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Tooth after a jaw trauma

ReaC: Hello! I need a bit of advice regarding an injury I recently sustained. After a fall on cobblestones (which resulted in stitches on my chin), I noticed that one of my lower front teeth (an incisor) has slightly (about 1 mm) shifted forward compared to the others (without any bleeding). On a daily basis, the tooth doesn’t hurt, doesn’t bleed, doesn’t move significantly (it is not "loose" - when I press it with my tongue, it stays still), and the gum is not swollen. However, with certain jaw movements (e.g., moving the jaw forward, opening my jaw really wide, or pronouncing the letters "u", "s", "z"), I feel a strange "clicking" or "grinding" sensation around the gum area. Additionally, the tooth is still quite sensitive - when I tap on it, I feel discomfort. The same happens when I eat, and the tooth is pressed by other teeth - sometimes I feel that strange "clicking," and sometimes just discomfort (as if the tooth might fall out or break under significant pressure). I’m going to the dentist this Wednesday for an X-ray, but since I’m a bit anxious - do you think there’s something to be really worried about? Thank you in advance!

Tooth pain for 12 days after eating popcorn

Spock117: Hi. I had tooth pain come on while eating popcorn almost two weeks ago, in the first molar on the bottom left. After a week I got in to see a dentist. The pain is coming from a tooth with a crown and previous root canal (I think it was four years ago). He didn't see any signs of issues with the root canal or any issues that jumped out at him. He thought I had a sprained tooth ligament. He said he could do a bite adjustment if I wanted. For the first week I wasn't doing anything different other than just chewing on the other side of my mouth. Since then I've been taking a couple ibuprofen a few times a day, doing ice, salt water, and not eating anything that requires much chewing at all. Worried that the bite adjustment might aggravate things more but also I'm desperate to get rid of this pain so might try it. The pain is bad today and wrapping around to the top on the left, and I've also had pain on the right side (maybe from all the chewing on the right side?). I'm just hoping for any ideas on what else I should be doing or not doing to help this heal. Thanks. dentalexplorer123: Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times daily to alleviate inflammation and support the healing process. If you have aloe vera juice at home, apply it directly to the affected area using a cotton swab and leave it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing. In case of severe pain or persistent discomfort, consider using an over-the-counter product like Orabase or Orajel. Alternatively, GUM SensiVital toothpaste is available at your local chemist or Amazon, and can be applied twice daily for 7 days using a cotton swab directly to the affected area. Schedule an appointment with a qualified dentist who can provide a fresh perspective on your case. Spock117: The pain and sensitivity feeling is spreading across all my teeth now at times, in addition to the main original pain. dentalexplorer123 said: Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times daily to alleviate inflammation and support the healing process. If you have aloe vera juice at home, apply it directly to the affected area using a cotton swab and leave it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing. In case of severe pain or persistent discomfort, consider using an over-the-counter product like Orabase or Orajel. Alternatively, GUM SensiVital toothpaste is available at your local chemist or Amazon, and can be applied twice daily for 7 days using a cotton swab directly to the affected area. Schedule an appointment with a qualified dentist who can provide a fresh perspective on your case. Thanks for the suggestions. Did you mean you think my dentists suggestion wasn't the right thing to do, or just that a second opinion would be good? Dr M: I would not say his suggestion was wrong. I would go for the adjustment on the crown. This should not worsen the problem, but relieving pressure on that specific tooth, might help the ligaments to heal more quickly. If the pain persists after this, I would also suggest trying a course of antibiotics. Although the antibiotics is never a solution by itself, it should help to take the pain away and if the pain returns, I would investigate the root canal further. Also rule out any other teeth in the area with possible problems. Could be that you have referred pain from another tooth. Spock117: Dr M said: I would not say his suggestion was wrong. I would go for the adjustment on the crown. This should not worsen the problem, but relieving pressure on that specific tooth, might help the ligaments to heal more quickly. If the pain persists after this, I would also suggest trying a course of antibiotics. Although the antibiotics is never a solution by itself, it should help to take the pain away and if the pain returns, I would investigate the root canal further. Also rule out any other teeth in the area with possible problems. Could be that you have referred pain from another tooth l Thank you so much for responding. I made an appointment with my primary care provider before I saw this, I was struggling with the pain and since the dentist hadn't prescribed anything and over the counter stuff wasn't helping I was hoping to talk about that with them and their office is right by where I live, much closer than the dentist. I asked if prescription pain meds or antibiotics might help at all and she initially didn't think so but then was looking in my mouth more and evidently saw something around the area that she thought justified the antibiotics. I asked about the bite adjustment and she thought it would good to go ahead and do the antibiotics first and not do the adjustment while there was still pain, with the disclaimer that she isn't the dentist and I'd have to ask a dentist about dental procedures. I picked up the antibiotics after the appointment. That's kind of the opposite order of your suggestion, does that seem okay if I start the antibiotic today and run it's course before doing the adjustment? Or not? Also would a bite guard be a good idea? Maybe it wasn't the right thing to go ask my doctor about this, I just got stressed and panicky about the pain. Also I stupidly pushed down on the tooth with my finger during the appointment today. I hope I didn't make anything worse. Thank you for your time and thoughts I really appreciate it. dentalexplorer123: A root canaled tooth with a crown can feel excruciating pain due to various reasons. One common cause is that the tooth may be infected or re-infected, which can lead to inflammation of the pulp tissue and nerve . Additionally, improper placement or fit of the dental crown, or bite misalignment, can exert pressure on the nerve and roots of the tooth causing pain. Inadequate sealing of old fillings, gum recession, or exposed tooth roots can also contribute to sensitivity and pain in a crowned root canal treated tooth . Furthermore, while crowns themselves are supposed to protect the tooth, the underlying tooth remains susceptible to infections which can cause increased pain and sensitivity. If the pain is caused by an infection, you'll need to see your dentist for further treatment. They may prescribe antibiotics or perform additional procedures like retreatment of the canal or even extraction. A poorly fitting crown can be adjusted or replaced to ensure a proper seal and reduce irritation on the surrounding tissues if that is the case. Another probable case, is that the pain is due to bite misalignment, so your dentist may recommend adjusting your occlusion (bite) to alleviate pressure on the affected tooth. Desensitising agents or special toothpastes can be applied to reduce sensitivity caused by exposed root surfaces. Additionally, gum tissue grafting may be considered if there's significant recession. In case inadequate sealing of old fillings is the issue, your dentist might replace them with new fillings or crowns that fit properly and seal effectively. Treating any underlying gum disease can help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. Spock117: It's hurting worse than ever, I should be asleep right now, I tried but I couldn't relax with the pain. I'm sure I must have made things worse today or aggravated things or something. I didn't start the antibiotics like my doctor said tonight, I was worried about if I needed to see the dentist again what would he say about me going to my doctor. Dr M: Start the antibiotics. It takes about 2 days to kick in. If the pain disappears,wait until it returns before going for the adjustment on the crown. While you are on antibiotics, it will mask any symptoms, so it won't help going to adjust the crown. desrosiersdental: It sounds like you might have a piece of popcorn kernel stuck between your teeth or gums. At Admire Dental Care, we recommend visiting a dentist as soon as possible to prevent any potential infection or further complications. Prompt professional care can help alleviate the pain and address the root cause effectively. Spock117: desrosiersdental said: It sounds like you might have a piece of popcorn kernel stuck between your teeth or gums. At Admire Dental Care, we recommend visiting a dentist as soon as possible to prevent any potential infection or further complications. Prompt professional care can help alleviate the pain and address the root cause effectively. Would a kernal be visible on an x-ray? The dentist I saw didn't see any issues on the x-ray. Dr M: Not always no. Spock117: Okay thanks that's good to know. I assume he would have checked for that but I guess I don't know for sure. Today is day 4 taking the antibiotic, no change in symptoms so far and the pain definitely has been worse since the other day when I pushed on it, so stupid of me. It's a real pressing pain. Thinking maybe I should try to get it checked out by another dentist soon, not sure how long to give it first though. Spock117: Pain (and probably stress over all this) is keeping me from sleeping again tonight. (Taken antibiotic for 5 days now and it is a 10 day course). I took Tylenol and had recently iced it before bed but that doesn't seem to have been enough. I'm thinking that the tooth pain and weird things it's causing me to do with my jaw and the anxiety of everything is causing me to develop TMJ alongside whatever the original issue is. Jaw is really sore, and I have pain all around my mouth (though I guess that part could be referred pain). Spock117: I'm worried that I've been using an ice pack too much and could have caused damage. The inside of mouth feels weird maybe swollen (or maybe dry mouth?) and it feels odd when I tap my teeth together. Maybe that's all just due to the things I have going on, or the lack of sleep talking, I don't know.

Painful Wisdom Tooth Cavity?

ArcaneWisdom: My wisdom teeth came in and having a lot of trouble with one of them. My bottom right wisdom tooth looks like this and I'm having a lot of pain. It flared last week with extreme pain and now this week again its starting up. Trying to understand what exactly is wrong with it. It's this dull aching that hurts in the back of my jaw. Dont know what is wrong or what I can do as I don't have insurance or money to see a proper dentist. Dr M: The tooth has a large cavity. My recommendation would be to have it removed.

Abscess and amoxicillin

selenamonet87: My son has a tooth abscess. We went to dentist and they prescribed amoxicillin for 7 days. They said they could not pull the tooth until after the antibiotics. We been taking it for 3 days now and it doesn't seem to making a difference. The bump seems to be getting bigger. Should I call the dentist back saying the amoxicillin isn't working or give it more time? Brause: https://www.aae.org/specialty/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/06/aae_systemic-antibiotics.pdf

Should I have a crown?

Muzza: I have a side tooth that is mostly old amalgam filling. Been there for years , no problem with any pain or sensitivity. Just looks dark and tooth has been chipped for years, again causing no problems. The tooth is unsightly if I smile wide enough to see it. I was thinking of a crown and of course the dentist is eager to do one. To make the tooth look better, a crown would be great. But I’m also aware of post crown problems! Have 2 crowns already. So as the tooth has never given me any problems , I’m unsure what to do! If I go ahead with a crown and there are issues, I’ll be kicking myself for not leaving the tooth alone and putting up with it’s almost black colour! Is it best to leave it be? Thanks Dr M: Do you have a photo of the tooth? How big is the chip? Is it cutting your tongue?

Possible Cut on Gum?

Chloe_06: I have a pinhead pinkish dot at my gum line where my tooth is. My mom looked at it and said it basically looks like a teeny tiny cut. It doesn’t hurt unless I put my finger on it, and it just bled a tiny bit. I noticed it on Saturday, and it hasn’t grown. I feel like it’s probably not significant enough to go to the dentist, but I wanted to ask to be sure. Also, this is the implant that I had placed a couple of years ago, and my health anxiety makes me nervous about things. The dot is not raised and is not filled with pus or throbbing. Thanks so much! dentalexplorer123: Based on your description, it's possible that the pinkish dot at your gum line could be a small cut or irritation. The fact that it hasn't grown larger and doesn't hurt unless you touch it suggests that it might not be a serious issue. However, since this is an implant site, it's essential to have it checked by a qualified dentist clinically, to rule out any potential complications or infections! Your dentist can assess the area, clean it if necessary, and provide guidance on how to manage it appropriately. Given your health anxiety, it's understandable that you want to ensure everything is okay. I recommend scheduling an appointment with a qualified dentist to get a professional opinion on this matter. Remember, it's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to oral health issues.

Question about recession on bottom front teeth

anxiouseverything22: Hello! I am a bit concerned about potential gum recession on my bottom front teeth. I had a dentist appointment about a month ago, and they said my gums looked healthy and everything seemed fine. Since the appointment, I feel my gums have receded slightly in my bottom front teeth. I know this isn't likely to be periodontal disease, as I have a good home care routine and my gums do not bleed when I floss in the slightest. Though I have grinded my teeth in the past, I was given a night guard six months ago to hopefully prevent any future damage. As such, I'm confused why I'm getting recession. I know my gums are thin in this area as well, which scares me quite a bit. I have a few questions. 1) Does my recession look particularly bad? I don't experience any pain and no roots are showing, but I can definitely see that the lengths of the front teeth are uneven here. 2) What could be causing this? It can't be periodontitis or tooth grinding, and I don't believe I'm brushing too hard either. I use an electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor, and the sensor never activates when I brush. Could it be the fact that my teeth are somewhat crooked? I've also heard that the frenulum can have something to do with this as well. 3) Are there any options to potentially remedy the thinness of my gums? I know gum grafts exist, but I'm not sure if that's something feasible.

Temporary filling after infection

Emmma: Hi , today I have had a temporary filling after 3 weeks of extreme pain after a filling fell out and the area became infected. I wasn't able to get a dentist appointment until today. I was however given antibiotics a week ago . So this helped . However the area is still painful and even today with the temporary filling the area is painful. I am booked in to have a permanent filling. But I am concerned that the tooth actually needs removing instead. Is it normal to have the tooth hurt for a while after a temporary filling? Any advice appreciated , thanks Dr M: If the tooth is still painful, it does not necessarily mean that the tooth needs to be extracted. Could be that you need a root canal instead. dentalexplorer123: If you notice sensitivity to hot and cold stimuli, it's conceivable that your cavity is near the pulp or too deep. Traditionally, this would necessitate a root canal treatment. However, due to recent advances in dental techniques, it may be possible to avoid a root canal procedure. The dentist can use a base liner technique, which involves applying a combination of ingredients such as glass ionomer cement or Biodentine using a layered approach, either directly onto the pulp, or indirectly, if the pulp chamber (tooth nerve) is not exposed. A final layer of composite resin can then be added on top to seal everything firmly in place. This significantly reduces any risk of leakage into the pulp chamber and also aids in regenerating lost dentin. It's crucial to note that these techniques only work if the decay has not reached the pulp chamber (tooth nerve). The closest the decay is to the pulp, the lesser the chances. If it has, you may ask your dentist to prescribe you a strong antibiotic like clindamycin and amoxicillin, which could potentially eradicate the infection without necessitating a root canal. In cases where the infection persists, root canal treatment might be unavoidable. By utilising a 2-layered or 3-layered base liner approach with GIC or/and Biodentine, and composite resin, you can create a strong, long-lasting dental restoration while minimising the risk of complications such as sensitivity or microleakage, and potentially avoid the root canal. Please be aware that temporary fillings don't bond well to the tooth structure like some permanent fillings, and leaving them in place for extended periods may lead to microleakage and infections. In the meantime, a recent dental study on Tibetan herb Padma 28 (while not conducted in a mainstream setting) has purportedly found it may help prevent root canal infections.

