When was the last time you saw your Dentist?

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Gin N' Tonic

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
285
Location
Waterbury Ct. USA
As many know I have been struggling with several medical issues that have kept me from penturning for more than 2 years. As hard as it is for me to believe, it seems that a lot of my problems are directly related to poor dental health. Some of is my fault because I did not take care of my teeth as I should have and some of it was problems that I inherited from my parents.

My advanced periodontal disease has caused the loss of every one of my molars and also caused my teeth to become extremely loose. I did have dental surgery about 5 years ago to try to save what was left of my bottom teeth but the top ones were too far gone and I waited until this year to do something about it because of the numerous medical problems that were happening. I finally scraped up enough to have a denture made and on August 16 I had all but 2 of the top teeth pulled and began to wear a denture. I wound up in the hospital for 3 days due to an infection that found it's way into my blood stream but since I've come out of the hospital I have felt better every day.

Anybody who believes that your overall health cannot be influenced by your dental health is living a fools dream. Do yourself a favor and see your dentist. Don't be a moron like I was. I had 2 episodes that could have been fatal that I believe were a direct result of my poor dental health. I wish I would have listened earlier instead of believing that it could not happen to me.

Believe me when I tell you this; It's much easier and much less expensive to take care of what you have than to wait suffer the pain and expense of having to have them replaced.

I hope this will help someone. Thanks for reading.
 
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toofs

Hey Scott...you're definitely not the only one here with the median age of the membership. I was raised in the belief that if you're upright and not needing an ambulance, gut it out and quit whining.:rolleyes: I've been in the hospital for a couple things, but the one that I'll never forget is the infection I let go WAY too long from an impacted tooth. That one, as doc said, woulda killed me if I let it go a couple more days. Hope your okay now and like I did, live and learn, albeit the hard way:wink:
 
I had a root canal last week, and have had nothing but trouble since. When the novacaine wore off, the tooth was EXTREMELY pressure sensitive. I called the Dr the next day and he said the filling might be a bit high, so I went in and he ground it down a bit and it helped a bit. (The tooth was capped and they drilled through the cap to do the root canal, then put a filling in it to seal the tooth.) The tooth remained sensitive, so he put me on 5 days of Azithromyicin. (z-pack) Today is the last day of the antibiotic, and the tooth is better, but I still can't chew on that side.

Here is the problem. Next Saturday I am supposed to drive to OK to sign the papers to close probate on my Dad's estate, take care of transfer of deeds, etc. Then my brother and I are going to drive to CA to put my Dad's ashes with my Mom's in Santa Cruz. Total trip of 2 weeks. (I already had to cancel the side trip to Colorado. I was supposed to leave for that today.)

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and I take a weekly shot of methotrexate and every six weeks I have an IV infusion of remicade. You can't take either one if you are taking antibiotics. Guess when my Remicade was due? Yep, just when I started the antibiotics. So now I am a week overdue on the remicade and a week without the methotrexate, and my joints are beginning to flare.

I go to the dentist tomorrow (Monday). If he opens up the tooth and packs it directly with antibiotics, he is going to put me on ANOTHER 5 day regimin of antibiotics. That puts off my RA meds for another week...so I can't go to OK for the probate hearing.

So far, the dentist has pretty well screwed up my life! The real kicker is that the tooth really wasn't bothering me much...just slightly sweet sensitive. I figured it had a cavity under the cap. I decided to have it done before I left so that I didn't risk a toothache on the trip.
 
Hi folks,
@ scott-- good to hear from you, sorry your having all these issues, thanks for sharing will keep you in our prayers
@aimbidex -- wow, it's just hard to beleive that your mouth can give you issues like that, glad your up and about, also keep you in my prayers
@ sharon, -- sorry to hear about your father, and also the root anal, next week I am to have a "capped" tooth, I told the doc, NO ROOT CANAL, that i wouold rather have him pull it first, too, safe travels, and in my prayers and thought..

good bless you all
 
I always had issues with my teeth.. guaranteed at least 1-2 fillings each time I went.

I always had sensitive teeth and had to use sensodyne at least a few times a day and if I ever skipped brushing my teeth at night, I could be assured an aching jaw the next day.

Wifey started making her own toothpaste with coconut oils, few ingredients mixed it, I can list the recipe here if anyones interested..

My teeth have never been better.. went to the dentist as a checkup last week and got a glowing report.

No acheing teeth or sore jaws, the oil in the homemade toothpaste soaks deep into your teeth and helps them out, vs store bought toothpaste that blocks stuff in small areas of your teeth.

I dont think I would ever swap back to toothpaste again.

Price is comparative if not cheaper.

