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Dental Question
- Thread starter pimentoLoaf
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have to start doing it now. After getting 4 between the teeth cavities filled (2 visited to take car of them) and currently having 5-6 weak spots I starting 2.
As for brushing I use a sonic care 2 times a days love the tooth brush and my aunt says it the best brand out there (she is a dentist and no she does not get any money or free stuff from sonic care) Also my denist has given me some extra strong flolide tooth paste to use at night along with Floride mouth wash to use as well. Good stuff. I just dont have as strong of teeth as other people.
that mix with the fact I am a very heavy night grinder. Give you an idea on how bad it is. Those clear retainers that some people get after they are done with braces, um yeah I pretty much ground though my first one in about a month or 2. My current mouth card that is about 1.5 mouths old I already have some well defined groves in it. My mom is a heavy grinder and I did more damage to my teeth in 4 years than she did in 20.
As for brushing I use a sonic care 2 times a days love the tooth brush and my aunt says it the best brand out there (she is a dentist and no she does not get any money or free stuff from sonic care) Also my denist has given me some extra strong flolide tooth paste to use at night along with Floride mouth wash to use as well. Good stuff. I just dont have as strong of teeth as other people.
that mix with the fact I am a very heavy night grinder. Give you an idea on how bad it is. Those clear retainers that some people get after they are done with braces, um yeah I pretty much ground though my first one in about a month or 2. My current mouth card that is about 1.5 mouths old I already have some well defined groves in it. My mom is a heavy grinder and I did more damage to my teeth in 4 years than she did in 20.
Thread revival Why start a new thread?
Any dentists in the forum?
During my teeth cleaning, I've had a capped tooth with a tendency of pronounced bleeding when I floss. The dentist thinks I need to replace this cap because of a slight ridge under the gum line that harbors infection, in the dentist's words.
However, since this analysis, I have been more devoted regarding flossing and the bleeding has stopped, yet at my last cleaning, when I told the hygienist the bleeding was no longer evident, she said there was still blood up under the gum, (although none appears when I floss). I asked if a new cap would guarantee fixing the problem and dentist said no guarantees and then in a semi-threatening manner she told me if I did not want to do that, she could recommend me for a surgical solution.
I should of asked her (I'll probably call the office next week), but what is worst case if I just continue flossing? As I said, no blood when I floss.
Not helping the situation is that at some level, I feel that this office is in the business of generating business for itself. When me and my wife first went there, they told both of us we have paraiodontel disease. Yet when my wife came in for her cleaning, the hygienist wondered why they were having her do this. I think it's because they can charge the insurance company more for pariodontel vs regular cleaning, however...
Pariodontel Disease is described as bacterial infections in the vicinity of your teeth. Bleeding gums is one of the symptoms. However, if your gums bleed when you floss, but then the bleeding goes away when you floss regularily, can this be called pariodontel disease? Or should it just be considered a chronic condition/disease that is kept in check by brushing and flossing? I assume that gum depth when they take measurements is related. I have several 5s, a measurement of depth between the tooth and gum.
Thoughts? Thanks!
Any dentists in the forum?
During my teeth cleaning, I've had a capped tooth with a tendency of pronounced bleeding when I floss. The dentist thinks I need to replace this cap because of a slight ridge under the gum line that harbors infection, in the dentist's words.
However, since this analysis, I have been more devoted regarding flossing and the bleeding has stopped, yet at my last cleaning, when I told the hygienist the bleeding was no longer evident, she said there was still blood up under the gum, (although none appears when I floss). I asked if a new cap would guarantee fixing the problem and dentist said no guarantees and then in a semi-threatening manner she told me if I did not want to do that, she could recommend me for a surgical solution.
I should of asked her (I'll probably call the office next week), but what is worst case if I just continue flossing? As I said, no blood when I floss.
Not helping the situation is that at some level, I feel that this office is in the business of generating business for itself. When me and my wife first went there, they told both of us we have paraiodontel disease. Yet when my wife came in for her cleaning, the hygienist wondered why they were having her do this. I think it's because they can charge the insurance company more for pariodontel vs regular cleaning, however...