Leaky filling cuasing repeat infection

toothymctoothy: Hi, I'll try to be as brief as I can... About 2 months ago I started to get a very sharp pulsating pain in and around my molar (the one in the pic) as well as sensitivity to hot and especially cold stimulation. After an emergency appointment to a dentist (not my regular practice), I was prescribed some amoxicillin 500mg and some Colgate Duraphat 5000. By day three the pain from the infection had cleared up, but the sensitivity remains. After a repeat of the first lot of pain a few weeks later I followed up with my regular dentist (managed to get an emergency appointment) who did some xrays, and found a cavity on the side of my wisdom tooth. I have no pain or sensitivity from that tooth at all. Or any pain in the gums surrounding it. He has said that the wisdom tooth needs to come out, which having seen the xray I agree with, there appears to be a hole in the side of it, but no pain or problems from it. I insisted the pain was coming from between the molar and the tooth next to it, (both the filled teeth in the pic) and it feels like I could almost touch the site of the pain with my fingernail between the teeth. See the pic for the orange arrow pointing to where I mean. He applied some kind of fluoride paste to the surrounding area and the pain was gone almost immediately, but only lasted for a day or two. Third attempt at my regular practice after a few days of the pain returning in force, I had to insist that the infection had come back. Another course of amoxicillin and some duraphat and pain gone after a couple of days. Still waiting for the extraction, but now the addition of a root canal treatment on the molar. With a reluctance to do anything until the wisdom tooth is out. After a bit of research, I believe that the filling is leaking, and from images I've seen on the Internet the green arrows are showing darker areas where the filling looks like the reference images I've seen from Google indicating the filling could well be leaking. There's also a dark line on the tooth next to the one where I feel the worst of any pain (red arrow, im running out of colours haha). Is this another cavity and could that be the cause of the infection and pain? The fillings in both teeth must be close to 20 years old by now. I feel a root canal is a bit of overkill if it's a leaky filling. And following an nerve vitality test (and the pain that came with it) I can confirm the nerve is present and very aware at the moment. I think that removing and re filling the two teeth would resolve any symptoms. I appreciate without the xrays it's very hard to see the complete picture, but I can't get a copy of them. I'm hoping my explanation and picture will be enough for a reasonable assessment. Thanks for reading this far and I hope to get this sorted ASAP! I just want to turn up at the next appointment better informed. Thanks again, ToothyMcToothy dentalexplorer123: toothymctoothy said: Hi, I'll try to be as brief as I can... About 2 months ago I started to get a very sharp pulsating pain in and around my molar (the one in the pic) as well as sensitivity to hot and especially cold stimulation. After an emergency appointment to a dentist (not my regular practice), I was prescribed some amoxicillin 500mg and some Colgate Duraphat 5000. By day three the pain from the infection had cleared up, but the sensitivity remains. After a repeat of the first lot of pain a few weeks later I followed up with my regular dentist (managed to get an emergency appointment) who did some xrays, and found a cavity on the side of my wisdom tooth. I have no pain or sensitivity from that tooth at all. Or any pain in the gums surrounding it. He has said that the wisdom tooth needs to come out, which having seen the xray I agree with, there appears to be a hole in the side of it, but no pain or problems from it. I insisted the pain was coming from between the molar and the tooth next to it, (both the filled teeth in the pic) and it feels like I could almost touch the site of the pain with my fingernail between the teeth. See the pic for the orange arrow pointing to where I mean. He applied some kind of fluoride paste to the surrounding area and the pain was gone almost immediately, but only lasted for a day or two. Third attempt at my regular practice after a few days of the pain returning in force, I had to insist that the infection had come back. Another course of amoxicillin and some duraphat and pain gone after a couple of days. Still waiting for the extraction, but now the addition of a root canal treatment on the molar. With a reluctance to do anything until the wisdom tooth is out. After a bit of research, I believe that the filling is leaking, and from images I've seen on the Internet the green arrows are showing darker areas where the filling looks like the reference images I've seen from Google indicating the filling could well be leaking. There's also a dark line on the tooth next to the one where I feel the worst of any pain (red arrow, im running out of colours haha). Is this another cavity and could that be the cause of the infection and pain? The fillings in both teeth must be close to 20 years old by now. I feel a root canal is a bit of overkill if it's a leaky filling. And following an nerve vitality test (and the pain that came with it) I can confirm the nerve is present and very aware at the moment. I think that removing and re filling the two teeth would resolve any symptoms. I appreciate without the xrays it's very hard to see the complete picture, but I can't get a copy of them. I'm hoping my explanation and picture will be enough for a reasonable assessment. Thanks for reading this far and I hope to get this sorted ASAP! I just want to turn up at the next appointment better informed. Thanks again, ToothyMcToothy If there is microleakage, the dental practitioner must reopen the filling and reseal it using a material that can form stronger bonds with the dentin. If you notice sensitivity to hot and cold stimuli, it's conceivable that your cavity is near the pulp or too deep. Traditionally, this would necessitate a root canal treatment. However, due to recent advances in dental techniques, it may be possible to avoid a root canal procedure. The dentist can use a base liner technique, which involves applying a combination of ingredients such as glass ionomer cement or Biodentine using a layered approach, either directly onto the pulp, or indirectly, if the pulp chamber is not exposed. A final layer of composite resin can then be added on top to seal everything firmly in place. This significantly reduces any risk of leakage into the pulp chamber and also aids in regenerating lost dentin. It's crucial to note that these techniques only work if the decay has not reached the pulp chamber (tooth nerve). If it has, you may consider trying a strong antibiotic like clindamycin and amoxicillin, which could potentially eradicate the infection without necessitating a root canal. In cases where the infection persists, root canal treatment might be unavoidable. A recent dental study on Tibetan herb Padma 28 (while not conducted in a mainstream setting) has purportedly found it may help prevent root canal infections. dentalexplorer123: If you're concerned about secondary infection or whether all decay has been removed, your dentist will likely recommend taking an X-ray for further assessment. If there is not enough remaining healthy tooth structure for a traditional crown or onlay, your dentist might recommend building up the tooth with a post. But from looking at the picture, I think using a layered approach with Biodentine or GIC in the depth, and then sealed with composite filling or ceramic filling, would be a good enough options, as opposed to using a post and core buildup / onlay. dentalexplorer123: By utilising a 2-layered or 3-layered base liner approach with GIC or/and Biodentine, and composite resin, you can create a strong, long-lasting dental restoration while minimising the risk of complications such as sensitivity or microleakage, and potentially avoid root canal. toothymctoothy: dentalexplorer123 said: If you're concerned about secondary infection or whether all decay has been removed, your dentist will likely recommend taking an X-ray for further assessment. If there is not enough remaining healthy tooth structure for a traditional crown or onlay, your dentist might recommend building up the tooth with a post. But from looking at the picture, I think using a layered approach with Biodentine or GIC in the depth, and then sealed with composite filling or ceramic filling, would be a good enough options, as opposed to using a post and core buildup / onlay. Thank you for your detailed reply, I appreciate you taking the time. I will ask the dentist more questions before the drill sinks in now. Hopefully that approach will be covered on the NHS in the uk. Thanks again for your time Best regards ToothyMcToothy dentalexplorer123: Biodentine isn't available on the NHS, but numerous private dental practices do have it. Biodentine comes with a considerable expense tag, owing to its efficacy. As an alternative, Glass Ionomer Cement can also be used as a base and still get the job done satisfactorily, all while being readily accessible on the NHS. Looking at the image if this tooth was to undergo root canal therapy, there's a fair likelihood that it could be even more susceptible to fracture due to considerable loss of healthy tooth structure in the very center of the tooth, which would compromise its integrity, and wouldn't have a good prognosis in withstanding external pressure.

Gum cut while flossing, persistent redness and irritation after 2ish weeks

anxiouseverything22: Hello! So, around two weeks ago, I believe I accidentally cut my gums between teeth 28 and 29 while flossing. There was some intermittent bleeding from the area. I knew it wasn't gingivitis, as the gum wasn't inflamed and I'd had a dental cleaning with a clean bill of health about three weeks or so prior. I made sure to be extra careful with the area over the next few days to a week, getting some bleeding over the next two days but noticeably less, with the bleeding disappearing entirely within 3-4 days. However, sensitivity in the area has persisted. I'm not sure if this is normal, but the gum in the area-- though not red typically-- would get reddened after using a water flosser, and this redness would linger for a bit (20 minutes to an hour). Additionally, using the water flosser would continue to sting in the area. The type of stinging was exactly what I'd associate with an open wound or cut: it wasn't soreness or a deep pain, but one that felt sharp and superficial. I use the highest pressure setting as my teeth are used to it. This doesn't happen with any of my other teeth. I use both water flossing and string floss, and did not notice any heightened sensitivity while string flossing. Then, earlier this morning, while water flossing, the stinging was worse, and I noticed some (light) bleeding again despite it being two weeks later. When water flossing and string flossing tonight, there was no bleeding, but the redness persisted and later dissipated after flossing and water flossing. What should I do? Is it possible that the cut was healing and that I may have slightly reopened it? I don't see any signs of infection or anything like that. My dental insurance isn't great, so I would prefer any options that don't end with visiting the dentist. The cut isn't giving me any pain, but I worry about the fact that it hasn't fully healed by now-- especially because healing has happened relatively quickly when I've cut my gum other times. Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated! dentalexplorer123: Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times daily to alleviate inflammation and support the healing process. If you have aloe vera juice at home, apply it directly to the affected area using a cotton swab and leave it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing. In case of severe pain or persistent discomfort, consider using an over-the-counter product like Orabase or Orajel. Alternatively, GUM SensiVital toothpaste is available at Walmart or Amazon, and can be applied twice daily for 7 days using a cotton swab directly to the affected area. anxiouseverything22: Thank you so much! I appreciate the help.

Cavity in Side of Tooth Near Gums, filling or crown?

Red_tooth: Hi! I went to a new dentist. He found dark spots on the x-ray indicating a cavity in the side of a tooth, near the gums. He gave me a choice of doing a cavity filling type procedure, where he would remove a part of the tooth so he could access the cavity, and then patch it up. The second option would be to get a crown. He recommended the crown, saying that would be better in the long run. He wasn’t sure how long the filling repair would last and grip to the tooth. He also mentioned that cavities on the side under the gums would typically be better to get a crown. Any thoughts? There do appear to be two cavities already on that tooth. I have had bad luck with dentists in the past trying to do more work than required. My last dentist told me the black spots on my teeth were cavities. This new dentist says the black spots are stains only. So that is a relief. Thanks in advance! Dr M: Do you have any x-rays that you could share? Red_tooth: Dr M said: Do you have any x-rays that you could share? I don’t sorry, is that something I should ask the dentist for? Dr M: You can ask the dentist for copies of your x-rays yes. Red_tooth: Dr M said: Do you have any x-rays that you could share? How do you post photos? Red_tooth: Red_tooth: Dr M said: You can ask the dentist for copies of your x-rays yes. I posted them below Dr M: Do you only have a filling on that tooth and not a crown? Almost looks like a crown on the x-ray provided. Red_tooth: Dr M said: Do you only have a filling on that tooth and not a crown? Almost looks like a crown on the x-ray provided. Actually, I think that’s the wrong x-ray, I think it’s this one, bottom tooth. They sent two x-rays. Red_tooth: Red_tooth said: Actually, I think that’s the wrong x-ray, I think it’s this one, bottom tooth. They sent two x-rays. The bottom tooth, they want to do a cavity or crown because of the dark spots on the x-ray. Dr M: Difficult to say. This could also just be cervical burnout on the x-ray. You can google examples of this. I would start with a normal first. Drill until you reach the area in question and if decay is spotted, you could perhaps consider a crown at that stage. Red_tooth: Dr M said: Difficult to say. This could also just be cervical burnout on the x-ray. You can google examples of this. I would start with a normal first. Drill until you reach the area in question and if decay is spotted, you could perhaps consider a crown at that stage. Unfortunately, the dentist asks you what you want to do ahead of time. The dentist claims that the crown would be a more permanent solution. If I choose to do a filling for the cavity, it may or may not hold as well the crown for a cavity that is located on the side of the tooth see the gums. dentalexplorer123: One possible approach is to drill the decayed area and employ a base liner method. In this scenario, Biodentine could be used to protect the pulp, given that the decay is near the pulp chamber. Once the Biodentine has been applied, the cavity can then be sealed using composite resin. By utilising a 2-layered or 3-layered base liner approach with GIC or/and Biodentine, and composite resin, you can create a strong, long-lasting dental restoration while minimising the risk of complications such as sensitivity or microleakage, and avoiding root canal.

Upper front tooth with high decay

RhondaWXYZ: My dentist says I have a very weird and unusual decay which starts above the gumline and goes straight up. He says removing the decay is impossible because it is inaccessible since it is surrounded by supportive bone. My options: 1) have a root canal done while leaving the decay and see how long THAT lasts. 2) pull the tooth and get an implant. Dr M: Do you have an x-ray to share? dentalexplorer123: There are ways to accomplish this. One approach is to establish an entry point for the surgical procedure. This might entail making an incision in the gum tissue above the tooth, followed by a gentle separation of the soft tissues from the underlying bone. Your dentist would likely need to remove a small portion of supportive bone surrounding the tooth to access the decay. Specialised instruments, such as bone files, are employed to carefully excavate the affected area while preserving healthy tissue. Once the bone has been removed and the decay is accessible, your dentist would utilise dental burs or other cutting tools to eliminate the decayed material, taking care not to harm any remaining healthy tooth structure. Following the removal of the decay, your dentist would fill the cavity with a suitable restorative material, employing direct or indirect capping with Biodentine or GIC in the depth and subsequently sealing with composite resin, depending on the severity and location of the decay. Glass Ionomer Cement is relatively cheaper than Biodentine, and is a good restorative material that can get the job done. This could potentially obviate the need for a root canal procedure and save your tooth. I strongly advise seeking a second opinion from a qualified dentist. Furthermore, a dentist could also use guided access by employing a CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) scan to obtain a comprehensive view of the affected tooth and surrounding structures to remove the decay. A CBCT scan typically costs between $100 and $200. An X-ray would be a more affordable option to begin with and often gets the job done most of the time. By utilising a 2-layered or 3-layered base liner approach with GIC or/and Biodentine, and composite resin, you can create a strong, long-lasting dental restoration while minimising the risk of complications such as sensitivity or microleakage, and avoid root canal. microleakage.

Quick Question.

dentalexplorer123: In a recent dental procedure, Tooth 17 was found to be decayed and required treatment. The dentist drilled out the decay, which extended just above the pulp, and then sealed it with Biodentine in the depth, before filling with synthetic resin. Pulp sensibility and electric cold pulp tests were performed, and the tooth showed to be vital in all tests. Could somebody point out if the restoration for Tooth 17 has been successful? Can you spot any issues? Dr M: The decay has been removed, but there is a definite overhang, which could create a food trap and future secondary decay. Can you floss between those teeth? dentalexplorer123: any indications of infection at the root of tooth 17? Dr M: Not that I can see on this x-ray. dentalexplorer123: Thanks

How to save my remaining wisdom teeth

juanflores22: Hi, i would like to know a way to save my remaining wisdom teeth . Well, first of all, as you can see, I have already had 4 premolar extractions years ago for braces. Now, two weeks ago I had my wisdom tooth extracted (the one marked), my dentist recommended it because of the way it is arranged and because I had pericoronitis, I followed his instructions and did it, I intended to stop there, but now I know that if I don't extract the top one, the tooth can (and will) overerupt and I'm afraid that if I don't extract the other side, there could be an imbalance in my bite, I would really like to stop there, I wouldn't want any more extractions, I'm confident that that lower wisdom tooth will straighten out, it has too much room and will compensate for my missing premolar, but I think there is no other option , or if anyone has any opinion on what solution I can take, short or long term, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much for reading me! Pd: a solution I thought of is to somehow bring my molars 1 and 2 back a little to touch my wisdom tooth and avoid over-eruption or is that too difficult? I really don't want any more extraction, now I know that prophylactic extractions are becoming less and less recommended Dr M: Your other lower wisdom tooth will unfortunately not straighten out. Even with the missing pre-molar, there clearly won't be enough space for it to erupt fully. The best recommendation would be to remove all the remaining wisdom teeth. The over-eruption of the top one, on the side that you already extraction, will eventually happen, but it takes years. You can monitor it and only extract it when necessary, but it would be easier to remove the remaining 3 in one go. The left lower wisdom has a high risk of damaging the adjacent molar. juanflores22: Dr M said: Your other lower wisdom tooth will unfortunately not straighten out. Even with the missing pre-molar, there clearly won't be enough space for it to erupt fully. The best recommendation would be to remove all the remaining wisdom teeth. The over-eruption of the top one, on the side that you already extraction, will eventually happen, but it takes years. You can monitor it and only extract it when necessary, but it would be easier to remove the remaining 3 in one go. The left lower wisdom has a high risk of damaging the adjacent molar. Hi Dr., thank you so much for you reply ! if you don't mind, could you give me a reason why there's not chance my wisdom tooth won't straighten out? Dr M: The roots of the wisdom tooth are fully developed. Which means their growth and movement potential is minimal. It is also clear from the x-ray that there is not enough space for it to upright itself.

