[scotpens]

Do they still do the gold and silver fill ins? I was thinking of getting a gold fill in when ever I do get one. Not that I plan on purposely getting one.

“Silver” fillings are actually dental amalgam. Amalgam is usually composed of 50% of an alloy powder (mainly silver, tin and copper) and 50% liquid mercury, mixed into a paste and packed into the drilled-out cavity, where it hardens into a durable material. Amalgam fillings are still done (I have two of them), although many dentists no longer use them because of concerns about the toxic effects of mercury.

. . .As a queen of saliva, I can assure you that you won't choke. Dentists have a nice little suction device that keeps sucking the saliva out.

Queen of Saliva? Doesn’t sound like any country I’ll be visiting soon!

How does it feel to have gold in your mouth?

It doesn't feel like anything different. The only time there's anything different was when a crowned tooth needed a root canal. The metal transmitted cold much easier than the regular teeth. Cold sensitivity is a sign of a problem, like nerve damage due to night-grinding.

I thought perhaps Nick086 meant to ask how it feels to have a mouth full of precious metal. Do you feel rich?

 

[propita]

“Queen of Saliva.” I was told that I make more saliva than any other patient this dentist has, or my previous dentist. Considering how much work I’ve had done, that’s a lot.

Oh! About the gold? Shocks some people when they ask to see my crowns, usually because they’re getting one and wonder how it looks. Very shiny back there. I don’t really care, but it’s nice to know that, in case of complete societal collapse, I can probably yank a tooth and use it for barter.

 

[Holdfast]

Tangentially related news article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-13267753