Dentist Here: Ask Me Anything (dentures, fillings, irritation, sensitivity)

[Coolair]

Do you recommend veneers? My teeth are not in good shape . I am thinking to get an appointment.

[NYC refugee]

I have a tooth, last one in the back, upper right, and each time I go for a cleaning, the dentist tries to talk me into having it removed (by an oral surgeon, at great cost) because it's loose. The thing is I'm not aware of it feeling loose. I brush and floss it, I chew with it, and it doesn't cause me any discomfort of any kind.



If they were trying to talk me into spending $500 or so, why don't they offer me a bone graft or something in an effort to save the tooth? If there's a legit reason that it must come out, why can't they pull it, being so loose, rather than make me go to a surgeon, which would be more than double the cost?

[Forever Blue]

New Question Please:

This is regarding my upper farthest back molar. Long ago (probably 1-2 yrs ago), I noticed I had probably chipped it a bit somehow because the corner felt jagged, but never went to a dentist. Things have been fine until today. I'm chewing like usual & feel a sharp nerve pain similar I guess to when you eat something very cold & it's against your teeth. (My teeth aren't sensitive to cold, by the way.)

I later realize it seems to be that same chipped molar. This is a guess, but I think I chipped it a tad more because it feels like my nerve might be exposed just a tad because it's a cold sensation. I'll chew very carefully, but I haven't gone to ANY doctors since COVID started & didn't want to anytime soon. I'm not in any pain, just a cool sensation sometimes & I can still eat & drink w/o pain.

Is there anything I can do at all to help prolong going to the dentist? I'd appreciate your reply very much.

[toofache32]

Originally Posted by NYC refugee

I have a tooth, last one in the back, upper right, and each time I go for a cleaning, the dentist tries to talk me into having it removed (by an oral surgeon, at great cost) because it's loose. The thing is I'm not aware of it feeling loose. I brush and floss it, I chew with it, and it doesn't cause me any discomfort of any kind.



If they were trying to talk me into spending $500 or so, why don't they offer me a bone graft or something in an effort to save the tooth? If there's a legit reason that it must come out, why can't they pull it, being so loose, rather than make me go to a surgeon, which would be more than double the cost?

A bone graft will not save this tooth. Bone will not survive around a mobile tooth and will dissolve away in a few months. For the removal, not all dentists perform extractions, just like not all dentists perform root canals. Some dentists perform easy low-risk extractions and yours could have a high risk feature such as the roots being near the sinus which can create a hole between the mouth and sinus if removed.

[Arya Stark]

For the second time in two years... a tooth has shattered (a large chunk of the tooth was chipped off). I see the dentist on Monday. She seems to think this is very common and it is just old age, decay, and the fact that tooth had a substantial filling.

But it seems odd that it just keeps happening in rather quick succession. My last lost tooth was in November 2019.

Finally what can I do to stop the rest of the teeth from gong this way. I am sure I will have to have a root canal.

Is there anything I can do to preemptively fix a tooth that has a large old filling before the tooth shatters?

[Windwalker2]

Originally Posted by Arya Stark

For the second time in two years... a tooth has shattered (a large chunk of the tooth was chipped off). I see the dentist on Monday. She seems to think this is very common and it is just old age, decay, and the fact that tooth had a substantial filling.

But it seems odd that it just keeps happening in rather quick succession. My last lost tooth was in November 2019.

Finally what can I do to stop the rest of the teeth from gong this way. I am sure I will have to have a root canal.

Is there anything I can do to preemptively fix a tooth that has a large old filling before the tooth shatters?

Maybe ask about getting a crown on it.

[athena53]

Originally Posted by Arya Stark

For the second time in two years... a tooth has shattered (a large chunk of the tooth was chipped off). I see the dentist on Monday. She seems to think this is very common and it is just old age, decay, and the fact that tooth had a substantial filling.

But it seems odd that it just keeps happening in rather quick succession. My last lost tooth was in November 2019.

Finally what can I do to stop the rest of the teeth from gong this way. I am sure I will have to have a root canal.

Is there anything I can do to preemptively fix a tooth that has a large old filling before the tooth shatters?

I'm not a dentist but are you wearing a bite guard? I was clenching my teeth in my sleep and was getting the occasional crack in a molar. My dentist suggested a bite guard at night. I've had it for years and it's really helped.

[Arya Stark]

Originally Posted by athena53

I'm not a dentist but are you wearing a bite guard? I was clenching my teeth in my sleep and was getting the occasional crack in a molar. My dentist suggested a bite guard at night. I've had it for years and it's really helped.

I doubt it because this tooth is lower than the one beside it.

I went in yesterday and the doc said I just needed a partial crown.

Here is a follow up question... she says I need "deep cleaning" on my back teeth. I have always heard that was a scam but since for at least 10 years now dentists have been trying to get me to do that... I have to presume I should just get it over with.

I do not feel like I can get a proper explanation from her.

I have about 3 teeth in the back that need it. But she tells me the appointment is going to be two hours. Can someone please explain to me why? I asked her but she was vague and her answers didn't make a lot of sense and she confabulated it with the crown.

Also, can I just have the deep cleaning once? Or does this go on and on and on.

[SanyBelle]

Originally Posted by Arya Stark

Also, can I just have the deep cleaning once? Or does this go on and on and on.

I had deep cleaning about 10 years ago due to having deep gum pockets. Since then I'm a fanatic about brushing, flossing, using a water pic and rinsing with hydrogen peroxide/mouthwash and these days I have good checkups. I wish I had been doing this my whole life.

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by Arya Stark

I doubt it because this tooth is lower than the one beside it.

I went in yesterday and the doc said I just needed a partial crown.

Here is a follow up question... she says I need "deep cleaning" on my back teeth. I have always heard that was a scam but since for at least 10 years now dentists have been trying to get me to do that... I have to presume I should just get it over with.

I do not feel like I can get a proper explanation from her.

I have about 3 teeth in the back that need it. But she tells me the appointment is going to be two hours. Can someone please explain to me why? I asked her but she was vague and her answers didn't make a lot of sense and she confabulated it with the crown.

Also, can I just have the deep cleaning once? Or does this go on and on and on.

https://www.dentaly.org/us/oral-hygiene/deep-cleaning/