Is this normal appearance for tongue? Pictures below

wwwccceee2024: I grind my teeth a lot and notice myself biting the insides of my cheeks, so I must also clench my teeth at night. I’m wondering if this is a normal tongue appearance? Is there anything I should be concerned about? wwwccceee2024: Dr M: Everything appears to be normal. The white lines on the side might just be due clenching

Tongue health....Anxiety, Oral STD or nothing at all?

AnxiousInNewEngland: It's been a few years but I have another tongue tongue question. Worried a out the bumps that are towards the middle of my tongue. Thank you in advance for your support.

Is Trendelenburg position normal during root canal procedures?

Concernedpatient33: Been getting root canal done at a student establishment. Wanted to ask if Trendelenburg position is normal for root canal procedures. My head starts to ache real bad near the end of the appointment and it feels like blood is pooling in my neck behind my ears. I am then returned to normal position and "given a break". I just wanted to ask if this kind of thing is normal because its very uncomfortable later on. Head below the body seems like a thing that could hurt a person if its done for 2hrs 30 mins. But I don't know about dentistry hence I ask here. Thank you for your time. I otherwise get along well with my student dentists. Dr M: Could be that the dentist uses that position to facilitate better vision for himself while working. If the position bothers you, mention this to the dentist next time. They can easily adjust the chair. desrosiersdental: Yes, the Trendelenburg position can be used during root canal procedures to improve blood flow to the head and increase patient comfort. Dentists consider factors like patient medical history and procedure complexity when deciding its use. Admire dental care ensures patient safety and comfort throughout treatments, with the position being one tool to enhance these aspects when appropriate. Its application varies based on individual patient needs and dentist preferences, aiming to optimize the overall dental experience and treatment effectiveness.

Bumps on frenulum

Millsj402: Normal Dr M: Good day, Everything seems normal to me. You can relax Millsj402: What is that thing here is a better look Millsj402: What is it Dr M: Those bumps are part of what we call Wharton's duct. They are openings that allow saliva to drain from your submandibular and sublingual glands, into your mouth. Millsj402: Dr M said: Those bumps are part of what we call Wharton's duct. They are openings that allow saliva to drain from your submandibular and sublingual glands, into your mouth. No need to worry right Dr M: No, this is part of normal anatomy. Millsj402: Dr M said: No, this is part of normal anatomy. Thank you for the replay you really settled my mind conner65757: Hey just wondering does anybody know what this is it's freaking me out

What is this lump on the side of the tongue ?

Johan: Hello, Noticed this lump that look yellowish, doesn’t hurt if I don’t touch it. Been like this for months, doesn’t seem to change. No other symptoms. Thanks Dr M: Looks like either part of the foliate or circumvallate papillae of your tongue. Not something to worry about. Johan: Dr M said: Looks like either part of the foliate or circumvallate papillae of your tongue. Not something to worry about. Many thanks

Opinions, anything wrong with the roots of my 1st molar? (See photo)

eveares: About 6 weeks ago, I was in absolute agony for a week with extreme tooth pain that extended allround my right side of my face around my eyes and nose. I eventually got a dentist appointment about a week and a half later after the pain first started, by which time the pain had thankfully settled down due antibiotics (and painkillers) previously prescribed by my doctor. When they x-ray'd my 1st molar on my right side, they said that they could see the root of the tooth (which has a big deep filling) was unfortunately starting to die and decay and likley infected the neve going up to my face, which caused all my pain the previous week. They said the tooth needs to either come out or have a root canal done on it. My question is, can you also see the issue/decay with the roots of my 1st molar on right side or does it look ok/healthy to you? Opinions wanted on this. Kind regards: Elliott. Dr M: Yes. There is clear enlargement of the PDL around the roots and there is also definitely secondary decay underneath the filling that has affected the nerve. I would also suggest a root canal to be done on this tooth.

Do I need to extract the wisdom tooth?

Daniel92: Hello, I'm a 32 year old male. About a month ago I started feeling pain in the right side of the jaw and also sensitivity to cold food in that area of the mouth. Two weeks ago I visited the doctor and I have been told I need to extract my right bottom wisdom tooth because its causing the problem and that I also have a cyst near it. The wisdom tooth is completely enclosed in the gum, and the doctor said that it is applying pressure on the adjacent tooth and that it can also cause problem to that tooth if I don't extract the wisdom tooth. About a week ago the pain was gone and now I feel better and there is no pain, only a little sensitivity to cold in the area. Could it be infection that was healed? Do I still need to have the wisdom tooth extracted? I have the appointment to extract it in a few days. I attached the panoramic photo. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Dr M: I would still recommend removing it, if only to prevent damage to the adjacent tooth. If you leave it too long, there is a chance that the adjacent tooth might need to be extracted as well at a later stage. Daniel92: Dr M said: I would still recommend removing it, if only to prevent damage to the adjacent tooth. If you leave it too long, there is a chance that the adjacent tooth might need to be extracted as well at a later stage. Thanks for the reply. Would you also recommend extracting the bottom tooth from the other side? because from the photo it looks like its also pushing the adjacent tooth. (It's also inside the gum) Dr M: Yes. I would recommend removing the other side as well.

Do we need extraction?

aulmer: My 6 year old was recommended to extract 2 lateral incisors baby teeth so permanent central incisors in the back come forward. Here is photo, what do you think? Is it necessary? Dr M: Although this can be done, I usually check how far the permanent lateral incisors are from erupting. If there is a general space deficiency, it won't matter, since the front teeth will be crowded regardless.

Seemingly chipped back of front tooth, how bad is it?

kfjdjdhdjsj: photo: last night i was eating a sandwich, nothing hard at all, and i felt what seemed to be a loose piece of tooth in my mouth (spit it out). after that i felt a sharpness/jaggedness between my front teeth. i looked with a mirror (photo) and saw that dark spot on one of them, which i assume is the chip where it came from. i’ve always had fragile/brittle teeth, and ive been working on not grinding them, hence why they’re so jagged (i wear a mouth guard at night now). but this is making me super worried that my tooth is going to break completely or something. i don’t know why it’s so dark, or if it’s an emergency, or what. i called my dentists office and they can’t get me in for ages, and i don’t know what to do or how bad this is. any/all advice very welcome, i’m panicking lol background: never smoked, rarely drink. i’ve had a few cavities filled, and i think one may have been between my front teeth, but i’m not 100% sure. Dr M: The dark spot is a cavity and not a chip. It requires a filling to be done. This is not an emergency, but it needs to be done as soon as you have time. kfjdjdhdjsj: Dr M said: The dark spot is a cavity and not a chip. It requires a filling to be done. This is not an emergency, but it needs to be done as soon as you have time. thank you! i was able to make an appointment for next week. i’m being extra careful, brushing and flossing after every meal, using fluoride mouthwash, etc.

What to do about painful tooth?

Tigerlily: Hi all Nine days ago, on the Sunday, I started to have toothache so I went to see my Dentist the next morning, Monday 24th. The Dentist did an examination and an x ray but couldn't see anything wrong, so put some desensitising paste on and said it could be as I grind my teeth (I already knew I did that) and am worried about an upcoming hospital appointment so might be grinding more. The pain came back after maybe two or three hours, so I called again on Tuesday and Wednesday and ended up back there on Thursday, but with another Dentist. The second Dentist did another examination and looked at my x ray, said I will likely need a root canal & crown or an extraction and to see my Dentist again this Monday for a review & extraction (I couldn't afford a root canal so initially wanted that). She did nothing to help the pain. I understand nothing could be done that day in terms of root canal or extraction, plus she didn't want me to decide in the heat of the moment when in pain and wanted to see if the pain went away, or localised to help them to know which tooth So, I turn up this Monday and my Dentist only had a review booked in (despite Reception asking me to eat before the appointment, and me asking if he'd have time to do the extraction after ... she said he would as they'd moved other appointments around). Another examination and look at the x ray, he decides I may have a tiny crack inside of the tooth that is too small to see on the x ray but is on/near a nerve and some infection has got in. He thinks grinding more may have caused this crack (I do have a mouthguard but always gagged so didn't use it, but started to the moment he said it could be due to grinding, with no problems) He's given me Antibiotics (1 pills 3x a day for 5 days) 500mg and booked me for the root canal 31st July. This is a private dental practice. Dentist claims he can't prescribe painkillers but two GPs say he can as does a list Dentists can prescribe from. I have had to come off of Lithium (for Bipolar) which is a risk, and cancel a blood test for it, so I can take Ibuprofen but really I need to be on the Lithium and not on Ibuprofen until the root canal. I got told removing the tooth, as I had 4x adult teeth removed as a kid for braces (1 in each quarter), would be a problem without an implant/denture, which is more expensive than a root canal. Is it true Dentists can't prescribe painkillers if weeks to wait for a root canal and paracetamol and co-codamol 8/500 don't help enough? Will this infection be gone (especially as 1-2 doses may not be absorbed which he says is ok) or am I at risk of it spreading? He says there's some swelling around the bad tooth, it is the only tooth I have a filling in which was done as a kid (maybe age 6 or 7) fell out for 10 to 15yrs, got refilled (almost the whole tooth) and has been ok until now. It's at the top, I think it's a molar, it's third from the back and I do have wisdom teeth but not sure where the previously removed tooth came from. I'm so worried about severe pain and/or the infection spreading and am terrified to just extract it without any restoration Thanks to any who read this far

Decay?

ben776: Hello I recently had to change my dentist, and the new dentist said that there's decay between my right central and lateral incisors. I brush 3 times a day after meals, and I'm surprised that I have a decay going on in that area (he told me that there's no other problem in my mouth). I'm aware that naked eyes cannot catch everything, but to me it looks perfectly fine, and I don't want to drill something that's not problematic. Attached is my x-ray. He was pointing out the grey area, but I thought that was just from the angle of the x-ray and how the teeth are overlapping. Do you actually think that there's decay going on? Thank you very much!

Prolonging life of a frontal tooth (22)

ktrevizo24: Hello My name is Kimberly, I'm 23 years old. I had orthodoncy treatment since april of 2019, my case was an ''special'' one since one my canine tooths (23) was stuck on my upper maxilar bone, from june 2019- September 2022 they tried to pulled down the canine but sadly it didn't worked out. I had to change orthodocist because it didn't feel ok to keep going where they delayed the removal of the canine. When I changed on the same month of September my new orthodontist said that the canine tooth was damaging my 24 and my 22 teeth so it had to be removed. They removed the tooth, they told me that they could put an implant in or move all the teeth to the front, and I choosed the moving of the teeth, at the end I knew that this was slower. But I didn't had the possibility of an implant. I just finished my treatment on June 24, I took x-rays so I could get my wisdom teeth removed and I saw just what I was expecting but it became reality in front of my eyes. So I'm worried of losing it sooner than I thought. One endodocist told me that I had to get root canals on 3 of my teeth 21,22 and 24 so they will become attached to the bone and had more support for the 22 and delay the missing of this one, but I don't know, is there any other hope? Dr M: Do you have any pain or symptoms on these teeth?

Dental Appointment Records

BohemianRaichu: Hello, Are dental clinics in the UK legally obliged to provide patients with a record of their dental appointments at that clinic, if the patient requests it? Apologies if this has been asked before. Thank you for your time. Dr M: Yes. It is your health records. They might ask you a small administration fee though. BohemianRaichu: Dr M said: Yes. It is your health records. They might ask you a small administration fee though. Thank you. Do you know how much these fees often are? Dr M: Differs from practice to practice. And it is not to say they will definitely ask these admin fees. Phone and find out

Should I visit the dentist or some other doctor when I have tonsil stones?

dnb: Hello I am worried after I saw the video of what tonsil stones are Dr M: You can visit your dentist first. He should refer you to an ENT specialist. jenart68: I clean mine out on my own, although I doubt that is recommended. There are mouthwashes for tonsil care available. Your dentist or PCP can refer you to an ENT, which will be your best course of action.

Wisdom tooth and molar

jamvart: One of my wisdom tooth grew sideways and to the center of the close molar, which led to deep rot in that molar. My dentist said there's a need to extract the wisdom tooth and then do a root canal treatment on the molar which is probably needed rather than just a filling. It it possible to extract the bad molar and try to straighten the wisdom tooth (which is not rotten) to replace it? I am over 25 and my wisdom tooth are developed and mostly grew. The rest of my teeth are straight (naturally). And even if it's possible, do you think it's worth it? it would probably take a few years and maybe I should just treat the molar and stay with it after exacting the wisdom tooth. Dr M: It depends. You would need the opinion from an orthodontist. They will take different x-rays to determine if the required movement can indeed take place. There is also a chance that if you remove the wisdom tooth, either the adjacent tooth could be damaged to such an extent that it would need removal as well, or the decay on the adjacent molar could extend into the root, which means that a root canal is not an option. jamvart: Can you please estimate what are the chances that the adjacent tooth is too damaged to be repaired? I know it can't be fully determined without treatment, but I just want to know if the chances to save it are decent or not. I understand it would just be an estimation. Dr M: Based on this x-ray , I would say less than 50%. The distal cavity seems like it might be going horizontal or below the bone. But you can only say definitively once the wisdom tooth has been removed. jamvart: Update: I sent the x ray to 3 different orthodontists and they all said that based on the x ray it seems impossible to move it to replace the molar. So I had that wisdom tooth extracted today. My dentist also cleaned some of the molar and put a temporary filling. He hasn't cleaned deep enough yet, but he thinks that the tooth can be saved and maybe even without a root canal treatment and only with a deep filling, but we will know for sure only after a week when the molar is fully treated. Thanks for the help. Dr M: Hope everything goes well.

Identify Implants

Toddw4411: I used to work in the Philippines 12 years ago and had some implants put in, The dentist told me they were German manufactured, however who knows, I would greatly appreciate if anyone may be able to identify the brand if these implants, any other info would be appreciated including size, dimensions etc, thanks Todd

Xray Opinion

johnnybegood2024: Hello! I posted here back in March regarding tooth #2. I got a huge filling removed and replaced and Ribond was added. I felt off for a long time and it was more than just being achy--my sleep was off and my mood was affected as well (I felt down). Well I got the work done in Feb and in April things started to level out. However, I still get random aches and discomfort above the tooth (2 out of 10 pain scale). So, I went back to the dentist in May and he examined the tooth and did a basic xray. He said that, according to the xray, there appears to be nerve inflammation. He wanted to do a CBCT but they charge $450! Can any dentists check this current xray? Is it possible its abscessed? He did not offer any other help and still insists on waiting... Dr M: Can't see any clear abscess on the tooth, but it does seem like the filling is very deep and most likely touching the mesial horn of the pulp or nerve chamber. In such a case, the inflammation becomes irreversible, which might lead to future root canal treatment. A CBCT scan might not be a bad idea, since it tells you a lot more detail about the anatomy of the tooth. Root canal treatments on molars can sometimes be very difficult. Even in an extraction case, that tooth might be a difficult one, since it appears that the tooth has roots that are in the maxillary sinus. johnnybegood2024: Dr M said: Can't see any clear abscess on the tooth, but it does seem like the filling is very deep and most likely touching the mesial horn of the pulp or nerve chamber. In such a case, the inflammation becomes irreversible, which might lead to future root canal treatment. A CBCT scan might not be a bad idea, since it tells you a lot more detail about the anatomy of the tooth. Root canal treatments on molars can sometimes be very difficult. Even in an extraction case, that tooth might be a difficult one, since it appears that the tooth has roots that are in the maxillary sinus. Thanks! So basically just wait still? Is it possible it will heal up and be ok? Or should I just go ahead and get it out of get the root canal? I'm just tired of messing with this tooth. It's been 4 months Dr M: I would wait until the pain is more than a 2 out of 10. It is normal to have some sensitivity with a deep filling such as that.

A red spot on gums

Jol: Hi, a long time ago, I noticed a red streaky spot above the tooth. Is it worth the worry? Would it be better to go to a dentist or a periodontist? Maybe someone has knowledge and advice? Nothing bleeds, nothing hurts, only redness. Could it be just vascular? When press on it, it kind of disappears. Dr M: Seems like nothing to worry about. Most likely just a difference in vascularity in the area, due to a difference in your attached gingiva. Jol: Thank you very much. I was really worried.

