Dentist Forum

5 June 2011

Dental Phobia

Dental advice wanted – Dental Phobia

I’m 42 years old and haven’t visited the dentist since my late teens. The last time was when the dentist actually snapped an anaesthetic needle in my gum while performing a filling. This has led to me having such a fear of dentists. I can’t even mention the word to my wife without feeling sick. As soon as someone mentions teeth in a discussion I completely evade the whole situation as that itself makes me feel extremely anxious. The thought of visiting a dentist or even driving past one has the same effect.

I have finally come to the conclusion that I need to get to the dentist as I have had enough of both the pain that I am in and also the look of my teeth. This weekend I actually ended up lancing an abscess myself due to the pain I was in. I have half a tooth missing in the front, a molar chipped and half missing down to the gum in the rear another chipped tooth down to the nerve in one side and also a tooth protruding over a canine that never fell out when I was a child. All in all it’s pretty depressing and has come to a head lately as my 4 year old son is asking questions with regards to why my front tooth is half missing and is also black.

I evade family photos as I can’t smile and when I do smile or laugh I have to try and pull a strange face keeping my upper lip down over my front teeth. Every time I eat it’s a case if or when my next tooth will chip or something else goes wrong. If I could go to sleep tonight and wake up with dentures in the morning then that would be a dream come true.

My question is, are there any leaflets, websites online discussion groups or helplines that could help me with my anxiety with regards to even walking into a dentist.

26 May 2011

Yellow Teeth

Dental advice wanted – Yellow Teeth

After years and years of not smiling at people because I was born with calcium deficiency in my teeth. This means my teeth are yellowish in colour and I am so self conscious about them it’s totally effecting my life in a big way, I was recently made redundant and I have had numerous interviews with no success, I never smile or laugh at the interviews which I know it’s why I’m not getting the jobs I go for. I have one worn tooth at the front and one that is set inwards and the top ache a lot as well. What I need to know is, can I get the top teeth pulled and have a denture fitted on the nhs, I’m on job seekers allowance at the moment so can’t afford much, can I get a discount or get them for free this way on the nhs. I feel life is pointless with this problem and would really love to smile at people some day. HELP…

15 April 2011

Painful Tooth after Dental Filling

Dental advice wanted – painful tooth after dental filling

I wonder if you can offer some advice to me. I went to see my dentist for a check up as I hadn’t had one for a year or so. I didn’t have any problems with my teeth I just felt I was due a check up. Upon consultation he suggested I have some x rays done, which I agreed. He said that there seemed to be some gum infection in one of my teeth. I couldn’t see any evidence of this on the X ray but agreed to having the filling re-filled. I asked if I could take the x rays for a second opinion and he would not let me – he said they are confidential.

This was quite a deep filling and he mentioned that I may need a crown later on. He filled the filling and the next day when I was eating I experienced extreme pain when eating due to large amounts of food being deposited in the gap left by the new filling – thus irritating my gums. Also, it had become extremely sensitive (it was not sensitive before). I went back to the dentist the following day, they checked it and said there was nothing wrong, that the gums were inflamed and I need to use pro active sensitive toothpaste – which I did. The next day I experienced further pain, so I went back. The dentist took most of the filling out and refilled it again, this left me numb for hours afterwards. Again, the next day I am left with extreme pain when eating and again large amounts of food are deposited into the gap of the filling causing sensitivity and pain. I went back again today and he said that the filling is fine and follows the contour of the gum, that I have small gaps around the tooth and that I need to leave it for a couple of months to settle down – allowing it to tighten around the tooth. I asked what he suggested about the pain and basically he said I had to put up with it.

Q: am I entitled to see my own dental records and have them checked by another dentist?
Q: any suggestions to releving the pain?
Q: Is my dentist responsible for this, what can I do legally?

12 April 2011

How often should you go to your dentist for a check up

It appears that some dentists are seeing patients far too often. NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) guidelines recommend the following interval between check ups:

Those at most risk of dental problems – 3 months
Those with the lowest risk – 2 years
Children – between three months and a year

So if you are still seeing your dentist every 6 months you shouldn’t be.

12 April 2011

Receding Gums

Dental advice wanted – receding gums

I have noticed that on my lower teeth on just one tooth near the front the gum has receded and now more of the root is showing. It also aches all of the time around that area. The day after I noticed the recession I found my gums were red, swollen and sore to touch. I brought and started using some mouth wash that is meant to kill infections and by the next day the gums were better and not so sore. I have what felt like a pimple on the end of my tongue for a few days about a week before this and have had swollen neck glands too but am not sure if this is connected.