Pariodontel Disease is described as bacterial infections in the vicinity of your teeth. Bleeding gums is one of the symptoms. However, if your gums bleed when you floss, but then the bleeding goes away when you floss regularily, can this be called pariodontel disease? Or should it just be considered a chronic condition/disease that is kept in check by brushing and flossing? I assume that gum depth when they take measurements is related. I have several 5s, a measurement of depth between the tooth and gum.
Thoughts? Thanks!
I floss, then brush with electric toothbrush for 3 minutes, then use water pic, both after breakfast and then again at night before bed. Also us toothpick to clean between teeth and stimulate gum tissue after lunch. Dentist says this will help to avoid, or at least slow down, periodontal disease and eventual loss of bone in jaw as one ages. It's a hassle, but I think it's worth it in the long run.
Hey Pimentoloaf, long time no see. I was "jefhatfield" back in old days here.
My dentists mostly talked about receding gums when it came to not flossing. You can have great teeth but if gums are in bad condition, it's very hard to come back from that.
The issue with receding gums is how the dentist finally got me into flossing in my mid to late-20s, but before that I didn't floss that much. I got lucky and still have my teeth more than 20 years after that.
I'll bet that I have most of you beat. This is my Monday-Friday routine ...
1. Waterpik with a capful of bleach (~90 seconds)
2. Waterpik with plain water (rinses out bleach from Waterpik, which will break it down quickly)
3. Proxy brush with baking soda (two different brush sizes)
4. Floss (unwaxed)
5. OralB electronic tooth brush with baking soda
6. Brush tongue
7. Scrape tongue
8. Mouthwash
I had a good amount of gum recession and needed to fix it. One periodontist wanted to do surgery. But I started going to a dentist (and hygienist) who got me on the right track. Now it's my normal routine and because of it, my teeth and gums should last me for the rest of my life.
1. Waterpik with a capful of bleach (~90 seconds)
2. Waterpik with plain water (rinses out bleach from Waterpik, which will break it down quickly)
3. Proxy brush with baking soda (two different brush sizes)
4. Floss (unwaxed)
5. OralB electronic tooth brush with baking soda
6. Brush tongue
7. Scrape tongue
8. Mouthwash
I had a good amount of gum recession and needed to fix it. One periodontist wanted to do surgery. But I started going to a dentist (and hygienist) who got me on the right track. Now it's my normal routine and because of it, my teeth and gums should last me for the rest of my life.
What about Saturday and Sunday?
I sometimes add mouthwash to waterpik. I will try bleach too. I also floss first, then brush, then waterpik, in that order, per dentist instruction.
Thanks for the great waterpik suggestions. This tool, especially the periodontal tip and for general gum massage is outstanding!
WP-660
I'm really surprised the dentist did not suggest this, but I seriously wonder about their motivation oh patient health vs generating income for their business...
Question about the capful of bleach, I suppose that is to kill bacteria. What about hydrogen peroxide, which also is recommended for gargling. I need to ask my wife how much she dulutes it if at all. I'm thinking 50% and I'm wondering if it is less caustic to the external working of the waterpik?
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After working so hard over the week, I kinda take those days off.
Not totally off, but I definitely don't keep the same routine.
Any dentists on?
I have an area of a couple of teeth that are prone to bleeding. I recently started using Water Pik, daily, and have noticed an improvement in my gums, not that they were terrible before. Measurements of gum depth was 3-5 before and I'm getting periodontal cleanings every 6 months.
I have one area that is prone to bleeding. By using the Water Pik daily, I keep that from happening, but if I let it go for 24-48 hrs (not the norm), it comes back. I've spoke to my dentist (before I got the Water Pik) who said they thought it was bacteria and that one of my caps has a small ridge under the gum, where bacteria can collect. She seems to think that if I replace this otherwise perfectly good cap, that the problem will go away, but no guarantees. It sounds like it's sort of a guess.
You mentioned using bleach. My wife gargles with a solution of 30% hydrogen peroxide and 70% water. If I'm trying kill bacteria, I'm considering trying this solution in my Water Pik to get it under my gums. What do you (or anyone) think. I'm wondering if this could hurt the machine and will ask on a Water Pick forum. Thoughts? Thanks!