New crown cracking sound

Pinkpolkadots: I had a crown fitted yesterday on a tooth at the lower side of my mouth (sorry don’t remember the names of the teeth!). I’ve eaten carefully since but tonight when I was eating some pizza I kept hearing a loud cracking sound coming from the tooth. I’ve checked it and it doesn’t seem cracked, just wondered if this was normal as the tooth settles. I have also noticed a slight black line at the base of the tooth towards the front. Does this mean there’s a gap that shouldnt be there? I’m not experiencing any pain but still getting used to the feel of something new in my mouth! Dr M: Give it a few days, and if the sound remains, it means that the crown might need to be adjusted. The line that you see there might only be the margin of the crown, where it meets the tooth. The dentist should have taken an x-ray after placing the crown, in order to confirm a proper seal.

Hole at back of inner cheek!

Julia86: First thought I bit my cheek, then thought I had a canker sore but I am not sure.. I have a lot of pain at the back of my mouth near my jaw and a small hole has appeared. It’s hard to chew and has been painful for a week now. Is this a canker sore or something to do with my wisdom teeth/molars? Help! KVMCruces: Hi Julia, Don't believe that it has anything to do with your teeth. Appears to be a canker sore but you can never be too sure though so best thing to do is check with your dentist. W1ll1am: Hey! Did you find out what it was and how to treat it? I have the exact same thing... W1ll1am: I went to see a dentist and he told me it's just a big ulcer and that it will go away in 2 to 3 weeks. Mine would hurt a lot when I was eating so he gave me a syrup that basically numbs ur whole mouth so that u wouldn't feel discomfort or pain while eating. you should go get it if u have the same problem. He also said the cause of ulcers is lack of sleep, stress, lack of vitamin so go get some multivitamins gummies in ur grocery store Trinity: Help the doctors don’t know what it is my cheek is swelling amd I have a huge gash in the back of my inner cheek that looks like x their is no white it’s just a huge gash and is sore it seems to be getting bigger. Fredrickings: Julia86 said: First thought I bit my cheek, then thought I had a canker sore but I am not sure.. I have a lot of pain at the back of my mouth near my jaw and a small hole has appeared. It’s hard to chew and has been painful for a week now. Is this a canker sore or something to do with my wisdom teeth/molars? Help! Fredrickings: Please this is 6 years after and I’m experiencing same thing with a bad pain… did yours just go or how did you do it please Jacqueline: Hey! I have the exact same hole as yours on my right inner cheek! I was searching on Google what it is called but nothing comes up, do you have any idea what it might be exactly? My jaw also hurts whenever I eat and I can't open my mouth properly MattKW: OP was in 2018. If other people have similar issues, please provide photos, and what steps you have taken to have it investigated. ikoroot: I also have something similar or the same, I first noticed it a couple of days ago, moving my jaw and eating is slightly painful and uncomfortable, mine is behind the last tooth, it's much smaller and doesn't have any colour. ( possibly it gets bigger over time ) ( sorry for the photo quality ) EDIT : Also, this might not be related at all. but the day before I started to notice it I burned my tongue with hot tea and also poked the inside of my cheek with a sharp crisp. but I do not believe it would manage to poke all the way in the corner so I don think the crisp caused the hole. user7: i also have a similar hole at the exact same position. it hurts when i eat or try to chew hard food. no bleeding at all no blood. there is a very small whitish cover around it too. ikoroot: Hey just to let you know after about a week, the pain stopped and it's basically healed, I can still feel it with my tongue slightly. alondramendoza: hi i also have to same thing when i first saw i was scared and i did not know what to do its very painful i can't open my mouth right or chew on my left inner mouth there is white covered on it please help me!!!!! what do i do? Gabbymxx: Hi all. But of insight if you have the same. I went to the dentist as I thought it was a wisdom tooth growing by the hole. But turns out my top wisdom tooth kept hitting my lower gum as I was talking and eating and caused it from impact. Currently surviving off Bonjela , ibuprofen and salt water rinses 3 weeks later after my dentist emergency appointment told me there’s nothing she can do

Cone Based CT scan

Rehtees: Is there anyone here that I can hire to review a cone based CT scan for infections/cracks ? Dr M: You can post it here and we can give an opinion.

What to put in this case, a crown or an implant?

Rosa55555: Hello! Please tell me what to do in this situation. 7 days ago, while eating I felt that the chewing tooth on the lower jaw cracked, there was no pain, only not a pleasant sensation. Throughout the tooth does not hurt, if you do not eat on this side of course. In this case is it better to extract the tooth and place an implant with a crown in place of this tooth or is it better to place a crown, and also is it necessary to place a crown on the neighbouring healthy tooth in order to distribute the load evenly or does it have no effect? Dr M: You will need to determine the extent of the crack first. For that you would need to take an x-ray and do a clinical exam. If the crack is right through,and involves the root of the tooth for example, then an extraction would be indicated. It is not indicated to crown the tooth next to the one in question, since that would lead to unnecessary damage of that tooth. A crown is designed in such a way to distribute forces equally.

Crown Question

Rehtees: Should a full crown cover the entire dentin/cementum of the old tooth once a dentist shaves it down, Will post before and after Rehtees: This was the tooth before the crown , The tooth never had floss hurt it or had pain when water or air touched it. Below I will post the crown photos Rehtees: This is a photo of the front of the crown Rehtees: This is a side view.. In the back inner corner of the crown there is also a gap where food gets stuck, When I floss the back between the crown and the gum of my jaw food is always there between the crown and my gum line .. This never happened with the original tooth ...and by the liquid and air pain it makes me think nerves are exposed. Dr M: Why was a crown recommended in the first place and not only a normal filling? You do sometimes see the dentin margin when placing a crown.Complete full coverage of the entire tooth, is usually done in more aesthetic areas. In the back, it is up to the clinician to determine where the tooth preparation should end. To evaluate the proper fit, I would need to see an x-ray to determine if there is a gap

Son has huge white spot under bottom front teeth

JaspalSupra: Our son has this huge white bar shaped spot under his gums and has been complaining about pain in his lower jaw for about a week. We took him to the dentist for the pain and they said it was nothing but this white spot has appeared since then. What could this be? Son describes the pain as 4/10 Dr M: Can't see clearly. Do you have any x-rays you could share? How old is your son? JaspalSupra: Dr M said: Can't see clearly. Do you have any x-rays you could share? How old is your son? I don’t but he is 6 Dr M: Would need an x-ray to give more information. Cannot see clearly on the photo. At this age the lower permanent incisors tend to erupt. The white that you see might be the top part of the permanent tooth, slowly pushing through the gum.

Does this crown look right?

littleadventureb: I had a crown fitted today after a lengthy back and forth to the dentist. The original dentist I saw was just going to fit this crown before doing a root canal, it only took me seeing another dentist for them to say you actually need a root canal first. The guy did the work and then fitted this crown. Since I've had it in my bite feel weird, like when I bite down only that tooth meets the lower ones, all my other teeth feel as though they don't come together properly. It also feels big in my mouth, it rubs up against my tongue and it just feels super annoying in my mouth. The dentist said I have to leave it a while to get used to it, but every time I look at it I just feel as though they have stuck a keyboard key in my mouth. Dr M: It sounds like your occlusion is off. The dentist needs to either adjust the crown, or adjust the opposing tooth if it has a filling on it. If you leave it like this, you might develop TMJ issues.

Salty or metallic taste only when I drink water

Alessa: I have been experiencing salty or metallic taste only when I drink water, especially in my hard palate. And there is redness in some places of my mouth. I am so anxious, what can it be? Dr M: On the photo everything appears normal.

Crown Pain

Johnny Test: Hello, I recently had a dental crown for my front incisor, but I feel some pain when I push inward towards the interior of my mouth. It does not hurt when I bite down, and I do not hit neighboring teeth. It has been two weeks since I received my permanent crown and has been 4 weeks since I had a root canal. Is this sort of pain normal? Dr M: The root canal might still be settling. Sometimes it can take 3 months for the tooth to be pain free. If the pain becomes more severe, you will have to go for a follow-up x-ray of the tooth. Johnny Test: Dr M said: The root canal might still be settling. Sometimes it can take 3 months for the tooth to be pain free. If the pain becomes more severe, you will have to go for a follow-up x-ray of the tooth. Thank you, it only hurts when I push it. Is it normal for a tooth to hurt like this after a root canal? Dr M: Yes. Some pain is sometimes normal

Missed canal?

fcb99: Hello. My 36th tooth hurts when I press it from cheek side. This pain appeared right after canal treatment some months ago and it intencity doesn't change. And on CT scan i see something looking like 4th canal. Can it be missed canal that causes pain? Thank you Dr M: It does appear like there is a fourth canal. I would consider doing a RCT re-do on this tooth.

Can a dental crown be shaved down too far?

terrified: I had 2 crowns put on a few years back and they had recently been feeling sore from the pressure on the teeth above (I grind). The dentist who did the crowns didn't want to shave the crowns down too much, I can't remember why that was. Today my new dentist did shave them down and I was a little concerned because the initial dentist didn't think it was a good idea. Is it possible it could have weakened the crowns? Would I feel any immediate if she had shaved them down too far? I just can't get them replaced due to the outrageous cost. Dr M: Although crowns can be adjusted, if they are adjusted too much, they can become too thin and then fracture. If the crowns are porcelain fused to metal, you can also expose the metal layer, which might be unaesthetic in certain cases. MattKW: If they were too high 2 years ago, you wouldn't've taken this long to notice the discrepancy. If you grind, then maybe ask for a simple hard acrylic splint to even out the pressure and give your teeth a bit of a rest.

How soon does the first molar need filling

kaydawg: Decay on first molar. NHS dentist told me it didn't need filling and it could remineralize. Private dentist told me it had permeated the enamel and needed filling. What's your opinion? And, if it has gotten into the dentin, how long can i leave it before it gets to the pulp? I need about 3 months to save up some money before I can afford a filling. Dr M: Needs a filling. Did go through the enamel into the dentine. Do the filling as soon as possible. MattKW: There is a rating system for such decay (attached). You would be ICDAS 3. At this point it is possible to remineralise but ONLY if you have excellent diet and oral hygiene. I see that you have had other fillings in adjacent teeth, so I am guessing that you are a medium-high risk patient, and I would fill this tooth.

Constant pain after hygienist

bobbybly: I have constant pain since visiting a hygienist this time last year. It hurts on the back of my lower front teeth at the gum line. It is especially bad when : 1. I eat spicy food 2. I eat anything with vinegar 3. I am exercising 4. I touch this area with a toothbrush I have had xrays and they say pulps are regressed and there are pulp stones in these teeth, but no treatment is necessary? Some dental trauma to one of the teeth, but again no treatment proposed. Have visited periodontiset endodontist, general dentist, maxillofacial surgeon. Taking painkillers from the doctor instead but they wear off and pain comes back. Any advice? Dr M: Any photos of your teeth or x-rays that you could share? Need more information bobbybly: Before After bobbybly: X ray and close up bobbybly: Any idea on this? Dr M: Although nothing is obvious, the sensitivity might be due to enamel loss on your teeth. Enamel loss on your teeth, exposes the dentin layer, which is prone to sensitivity. The reason why it might be more obvious after your visit to the hygienist, is that she might have cleaned off a layer of calculus, which covered the tooth, providing some relief to the sensitivity. This calculus layer had to be removed unfortunately, otherwise you sit with a host of other issues. Best option would be to use a sensitivity toothpaste like Sensodyne. Rub it on the teeth after brushing and leave it on. It won't take it away completely, but should make it manageable. You can brush with it as well. bobbybly: Thanks this is helpful. I have tried all of the above but still in constant pain day and night. It is especially bad when I exercise or touch the area. I have also been on amitryptiline from the GP for the pain which is quite severe at times, but this has not sorted it either. Are there any other options One other question: I can't actually see any calculus on the back of the lower front teeth in the before photos? Can you? I can see some orangey stuff on the front but nothing on the back? What does calculus actually look like? Many thanks! Dr M: The photos are not taken at the correct angle in order to see calculus, but you can google photos. MattKW: Your photos reveal "cupping" erosion of tooth enamel, usually seen in people who have acidic foods or drinks , e.g. soft drinks, sports drinks, citrus fruits, wine, vinegar (acetic acid). While it is common to have sensitive teeth after a cleaning, it should settle within a few days, esp with use of desensitising toothpaste. However, if you have an acidic diet, it will give you hell. I remember the terrible pain I had after a day of wine-tasting when I followed up with salt-and-vinegar chips (crisps). Go back to plain water or milk for a couple of weeks and keep using desensitising toothpaste. Spit it out but don't rinse.

Bone showing through inner gum after extraction.

Bunraku: Hi I got a back lower left Molar extracted 10 days ago. 5 days after i had to go to dentist again and get a dressing for a dry socket. I then went back another couple of days later as still sore and was advised there was pus. So again it was cleaned and dressed and i am now on Amoxicillin. I'd say that the pain from the dry socket just starting to ease although i have had a sore throat since the initial extraction and still do. However what i am more concerned about is the piece of bone showing through my gum near the extraction. It's quite sharp when felt with my tongue and is probably the part that is still sore and doesn't feel as if my gum has healed over any of it at all.. Will my gum eventually grow over this piece of bone? I have attached a pic. Sorry for quality. Thanks Dr M: If it hurts, go back to your dentist, so that the sharp piece can be trimmed down. MattKW: Yes, happens sometimes as the healing tissue tightens over the sharp bone. The protruding bone can be removed under local anaesthetic, but dentist has to be wary of nearby lingual bone. I'd also suggest a chlorhex mouthwash for 2 weeks and to give up smoking (if you can) as this retards healing.

Can this tooth be saved?

1Lexadental: Sorry, do not have an x-ray. The tooth is on the right side upper jaw second to wisdom tooth, which is absent. The gum is receding and the roots (2) are getting exposed. The tooth does not hurt and is not loose. Is it possible to do a root canal on this tooth and do a filling and bon graft into the receding gum to save the tooth? Dr M: Theoretically yes, but it all depends on the condition of the rest of your mouth as well.

Botched implant?

mikesmith87: I am 34 years old and still had a baby tooth. After a cavity, the dentist decided to put in an implant. My baby tooth was very small, so the replacement had to be very small too. The dentist first ordered an implant, and it was too big. Then he ordered another one, and it ended up like this: the screw is visible because it is too big and there was very little space left for the filling. Also, I see some holes and cracks, but I don't know what they are. Can you tell me if you think the work is done correctly? Could a smaller screw have been used that would be completely covered by the implant? Thank you. Dr M: The size of the crown is determined by the available space between the adjacent teeth as well as the space available from the opposing tooth. Unfortunately, based on the type of implant placed, bone vs tissue level, it only allows for a very shallow access opening in certain cases. This does not mean anything was done incorrectly. Your anatomy determines the type of implant that can be placed. You will just need to keep an eye on the filling. If it is a very thin layer, there is a high chance that it could wear down, and then would need replacement over time.

Osteosclerosis??

bg2213: Thoughts on this? Went to dentist today, found this on x-ray, got a CT scan. I've had very minimal pain on top of this tooth when chewing, but am having a little bit of the tooth poke at the gum. Does not hurt at that site. I have f/u after radiologists reviews the CT, but I am stressing a lot. Any thoughts on what this could be? This is the tooth where I have a filling (I think - it has been like 2.5 years), and maybe I have some grinding recession so not sure if that contributes at all to this. Thanks! Dr M: Could be condensing osteitis. This is often attributed to cases where the patient is a bruxer, and there is constant inflammation of the associated root's ligament. Usually treatment would only be indicated if the tooth question is symptomatic. Otherwise we only observe for now. I would rule out any other malignancies by also suggesting a CBCT scan of the area. bg2213: Thanks for the reply! Would you lean more towards condensing osteitis vs. osteosclerosis?? Dr M: Probably condensing osteitis, although a CBCT scan would give more information bg2213: Dr M said: Probably condensing osteitis, although a CBCT scan would give more information What is the treatment for that? Dr M: Observation only and watch for any changes in size or the development of symptoms. If the associated tooth becomes painful, most likely a root canal after that bg2213: just to follow up - it was IO

Can you see an infection on this X-ray?