I was told at a check up just a month ago that I do have slight gum disease.

I have just seen a dentist about this recession and he doesn’t think it’s anything to worry about or indeed is not doing anything about it. However I would appreciate some advice on here.

Is this permanent – I’m guessing the gum doesn’t re-grow? Is this due to my gum disease and if so is it likely to happen to more of the teeth? I am a vegetarian – could lacking in Iron or Calcium be to blame? Is there anything that can be done about covering up the recession and protecting the tooth?

25 March 2011

Tooth decay

Dental advice wanted – tooth decay

I need some advice about tooth decay and possible extraction. 1 week ago I noticed that a small part of my 1st bi cuspid tooth (upper) had chipped away. I went to see my dentist who took a couple of xrays. She told me that I had calcification of my root canal therefore I needed the tooth removed as root canal was not an option. I don’t have any pain at all therefore this seems a bit extreme. I really don’t want the tooth removed if it is not necessary and would really appreciate some advice.

19 March 2011

Toothache

Dental advice wanted – toothache

“I seem to have had toothache for so long now it’s part of my life …. and really getting me down. My latest problem is a root canal which has never really settled since I had the procedure in Jan 2010. It is quite a large composite filling which is soooo worn down I can just feel a big hole with my tongue. It is the upper tooth 2 teeth back from the fang. We have ascertained upon x ray that my sinus nerve is really low and runs through the roots of the teeth. I get a constant electric like pain coming through that tooth and can feel the same sensation all the time when Ii push on my cheek just above my lip towards my nose. Antibiotics don’t change anything. I’m convinced it’s because the tooth is so shallow and that having a crown will help. The actual size of the tooth now is tiny in comparrison to what it was prior to any treatment. My dentist insists it’s shallow due to my bite but I’m not convinced. He also says that the pain is from the low lying sinus nerve but if that was so wouldn’t all the other teeth that the nerve was toching, hurt? I just need help ….please”

15 March 2011

Teeth yellow and discoloured – thinking of using a home DIY kit

Have you ever considered whitening your teeth at home with a DIY kit? Before you do read today’s article in the Daily Mail "the dark side of white teeth" and hopefully it will put you off for ever.

Using some DIY home kits could permanently damage your teeth, make your teeth more sensitive, or cause irreversible gum recession. Your teeth could even end up yellower than before.

Desperate for a perfect smile? Save up for veneers or crowns.

12 March 2011

Dental advice wanted – missing molar

Dental advice wanted – missing molar

For as long as I can remember I have only really been able to chew on one side of my mouth due to a missing lower left molar. Two years ago I had my only remaining lower right molar treated and crowned (presumably due to over use!) by a dentist (whom I later learned had somewhat of a poor reputation). After this treatment I was left with a large gap behind the crowned molar but thought this was how it was meant to be and learned to manage, using toothpicks, cleaning more often and avoiding hard to chew food such as meats etc. Lately this tooth has become sore (the gum has always been tender due to food getting stuck) and I went to see quality new dentist that I finally managed to get registered with. I was told that the crown was badly fitted and would have to be replaced and left after giving an x-ray. Yesterday, I received a call from the dental receptionist saying that my crown appointment had now been changed to an extraction appointment! That’s all she could tell me. Obviously the tooth is bad and can’t be saved. Now I am worried! When this tooth is removed I will not be able to eat properly or chew at all! I’ve struggled with one molar as it is for years. Can anybody offer advice as to whether it’s possible to have a bridge of some sort fitted? I would get both sides done if at all possible. There’s no way I could afford implants after searching the net. Are there any reasonably priced solutions that could fill the gaps at both sides of my mouth and allow me to eat normally at all? It’s so annoying as the dentist said the rest of my mouth was well cared for and I am worried about turning up and having my tooth ripped out and then sent on my way to survive on a liquid diet! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

5 March 2011

NHS dental charges to increase on 1 April 2011

Dental Treatment Course	up to 31 March 2011	from 1 April 2011
Band 1 Example: check up	£16.50	£17.00
Band 2 Example: fillings	£45.60	£47.00
Band 3 Example: dentures and bridge work	£198.00	£204.00

Unless of course you live in Wales where the charges are frozen at 2006 levels and are Band 1 £12, Band 2 £39 and Band 3 £177. NHS dental patients in Scotland pay 80% of the NHS dental treatment fee.

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