No floride or any of the other garbage in it as an added bonus. ;)
 
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Me too - but...

I always had poor teeth both my baby teeth and my permanent teeth were bad. It was not unusual for me to have cavities in my molars before they were fully grown. When I went to the dentist, he would drill and put in a "temporary" filling with the idea of a permanent filling next visit. When next visit came there would be decay around the temporary filling.

I got a partial upper when I went in the Navy - the wires holding it in caused decay on the teeth it was attached to so they had to be pulled (after being 'filled' about 4 or 5 times each) and the partial made larger then my two front teeth became so loose they fell out and I went to a full upper. My lower teeth (other than the molars) held up fairly well with just a partial for the molars, but by the time I was about 55 they had all fallen out or gotten absessed and had to be pulled.

Fortunately my children were not blessed with their father's "tooth gene" and they all have/had good teeth that with routine care have served them well so far.
 
I've been lucky. This is only my second root canal and I'm 70. This is one of the teeth that were broken when I was hit by the semi 8 years ago. My jaw snapped together so hard it cracked all four back molars.
 
Sharon you are living proof woman are tougher than trucks, I am grateful you have come through that so well, coming back to when was the last trip to the Dentist for me we here in Australia have for US citizens at least unbelievablely generous Social Services that extend generously to my dearly beloved and me. In recent times we received an 8000 dollar extra bonus now discontinued because of tougher times in this country ie a 4000 dollar grant for extra services Dental twice over 4 yrs. Wilma had incredible surgery by a visiting from Sydney Professor and her team 100% free (Sydney is two hundred miles from here) Wilmas cancer was double barrelled the two most viralent blood borne ones now after a year and a half she has has many haircuts after losing her hair and her tests say good things continueing.

Now the extra contact we have had with Dentists has enabled me to face some of those demons involved in mouth care and I second the original statement we need to be careful with mouth dental problems,especially living in this country where the bogey of going broke with Medical Costs has been overcome by a different Govt system of health care. We have a daughter living with her family in America their greatest fear is ill health and medical exorbitant costs both for insurance and backup insurance on the low salaries paid to one who is Graduate Nurse our daughter a ten year teacher paid at the rate of a cleaner in this country. They are preparing now for retirement and where to live in retirement.

On a happy note most of us have recovery experiences may yours be a good one as well.

Kind regards Peter.
 
I totally agree with you. I had an impacted wisdom tooth get infected when I was in the military. After they got the infection cleared up they removed the tooth. the dentist literally had a big bruiser of an assistant hold my head steady while he went at the tooth with a hammer and I assume a chisel to break it up so he could get it out. (mid 60's) I was in pain for about a month after that and avoided dentists like the plague. A few years after I got out I had another tooth bothering me so I went back. found out the civilian dentists have better equipment, good looking assistants and don't hurt you at all any more. Might have something to do with the fact if he hurts me I can find another dentist that doesn't. Since the company I worked for had an excellent dental plan that I got to keep when I retired I see my dentist every 9 months now.
 
Due to illnesses that started at 16, I lost all my teeth at 22. Had to have them pulled a few at a time.
Unfortunatly, the novacain didn't work until after I left the office. I'd go to visit friends and they would gasp and give me funny looks. I didn't understand why until I looked in a mirror and saw blood running out of my mouth, down my beard and the front of my cloths. Even filled up my pocket and ruined a new pack of smokes.
 
Glad to hear that you are doing better. Dental care so important because their is so much blood flow to mouth and the distance to your heart is so small. Poor dental health affects your heart and can infect your heart valves. Good dental hygiene can prevent heart, stomach and brain problems. As an RN I teach patients how to improve their health by good mouth care. Hope everyone with dental problems gets better and stays healthy.
 
sbwertz said:
I had a root canal last week, and have had nothing but trouble since. When the novacaine wore off, the tooth was EXTREMELY pressure sensitive. I called the Dr the next day and he said the filling might be a bit high, so I went in and he ground it down a bit and it helped a bit. (The tooth was capped and they drilled through the cap to do the root canal, then put a filling in it to seal the tooth.) The tooth remained sensitive, so he put me on 5 days of Azithromyicin. (z-pack) Today is the last day of the antibiotic, and the tooth is better, but I still can't chew on that side.

Here is the problem. Next Saturday I am supposed to drive to OK to sign the papers to close probate on my Dad's estate, take care of transfer of deeds, etc. Then my brother and I are going to drive to CA to put my Dad's ashes with my Mom's in Santa Cruz. Total trip of 2 weeks. (I already had to cancel the side trip to Colorado. I was supposed to leave for that today.)