JustAnotherDay3377: Had a couple of deep fillings 2 weeks ago and l've been in excruciating pain, I had to go to an emergency dentist who did this x-ray and said it was infected, got given antibiotics and has not helped at all. Could I have an irritated nerve ? The pain comes on suddenly I take paracetamol or ibuprofen the pain lasts about an hour and then it's like l've never even had toothache at all and I can be fine for 6 - 8 hours then it comes back. The pain is excruciating when it comes on and radiates to my jaw, eye and head and drinking anything cold makes it worse hot is fine. Dr M: It does look like the back most upper tooth on the x-ray has a large cavity, without any filling. Could be the cause of the pain.

Filled tooth still hurts for over a year

smiley185: I had a back tooth filled November 2022 and the visit was horrendous. The dentist rushed me through, said to the assistant this will only take 5 minutes make sure the next patient is ready and was discussing the next patient and not concentrating on my issue. It hurt when she started and she said oh yeah I forgot to give it time to numb. After she rushed the filling she decided to clean some of my teeth. The pain was too much for me so I had multiple needles to try and numb it, I lost count of how many injections, but I was still feeling pain. Eventually she stopped and told me to book in with the hygienist. Long story short, I've been back multiple times since and saw other dentists at that practice and every time I've said that tooth is still hurting. One dentist said it must be the tooth behind it which we haven't filled yet, see how it goes after that. It still hurt and I told them once again. They put some sort of sticky coating on my tooth to supposedly make it less sensitive. It still hurt. I told them I do not want to lose this tooth and they said no you won't lose it. Eventually they re-did the filling. It still hurt and I told them again. From here on I was told it's a sensitive tooth and to put sensitive toothpaste on it and leave it on. I told them again and again, it's still hurting. I had the sticky coating stuff put on a few times and told to keep putting sensitive toothpaste on it. So now it's April 2024 and I'm in severe pain. For the first time they x-rayed it and told me I will need either root canal or extraction. This has really upset me. Why didn't they take it seriously from the beginning? Is it standard to tell a patient with toothache to put sensitive toothpaste on it? Why wouldn't they have told me previously that my tooth could die, since they are now saying they knew this could happen. Instead they never said a word, never did an xray and just said it's a sensitive tooth. johnnybegood2024: Hello I am a patient as well and I have a similar problem. I got a big filling removed and redone, and I have been having issues ever since. My tooth is not too painful, but my general health has been affected. I started having sleep issues, mood issues, fatigue, digestive issues, etc. The Dr here said to go get a root canal. I think you will feel better after. You can do the newer type called gentle wave. I heard that is good.

Temporary/Flipper that ended up being used for 15 years.

TommyS: I will keep this short because there are so many problems to deal with here I'm really focused on one particular thing for the moment. 15 years ago my oldest brother knocked out 2 teeth in the front and my parents helped me get them pulled and then a flipper put in. That was great for a while but over the years I haven't taken care of things at all and now I've bought all of the supplies to create my own flipper until I can get some money together to have proper work done... Now that the other teeth near it have broken off at the gum line I'm not sure how to set the flipper teeth since they would almost have to sit in front of my gums instead of in line with where the teeth are supposed to be. The current flipper I have from 15 years ago sits right in line with where the rest of the teeth should be since those 2 spots were pulled out. Can you just set the new one right in front of the gums?

New decay or a badly done tooth?

madzianta: I took my 5-year-old son to the dentist because he had decay in one of his teeth. A filling was done, but a few days ago, while brushing, I noticed that it looks strange. Does it seem like the filling was done poorly, or does it appear to be new decay? (One month has passed since the visit; it seems like too short a time for a new cavity to develop, doesn't it?) The first picture shows a filling now, while the second one depicts a tooth before the filling is placed, a month ago. Dr M: Looks like the filling came out. Take him back to the dentist.

Tongue issue or nothing?

teodorovkristian: Hey everyone, Im 33 years old, I've recently noticed a change in the side of my tongue that resembles a small depression or indentation. As a former smoker, I'm concerned about what this could mean. Currently, I don't experience any pain, but I'm wondering if anyone has any insights or ideas about what this might be. I've included some photos with annotations pointing out the area in question. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! Dr M: The lateral border of the tongue is considered a high risk area. Although it doesn't seem like anything sinister, the photos is not clear enough. The best would be to see your dentist for a consult. If the area seems red, or white, they might refer you for a biopsy.

How many irreversible cavities do you see here?

kaydawg: Dr M: What do you mean irreversible? On the bite-wing provided, although the quality is not great, it appears like your lower first molar has a cavity that needs to be filled. Some of the other fillings look like they might have some secondary decay, but can't be certain, due to the quality of the x-ray. kaydawg: Dr M said: What do you mean irreversible? On the bite-wing provided, although the quality is not great, it appears like your lower first molar has a cavity that needs to be filled. Some of the other fillings look like they might have some secondary decay, but can't be certain, due to the quality of the x-ray. Sorry, should've been clearer. I've had decay on teeth before that hasn't fully permeated the enamel, and I was told it didnt necessarily need filling. I can definitely see the cavity on LL6. Possible secondary decay on LL7 and LL5. Can you see anything else? Dr M: Possible occlusal caries on UL6 and minor cavity distal on UL5 that has not penetrated through enamel. Cavities not through enamel has the potential to remineralize and doesn't necessitate a filling

Problems After Deep Filling

johnnybegood2024: Hello I had an old, big filling removed and replaced on #2. I can add an X-ray if necessary (before procedure). There was a small crack in the tooth as well which was fixed. The tooth was reinforced with ribbond. We chose this option because the dentist said an onlay would be about $1800 while this other option was half. The dentist literally spent 3 hours on the one tooth. He drilled and then reconstructed it. That same night, I felt a since of anxiety, adrenaline, and heart palpitations which caused sleeping issues. It is now on week three and those symptoms have not gone away. The tooth is achy to heat mainly. Pain is 3 out of 10. Can anyone give me some insight as to what's going on? Is there perhaps a bad allergy? Maybe just too much work? Dying tooth? All of the above? The Dr is basically saying watch and wait. However, I've been unable to work due to sleep issues. It's not that I'm in pain, it's that I keep getting these adrenaline and/or cortisol spikes ever since I had that tooth worked on. It's really bizarre and I had to do an EKG just to be sure I wasn't having heart issues. Please, any advice Dr M: Can you perhaps attach the x-ray of the tooth in question? johnnybegood2024: Hello Here is a bite x-ray for #2. It was the top right second molar. The first one should be #2 Dr M: It looks like you have a very deep filling, close to the nerve or pulpal horn, of the top molar. In cases like this, I have seen that the pain, or rather sensitivity, lasts for a long time, since the filling is causing chronic irritation of the pulp. Gradually this pain might becoming more severe and spontaneous and then lead to pulp death, which would be an indication for a root canal treatment. In such a case, you can either a) Leave it , b) Replace the resin filling with a temporary Kalzinol filling, which has sedative properties and observe for improvement. There is a risk of pulp exposure when removing the old resin filling and then c) initiate a root canal treatment immediately. johnnybegood2024: Dr M said: It looks like you have a very deep filling, close to the nerve or pulpal horn, of the top molar. In cases like this, I have seen that the pain, or rather sensitivity, lasts for a long time, since the filling is causing chronic irritation of the pulp. Gradually this pain might becoming more severe and spontaneous and then lead to pulp death, which would be an indication for a root canal treatment. In such a case, you can either a) Leave it , b) Replace the resin filling with a temporary Kalzinol filling, which has sedative properties and observe for improvement. There is a risk of pulp exposure when removing the old resin filling and then c) initiate a root canal treatment immediately. Hello Thank you for taking a look at this. But what I don't understand is why I feel so off. Yes the tooth aches, but my sleep and mood are actually being affected. I don't wake up with pain, it's just this super off feeling I've had ever since the work. It was three hours worth of work. I've never had that happen. Is it possible I am in a state of inflammation? Could I be reacting to the materials used (ribbond)? The Dr said watch and wait but it's been a month and I feel super off. Dr M: If you have a filling that affects the nerve, that ache can definitely affect your emotional state as well. I would go back to the dentist for a root canal. johnnybegood2024: Dr M said: If you have a filling that affects the nerve, that ache can definitely affect your emotional state as well. I would go back to the dentist for a root canal. Thanks. I was thinking the same thing. How long should I give it? Another month or so? Dr M: Depends on the level of pain or discomfort you are in. If not too bad, you can wait a month. johnnybegood2024: Dr M said: Depends on the level of pain or discomfort you are in. If not too bad, you can wait a month. Hello The tooth ache after the deep removal and replacement has slowly been getting better. I added some supplements to help with nerve repair and inflammation. What I'm wondering about is a possible allergy or sensitivity to the materials. The Dr use ribond along with composite. As mentioned, this was a huge filling he removed and replaced. He spent 3 hours on it! After the dental work, I now have chronic dry mouth and allergic shiners. Is it possible the ribbond fibers or composite are causing these things? This whole situation has just been bizarre and I've never had any issues getting dental work before. Thanks! Dr M: Even though it is possible, it is extremely rare to be allergic to the material. The dry mouth might be unrelated. Are you on any chronic asthma or blood pressure medication? johnnybegood2024: Dr M said: Even though it is possible, it is extremely rare to be allergic to the material. The dry mouth might be unrelated. Are you on any chronic asthma or blood pressure medication? I see...nope, not on any meds. That's what's so weird about this whole situation -- I never had any issues going to the dentist for cleanings and fillings. However, after this filling removal and "fiber reinforced filling", all hell broke loose. It just blows my mind. But also it's important to note that I've never had ribbond fibers before. Perhaps that's the issue and not the composite? Dr M: If you are indeed allergic, you will have to go for an allergen test. johnnybegood2024: Dr M said: If you are indeed allergic, you will have to go for an allergen test. How would I know for sure if I am allergic to dental materials? Would there be obvious signs and symptoms? Thank you

Blood pressure tablets and mouth pain

zorba25: My husband has been having mouth pain since August last year which we thought was triggered by starting running for training for a race along with a piece of enamel filler that came out. However he had also started taking medication for high blood pressure 2-3mths earlier. He is still struggling but has read where some calcium based medication can be linked to causing tooth pain. Has anyone come across this or aware of anything related?

Bad Tooth Ache

HJWStp: Bad Tooth Ache I'm 18 and I have had bad tooth ache for 72 hours now. The pain is worse in my upper right first molar but sometimes in the molar below it. The pain radiates a lot. They are both heavily filled and the bottom one was filled 6 months ago and has been very sensitive since. The top one has a chip on the back of it and has for over a year. The dentist says I need to get root canal treatment but doesn't know which tooth as both are sensitive (though the bottom is more sensitive) and neither feel painful when tapped. I'm currently on amoxicillin. Do I definitely need root canal? Which tooth is it likely to be? Would a crown be necessary? Sorry I just don't really trust what my dentist says. Dr M: It sounds like you might need one based on the symptoms you are describing. Do you perhaps have any x-rays you could share, since that will allow us to give a more detailed opinion? To determine if a crown is required, you need to have a look at the amount of sound tooth structure that is left. I, however, tell most of my patient to crown the tooth after a certain period, if the tooth has no symptoms and the root canal has been successful, based on a follow-up x-ray.

Daily pulsating pain in mouth dentist cant work out what it is

zorba25: Hope someone can help. My Husband is suffering with daily mouth pain. It started after starting jogging and keeping fit ready for a 10k run. Initially a bit of enamel peg came out from bottom front tooth that dentist had put in during lockdown. No pain or issues at this point so took first appointment which was 2 months away. Carried on jogging a few times but then started to get mouth pain. Eventually got in to dentist who thought initially the front tooth and rebooked back in a further 2 months for start of root canal. Pain got worse got emergency appointment dentist drilled into tooth and patched up some way. Got worse again had to get another emergency appointment this time did xray can only see a slight change on gum/tooth aside of one drilled into. Dentist doesn’t think that is the cause put on antibiotics but not solved anything just made hubby feel worse. Now he is getting pretty down with the constant pain and tiredness with no obvious solution. The pain /discomfort keeps moving now from front tooth to further round jaw and sometimes on top and into throat. Always left side. Anyone had anything similar with an outcome? He had something which seemed similar during lockdown and there was never an outcome he ended up in pain for 18mths back then and it somehow eventually eased. He can’t face another 18 mths of pain again! Dr M: Do you have x-rays that you can share? Need more information to give an opinion zorba25: Unfortunately we don’t. The dentist said she noticed that a tooth that had what looked like slight infection or something on previous xray re lockdown seemed to have a bit more or changed slightly on the current xray. She didn’t think it would be that causing it though. Starting to think its a nerve or something. Could running dislodge or trigger an issue as it seems to have triggered from then. Dr M: What does slight infection mean? Unfortunately more information is needed here in order to give an informed opinion. I have had patients with sinus related problems, that had referred pain to their teeth, that was exacerbated when they performed physical exercise. I still think a recent x-ray is need to provide more information. Doesn't help to speculate. zorba25: Thank you he is due back to the dentist mid November so I’ll see if we can get a photo of the xray. Many thanks zorba25: Hubby still in pain with mouth. Since last on here he had a front bottom tooth out and a bridge fitted but this hasn’t solved the issue. He is still in pain the dentist couldn’t find anything and referred him to the maxiofacial dept at the hospital he eventually got a cancellation in January and has since been waiting on a cone scan which his appointment is in a couple of weeks but we are not convinced it will show anything. He then has to wait another month for his appointment to go back to see the consultant who is not convinced that it relates to facial issues. So 9 months on we are still no closer to solving the issue and stuck in between with Dentist saying facial and facial saying must be dental. He has been on carmazapine which didn’t work and now been on duxlotine for 7 weeks but no sign of relief at present plus side effects are pretty much outweighing any benefit that may occur. He is on high blood pressure medication and has read about calcium versions of this could be connected to tooth pain but no one seems to be interested in this. The tooth /mouth pain started afound 3 months after starting the blood pressure tablets. We have constantly thought it was starting running that triggered it but now we are wondering. We are so much at s loss with things we are just questioning everything.

Gum recession advice

Jerrychuwanda: Hi folks, I feel like the highlighted area is seeing some further recession, hoping to get some opinions on whether I'm being overly paranoid,. And if I'm not; what could be causing it and how concerned I should be. Appointment booked with dentist but I'm UK, on NHS so can't get in until July Some background, 32 and did have issues with gum recession in the past, but have been given all clear from various dentists in recent years saying that there are no signs of any gum disease and my pocket depths are fine, and apart from what's pictured I haven't seen any changes in my gums in 2 years. I'm pretty strict with my oral hygiene, using soft bristle brushes twice a day, flossing with my evening brush and mouth washing with my morning brush, no bleeding or swelling. I am fairly paranoid about my gum health, which is why I have 2 year old comparison photos handy. Grateful for any advice, thanks in advance! Dr M: Recession is also due to other factors, not only gum disease. Are you a smoker? Do you have any other systemic health issues? It sounds like you have the soft brushing under control. Some people, however, have what we call a thin gingival bio-type. They are more prone to developing these black triangles between teeth, even if the underlying bone is healthy and pocket depths are normal. These cases are sometimes treated with gingival grafts, in order to cover these spaces. You can always go and see a periodontist for a consult, who can give more helpful advice. Don't know what the waiting period is to see such a specialist in the UK?

