for 25 years - zero cavities

[desk]

Originally posted by: exilera
Maybe you should try brushing your teeth once in a while.

well, at least we know why you have 350 posts in a month. :disgust:

 

[cerebusPu]

i have dental insurance through work, but it only covers up to $1000. (cheap bastards)

I havent been to a dentist in over 10 years. i know for sure theres cavities at the gumline. i can feel the grove at teh gumline.

I probably need to go to the dentist. but Im a little scared.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Gulzakar
ummm, actually no...

have you seen the procedure for impants?

it's about a 9 months process...

forst evaluating you to see if oyu are a canidate...the older you get, the less likely.

false teeth are terrible...and bridges? that assumes you have healthy teeth.

no, bad teeth are not "easy" to deal with. I don't think people understand how important it is to take care of your teeth.

You can bridge implants as well, and the procedure is less than 3 hours now. At $1500 a tooth, i looked at all my options.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Chadder007

Originally posted by: desk

Originally posted by: Acanthus

Originally posted by: desk

Originally posted by: Acanthus
Im getting all 26 fixed this coming thursday. Im 22.

$11,000

Braces caused cavieites in every single one of my teeth along the gumline, i had them from age 13 to age 17 when i pulled them off with pliars. My dentist told me at that time that i had "calcification" along the gumline which was irreversible damage that would eventually decay.

why is your work costing so much?

even for the white fillings (which cost about 30% more then the silver ones), the dentist quoted around $180 per cavity. that would come to less the $5000. are you getting some other work done?

Umm its 8 root canales, 6 extractions, full veneers on the top and dozens of fillings. The decay is at the base of the teeth on the top and bottom right at the gumline, not in traditional places, this requires a LOT more work to deal with.

I got 2nd and 3rd opinions, the lowest quote was $8900 but ill go with my dentist as i trust him more.

oh...i thought you just had all cavities (i.e. just need fillings). yeh, i guess that kinda work can get pricey.

I'd sue the freaking brace manufacturer for that....

Cant, looked into it... Lawyer said they could just say i didnt brush my teeth enough, because i cant prove that i did.

 

[myusername]

Originally posted by: Acanthus

Originally posted by: Chadder007
I'd sue the freaking brace manufacturer for that....

Cant, looked into it... Lawyer said they could just say i didnt brush my teeth enough, because i cant prove that i did.

Sounds like you could use a new laywer too.

 

[Concillian]

Originally posted by: trmiv
Yeesh. Man, I need to get to the dentist. I haven't been in a good 12 years.

Me too, I got a cavity on one of my teeth that got so bad that part of the tooth literally fell apart. It's got a hole in it that I have to clean the food out of three times a day. Luckily it's on a wisdom tooth that should have come out years ago anyway.

I'm really surprised that it doesn't hurt.

How do you look at your coverage list and pick a dentist? Do you just use a dart?

 

[Buttzilla]

regarding dental insurance

your insurance gets cancelled the DAY you quit. i'd go use up all ur insurance asap. also, where are your cavities? molar, prepolar, front? cavities are under the insurance called 'restorative' and is typically covered @ 80% so you gotta fork over the other 20%.

also, you gotta worry about ur deductible if you haven't paid that off yet which you probably haven't since there is no deductible on preventative cases, e.g. exams, xrays, general cleanings.

also, the typical covered is 1000-2000 a year w/ an average $50 deductible. oh i asked where your cavities are because molars = 150ish, premolars and incisors= 120ish, and front=~100. your insurance covers for composits for your front teeth but normally amalgams (metal) for the back so ifyou want composits in the back it'll cost you more. i dont recommend getting composits becaues they're not as strong and long lasting as amalgams.

anywho, if you have or if anybody has any questions regarding their insurance just shoot me a pm and i'll see what i can do.

btw, i work in a dental office handling mostly insurance crap. gonna be apply to dental school this year (cross fingers)

 

[michaelh20]

Another problem is the technology involved - the older technology uses a probe which can only find cavities after they have reached a certain size. This combined with the fact that cavities can take a long time to grow can probably lead to the situation that people talk about - finding lots of them all at one time.