Update: I spoke to WaterPik Customer Service and they don't recommend running hydrogen peroxide through the machine due to it's corrosive nature.. They said if I use mouth wash in the machine, that I needed to run a full reservoir of water through it afterwards. Maybe I'll drop this idea.
I floss every every day. It makes the entire dentist process so much easier. Electric toothbrush, floss, and mouthwash have improved my teeth immensely.
Try a Water Pik. I was very surprised how much more effective this is. Why? Because you can reach areas you can't using floss. The water flow if very strong
I floss using the little Floss Picks usually 4-5 days a week. I actually tend to do it in my office when no one is around rather than in the bathroom mirror. I use have an Oral-B Triumph toothbrush with the screen that tells you where to brush, a gift from my sister (Dentist + Oral Surgeon). She also gave me a WaterPik, but honestly I find it somewhat of a hassle and it takes up a lot of space on my countertop.
I'm not sure about the first part of your question regarding the cap (crown?), but it seems to me if blood/food is getting stuck between your gum and tooth, it could be problematic. You don't want the gum to become infected or the tooth (if there is contact) to decay.
Periodontal disease encompasses gingivitis and periodontitis, the two most prevalent forms caused by plaque. Gingivitis is simply the inflammation of gums that makes them prone to bleeding- a very common condition. This is reversible. Periodontitis is non reversible and an advanced from of gingivitis. Your body's immune system begins to fight the plaque (as it advances below the gum line) and your immune system ends up destroying your own gum and tooth tissue as collateral damage. Gingivitis can have a range of severity but can be reversed with daily brushing and cleaning. So yes, the situation you have is considered periodontal disease even if it goes away, but it is most likely Gingivitis.
For both these situations, I would suggest getting a 2nd professional opinion if you don't trust the current dentist practice you are seeing. It's no unheard of practitioners to go overboard charging insurances. What was the reason you had your tooth capped in the first place?
Thread revival Why start a new thread?
Any dentists in the forum?
During my teeth cleaning, I've had a capped tooth with a tendency of pronounced bleeding when I floss. The dentist thinks I need to replace this cap because of a slight ridge under the gum line that harbors infection, in the dentist's words.
However, since this analysis, I have been more devoted regarding flossing and the bleeding has stopped, yet at my last cleaning, when I told the hygienist the bleeding was no longer evident, she said there was still blood up under the gum, (although none appears when I floss). I asked if a new cap would guarantee fixing the problem and dentist said no guarantees and then in a semi-threatening manner she told me if I did not want to do that, she could recommend me for a surgical solution.
I should of asked her (I'll probably call the office next week), but what is worst case if I just continue flossing? As I said, no blood when I floss.
Not helping the situation is that at some level, I feel that this office is in the business of generating business for itself. When me and my wife first went there, they told both of us we have paraiodontel disease. Yet when my wife came in for her cleaning, the hygienist wondered why they were having her do this. I think it's because they can charge the insurance company more for pariodontel vs regular cleaning, however...
Pariodontel Disease is described as bacterial infections in the vicinity of your teeth. Bleeding gums is one of the symptoms. However, if your gums bleed when you floss, but then the bleeding goes away when you floss regularily, can this be called pariodontel disease? Or should it just be considered a chronic condition/disease that is kept in check by brushing and flossing? I assume that gum depth when they take measurements is related. I have several 5s, a measurement of depth between the tooth and gum.
Thoughts? Thanks!
Thanks for the great waterpik suggestions. This tool, especially the periodontal tip and for general gum massage is outstanding!
WP-660
I'm really surprised the dentist did not suggest this, but I seriously wonder about their motivation oh patient health vs generating income for their business...
Question about the capful of bleach, I suppose that is to kill bacteria. What about hydrogen peroxide, which also is recommended for gargling. I need to ask my wife how much she dulutes it if at all. I'm thinking 50% and I'm wondering if it is less caustic to the external working of the waterpik?