New crowns have caused pain for over a year now

WindSkurai: I am in need of advice on what should I do... Over the last two years I had some old silver fillings converted into crowns by my dentist's suggestion. I did not have any pain in my teeth at the time for years. The suggestion came due to the silver was starting to form gaps between their seal in the surface of the tooth. In total I had: Crowns on 32, 31, 1, 2, 3. Root canals on 32, 31 and 3 (after crowns were completed due to lingering pain). The crowns were done by location in four separate procedures: 1 and 2. 31 and 32 3 And then a replacement for 2 due to heavy bleeding. In between procedure 2 and 3 I had persistent pain through the day which resulted in 3 root canals. The root canals were in 2, 31 and 32. My endodontist has been fantastic. His work is always smooth, never hurts and he often tells me just how text book perfect my root system is and that its a pleasure to work on. He took xrays of my top and bottom right before leaving to confirm there are no infections in any of the sides remaining teeth. After procedure 4 I was told that I would need a night guard to protect the new crowns from grinding they suspected was happening due to I'd developed a loud click in my jaw which I experienced through each day and generally one and only one time in the morning. So after insurance said they would cover it I got the night guard which I have wore every night now for 2 months. Since the work, I have experienced daily pain over the last two years because of this work. I have flossed a large piece of cement out from between 1 and 2 which thankfully relieved a lot of the pressure and sensitivity I was experiencing in 1. The bottom teeth 31 and 32 feel fine in the morning even though my TMJ click is fairly persistent with one clear click at this point. By evening though 31 and 32 are very sore. They feel as if I have chewing gum wrapped around them and are painful to touch in a dull way. They also feel slippery if I try to grind on them with eating or without. Almost like they are too smooth from all the adjustments that were done. And lastly, over the last month with the bite guard I have started to feel as if my bite is changing heavily on that side. My 6 and 7 teeth are definitely further away from my lower row of teeth and very difficult to touch should I try on purpose, but I do feel my lower teeth clashing into my upper teeth on accident at times now too. Which feels really painful and I worry they'll fall out from the new pressure that 6 and 7 seem to be having. I have even started chewing more on the left trying to relieve the issues, but with no luck. What should I do? I have a meeting scheduled with my dentist this week to discuss new ideas as I've lost a lot of faith that they can complete this work and that I will likely need all new crowns and bite guard... I'm assuming they will not re-imburse me for the thousands I spent on the work no matter how poorly the result ended up. I'm tired of being in pain. I would like to be able to chew on lettuce without feeling discomfort. Please help me find a way to fix this! Thank you in advance.

Can anyone tell me if those are cavities, I'm really concerned

MarkoLukic: Here is the image: https://ibb.co/bXQg2Cc Dr M: No it does not look like cavities. It does look like you have some tooth wear. smithwilfer: No, consult a dentist MattKW: Not cavities. Might be some tooth wear but a poor quality image and the lip seems to be in the way. How old are you? paulwilfer: No, its not cavities, rather you should consult the dentist first, before it may lead to a big problem for you.

Can anyone tell me if this is a cavity thanks

Joyp-: Dr M: Won't be able to say without an x-ray and clinical examination. Go see your dentist smithwilfer: Consult dentist .

SQUEEZING MY TEETH

Jaco: I was squeezing mu upper and lower back teeth really hard in hopes of gettinng a good jawline. I have been doing this for about 5 years now and i feel like my lower teeth went inward. Is that possible? Thank you for your reply. Dr M: Doubt if it is related, since you would need to apply pressure for more than 10 hours a day. Most likely you have a previously undiagnosed orthodontic issues Jaco: Dr M said: Doubt if it is related, since you would need to apply pressure for more than 10 hours a day. Most likely you have a previously undiagnosed orthodontic issues Can I provide a picture? Dr M: sure Jaco: Dr M said: sure Dr M: Can't really see any tilting of the lowers on this photo. The best option would be to see a dentist, in person, so that your bite can be evaluated.

Mystery external resorption in multiple teeth

confusedandscared: I went to a dentist for extreme tooth pain/sensitivity in several molars. I get mild, brief pain when any food or drink touches the area between those teeth, and if the food or drink is hot, cold, or extremely sweet, forget it--the pain will almost bring me to tears (though it lasts only a few seconds). This pain/sensitivity started about 6 months ago and only got worse. I'm 24 years old and female. I don't smoke or drink. I floss daily and brush 2x/day for a while now. The doctor performed the cold test, and I had sharp pain, lasting about 3 seconds. He looked at my X-rays and found that I had signs of external resorption in 3 molars. (Although almost all of my teeth have developed similar sensitivity to lesser degrees. He only took X-rays of the ones I said were hurting the most.) He referred me to an endodontist that I will be seeing in 2 days. After googling what external resorption means, I'm freaking out. Most sources are saying that in the majority of cases, the teeth will need to be extracted, which is alarming since all of my teeth have developed the same sensitivity/pain to varying degrees. My dentist couldn't answer why the resorption occurred and said it could be idiopathic. Does anyone have any theories? How do I prevent further resorption? I've never had trauma. I did braces from about 2013-2015 and Smile Direct Club invisible aligners from about 2017-2019. I've been wearing my retainers nightly since completing my last alignment treatment. Throughout the day, my teeth will shift slightly and putting on the retainers at night will be a bit tight/painful. I always thought this wasn't normal but my dentist/ortho said it was and some people just have faster relapse speeds than others. As of about a month, I also developed some other symptoms I believe may be related like occasional, mild ear and jaw pain (ears will feel mildly painful pressure, jaw is more of an ache and stiffness. I'll have the urge to open wide and stretch it out) and random, brief numbness or pain in my hands and feet 10-20 times a day. Both the facial pain and bodily numbness occur on both sides of my body, but more on the left, which is also where I experience more dental pain. Please help, I'm really at a loss.

Question about dental visit.

B747Man: Hello, so I am long overdue for a visit to the dentist due to certain sensitivities I have which make it hard for me to go. Unfortunately, I might need some work done, as I have not been the best at taking care of them. The main concern I have, is that I have a tendency to gag a lot when they are working inside my mouth, and I'm not sure how bad that would be if they are in the middle of a delicate part of a procedure like a root canal. Obviously, it would be best if I could be put under anesthesia, but with me having basic insurance under Medi-Cal I don't think that is possible. So I'm sure they are used to it, but how much of a problem is it for them if I can't help but gag, which in turn will make my mouth move? Especially when doing something like a root canal. Thanks

Dentist told me I need 19 CROWNS

Crick74: Four months ago I had my teeth cleaned as I do every six months. They told me that I needed one root canal / crown on a front tooth and other than that, ONE MINOR CAVITY. I just had the appointment to fix the root canal and crown and at the appointment I asked about when I needed to have the one minor cavity done. The dentist started acting very strange , at least I thought so, and he told me that my entire mouth basically needs reconstruction. He said that I need full set of crowns top and bottom. 19 crowns to be exact. $20,000 of dental work. And he said that I MUST do it in only TWO trips . One trip to do the bottom and one trip to do the top. My question is this….. 1. How does someone go from needing one minor cavity filled four months ago to needing 19 crowns ? 2. I obviously can’t afford $20k in dental. He said this is thinking long term to avoid dentures , which I guess I understand and I know it would look much better. But I don’t understand how I only needed one minor cavity done four months ago. 3. If this is indeed something that must be done, is it reasonable to consider going to Turkey to have it done for $3500? Thank you very much! Justin Brause: Get a second opinion.

Would a dentist make an upper partial for you even though the reality is there needs to be much more work done?

TommyS: I'm curious if it's possible to get a practice to make a partial just to have some form of (normality) when really. There needs to be extractions and broken teeth and all sorts of other problems taken care of to handle the situation properly? Simply because of not having dental insurance and just need something to at least help for now. Thank you Dr M: Yes. I often try and help patients this way, as long as they understand that there is more work to attend to, and the consequences of leaving the problems unattended. TommyS: Dr M said: Yes. I often try and help patients this way, as long as they understand that there is more work to attend to, and the consequences of leaving the problems unattended. Thank you so much for the response. I was pretty sure that question would turn people off and I'd get nothing back. Also, that is helpful news to read.

4 days after deep filling have pain when drinking and slight swollen cheek

cilikekko: Dear all. I have done a tooth filling 4 days ago and been told by the doctor it was quite close to the nerve but not too close to have root canals done. I have noticed that I am very sensitive when I drink liquids even if not too cold. I have to drink or eat warm water/food or I get a quite strong pain from the tooth filled. I have also noticed my left cheek is slightly swollen. Even taking ibuprofen 200mg X2 tablet the tooth is still very sensitive to cold air or drinks. Should I go back to the doctor? Any advice? Many thanks Dr M: I would go back for a follow-up. There is a chance that the filling was too close to the nerve and unfortunately it sounds like you might have an irreversible pulpitis on the tooth at this stage, which is an indication for a root canal treatment. cilikekko: I went back to a check up and the doctor took another x-ray which was the same as the one done before leaving the practice after the filling. No change . She applied a gel to improve the sensitivity on the tooth and so far after 2 days I'm noticing improved sensitivity to cold. She said to wait a week and if I still have pain to go ahead with root canals done. Also was prescribed the Colgate duraphat 5000ppm to use daily as my tooth paste. Do you think the fact that I am less sensitive now could hopefully mean it was a pulpitis who is healing and finger crossed I won't need a root canal? Dr M: We would need to wait and see. If the pain returns, then unfortunately a root canal is indicated.

What is it

Craig804: A few days ago I was driving and I felt a swelling in my mouth with a bump. A small white bump. It did not hurt. A couple of days later I guess as I was bothering it, it started to hurt. I also noticed that the white spot had grown more flat and larger. Prior to this I did have some pain under the white jaw. I do have periodontal disease but wanted to know if it is related to an abscess or if it is a canker sore.

Help needed

anonymous4208: Hi all, I am in need of some advice. I haven't been to see a dentist in about 15 years. Ever since my teenage years I've struggled with tooth decay. I had several bad experiences with multiple dentists and made the poor decision to give up on my teeth all together. Obviously that was a dumb decision and here I am 15 or so years later with a mouth (not so full) of rotten teeth. I might have 4 teeth left at this point that are in ok shape. What started out as a typical fear most people have has turned into what feels like a lead anchor around my neck. I haven't smiled for a picture in over 10 years. My self confidence is nonexistent. Wondering whether this is the time my body can't fight off the infection fills me with fear. I have a family that loves me and it kills me to know that I can't be my best for them. It seems like such an easy step to just go see a dentist but I can't bring myself to face the disgust and ridicule. Obviously I know most dentists are professional and at the end of the day they just want to help but I can't fight off the shame and fear. It feels like even if I started today it's a battle that's already been lost. I guess I'm just looking to hear from anyone who has dealt with similar and conquered it. What helped you to finally take the steps needed to fix things? How did you deal with the embarrassment? Are there any resources for people like us? Thanks, Dr M: Best option would be to book a consult with the dentist. But a consult only. Discuss your fears and worries. If you are scared of the actual treatment, ask about possible sedation methods to relieve your anxiety during the treatment. Most of the times dentist try and accommodate scared and anxious patients.

Correct procedure and protocol??

Atty 9: Hi i was wanting some advice if possible. A dental therapist i know has given my friend some antibiotics as they had toothache away from the practice they work at and not by appointment. They didn't check for their medical history, didn't see them face to face or over the phone even and didn't ask about any allergies. I was under the impression that only dentists can prescribe these drugs. They have now had to be seen to have an extraction anyway at a different surgery to the one the therapist works at. Would this be classed as a disciplinary issue for the therapist as i'm told this isn't the first time she has done it just taking antibiotics from work to give to people. Morally i am struggling with what to do here as someone could end up in serious trouble. Dr M: Dental therapist can prescribe antibiotics if indicated. Usually it is only done when there has been a consult or if the patient is an existing patient. It is unethical to prescribe any medicine to any patient you have not seen before. Brause: Some reading by the American Association of Endodontists: Antibiotics: A Risky Prescription - American Association of Endodontists The adverse effects of overusing and misusing antibiotics are highly publicized in the health professional literature, most recently in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 2 million people in... www.aae.org Atty 9: Dr M said: Dental therapist can prescribe antibiotics if indicated. Usually it is only done when there has been a consult or if the patient is an existing patient. It is unethical to prescribe any medicine to any patient you have not seen before. Thanks for the reply, the antibiotics were Amoxicillin so i don't think a Therapist can issue these. There is also the ethical issue that these have been taken from the practice without been recorded or patient issued and i'm sure the practice manager and the dentist that owns the surgery knows nothing about it that's why morally i don't want to get them into trouble if it is just the one bad egg doing this. What advise would you give me to report this? Dr M: A therapist can issue Amoxicillin, but not without seeing the patient or recording it. You can send an anonymous email to the practice manager informing them of the issue.

Broken Tooth, Likely Cracked Tooth Syndrome- Does a Root Canal resolve the issue?

DentalNewbie: Hello everyone - newbie here so please forgive me for any silly questions. I’m looking for a better understanding of potential treatments for an issue I’ve had, so hope I am posting in the correct place. Around two years ago, whilst eating breakfast a piece of a lower molar broke off - I’d estimate maybe around 30% of the tooth. I visited my then dentist, who carried out a filling for me. However as time went on, I found I wasn’t really comfortable chewing on that tooth, and eventually any time I chew on hard foods I almost got a sharp or shooting pain, as if hitting a nerve. Not nice at all. I’ve since moved house and moved to a new private dental practice. I asked them to review and he advised that we start with the least invasive treatment, and see how we go from there. X-rays have not shown any visible cracks, and therefore the suggestion was: - new filling (apparently a different material to the first one to see if it helped) -if that fails, try a crown - if that doesn’t fix the pain, do a root canal. So far, the filling didn’t work- the dentist suggesting that there may be a hairline crack that could be flexing when biting down. We’ve now put a permanent crown on, but again it still hurts to chew hard food. I don’t have any pain other than when biting or chewing, but I have noticed sensitivity to hot, cold, and sugary foods. I sometimes feel as if I’m feeling not a pain or an ache, but just a very very light throbbing - perhaps as you would towards the end of gums healing after dental surgery. It’s hard to describe. It’s very costly to keep going through each treatment - Root Canal is the next option- does it sound like a sensible treatment for this particular issue? The dentist has suggested that it essentially removes the nerve and therefore the pain should disappear if a root canal is performed successfully. I’m just slightly worried about drilling through a tooth that’s already lost a piece of itself and been filled and crowned already. One final question- does a root canal have to be done with a rubber dam used? I have a big fear of them. At my first filling with the new dentist for this broken tooth, we had a scary incident where the rubber dam clamp pinged off mid surgery, and something went down my throat which I swallowed and was very uncomfortable as I felt it slide down through the chest The dentist advised me to go to A&E, fearing it could have been the clamp I ingested. X-rays didn’t locate it, so we can only assume it might have been filling or tooth that I swallowed, but I’m obviously worried now after that. I thought the dam was actually there to stop anything going down the throat? Any helpful information on these things would be greatly appreciated. Dr M: Yes, a rubber dam is required, since it prevent you from swallowing any instruments or materials that might be harmful, and also helps to isolate the tooth, to prevent moisture contamination of the root canal system, which might lead to future failure if not done adequately. It is important to note, that although a root canal might remove the nerve, they don't last forever, and if there is indeed a crack, and the crack involves any part of the root of the tooth, the tooth will need to be taken out. My opinion would be to ask for a referral to an endodontist. It might be more expensive, but they have access to 3D CBCT scans, which might increase the chance of spotting a crack in one of the roots, and increase the likelihood of the root canal lasting an extended period. Brause: I have a similar history. Tooth 46 cracked (2nd last on the lower right). Dentist tried to fix it with a filling, but it cracked again. I was referred to an endodontist who did CBCT and X-ray for the periapical diagnosis, and palpation/percussion and cold test for the pulpal diagnosis. The imaging revealed "rarefying osteitis", which is a general term for any infection around the apex. A root canal treatment was performed, which failed from the getgo: my pain never subsided. Reason was most likely a root fracture, which was not visible in the imaging. After 11 weeks of aggressive non-treatment ("waiting"), the tooth was extracted. If the root canal treatment had been successful, I would have needed a crown after a few months as the treated ("dead") tooth would become brittle over time and prone to fracturing. Since tooth 46 is in a strategically important position (taking up a lot of chewing stress), I regret having attempted root canal treatment. Time and money wasted in my opinion. A friend of mine had one of his second molars extracted...and never replaced with an implant. I will have my first molar replaced, though. Expensive.