There are some fancier technologies (using lasers) that can find cavities when they are much smaller leading to more smaller fillings, rather than larger more troublesome fillings later on. I guess this is particularly helpful in distinguishing real cavities from dark spots on the teeth.

The 6 month cleaning is vital also - without it you will get gingivitis and decay will happen faster - you can't brush well enough to make up for the lack of cleaning.

I went for years (perhaps 5 - 10 years) and they found 8 cavities and a whole bunch of "watches." One of my teeth was drilled perhaps 50- 60% away - this one was close to needing a root canal. Since I changed my brushing habits and got my cleanings there has been no more trouble. The appearence of my gums changed also and at first I thought it was abnormal, but in fact I was so used to looking at unhealthy gums I didn't know the difference.

 

[chcarnage]

Originally posted by: michaelh20
Another problem is the technology involved - the older technology uses a probe which can only find cavities after they have reached a certain size. This combined with the fact that cavities can take a long time to grow can probably lead to the situation that people talk about - finding lots of them all at one time.

There are some fancier technologies (using lasers) that can find cavities when they are much smaller leading to more smaller fillings, rather than larger more troublesome fillings later on. I guess this is particularly helpful in distinguishing real cavities from dark spots on the teeth.

As far as I know, it is possible to treat cavities with lasers, but not to find them. Your dentist searches by eye for white and brown spots, thats it. Or am I wrong?

 

[PELarson]

Second opinion time?

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: PELarson
Second opinion time?

yeh, let us know if you go for the second opinion and the results of it

or

if you're all talk.

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: chcarnage

Originally posted by: sygyzy
The problem with second opinions is everytime you start a file at a new office, they charge you some rediculous amount to do a full mouth x-ray. Last time I went, they had me do that, then they had the "diagnosis" dentist just read off to an assistant all the work I needed done. It was very intimidating and she turned quite mean. You can tell she takes pleasure in it. C3 filling, D1 cap, D2 porcelein inlay. WTF?

Which self-respecting dentist urges you to make an x-ray IF his only responsability in your mouth is dental hygiene (that excludes treatening of tooth position and chirurgical interferences)?

Two of my friends got a lot of cavities at once, too. One keept munching citrus fruits all the time without even rinsing his mouth with water afterwards, so his 13 cavities were hardly a surprise to me. The other one just didn't visit his dentist for around five years and let his discipline slip I guess. 14 cavities.

So if you're really a minimalist, brush your teeth at least in the evening after your last meal. That's the most important time because you don't produce much saliva while sleeping.

her34: 1000 years ago mankind didn't eat so much sugary things and... people died sooner

All dentists also can do teeth cleanings. Thisi was my first dentist in town. I don't see how the x-rays were out of the ordinary. My point is that if you have to go ask for a second opinion, the new dentist will need the x-rays too. Most insurance companies don't like this. In fact, some only allow full mouth x-rays to be done once every 2 years.

So what is the solution? How do you get a second opinion without maxing out your insurance and or going broke?

 

[LukFilm]

I had 15 when I went. My sister had 16

 

[DaFOBulous1]

Crap..I thought getting 3 was bad enough.

 

[AgentUnknown]

Hey, ask me your dental questions. 1 year away from my DDS.

You gotta floss 2x/day, brush at least 2X/day, and if you are moderate risk -use a fluoride rinse. Don't be mad if u haven't gotten a cavity in 25 years, and all of a sudden you have 10. Most ppl have 28-32 teeth depending if u have 3rd molars or not.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: AgentUnknown
Hey, ask me your dental questions. 1 year away from my DDS.

You gotta floss 2x/day, brush at least 2X/day, and if you are moderate risk -use a fluoride rinse. Don't be mad if u haven't gotten a cavity in 25 years, and all of a sudden you have 10. Most ppl have 28-32 teeth depending if u have 3rd molars or not.

you think you're the only dental prof in this thread?

 

[sygyzy]

He is the only dental prof that is helping people.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
He is the only dental prof that is helping people.

well he's in the wrong forum for that.

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: sygyzy
He is the only dental prof that is helping people.

well he's in the wrong forum for that.

LOL!