I'm not sure about the first part of your question regarding the cap (crown?), but it seems to me if blood/food is getting stuck between your gum and tooth, it could be problematic. You don't want the gum to become infected or the tooth (if there is contact) to decay.
Periodontal disease encompasses gingivitis and periodontitis, the two most prevalent forms caused by plaque. Gingivitis is simply the inflammation of gums that makes them prone to bleeding- a very common condition. This is reversible. Periodontitis is non reversible and an advanced from of gingivitis. Your body's immune system begins to fight the plaque (as it advances below the gum line) and your immune system ends up destroying your own gum and tooth tissue as collateral damage. Gingivitis can have a range of severity but can be reversed with daily brushing and cleaning. So yes, the situation you have is considered periodontal disease even if it goes away, but it is most likely Gingivitis.
For both these situations, I would suggest getting a 2nd professional opinion if you don't trust the current dentist practice you are seeing. It's no unheard of practitioners to go overboard charging insurances. What was the reason you had your tooth capped in the first place?
Well, if it harbors bacteria here and there, the smell of the floss should say quite a bit. If there is indeed a ridge that's irritating the gyms, it may very well be just an irritation from the crown.
Never had a cavity or oral issues in my life. I have had one tooth RCT'd due to it on the verge of dying because of a physical blow to the tooth. Back then I chose the more and still more expensive option of using hardened ceramique which is much more bio-compatible than high noble. It's also incredibly difficult to scratch or crack/break.
I attribute my good oral health to not eating much between major meals, the use of xylitol in the last decade, but moreso because I've always brushed my teeth 3-4x a day and flossed just as much. The majority of cavities in people tend to appear interproximally, meaning between the teeth. Floss mechanically removes plaque where a brush cannot get to. Also the use of a quality electric brush makes a world of a difference. I use an oral rinse as well. I used to use something called ACT Cinnamon Fire eons ago but then switched to Listerine when they began using fluoride in one of their rinses. I've been using the Glide floss as long as I can remember. It's essentially very sticky medical grade teflon tape that doesn't snap. Everything apart from your teeth sticks to it. Waterpiks are great if the contacts aren't tight, otherwise it's quite useless. Also aids people whose oral health is compromised and have pockets.
I should mention I don't have much plaque production because I've been using Colgate Total (regular) for roughly 20 years. Even when it debuted in the US in '98, I remembered calling up stores in Canada to ship it over to me or if I knew someone going to BC for the weekend/holiday, they'd "smuggle" in about 10 boxes for me years before it came to the US. I think the Canadians got it in '91. At the time, I think I was paying 1.25 for 6.5 oz of paste "smuggled" in from Canada.
Now I pay more than double for much less for the same paste.
Edit: Ah yes, forgot to state. Dr. Tung's tongue cleaner is fantastic. I buy a new one every 2 years, but they're fantastic to use at the end of the day before bed. Just rinse it with hot soapy water to kill the nasties.
Never had a cavity or oral issues in my life. I have had one tooth RCT'd due to it on the verge of dying because of a physical blow to the tooth. Back then I chose the more and still more expensive option of using hardened ceramique which is much more bio-compatible than high noble. It's also incredibly difficult to scratch or crack/break.
I attribute my good oral health to not eating much between major meals, the use of xylitol in the last decade, but moreso because I've always brushed my teeth 3-4x a day and flossed just as much. The majority of cavities in people tend to appear interproximally, meaning between the teeth. Floss mechanically removes plaque where a brush cannot get to. Also the use of a quality electric brush makes a world of a difference. I use an oral rinse as well. I used to use something called ACT Cinnamon Fire eons ago but then switched to Listerine when they began using fluoride in one of their rinses. I've been using the Glide floss as long as I can remember. It's essentially very sticky medical grade teflon tape that doesn't snap. Everything apart from your teeth sticks to it. Waterpiks are great if the contacts aren't tight, otherwise it's quite useless. Also aids people whose oral health is compromised and have pockets.
I should mention I don't have much plaque production because I've been using Colgate Total (regular) for roughly 20 years. Even when it debuted in the US in '98, I remembered calling up stores in Canada to ship it over to me or if I knew someone going to BC for the weekend/holiday, they'd "smuggle" in about 10 boxes for me years before it came to the US. I think the Canadians got it in '91. At the time, I think I was paying 1.25 for 6.5 oz of paste "smuggled" in from Canada.
