I’m a dentist - AMA

[ginplease8383]

As above!

I’m in the wrong job!

On a serious note, what’s the fastest (and most pain free if possible) way for an adult to get straight teeth?
6 month smiles or Invisalign? Or another option?
Is it true you can’t eat properly for the duration of here treatments ?
Thanks

I dont do ortho sorry. I understand Invisalign isn't that effective.

Is flossing still recommended? I read a study which said it actually did bugger all. (Put better than that of course)

Can dental implants be used when the patient has severe bruxism?

Possible but depends on the health of the bone and gums. More likely to fail though as the osseointegration process (after the implant is placed) can be impacted.

If breakfast is cereal with apple/orange juice, is it better to brush teeth before or straight after eating? (Rest of the day is water to drink).

What made you do dentistry?

I was going to be a doctor and seeing my sibling go through the training i didn't want to do the hours or have the stress. They recommended Dentistry and boy am I am glad i did!

Are mouthwashes a good idea? Don't they just wash away the leftover fluoride from the toothpaste, which surely isn't a good thing.

I have hyperemesis gravidarum. Vommiting constantly. Mainly bile so very acidic.

I cant help but worry what it is doing to my teeth. Only a few weeks in and they feel so much weaker already.

Any advice? As at this rate im scared i'll have no teeth left by time babies here..!

If breakfast is cereal with apple/orange juice, is it better to brush teeth before or straight after eating? (Rest of the day is water to drink).

Niether. Wait 30 minutes and then brush your teeth after acidic drinks like juice.

What if you don't but have time to wait 30 mins? Before or after?

If someone’s teeth are stained but otherwise healthy, well look healthy, is there any way to restore them to looking whiter without teeth whitening?

@mommylovesyou
I've just got the 6 months smile with my teeth and ok it took 11 months to the day for mine to come off but it really was the best thing I've ever done... the condition of my teeth before and to see them now it's unreal... makes me wonder why I waited so long to get them done... my o to regret was I never got my bottom teeth done.. didn't think they needed it and to be honest I couldn't really afford the extra €1500 but looking back I'm kicking myself for not doing it

Are mouthwashes a good idea? Don't they just wash away the leftover fluoride from the toothpaste, which surely isn't a good thing.

If you brush your teeth properly you shouldn't need mouthwashes so only recommend if you have an area you need to clean after an extraction that would be made worse with a brush (salty water works well too) or you have gum disease. If the mouthwash has fluoride in it (most that i am aware of do) then i don't see how it would wash out the leftover fluoride.

I have hyperemesis gravidarum. Vommiting constantly. Mainly bile so very acidic.

I cant help but worry what it is doing to my teeth. Only a few weeks in and they feel so much weaker already.

Any advice? As at this rate im scared i'll have no teeth left by time babies here..!

Poor you. If you can wait 30 mins after your latest com and then brush as well as possible. Cheese is good as can neutralise the acid in your mouth. your should get free NHS dentistry so go see them as well to get advice.

If someone’s teeth are stained but otherwise healthy, well look healthy, is there any way to restore them to looking whiter without teeth whitening?

Nope. Only peroxide (or a good scale and polish if its not too bad) to remove stains will whiten your teeth. Fact.

May be a bit controversial but : I was a dental nurse for about 30 years and left because of the lack of any career progression. I did radiography but was never allowed to take X-rays, I did tooth whitening until it became illegal, worked in a max fac department but never allowed to go to theatre as that was for RGN's. so my question to you is: why bother to train, register and insure when there is nothing a RDN can do outside of chair side duties?

Please don't suggest being a hygienist, I live 500 miles from the nearest dental university!

Mydogmymate- I don’t employ as I’m an associate but nurses in my practice often take on admin and practice manager roles if they get fed up with nursing. We also have head nurses and CQC leads. Sometimes they don’t want to progress though as it fits in with kids/or they just don’t want to

Daffodildelight- if you’re not going to wait the 30 mins then it doesn’t really matter if you do it before or after as it’s damaging either way!

Thanks for replying.

My point is that RGN's can progress into nurse practitioners, diabetic nurses etc, but dental nurses can't. I've done practice admin, it's boring, and I wanted a more clinical role that reflected my experience but it doesn't exist. It seems that most dentists when asked this question seem a bit as in "oh yeah, the nurse. I hadn't thought about it, they're just there". We have no status ( or decent money for that matter) and not trusted to expand the role.

By law, dental nurses have to be qualified or in training and insured before they can work. What's the point? Someone needs to pick up the baton, but it won't be me. This is because no one is interested and I'm not a dentist.

Thanks for your reply. Forgot about free nhs treatment. I may have to find a nhs dentist

Mydogmymate- I can’t really comment - I’ve never had to think about it. But I do have a specialist implant nurse who is paid a lot more. RGNs do have a lot more responsibility yes and are degree qualified which is reflected in pay. I think the term dental nurse can be quite misleading - in the US they are called dental assistant I believe.

Thanks again for replying and sorry for putting you on the spot!

You are right, dental nurse is misleading. I think the profession is in the dark ages, lots of people leave and don't come back because of the restrictions and bad pay. Also, I've never known a male do the job.

You say that you've never thought about it is indicative of the whole issue and you are in the majority. I'd love to go back to dentistry but there's no point and after all the years I put in, not to mention the qualifications I worked hard for, and that's really sad.

DH is in the process of having a couple of implants. He had the implants placed in April and is waiting for the next phase - he goes back next week. He’s a bit vague about what happens next though as to fitting the actual ‘teeth’. What’s likely to happen? How long will the implants last?

I found this really interesting. Thank you.

Implants - is that £2500 per tooth?

I’ve lost some teeth at the back and am worried that I’ll prematurely age in the face now.

Mydogmymate- to do any more clinically they’d have to go to uni like a RGN that would have put a lot of my nurses off - the academic side of it. A lot of them come from retail and prefer the hours. We’ve got a male nurse.

Besties west - providing the osseointegration as gone well fitting the abutment and restoring the implant though every dentist is different. A life time in a perfect world but so many variables- clinical skill, oral health, systemic illnesses, bruxism, diet, the list goes on!

Goandplay- yes that’s per tooth.