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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 14, 2015 - 03:38pm PT
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Listen to Crimpergirl Susan. She's right. Putting it off just means more work and more money later. Every single time.
I totally see why people procrastinate, but it never pays to hold off on the work when the pain goes away. People who come into the office in pain tend to have terrible experiences. If you do it when you're not in pain, the anesthetic works much better and the experience is far better overall. It's like a hamster on a wheel. People who don't like the dentist only come in to the office in pain so when they come into the office it's painful and they end up not liking the dentist.. And on and on and on. For the rest of their life. They never give it a chance to be a good experience.
I hope you find a good and caring and honest guy who gives you a great root canal and that it lasts for the long-haul. Let us know how it goes!
Scott
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, or In What Time Zone Am I?
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Mar 14, 2015 - 03:42pm PT
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Ok. Got it. Oh boy.
Susan
Edit....I guess the frustrating part for me is I was having zero problems until I went for my cleaning. The X-rays showed some decay under the crown. So what I thought would be a standard drill and new crown has turned into transient discomfort beyond any other crown prep I've had which had my dentist bring up the potential need for RCT.
I've used up far more than my fair share of bandwidth. I'll step away now with the knowledge of where this year's tax refund is going. Thanks for everyone's input.
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 14, 2015 - 03:54pm PT
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You can do it Susan. Tighten up your laces, cinch down your helmet, trust your feet and step off the belay.
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Ricky D
Trad climber
Sierra Westside
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Mar 14, 2015 - 06:07pm PT
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Go with gold on molars - holds up so much better than composites.
On the other hand, have enough crowns and your Dentist will start mumbling about how you are worth more dead than alive. If you get to that stage - think about willing your teeth to your kids.
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Off White
climber
Tenino, WA
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Mar 14, 2015 - 06:42pm PT
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Hi Susan, I'm going to chime in with an endorsement of the root canal too.
I was pretty darn terrified the first time I had one, they have a pretty scary reputation. I had a horrid toothache, and nothing calmed it down. Went through a stack of codeine in a single night with no effect, the only thing that helped was a sip of cold water, which lasted maybe 30 seconds.
I went to the endodontist on the ragged edge of trembling, sleep deprived and wide eyed. He set me up with some headphones, some nitrous, and from the moment of the first Novocaine injection it NEVER HURT AGAIN. The procedure itself was no big deal, it was the pre-event fear that did me in, coupled with the pain that just wouldn't go away.
I still suffer some dental anxiety, but I get a cleaning every six months like clockwork. I also tell the kids, "When you gets older you gonna wish you took betta care o' your teef!"
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, or In What Time Zone Am I?
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Mar 16, 2015 - 12:35pm PT
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The fix is in. Endo appt on Friday.
They've scheduled me for a treatment length appt. in case "I need treatment".
I suspect I do.
Thanks everyone for your encouragement.
I'll manage. I've been though worse!
Susan
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Mar 16, 2015 - 12:42pm PT
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Root canals are not that bad.
I've had two and still have the pain killers in my fridge from eight years ago.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Mar 16, 2015 - 01:24pm PT
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Thanks Ricky, BVB, and Micronut!
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skitch
climber
East of Heaven
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Mar 16, 2015 - 02:52pm PT
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Micronut: What percentage of dental work is actually necessary??? I just always wonder how much is going towards my dentist being able to only work 3 days a week and how much is because I eat too much sugar and never floss.
My dental office always tries to schedule me for a crown because they say that the old filling in that tooth is wearing away, and maybe the tooth will crack, or something like that. . .they also remind me that I have $950 I can use for the year, which I think they try to maximize. . .I do not trust anyone.
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 16, 2015 - 03:19pm PT
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SKitch,
Dentistry is a total racket. We only exist to make money and buy new toys. You should see my new truck. Toyota Tundra, 3 inch lift, sick rims, winch and tow package. No lie. Its boss.
FACT: Dentists invented the Big Gulp, Jolly Ranchers and Lik-em-Aid. We rely on guys like you who rarely floss to fund our four day weekend road trips 950.00 at a time.
All kidding aside it is a really great industry and has tremendous job security because even though we pretty much figured out how to eradicate decay and gum disease a century ago for most people (Floss daily, brush with fluoride, city fluoridated water), people love to neglect their mouth and tend to put off dentistry till it hurts, which leads to more dentistry. Dental insurance is a bit of a scam, as it only covers a small fraction of most people's needs. Most people should plan for the cost of their dentistry based on their risk profile and plan financially accordingly, just like home repairs, auto repairs, vacations etc...but who really does that? I don't. I just roll with the punches when they come when it comes to dentistry. Find a good honest dentist (not easy) and do the work he recommends and it should last a long, long time. The sooner in life the better. By your 50's, dentistry can get out of hand if you put it off 20 years like so many people do. In your 20's and 30's, if you get some good dentistry and keep up with your homecare daily and get a cleaning every 6 months, your chompers should last you a lifetime with minimal work....providing the dentistry is good and you don't smoke or have diabetes or alcoholism or really bad genetics.