Now I pay more than double for much less for the same paste.
Edit: Ah yes, forgot to state. Dr. Tung's tongue cleaner is fantastic. I buy a new one every 2 years, but they're fantastic to use at the end of the day before bed. Just rinse it with hot soapy water to kill the nasties.
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First and foremost I'm appalled by the huge number of people that participated in this thread that did not floss! LOL! Oh wow... unbelievable! This is like almost a 10 year old thread and I wonder if every one of the non flossers still has their teeth! Having in mind how I hate to spend my money on odontological treatments, I try my very best to brush and floss on a constant basis so I won't need anything else than teeth cleaning done by my dental hygienist every 6 months. I think if I had done the same as most on here, I'd have dozens of root canals, crowns, onlays, implants, etc. Now, I'm not trying to shame anyone here. I understand that some people sometimes don't go to dentists because of monetary reasons and other unfortunate events. But that's why a good conventional brush and some floss can help you go great lengths and take care of your teeth. You don't even need **** like Listerine (yeah, it is a little better now that they took the alcohol off its formula, still it's not really necessary to use a mouthwash every day).
Has your dentist taken an X-ray and shown you the "slight ridge" under the gum? If he can see it or feel it with his instruments, he certainly can show it to you on a X-ray. This is the thing with crowns, veneers, and/or anything you attached to a tooth: if the fitting isn't perfectly performed, and if the final crown is not perfectly designed, there's always a huge chance that food will get into the "cracks." Thus, that "crack" will harbor bacteria like there's no tomorrow. When crowns are placed just over a tooth area that is not under the gum, they generally work wonders. But when part of it goes into your gums, well, it's problematic because the only way to clean something under your gums is by flossing it. Floss slides over your tooth and removes food that is stuck to it, but if you have a little crack/ridge/whatever on its surface, well... you get the gist. Either the floss will also get stuck on it or it will slide over and leave whatever got in there untouched. Now, imagine if it's under your gum? How are your gonna really clean it besides flossing the area? This may not be a problem in the first year, but later on, something will happen.
Severe receding gums and deep pockets (I think 5s is very deep actually) can only be cleaned by a periodontist. Yep: regular cleaning won't do much in this case. Receding gums can be controlled but there's no cure for them. It's not possible to make gum grow back and cover the tooth root that is exposed. In some extreme cases surgery can restore parts of it. But I hear the final result is manly aesthetic since the grafts are somewhat loosen and food can get inside of it still. Some minimal developments and discoveries have been made in receding gum surgical treatments, but nothing too revolutionary yet. So you see: brushing and flossing is the best way to prevent that your gums keep on receding besides also visiting your dentist regularly.
Besides poor dental hygiene, one of the main factors that causes receding gums is over brushing. People that go full force on their teeth are only complicating their situation instead of doing some good profilaxia. Another major factor is bruxism.
I think you need to visit a good periodontist since you don't trust whomever you're seeing now. Also, your thinking is correct: if you floss and your gum bleeds, you shouldn't stop. It's bleeding because something is in there. If it stops, it's because it's healthy again. However, in your case, you are talking about a tooth that was, as you say, capped. So only a dentist would be able to say if it's alright.
I always tell people with receding gums to brush with brushes made by Curaprox. They are very gentle on the gums and effective. Electric brushes are a touchy subject. Although some dentists prescribes them to everyone, some just advise people with compromised motor skills to rely on them. Waterpik is not a "tool" you should use on a daily basis. It can surely eff up your gums.
Waterpik daily? Hmm no no. And toothpick? I never in my whole life have heard any dentist recommending toothpicks to clean teeth! Sounds barbaric to me.