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and I take a weekly shot of methotrexate and every six weeks I have an IV infusion of remicade. You can't take either one if you are taking antibiotics. Guess when my Remicade was due? Yep, just when I started the antibiotics. So now I am a week overdue on the remicade and a week without the methotrexate, and my joints are beginning to flare.

I go to the dentist tomorrow (Monday). If he opens up the tooth and packs it directly with antibiotics, he is going to put me on ANOTHER 5 day regimin of antibiotics. That puts off my RA meds for another week...so I can't go to OK for the probate hearing.

So far, the dentist has pretty well screwed up my life! The real kicker is that the tooth really wasn't bothering me much...just slightly sweet sensitive. I figured it had a cavity under the cap. I decided to have it done before I left so that I didn't risk a toothache on the trip.
Click to expand...

Sharon, I hope that your mouth gets better. Maybe there is a little piece of root still left. I had that happen with one of my teeth and getting it all out made a world of difference. If you go to Santa Cruz, give me a call as I live a little over an hour away from Santa Cruz.
 
The effectiveness of Novocain was hit or miss for me. The last time the dentist gave me five shots of it and still no effect. Every visit to the dentist was a dreaded occasion. Then I discovered sedation dentistry. One little pill before the procedure and the next thing you know it is all over. They told me that you don't actually go to sleep but you are deeply sedated and don't remember anything that happens. The only down side is that you need someone to drive you home and you are kind of useless for the rest of the day. That's a price I'm willing to pay.
 
DSurette said:
The effectiveness of Novocain was hit or miss for me. The last time the dentist gave me five shots of it and still no effect. Every visit to the dentist was a dreaded occasion. Then I discovered sedation dentistry. One little pill before the procedure and the next thing you know it is all over. They told me that you don't actually go to sleep but you are deeply sedated and don't remember anything that happens. The only down side is that you need someone to drive you home and you are kind of useless for the rest of the day. That's a price I'm willing to pay.
Click to expand...
Same sort of thing with colonoscopy and catherization...not really asleep but not really "with" it either.
 
DSurette said:
The effectiveness of Novocain was hit or miss for me. The last time the dentist gave me five shots of it and still no effect. Every visit to the dentist was a dreaded occasion. Then I discovered sedation dentistry. One little pill before the procedure and the next thing you know it is all over. They told me that you don't actually go to sleep but you are deeply sedated and don't remember anything that happens. The only down side is that you need someone to drive you home and you are kind of useless for the rest of the day. That's a price I'm willing to pay.
Click to expand...

I have one quadrant (lower right) that my dentist says is "wired funny". The nerves don't run where they are expected to be, so Novocain doesn't work if injected in the normal spot. She puts the needle down between the tooth and the gum, and gets it good and numb.
 
Good news. The antibiotic seems to have worked, the tooth is pain-free, and I can get my arthritis meds tomorrow and travel this weekend. Phew!
 
I have had terrible teeth.I am going in on the tenth of Oct.to a oral surgeon to have the remainder removed.After 2-3 month wait ,I will in for impressions for a full set.I am realy not looking forward to it. I cant have an IV so its gas and Novocain for me.....yay.
 
It does me good to read that at least one person made an appointment.
I can't begin to tell you how good I feel and I'm feeling better every day.
A couple of people I have spoken to on the phone can tell you that when I wasn't feeling well and was tired I was almost incoherent. Now I seem to have a lot of energy. The numbness in my hands is beginning to subside and my physical therapy lady says the progress that I have made since getting out of the hospital is more than all the progress I made since I first started. She says I'm at 85% and if things keep progressing like this I'll be done in 6 weeks which is kind of a bummer because she has beautiful long red hair and blue-green eyes. Too bad she's 18 years younger than I am and married. maybe I can get lucky and break my leg or something :rolleyes:
 
Gin N' Tonic said:
It does me good to read that at least one person made an appointment.
I can't begin to tell you how good I feel and I'm feeling better every day.
A couple of people I have spoken to on the phone can tell you that when I wasn't feeling well and was tired I was almost incoherent. Now I seem to have a lot of energy. The numbness in my hands is beginning to subside and my physical therapy lady says the progress that I have made since getting out of the hospital is more than all the progress I made since I first started. She says I'm at 85% and if things keep progressing like this I'll be done in 6 weeks which is kind of a bummer because she has beautiful long red hair and blue-green eyes. Too bad she's 18 years younger than I am and married. maybe I can get lucky and break my leg or something :rolleyes:
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Heck, women 18 years younger than I am are Grand Mothers.:smile:
 
I have my teeth cleaned every 4 months because I build so much tartar. My husband can get by with every 6 months. I have to go in Friday to have my permanent crown put on. Didn't want to take off cross country with a temporary cap.
 
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