 

[dcdude]

rofl no ones going to floss 2 times a day


I can't get into flossing, I can't. People who smoke say you don't know how hard it is to stop smoking. Yes I do. It's as hard as it is to start flossing. You seem jittery. Yeah, I'm about to floss.


RIP mitch

 

[AntMan530]

i went to a dentist a while back and i totally understand you. a bunch of them are jerks. get a second opinion before proceeding with dental work.


if you're broke like me, dont look for the dentist thats having a sale on their services!! those guys are like the mechanics at MiDAS! theyll look through your mouth and suggest all these services you dont need!

 

[chcarnage]

Originally posted by: sygyzy

Originally posted by: chcarnage

Originally posted by: sygyzy
The problem with second opinions is everytime you start a file at a new office, they charge you some rediculous amount to do a full mouth x-ray. Last time I went, they had me do that, then they had the "diagnosis" dentist just read off to an assistant all the work I needed done. It was very intimidating and she turned quite mean. You can tell she takes pleasure in it. C3 filling, D1 cap, D2 porcelein inlay. WTF?

Which self-respecting dentist urges you to make an x-ray IF his only responsability in your mouth is dental hygiene (that excludes treatening of tooth position and chirurgical interferences)?

Two of my friends got a lot of cavities at once, too. One keept munching citrus fruits all the time without even rinsing his mouth with water afterwards, so his 13 cavities were hardly a surprise to me. The other one just didn't visit his dentist for around five years and let his discipline slip I guess. 14 cavities.

So if you're really a minimalist, brush your teeth at least in the evening after your last meal. That's the most important time because you don't produce much saliva while sleeping.

her34: 1000 years ago mankind didn't eat so much sugary things and... people died sooner

All dentists also can do teeth cleanings. Thisi was my first dentist in town. I don't see how the x-rays were out of the ordinary. My point is that if you have to go ask for a second opinion, the new dentist will need the x-rays too. Most insurance companies don't like this. In fact, some only allow full mouth x-rays to be done once every 2 years.

So what is the solution? How do you get a second opinion without maxing out your insurance and or going broke?

I just wanted to say I find it extraordinary to make an x-ray just for searching cavities. I'm no dentist either. No idea, how insurance in the United States works, too.

I would try to get a second opinion too if the assistance treats you meanly. (Maybe I would even change my dentist if possible). There should be no place for unprofessional behavior in professions like this.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: AgentUnknown
Hey, ask me your dental questions. 1 year away from my DDS.

I got a question for you. Why do dentist have to use sharp metal pointy thingys? Anytime I've been to a dentist my teeth hurt for a few days afterwards because of they way they use those damn tools and such. Do they really have to scrap those metal thingys to get the tarter off, can't they use another method like high pressure water or something.

 

[Zebo]

Quacks! I've been to several dentists always say a different number ranging from 0-4...one nut said I needed the roof of my mouth split, cost $14000. I'm 33 only had two fillings in my life. They can fill when it hurts IMO..or better yet insert an implant so I don't have to worry again about *that* tooth.

In sum get a second opinion. I got money it will be a different one if you keep quiet about the first. Then what? LOL.

What I find very strange about people is they'll get three estimates on something as insignifigant as autobody work but take thier single Doctors/dentists appraisal as gospel when it involves something very serious such as health maybe even pain and surgery. Shop around, you'll be astounded by different opinions, unless it's just obvious as hell like a bone sticking out of your leg... even then some will advise close cast vs. surgery rod and pins..I've actually had that "choice" sprung on me.

 

[AgentUnknown]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: AgentUnknown
Hey, ask me your dental questions. 1 year away from my DDS.

I got a question for you. Why do dentist have to use sharp metal pointy thingys? Anytime I've been to a dentist my teeth hurt for a few days afterwards because of they way they use those damn tools and such. Do they really have to scrap those metal thingys to get the tarter off, can't they use another method like high pressure water or something.

Well the metal things such as explorers or cavitron tips help to detect if there is caries or calculus. It's sharp so that i can clean the area. If your teeth hurt after a few days after a cleaning or filling, you got problems. High pressure water? Cavitrons use that.