Bleach? wow... I wonder about the current state of your enamels. Are you talking about whitening bleach or what? Either way, besides weakening the surface of your teeth this waterpik + bleach combination can cause tooth erosion due to bleach's corrosive nature. Add baking soda to this mix and it sounds like you've developed an odontological molotov cocktail! Good dental hygienists have long ago quit using bicarbonate sodium spray during their procedures because it made teeth (and especially fillings) rough. But it seems you're improvising your own way to do that to our teeth. Tell me: is all that really necessary? Who told you to brush that way? If I were you I'd start with a good brushing with some good old toothpaste and add steps 4, 6, 7. Then every 15 days step 2.
For everyone with sensitive gums: buy a toothbrush by Curaprox. It's excellent.
Thread revival Why start a new thread?
Any dentists in the forum?
During my teeth cleaning, I've had a capped tooth with a tendency of pronounced bleeding when I floss. The dentist thinks I need to replace this cap because of a slight ridge under the gum line that harbors infection, in the dentist's words.
However, since this analysis, I have been more devoted regarding flossing and the bleeding has stopped, yet at my last cleaning, when I told the hygienist the bleeding was no longer evident, she said there was still blood up under the gum, (although none appears when I floss). I asked if a new cap would guarantee fixing the problem and dentist said no guarantees and then in a semi-threatening manner she told me if I did not want to do that, she could recommend me for a surgical solution.
I should of asked her (I'll probably call the office next week), but what is worst case if I just continue flossing? As I said, no blood when I floss.
Not helping the situation is that at some level, I feel that this office is in the business of generating business for itself. When me and my wife first went there, they told both of us we have paraiodontel disease. Yet when my wife came in for her cleaning, the hygienist wondered why they were having her do this. I think it's because they can charge the insurance company more for pariodontel vs regular cleaning, however...
Pariodontel Disease is described as bacterial infections in the vicinity of your teeth. Bleeding gums is one of the symptoms. However, if your gums bleed when you floss, but then the bleeding goes away when you floss regularily, can this be called pariodontel disease? Or should it just be considered a chronic condition/disease that is kept in check by brushing and flossing? I assume that gum depth when they take measurements is related. I have several 5s, a measurement of depth between the tooth and gum.
Thoughts? Thanks!
Has your dentist taken an X-ray and shown you the "slight ridge" under the gum? If he can see it or feel it with his instruments, he certainly can show it to you on a X-ray. This is the thing with crowns, veneers, and/or anything you attached to a tooth: if the fitting isn't perfectly performed, and if the final crown is not perfectly designed, there's always a huge chance that food will get into the "cracks." Thus, that "crack" will harbor bacteria like there's no tomorrow. When crowns are placed just over a tooth area that is not under the gum, they generally work wonders. But when part of it goes into your gums, well, it's problematic because the only way to clean something under your gums is by flossing it. Floss slides over your tooth and removes food that is stuck to it, but if you have a little crack/ridge/whatever on its surface, well... you get the gist. Either the floss will also get stuck on it or it will slide over and leave whatever got in there untouched. Now, imagine if it's under your gum? How are your gonna really clean it besides flossing the area? This may not be a problem in the first year, but later on, something will happen.
Severe receding gums and deep pockets (I think 5s is very deep actually) can only be cleaned by a periodontist. Yep: regular cleaning won't do much in this case. Receding gums can be controlled but there's no cure for them. It's not possible to make gum grow back and cover the tooth root that is exposed. In some extreme cases surgery can restore parts of it. But I hear the final result is manly aesthetic since the grafts are somewhat loosen and food can get inside of it still. Some minimal developments and discoveries have been made in receding gum surgical treatments, but nothing too revolutionary yet. So you see: brushing and flossing is the best way to prevent that your gums keep on receding besides also visiting your dentist regularly.
Besides poor dental hygiene, one of the main factors that causes receding gums is over brushing. People that go full force on their teeth are only complicating their situation instead of doing some good profilaxia. Another major factor is bruxism.
I think you need to visit a good periodontist since you don't trust whomever you're seeing now. Also, your thinking is correct: if you floss and your gum bleeds, you shouldn't stop. It's bleeding because something is in there. If it stops, it's because it's healthy again. However, in your case, you are talking about a tooth that was, as you say, capped. So only a dentist would be able to say if it's alright.