A few crooked teeth

flamelar: What is wrong with the six front teeth on the lower jaw being crooked and therefore rubbing off the wrong surfaces of the teeth? Do I need braces in this case? What complications can there be? Dr M: It sounds like you have crowding as well as an occlusal problem. The best option would be to see an orthodontist for a consult. Braces might not be necessary, but maybe you are looking at some sort of aligner therapy.

New Crown Fell Out

Danube: What would cause a new crown to fall out in one month? Is the dentist to blame? Dr M: Not necessarily. It does sometimes happen. There is a possibility that the cement did not set properly or that you ate hard or sticky foods, too soon after the crown was placed. Go back for recementation.

Is my root canal treatment failed, extraction or root canal again?

neel: After completing 2 root canal treatment visits 2 days ago , now i have pain when I bite food , tap the tooth ,and while eating And my left part of my face hurts me too. What should I do? Extract the tooth or root canal treatment again. I am 18 Please advise Thanks Dr M: Good day I would advise to go back to your dentist. Root canal treatments does sometimes take a while ( month or so ) to settle. It could be however that the filling the dentist placed after completing the treatment is a bit high, causing strain on the ligaments around the tooth and then leading to pain. If that is the case, the occlusion just needs to be adjusted a bit. Best place to start is to back to your dentist. In the mean time you can take any anti-inflammatory meds. flomodental: If you suspect your root canal treatment might not have worked, see a dentist to diagnose the problem. Signs of failure include pain, swelling, pimples, bad taste, or discoloration. Treatment options include root canal retreatment or extraction. If retreatment isn't feasible, extraction might be necessary. Discuss the pros and cons with your dentist. FloMo Dental can provide an examination, review your X-rays, and refer you to qualified specialists within our network based on your needs. Remember, early intervention is key!

I think I accidentally shaved my enamel

Lilly2002: EI was eating and my top tooth scraped the bottom one hard, after that I felt a strange sensation, I have composite in that tooth but it was on the back of the front tooth

Excruciating Toothache and Tricking Nerve Pain with Anticonvulsants

Brause: Anticonvulsants are drugs used for epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and trigeminal neuralgia. But some drugs of this group also work for postoperative pain and even normal toothache. For example, Gabapentin (a second-line anticonvulsant) combined with analgesics (painkillers) may be effective: https://www.healio.com/news/psychiatry/20220819/analgesics-in-combination-with-gabapentin-just-as-effective-as-opioids-for-dental-pain I have had success with a combination of Ibuprofen and Gabapentin for excruciating pain. Then my family doctor suggested I was suffering from non-odontogenic toothache (trigeminal neuralgia) and prescribed Carbamazepine (a first-line anticonvulsant). I don't think I suffer from trigeminal neuralgia (ache is too dull, too localized, and too constant). DISCLAIMER: don't try this at home without consulting your family physician. I am not a doctor. But it appears to work nevertheless, keeps the nerve at bay...until I finally get an appointment.

Back of front right tooth trimmed, feeling emptiness in the area

MagnusMessi: hey, I recently went to a dentist for having white filling in my front right tooth which was chipped. After the filling was done, when I was chewing the food my bottom teeth were slightly hitting back of front teeth, and I have no idea why (maybe the dentist had to apply some white filling in the back of the chipped front tooth as well). Because of this discomfort, I visited the dentist again and they did some trimming at the back of the front right tooth. After the trimming, I am constantly filling some kind of emptiness as if the back of front right tooth is removed or something. This is affecting me mentally as well my sleep. I have mild pain but no other symptoms. I did visit the dentist again, they checked for numbness, I did feel the tooth and at the end they said to give more time so that I can get used to it. But I am not feeling confident about it due to my other health conditions where my mind is has become very sensitive (and this sudden change is difficult for me to bear). I have posted the images here. The back of left front teeth is thicker than the right tooth, so I am sure that back of right front tooth is trimmed more than it should have or it has been completely removed. It would be great to know what can I do to overcome this emptiness feeling. Is it possible to have some kind of filling to make back of right front tooth same as the one on the left? And will I am able to feel normal after getting such treatment? Thank you in advance. Dr M: A lot of times a bit of filling is placed on the back of the tooth to strengthen the filling. If this extra bit, affected your bite, we usually adjust the occlusion until it is even or balanced. The empty feeling that you might be experiencing, might be due to the fact that the occlusion is not perfectly balanced. More adjustment, sometimes even on the adjacent tooth might be required. I would give it time. Most of the time you get used to it. If you start experiencing headaches or if the front tooth becomes sensitive, more adjustment can then be done. MagnusMessi: Thank you very much for reply @Dr M. Apologies I did not get a notification of your reply, so I wasn't aware of it. What you mentioned makes sense. It could be that the filling in the back of front right tooth is either trimmed or is completely removed and as a result the occlusion is imbalanced. I just hope that this is the issue and not any kind of permanent numbness/emptiness. I will visit my dentist again to see if see if they can help. MagnusMessi: Ok, so I just visited my dentist (a senior one and not same as last one) and my analysis about front tooth back trimming was correct. Because of the back trimming, the tooth (as a whole) is now thinner which is the reason why I feel emptiness. I discussed with the doc if it would be possible to add some filling in the back so that I can feel a bit normal like before, however the dentist said that if they try to add the composite/white filling in the back, my bottom teeth may not perfectly sit with my top teeth (I guess this is same as occlusion imbalance?) and so to wait more and get used to it. I understand her concern in going for further treatment, however I really want help in this and it has been 1 month and that feeling of emptiness still exists (and I am sure this will exist going forward). What should I do here? Is there something I can try at home? Should I get a third opinion? Thank you in advance. UPDATE: Forgot to mention that the doctor applied white filling completely in my front right tooth from only the front and not the back, to make tooth a bit heavier and also because it was slightly asymmetrical in size compared to front left tooth. However, this treatment is not improving my feeling of the tooth (it improves the look). Dr M: You can get another opinion if you want. It is a bit difficult to give an exact opinion without physically seeing you. You can either add filling on the back, or adjust the adjacent filling a tiny bit, until it feels "'equal''. MagnusMessi: Again, thank you for your reply @Dr M. I will probably provide it more time and if it continues to affect me mentally, then I will consult a different dentist at a different surgery as both dentists which I have seen are part of the same surgery. MagnusMessi: @Dr M I was just googling connection between teeth and brain fog (as I am suffering from it ever since I had my front right back tooth got trimmed) and I have learnt that there is a connection between them. In my situation could you recommend something to me, so that I can understand why I am having these brain fogs daily? Without extra composite filling in the back, is there any way to simulate of having the filling in the affected tooth (so that I can feel my tooth better)? Dr M: The best would be to see another dentist, so that the filling can either be built up, to achieve balance or the adjacent tooth trimmed down, to achieve balanced occlusion. Unfortunately the only OTHER way is to stop thinking about it. If one becomes obsessed with a dental issue, it remains an issue, even if the problem was solved. The ''brain fog'' that you are experiencing, might be related to another medical issue. MagnusMessi: Again thank you for your reply @Dr M. I am going to visit my dentist soon and see what they can suggest and offer. I really do hope to overcome it as soon as possible. Hopefully it gets resolved on its own. As you suggested I will try to not think about it. MagnusMessi: @Dr M I recently saw a different dentist and they did not agree with building up filling in the back of my front right tooth as they said that it won't help me. They did apply ice-based solution in the back of the tooth to understand the tooth sensitivity and I did feel the cold effect and so the tooth sensitivity is normal. I am in desperate in need of help as I really do not want to live like this where I am having constant brain fogs (as my natural tooth was trimmed). I found some details here: https://www.totalfamilydentalgroup.com/blog/articles/tooth-loss-and-memory-loss/ Is there any other alternative to white/composite filling that can be applied in the back of the tooth? If not, what should I do? Thank you in advance.

After Extraction

JenM: I had a cracked tooth and the dentist said it would need to be removed. He took the tooth out ( bottom left molar ) but now I can't get my denture back in ( top ) as the tooth next to the extraction site has raised up and quite painful. I would not be able to bite down on it even i got my teeth in. Taking paracetamol every 4 hours. It has been a week. Do I wait or contact them with my concerns ? Many thanks, Jen Dr M: I think contact them with your concerns. There is a chance that the adjacent tooth also has an issue or was damaged during the extraction, if it was a difficult extraction.

Wilhelm Busch - The Hollow Tooth (1862)

Brause: I translated this story from German. Download pdf here: https://www.audioreviews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Hollow-Tooth-1.pdf Diagnosis by Türp et al. (2014): Typical toothache symptoms described in fiction (here: Wilhelm Busch: "Der hohle Zahn". Münchener Bilderbogen, 1862): 1. pain trigger: chewing (biting down on a "hard lump"); 2. pain duration: long-lasting; 3. Pain intensity: furious, presumably due to irritation of C-fibers, the affected person writhes in pain, it is not possible to continue eating, instead there is an urge to move; 4. cause of pain/local previous damage: presumably caries ("hollow tooth"); 5. other symptoms: swelling of the cheek. The symptoms lead to the suspected diagnosis of "pulp necrosis with progressing apical periodontitis or apical abscess".

Spot the difference!

Jo90: I have an X--Ray from 12 months ago, and one from today (attached). I would appreciate an expert opinion as to whether anything has changed and whether any procedures are necessary. Thank you. Dr M: It looks like your second molar on the left has a peri-apical infection. Can't see clearly if the distal root has a fracture as well? More advanced imaging is required, but at the very least a root canal treatment is indicated on this tooth. Jo90: Thank you for your reply. Are you referring to the tooth next to the wisdom tooth? Is that something that only shows on today's X-ray, or did it show on last year's? I have never had any problems with my teeth apart from once in May 2022 when I suddenly experienced excruciating pain all over the left side of my face. It lasted for about ten days, gradually subsiding. At that time, my dentist couldn't find any cause for it and suggested it could be a result of clenching my teeth in my sleep, although she noted a 4mm pocket in the gum of the lower left tooth next to the wisdom tooth. Since then, I have had no symptoms and no pain, visit my dentist and hygienist regularly, have good oral hygiene and avoid sugary foods. Hence, it was a shock, when she also told me today that I needed root canal work. She said the gum had improved and the tooth was good but there was bacteria in the bone under the tooth that might not even be cured by root canal work. How could this have happened so suddenly; could it be connected to the issue I experienced in May 2022? Is there any alternative treatment? Dr M: It sounds like you might have cracked your tooth. I am referring to the tooth next to the wisdom tooth yes. It does not show on the first x-ray, but only on the second x-ray. It might just be that in the first x-ray it was too soon for any changes to appear. A deep pocket might also be an indication of a root fracture. I would suggest maybe asking for a CBCT, just to rule out any fractures. A CBCT provides a 3D image of the tooth. If there is a root fracture,a root canal will be of no use and then the only option would be to extract the tooth and consider replacement options. The grinding should also be addressed as soon as possible. Brause: I can report a similar case. I had cracked the crown of the right tooth (first molar #46) when biting on an almond in early summer of 2023. After filling, it cracked again...then I got 24/7 toothache. First X-ray taken in early September 2023 (and a CBCT scan, which showed a periapical infection, like yours). Interesting that the X-ray did not show the infection. The CBCT scan did not show a root fracture, but the endodontist suspected one (root fractures have to have a certain width and the CBCT a certain resolution/field of view to image fractures: this is not always possible). An oral surgeon in my family confirmed what I read in the literature: once one has a periapical infection, a root canal is required. If there is a fracture, the tooth is lost. Root canal treatment was initiated in early October, however not completed, as pain did not subside within 11 weeks. The tooth was extracted just before Christmas. The second X-ray was taken just before the extraction. The oral surgeon in my family interpreted a root fracture (though it may be ambiguous). The root clearly shows the infection (black arrow). The oral surgeon who extracted the tooth reported a root fracture. I never had any issues with my teeth before and also have my teeth cleaned every 6 months. The root fracture was assigned to bruxism. I recently received a custom-made nightguard to avoid such fractures in the future. What I learnt...I can quote from a peer reviewed article: "...They [vertical root fractures] are also difficult to diagnose, as they mimic other conditions. Hence, the diagnosis of vertical root fractures requires more of a predictive rather than a definitive identification. A cumulative assessment of the clinical signs and symptoms and the radiographic features may help us reach a definitive diagnosis..." Good luck! P.S. According to the literature I read, a periapical abscess/infection takes 2-10 months to appear radiographically following the pulp infection (inside the root). My dentist spoke of 2-3 months. Brause: Spot the difference (inside the black rectangles). Brause: urbansmiles said: Dear Brause, as per the x-ray, visible changes are not there. however if your tooth has become more sensitive or if there is any pain, do consult and Endodontist. the filling is close to the nerve though. For more info you can visit httExtracted!

New fillings hurt to floss? And chew?

achybreakytooth: Hi! I’ve had some issues bothering me for a little while and would love thoughts on what could be going on. After not visiting the dentist for a long time (thank you dental anxiety), I finally sucked it up and went in. Luckily, dentist is very kind and they are patient with me and my anxiety. But I was diagnosed with 9 cavities. He’s taking care of them in three rounds. My first bout (4 teeth upper right) was 7 weeks ago. These all hurt to floss between and one hurts to chew with. I can use the water floss ok, but string hurts to push through the teeth. I went back to the dentist so he could take a look and he said sensitivity isn’t uncommon and to give it time. My second round (2 upper left, one bottom left) was 3 weeks ago. The top two hurt to floss between, but no real chewing issues Bottom one is fine. Went back to the dentist last week and he adjusted my bite on all the teeth, but no real improvement. The tooth that hurts to chew on may actually be a little more sensitive? Can’t tell if it is or if I’m just hyper focused on it. Also started wearing a night guard about 3 weeks ago, because I realized I’ve been clenching at night again (that dang anxiety again). Anyways, I have my final round in a week but with all these post procedure issues, my anxiety is through the roof! Is this actually normal, or should I be concerned? I’d love to hear feedback or shared experiences!

Tooth (number 13) broke off

Ivory12: A tooth (number 13 ) broke off several months ago. It has not given me any pain or discomfort, but my dentist said it "has to go," (not giving me a deadline). Can anyone here say whether this tooth (in the attachment) "has to go" (be removed)? In order for me to keep my mouth pain-free during the foreseeable future, does the attachment indicate the removal of the tooth? (I'm 80.) honestdoc: If you are not experiencing pain and or swelling, you may delay extraction. I'm not seeing any clear signs of pathology in the bone. Hopefully the retained fragment does not feel sharp or rough. I've seen cases like yours remain symptom free. Make sure you keep the area as clean as possible to minimize disease. Ivory12: Thank you! I'll see "my" dentist again in about three months and find out what he thinks at that point in time. It's interesting (at least to me) that he said the tooth had "to go" but has suggested keeping a lower wisdom tooth for at least twenty years. "No," the retained fragment doesn't feel sharp or rough, thank goodness. I've been "cavity free" for at least ten years, brush four or five times a day, water pik three or four times a day, and floss five or six times a day I forgot to mention in my first post that I don't experience any real eating difficulties in that area. honestdoc: As long as you have no swelling, infection, or inflammation around the area, you should not have any urgent needs there. Ivory12: honestdoc said: As long as you have no swelling, infection, or inflammation around the area, you should not have any urgent needs there. I had the tooth extracted and am now facing another extraction described at: Necessity of extracting my loose tooth Hi, My loose tooth has been loose for c. 15-20 years (I'm 84 yo.), and with my denture in place gives me some pain when chewing on an apple or a piece of pork chop. Several dentists have commented on my apparent bone loss. I've been to a D.M.D. that helped fix a chipped tooth, but I don't... www.dentistry-forums.com

DISSAPOINTED

moon2020: I was recently told by an endodontist that my crown molar is untreatable for a redo root canal. Should I get a second opinion? This crown holds a bridge with 4 additional teeth. What other options do I have Thank you for your input Dr M: Do you have an x-ray that you could share? Difficult to say yes or no without a clearer picture.