Good luck, and remember
"You don't have to floss all your teeth....just the ones you want to keep.)
And by the way, my new truck really is cherry. I'll post up pics later.
Scott
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WBraun
climber
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Mar 16, 2015 - 03:22pm PT
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I hate dentists.
I don't hate the dentist man himself just all that mucking around in and on my teeth.
Because of that I haven't been to a dentist in 40 years ......
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, or In What Time Zone Am I?
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Mar 20, 2015 - 12:50pm PT
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Root Canal done.
He said it was a "case study" tooth. Being a wisdom tooth he said they can be funky and he said it "fought him all the way" It had 3 roots and very curvy canals. It virtually was painless ... although I know it will be sore when the numbing wears off.
I told him how everything seemed to be fine for 5 days after the crown prep then I went to Yosemite and boom it started hurting. He said the altitude change can affect a bad tooth. Indeed he showed me monitor pictures of a bloody pulp and said it was not a happy tooth.
I'll get the crown on next week and hopefully be back on the road...literally...well in a car or on a bike.
Susan
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Mar 20, 2015 - 01:18pm PT
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FredC
Gym climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Mar 20, 2015 - 01:34pm PT
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I just got back from my dentist. He did two fillings and I got "Fuji". In both!
Apparently the materials guys in Japan have come up with all kinds of cool plastics, this one gives off flouride over time. It's like I have time release fertilizer in my mouth.
The shots worked today so it was all fun.
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DanaB
climber
CT
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Mar 20, 2015 - 11:32pm PT
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Scott,
If a crown is old and the gum has moved away exposing the tooth, should the crown be replaced?
Thanks.
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Tobia
Social climber
Denial
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Mar 21, 2015 - 05:03am PT
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Micronut, I just had my teeth cleaned. I get the same evaluation as always, your teeth are in very good shape; however your gums have receded further for a person your age (58). It is more prevalent on my upper teeth, in particular around the canine and first molar.
I have my teeth cleaned at a Dental Hygiene Clinic at a local Technical College, as it is only $30 and they due a thorough job.
I am usually warned about brushing to hard; which if brush any softer using a sonicare, it would be called "airbrushing". I floss daily.
Now I am on a prescription toothpaste (Prevident 5000 Boost) to prevent cavities as my Dentine is exposed around above mentioned teeth.
Any ideas on how to retard further gum loss?
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ECF
Big Wall climber
Ouray, CO.
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Mar 21, 2015 - 05:12am PT
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What's the fifth dentist problem with Dentyne gum?
Is he just a disagreeable prick?
You were out voted 4 to 1 dude, move on...
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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Mar 21, 2015 - 06:04am PT
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QUestion and a blind post no pre reading so sorry if I am not fitting in or repeat any thing.
My teeth are mostly sound but the back molars are loose and have big sharp cavities, one the right side that I used to sleep on is so loose that I can click it against the other.
I have no cash or dentil insur(I am signed up but have to wait a year to save up and be covered etc.)
Now the last day of a free clinic is in a college gym, I was going to go but
I have had two pulled no implants and no bridge,
Where's the question? Well it is this;
Is it better to have the remnants, loose and hollow, but solid crowns, to work with or yank the puppies at the free clinic and wait to get more done when all that needs to be in place is.?
Just hoping for a heads up about what to expect.
Never had the wisdom teeth pulled or give me any problems until now
The periodontist I saw a year ago and had to pay over time, said that he felt surgery to deep clean and remove the wisdom on the loose side might save the tooth but now?
He was great but the money thing was not good.
.And.. A dentist did invent Cotton Candy called Fairy Floss , in 1897 and introduced at the 1904 World's Fair. Dr W Morrison and confectioner, (candy man) John C wharton collaborated.
ECF!,! I'm not following you on purpose! A little creepy no? Great minds think alike!
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, or In What Time Zone Am I?
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Mar 24, 2015 - 03:00pm PT
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OK Been there done that.
Root canal very successful....truly the anticipation was the absolute worst part.
Today the final crown was put on. Luckily the one they had made before I had the root canal fit fine.
I did start to freak when he said they were going to drill out the temp without numbing. He said there is no nerve so it shouldn't hurt. I got pretty shaky thinking maybe, maybe there's something left. Shades of Marathon Man went through my head.
I did ask him if he could change drill bits. I cannot handle that one that grinds and vibrates as if a jackhammer is in your mouth. He said "sure, no problem" and switched to one that just whines.
Temp filling out, crown on, perfect fit. Thanks everyone for virtually holding my hand.
And Dr. Micronut Scott, I OWE you! Don't you do charity dental work off shore or something? Please I'd love to make a donation to something you support.
Susan
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 24, 2015 - 03:54pm PT
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DanaB,
Not necessarily. A small amount of exposed dentin or cementum (as long as it is healthy and not decayed) is not really a big deal. The Brittish say your crown now "stands proud" above the gumline. Theoretically it is now a bit easier to clean the crow-tooth interface (margin) which can prevent more decay under the crown margin. You just want them to keep an eye on that area at your visits so that decay does not creep up on that tooth at the gumline.
Happy flossing,
Scott
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