I always tell people with receding gums to brush with brushes made by Curaprox. They are very gentle on the gums and effective. Electric brushes are a touchy subject. Although some dentists prescribes them to everyone, some just advise people with compromised motor skills to rely on them. Waterpik is not a "tool" you should use on a daily basis. It can surely eff up your gums.
Waterpik daily? Hmm no no. And toothpick? I never in my whole life have heard any dentist recommending toothpicks to clean teeth! Sounds barbaric to me.
Bleach? wow... I wonder about the current state of your enamels. Are you talking about whitening bleach or what? Either way, besides weakening the surface of your teeth this waterpik + bleach combination can cause tooth erosion due to bleach's corrosive nature. Add baking soda to this mix and it sounds like you've developed an odontological molotov cocktail! Good dental hygienists have long ago quit using bicarbonate sodium spray during their procedures because it made teeth (and especially fillings) rough. But it seems you're improvising your own way to do that to our teeth. Tell me: is all that really necessary? Who told you to brush that way? If I were you I'd start with a good brushing with some good old toothpaste and add steps 4, 6, 7. Then every 15 days step 2.
For everyone with sensitive gums: buy a toothbrush by Curaprox. It's excellent.
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I'd had a few cavities through my first couple of decades – relatively minor, or on the biting surface of the tooth. I've always brushed before bedtime and generally flossed as appointments approached, but otherwise was negligent compared to dentists' recommendations.
This year, I had the inciting event of eating a particularly crunchy food and noticing one of my bicuspids actually began to chip away. I initially thought a prior filling had come out or something, but I learned later (after doing a day of rather focused research and appointment-making with a dentist in my area for the first time) that I had a cavity which had worked its way from the inner surface of that tooth almost to its root. My dentist thought it likely that a root canal would be necessary, but when it came time for drilling, it turned out (just narrowly) to be possible to save the tooth using only a particularly significant filling. That cavity was one of several – at least one other might have been prevented by flossing.
So, there's that information for you. I'd tried to learn what I could from others' anecdotes and didn't really floss regularly to that point, and it seems at least possible that I could have prevented some of those consequences by relaxing my overconfidence and building a good habit earlier (a habit which I've been maintaining without much trouble since said events).
This year, I had the inciting event of eating a particularly crunchy food and noticing one of my bicuspids actually began to chip away. I initially thought a prior filling had come out or something, but I learned later (after doing a day of rather focused research and appointment-making with a dentist in my area for the first time) that I had a cavity which had worked its way from the inner surface of that tooth almost to its root. My dentist thought it likely that a root canal would be necessary, but when it came time for drilling, it turned out (just narrowly) to be possible to save the tooth using only a particularly significant filling. That cavity was one of several – at least one other might have been prevented by flossing.
So, there's that information for you. I'd tried to learn what I could from others' anecdotes and didn't really floss regularly to that point, and it seems at least possible that I could have prevented some of those consequences by relaxing my overconfidence and building a good habit earlier (a habit which I've been maintaining without much trouble since said events).
Thanks guysnformthe attentions!
It's an eye tooth and as I recall, it was capped because the original tooth had some issue with it. I don't remember if this was a tooth that had a root canal or not.
Of note, I've been told I have gum diseases, but as far as I know I have neither gingivitis nor periodontitis. Is there a disconnect between me and my Dentist? What I have is several pockets listed as 5s. My gums look healthy. I have all my teeth although many are capped due to having metal fillings over my life time. You know the story with metal fillings? And since I've been using the Water Pik, this problem area, yes there is a ridge, is no longer bleeding as long as I address it with the Water Pik and/or floss.
Hmm periodontist, I may have to locate one of them, as that could be a good source for a second opinion. As a referral from my dentist, I did see an oral surgeon (I think) about a white bump on my gum, but he could not find enough of an issue to do anything about it, no tenderness, no bleeding, nothing unusual other than it was and is there.
It's an eye tooth and as I recall, it was capped because the original tooth had some issue with it. I don't remember if this was a tooth that had a root canal or not.