Root canal sensitivity to hot

Su G: I had a root canal a year ago but still have pain only with hot things not cold, as well as a tender gum at points around the tooth and some pain on chewing at times. Does this the root canal need redoing? My nhs dentist said sensitivity to cold as well as hot would indicate it needed redoing, he says hot sensitivity alone doesn’t indicate this. Dr M: I would need to see an x-ray to comment. There might be a problem with the root canal, but would need to confirm first with an x-ray.

Does this red spot seam vascular? Its been there for a while but doesnt hurt and isnt a lump or anything.

Cdulin: Dr M: Nothing to worry about. Might just be a small area which is inflamed or more vascular than the adjacent areas.

Stains or damaged tooth enamel

sara1: Recently i realised my teeth got stained very rapidly. Initially i thought it was just stain from food as i started drinking black tea recently. So i tried cleaning it with baking soda but the stain doesn’t go. Then i looked very closely and i feel it is not a stain but maybe caused due to damage i enamel. It looks like many thin scratches. Is it possible to cause such stain due to over brushing or aggressive brushing? I try to keep my teeth clean so i brush for long time. Normally twice a day, but sometimes if food is stuck in teeth after lunch/dinner i brush quickly my front teeth. can this be the reason for such dark stains? Usually i take extra care of my teeth, by regular brushing, using mouth wash and flossing. I also used braces few years back for very slight gaps in between. I am very scared. I had beautiful teeth even 2 months back. Since it’s in front teeth it looks very bad. Is this a normal thing? Is there any way to fix this with out major expensive cosmetic treatments like replacing teeth or crowns? Can whitening or scaling teeth will clean my teeth? Please help with some suggestions.

Implant

Choo YP: looking for good reputation dentist for implant in Tampines

Spot the difference!

Jo90: I have an X--Ray from 12 months ago, and one from today (attached). I would appreciate an expert opinion as to whether anything has changed and whether any procedures are necessary. Thank you.

Removal of root ?

Blonid: Hi all. First time to tje Dentist in 6 yrs. She suggested upper back tooth to hane the root removed as the filling was very close to the nerve. If I have this procedure under the NHS its £70 but they cant guarantee it will work. If I habe it privately its £1000 and they use special microscopic equipment with a higher success rate. I'm totally confused about what to do and there was little information coming forward. I've looked on you tube and it looks gastly. Any suggestions go private or NHS? I don't need it ASAP either. Dr M: Do you have pain on the tooth? Or did she just suggest a root canal based on how close the filling is to the nerve?

Partial Denture Nightmare

mstamis: I would very much like to hear your thoughts on the following situation that I have found myself in. This is the short version: I asked my dentist if she could make me a new partial and she began immediately by taking molds of my teeth (upper and lower) While it was being made, she called me into the office for some additional measurements. On the day of delivery, the partial did not fit. She was so upset because she didn’t know what was going on. She finally came to the conclusion that the lab put a tooth into the partial where I already have a natural tooth in my mouth. She wanted to do an immediate extraction on that tooth. I refused and i still don’t have what i paid for. Love to get your input. Thank you. Dr M: Why would she extract a tooth and not remove the extra tooth on the partial only? Is your natural tooth decayed? You do not extract a tooth if there is nothing wrong with it mstamis: Dr M said: Why would she extract a tooth and not remove the extra tooth on the partial only? Is your natural tooth decayed? You do not extract a tooth if there is nothing wrong with it I don’t know why she didn’t suggest removing the tooth from the partial. I wasn’t aware that could be done. My natural tooth is fine as far as I know but what bothers me is how something like this happens when molds are done of my mouth prior to the creation of the partial. I am completely at a loss. The dentist won’t admit error. Nor will she say the lab is responsible of any wrongdoing. But I know for a fact that I didn’t grow a tooth overnight. The story the dentist and her office manager are telling is that I was aware of a tooth needing to be extracted on day of delivery and are claiming they can prove it by my signature. Clearly, I know I never signed anything of the sort so I asked her to send me a copy of such document. When I reviewed it, I was appalled at the unprofessional behavior of Dr. X. I am attaching a copy of what they say is proof of my knowledge of extraction on day of delivery. Apparently, they think I’m an idiot because they thought the insertion of details in the form of “handwritten“ words, that were obviously entered after my captured signature, which is just as questionable because i wasn’t required to date it, that’s odd. mstamis: They have $400.00 of mine, which I paid them on February 22, 2023. I was supposed to pay the remainder of $400.00 on the day of delivery which never happened because of scenario foretold above. It’s been a year, and I am still without what I paid for. I have lost all confidence in that dentist to be able to make me a proper device. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for me to ask for a refund so I can go get what I need. I’ve asked them several times to return my money but they refuse. Dr M: I would also suggest asking for a refund. If proper consent was not obtained, and if they want to extract a healthy tooth, I would not trust them with the treatment going forward. It is completely possible that she sent the wrong tooth numbers to the lab. Ask for all your records as well as x-rays and obtain a second opinion from another dentist. mstamis: Thank you for your time to help me with this. I will keep you posted as to any news about the outcome. Thanks again.

Observation: How to minimize Toothache Intensity

Brause: Toothache intensity is exacerbated by heat: the hotter the worse. I was wondering why my toothache was more intense in bed, and why it was more tolerable with another couple of pillows added. Obviously, the warmth is increasing the blood flow in the inflamed areas (e.g abscess and pulp) and forces them to expand...but since the surrounding bone material has no give, it hurts (more) through the added pressure. Keeping the head high (additional pillows!!) counters this effect somewhat. But this is well known. I also experienced the increase in pain intensity outside the house: walking through the cold Canadian winter was beneficial, but stopping in a warm store (in my down jacket) had the same benefit as a warm bed: hurting more. Advice: keep cool! Blood pressure increase also results in higher blood circulation. Blood pressure underlies a daily cycle and is lowest in the evening. This explains why toothache is least intense in the evenings: Observation: Correlation of Daily Toothache and Blood Pressure Variations This based on 1/2 year of 24/7 toothache on two different teeth: always relatively quiet at night, crops up upon getting up in the morning, peaks in the late morning, then drops somewhat after lunch and into the evening. This correlates well with daily blood pressure variations...see graph. No... www.dentistry-forums.com I therefore try to keep my blood pressure down/minimize blood flow by: - drinking cold water - relaxing - eating some dark chocolate (may not work but is is nice thing to do) - avoid coffee (black tea appears to be better)...I really feel the adverse effects of coffee - use ice packs (though it hasn't done much for me) What would probably work well but I simply can't force myself doing: - taking a cold shower Hey, and one day, one of these dental professionals will actually silence my pain forever

Observation: Correlation of Daily Toothache and Blood Pressure Variations

Brause: This based on 1/2 year of 24/7 toothache on two different teeth: always relatively quiet at night, crops up upon getting up in the morning, peaks in the late morning, then drops somewhat after lunch and into the evening. This correlates well with daily blood pressure variations...see graph. No surprise as pain is triggered by lack of space: the infection putting pressure on the surrounding gum and bone.. Higher blood pressure means more pressure and therefore more pain.

Need some advice on a couple things

SilverSpoon: Tomorrow I am going in to have my teeth cleaned. It has been roughly 5 years since I have had my teeth cleaned. I will ask about what I have here tomorrow, but right now I just want some other opinions. What would be the easiest, cheapest, and least invasive way to fix these issues? General opinions? Looking to see what people notice here. - When I was a kid, I fell flat on my face and my two front teeth broke out. The adult teeth never grew in properly and my two front teeth have been misaligned for my whole life and this has gotten worse over time. One of them is bent backwards to a large degree. - Some of the bottom teeth are not aligned properly, that, and combined with the existing fault of my front tooth, it is noticeable when I bite down. - How do I go about whitening my teeth, is it something that can be done by the dentist? - It is also possible I have some cavities in my back molars on the bottom row of teeth. Top row. Bottom. Front view.

Dead Tooth/Nerve Damage from impact trauma?

Millenium: Hi all, Sorry about the questions but I've never had any major tooth issues before so don't really know where to go to find out information. I chipped my front tooth on an iron gate a week ago Saturday night, visited the dentist Monday morning, and had edge bonding Wednesday. The chipped front tooth and the tooth right next to it is sort of sensitive and sometimes there is a pain that runs up the center of the front tooth. I keep taking OTC pain meds because the awareness of these teeth is making me very nervous. Is this awareness/pain/sensitivity normal after trauma? If so, how long does this type of thing last? Should I go back to the dentist? My dentist has confirmed root ok with x-ray and has assured me there was no cracked tooth but I am very worried having never been through anything like this before. I'm very scared I'll wake up with a black tooth or something scary. The internet searches I've been doing aren't helpful so would appreciate any insight. EDIT: I have briefly held an ice cube on my 2 front teeth, and the teeth next to each front tooth, and can feel the cold on all four teeth in the same way ie uncomfortable cold and need to remove the ice due to the sensation. After removal of the ice, the repaired front tooth and tooth next to it throbbed longer than the unaffected teeth by minutes but they were sensitive before this 'test' so not sure if this is related or how helpful this 'test' is less than a week after injury. I don't know if this is helpful information but thought I would advise just in case. Thank you very much. Millenium: Update: I have just gotten back from the dentist office (saw another dentist - not mine - he doesn't work on Friday's) and he said he thought my bite was affecting sensitivity so proceeded to correct this with drilling? He said that they don't typically worry about nerve damage unless pain/discomfort persists beyond 2-3 weeks past injury so to take ibuprofen, or similar OTC meds, and come back in 7 days if no changes. Assume this all sounds correct? Thanks for all of your help. Dr M: The information you received does seem correct. The only way to know for sure, is to follow-up on the affected tooth, and take follow-up x-rays as well. Millenium: Dr M said: The information you received does seem correct. The only way to know for sure, is to follow-up on the affected tooth, and take follow-up x-rays as well. Thank you so much.

Locked Jaw After Extraction

BenYorkshire: On Wednesday afternoon my tooth was extracted due to full infection/ decay . It was the shell of the tooth just left with a filling . It was the upper right second from the back. I experienced a heavy bleed and there does appear to be a clot. I've had some bad pain and throbbing ( in teeth close to site too) which i understand is normal. My jaw is still locked and at the moment will only open maybe a few milemetres. I'm taking painkillers and resting it with heat packs. Had a take time off workas sick due to my job working on the phones right now I would no use to anyone. Im trying to stretch the mouth without causing the clot to go. Is there any other recommendations to get my mouth open so I can talk again ( and eat something soft) Many thanks Dr M: Usually after the extraction, limited mouth opening can be normal, due to the injection going in through a muscle on the side of the cheek, which becomes bruised, or even due to the fact of it being a difficult extraction. If the pain and limited opening persists, you will need to go back for a follow-up, to rule out any infection or dry socket.

Infected root canal

Arb25arb25: I’m After a second opinion on a failed root canal and would appreciate some input, thank you Had a root canal carried out some 2 years ago. Didn’t get to the crown stage as after initial root canal work i returned for an X-ray which showed an infection in the root. Discussed options from another root canal to implant. Decided to wait and see .. the tooth cracked and filling applied about 6 months later and has stood up well ever since Two years later after doing nothing the infection is still there, but hasn’t spread. I’ve no pain but sometimes get a pulsing feeling around gum/jaw which is exaggerated when I have a cold or sinus infection. Is it wise for me to get this resolved sooner of later or can I carry on with the infection assuming it doesn’t spread? It appears my body is keeping it under control but I do suffer from fatigue from time to time and wonder if this could be a cause. Part of me think it’s a ticking time bomb and I should just bite the bullet and get an implant . Thoughts would be great… thanks in advance Dr M: There is always a chance that the infected area can enlarge and then lead to a sudden onset of symptoms. That being said, I have had patients with an area on the root for years, without any issues. We make a note of it and monitor it. I would suggest leaving as it is, if it is not spreading or enlarging and just make sure that you see your dentist for regular check-ups ( once every 6 months ) Arb25arb25: That’s great, my dentist said the same and I do have 6 month check ups. Will keep an eye on it. Thanks for your advice , always helpful to get a second opinion Thank you

Composite Resin Veneer Help (with pictures)

NNN: Hello, I got composite resin veneers on my four upper front teeth on the 6th if September 2022. I’ve noticed that everyday that goes by the veneer is wearing off? My dentist is in another country so they can’t see properly what I see. But it doesn’t look like it’s wearing well. Is this normal for veneers to be almost like “brushing off” after only 3 weeks? Or does it just need to be polished again? Please comment only if you’ve had resin veneers or are a dentist/ assistant etc. honestdoc: I think you are pointing to the veneer/teeth margins. They tend to be thin due to minimal drilling on the area. Modern materials are stronger and will resist wear. Composites are less strong than ceramics (much more expensive). I don't see concerns in those areas for now. You can always have it rebonded. Depending on your bite, you may consider ceramic veneers in the future. If your bite is aggressive, you can fracture those veneers. NNN: Thank you for answering! So, is this normal after almost 3 weeks? Will polishing them just smooth it out? There’s no gap in the teeth and veneer, it just seems like I’m brushing off layers of resin? I’ve changed toothbrush and toothpaste to more gentle less abrasive but still. foxleybob: do you happen to know what make the veneers are? Sorry, I won't be able to help you, I just wondered as going to have some similar treatment soon-ish. NNN: foxleybob said: do you happen to know what make the veneers are? Sorry, I won't be able to help you, I just wondered as going to have some similar treatment soon-ish. Hi what is your question ? NNN: honestdoc said: I think you are pointing to the veneer/teeth margins. They tend to be thin due to minimal drilling on the area. Modern materials are stronger and will resist wear. Composites are less strong than ceramics (much more expensive). I don't see concerns in those areas for now. You can always have it rebonded. Depending on your bite, you may consider ceramic veneers in the future. If your bite is aggressive, you can fracture those veneers. Hi so is this normal at 3 weeks? Or is it not wearing too good foxleybob: Do you happen to know what make the veneers are? NNN: foxleybob said: Do you happen to know what make the veneers are? What make? If you mean what type then no. I just know it was composite resin material. : Joseph-Grant: Prior.: NNN said: What make? If you mean what type then no. I just know it was composite resin material. I've been reading a lot about glass-ionomer fillings, which are different from composite resin. I also think or sense that our electronics, along with certain chemicals or additives that are ever abundant in our food supply like citric acid [drinks, chips, and fruits of course] are wearing down these glass-ionomer fillings faster than they would have, before the high-speed data infrastructures like 5G were released. BEcause the friction of the polymers has some sort of magnetic pull on the foodstuffs and chemicals which creates a nano-friction or something like that, they are more prone to building up or polymerizing creating a glue which causes the glass to wear down and maybe form more fissures etc.

Deep cleaning for implant uppers and bridges

Merlla: Last year I got full upper teeth implants with zirconium, permanent. Now I am getting a 3 tooth bridge on the lower with implants. All is okay,No complaint. but I don't see why I need a deep cleaning! Costs nearly a $1000. for cleaning without insurance. Is that excessive? Would a regular cleaning suffice? I had a deep cleaning several years ago from another dentist. Am trying to minimize my aggravation. This dental office pushes work. Dr M: Why did the dentist suggest a deep cleaning? Did you ask? Did you have a lot of subgingival calculus or build up on the remainder of your own lower teeth? If there was the dentist might have suggested a deep cleaning in order to improve the general hygiene of your lower teeth and tissues, in order to minimize any inflammation that could contribute to future implant integration failure. Merlla: She did not mention subgingival calculus or buildup, whatever that is. She said it is needed prior to putting in the new implant bridge on the lower right of mouth. Why a cleaning for the upper implants, that are new? She wants to replace my three lower teeth because they are discolored and perhaps because of grinding. What about the price of $900.? Isn't that excessive? I get the feeling that the dentist is looking for work to do. Dr M: Difficult to say without a clinical picture of your mouth, but if you are concerned, seek a second opinion from another dentist or surgeon. You are well within your rights to do this.