Of note, I've been told I have gum diseases, but as far as I know I have neither gingivitis nor periodontitis. Is there a disconnect between me and my Dentist? What I have is several pockets listed as 5s. My gums look healthy. I have all my teeth although many are capped due to having metal fillings over my life time. You know the story with metal fillings? And since I've been using the Water Pik, this problem area, yes there is a ridge, is no longer bleeding as long as I address it with the Water Pik and/or floss.
Hmm periodontist, I may have to locate one of them, as that could be a good source for a second opinion. As a referral from my dentist, I did see an oral surgeon (I think) about a white bump on my gum, but he could not find enough of an issue to do anything about it, no tenderness, no bleeding, nothing unusual other than it was and is there.
Over the last 15 years, I’ve had three dentists. The first was a private practice, no issues with my gums, but I had to switch due to change of insurance. The second dentist was a corporate chain, and when my wife and I walked in there, we got “the sky is falling”, you’ve got gum disease and need deep cleanings! … Which cost extra of course, not covered by insurance
We ended up, leaving that dentist for their insistence of being paid upfront, not waiting for insurance to come through, and most of the time we ended up overpaying. The third dentist was another private practice, and the first thing I asked after an exam is do I have gingivitis? The answer was no. So I’ve been seeing this dentist for about five years who I’m happy with, but due to a change in insurance again, we’re not in their network anymore.
So I set myself up to see a new dentist. Of note, another corporate chain, I should’ve known better, but it was the same story again, “you have gingivitis and we’ve got the spiffy deep cleaning with a laser and it only cost $700 a cleaning every three months”.Am I imagining this or are these corporate dentists pushing a scam or under pressure to create an income flow?
I do have some bone loss and when they probe my gums, the depth readings are mostly 1, 2,3s with a couple 4,5s. My last exam previous to this, the dentist noted gums were pink and firm, one area with a 5 that they were gonna keep an eye on. I can’t say whose depth readings were more accurate, but the push for a laser cleaning seems suspicious to me, based on what my previous dentist has said about my gums.
So I’m soliciting feedback if you’ve had any “suspicious “pricing from dentists, and were they private practices or corporate chain?
We ended up, leaving that dentist for their insistence of being paid upfront, not waiting for insurance to come through, and most of the time we ended up overpaying. The third dentist was another private practice, and the first thing I asked after an exam is do I have gingivitis? The answer was no. So I’ve been seeing this dentist for about five years who I’m happy with, but due to a change in insurance again, we’re not in their network anymore.
So I set myself up to see a new dentist. Of note, another corporate chain, I should’ve known better, but it was the same story again, “you have gingivitis and we’ve got the spiffy deep cleaning with a laser and it only cost $700 a cleaning every three months”.Am I imagining this or are these corporate dentists pushing a scam or under pressure to create an income flow?
I do have some bone loss and when they probe my gums, the depth readings are mostly 1, 2,3s with a couple 4,5s. My last exam previous to this, the dentist noted gums were pink and firm, one area with a 5 that they were gonna keep an eye on. I can’t say whose depth readings were more accurate, but the push for a laser cleaning seems suspicious to me, based on what my previous dentist has said about my gums.
So I’m soliciting feedback if you’ve had any “suspicious “pricing from dentists, and were they private practices or corporate chain?
I am not a dental professional but based on personal experience, it is usually better to consult with a periodontist for bone loss and gum recession than a dentist.
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ETA: a diagnostic exam and consultation with a periodontist probably will cost less than $700. So you can get both a second opinion on your dentist's diagnoses and receive better advice on bone loss, jaw, and gum issues for less than the deep cleaning charge.
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no to your question, but for all Remember I always had private ones.
If I were in your shoes, I'd run and find someone else. I recently moved and looked at the insurance list of "in network" providers, looked at their reviews and then picked one. And when looking at reviews, I look for those who have the high(er) number of reviews.
I had a "sky is falling" dental appointment a few years ago. It was a private practice. They also said I needed a deep cleaning, but first a prescription mouthwash. And they took x-rays that were over the top and not covered by my insurance. When the second appointment was close, they called to remind me and told me that the cleaning would cost $150 (I think). I cancelled the appointment, and went elsewhere. I never got a bill for those x-rays.