I'm a dental nurse AMA.

[IAmADNAMA]

Probably a boring one but anything anyone ever wanted to know?

I realise I'm late to the party but I had a filling just after restrictions were lifted and it has started hurting when I chew on that same tooth. What may have happened?

Also, did you ever question your career choice or have you always been happy with it?

Thoughts on tonsil stones??

Dentist here! Dental nurses are unsung heroes. Please always thank them, even if you don't like the dentist.

They hold my hand for an injection if I ask, and never make me feel silly about it. Sometimes they stroke my hand too, and that is even better.

I have a couple of questions about brushing. I'm sure I've asked the dentist, but I'm so tense during appointments that the answers probably go in one ear and out the other!

What's special about two minutes? As in, brushing time.

We're told to spit, not rinse, so the toothpaste stays on our teeth. But don't you end up swallowing it? Isn't that bad for you? And if you brush before breakfast, is there any point spitting instead of rinsing?

What in your opinion makes a good dentist? What qualities have admired? (apart from the technical skills). My daughter wants to be a dentist 🙂

We're told to spit, not rinse, so the toothpaste stays on our teeth. But don't you end up swallowing it? Isn't that bad for you?

Don't need to be a nurse to answer this. Toothpaste is mostly just water, minerals, thickeners and flavouring. There's nothing in it that's going to do you any harm if you swallow it.

I've been swallowing toothpaste for years so I am glad to hear that blackforest

I have the wand at dentists now, never the injection.

Does your practice do the wand, OP?

Bit late but ex Dental Nurse here @IAmADNAMA the terminology has brought back terrific memories from the 90's. I'm not in the UK but worked for a surgeon who did the first implants in my country. I even got brought to Sweden to train up on Branemark. One massive op he did was sorting out a cleft palate patient by taking bone from his hip, creating a palate and 1 year later placing the implants. 12 hours he was in theatre that day.

He also had a clinic in Manchester, he flew there once a month (I wasn't the nurse that went with him) as seemingly knocking womens teeth out as a dowry was a very common practice years ago. He made a lot of people very happy (and him of course at the price of them)

Practices over here are amazing now. How it's all changed.

Housewoes you may just need the filling filed down a bit to fit your bite, it can cause pain. 2 minute job with articulating paper and smoothing I think lol coming back to me now:)

[quote Nets888]@IAmADNAMA, what causes a niggling toothache (not actually a toothache but a niggling discomfort) if x-ray is cleared?

I've this niggling discomfort in my lower right first molar since September after having my teeth clean. This particular molar is higher than the rest of the molar and the gum has receded. Can this contribute to this discomfort? It's hard to describe but the sensation I'm feeling is weird. This sensation has now moved to my lower right front teeth.

The x-ray was taken around six weeks since this discomfort started so if there is an infection it would have showed up by then?[/quote]
Yes receding gums can be very painful. Have you spoke to your dentist about period chips or even filling in the receding areas?

Don't need to be a nurse to answer this. Toothpaste is mostly just water, minerals, thickeners and flavouring. There's nothing in it that's going to do you any harm if you swallow it.

Fluoride.

Ingesting too much fluoride is harmful and can weaken your bones. That's why we are told to spit, not swallow.

Knocking teeth out as a dowry??? Oh my goodness

My teeth are awful. I've got receding gums and they're getting worse. During lockdown I let my hygiene slide/ brushing of course but no teepee or floss. I've started again but dreading going back and the gum receding is horrible. Is there any hope? I'm so ashamed at how lax I got. I was very down looking back

@skira

I read that calculus happens after about 72 hours and can only be rid of by a hygiene appointment but you are recommended to go for hygiene appointment every six months so how long can you have calculus before it becomes a real problem. I have some really difficult areas that only the hygienist seems able to get to that get calculus.

It can depend on the individual. Why are you finding the areas difficult may I ask? (Not in a rude way but to see if I can help with certain products etc).

@Housewoes23

I realise I'm late to the party but I had a filling just after restrictions were lifted and it has started hurting when I chew on that same tooth. What may have happened?

Also, did you ever question your career choice or have you always been happy with it?

Could be slightly high and like EXDN has said might need to be smoothed down. Try to avoid chewing on that area until you see the dentist. I had the same after a filling but turns out my tooth was fractured underneath

@waitinggame108

Thoughts on tonsil stones??

They smell, bad!

@Dilbertian

Dentist here! Dental nurses are unsung heroes. Please always thank them, even if you don't like the dentist.

They hold my hand for an injection if I ask, and never make me feel silly about it. Sometimes they stroke my hand too, and that is even better.

I've done lots of hand holding and lots of wiping tears. It's our pleasure!

@Dilbertian

I have a couple of questions about brushing. I'm sure I've asked the dentist, but I'm so tense during appointments that the answers probably go in one ear and out the other!

What's special about two minutes? As in, brushing time.

We're told to spit, not rinse, so the toothpaste stays on our teeth. But don't you end up swallowing it? Isn't that bad for you? And if you brush before breakfast, is there any point spitting instead of rinsing?

I wouldn't suggest eating toothpaste by the tube but swallowing some is absolutely fine. The whole purpose of not rinsing is to keep the fluoride on the teeth. If you rinse it just washed it straight off.

@sunsalutations

What in your opinion makes a good dentist? What qualities have admired? (apart from the technical skills). My daughter wants to be a dentist 🙂

A dentist that is kind to the nurse. I've come across a few rude ones. One I refused to work with all together because he was so rude.

Also when enough time sharing knowledge with the nurse and getting them involved. My dentist always says 'look, can you see the fracture it's runs from there to there' and I love it. She shows me exactly what she sees and talks to me about it.

@Housewoes23

I've been swallowing toothpaste for years so I am glad to hear that blackforest

I have the wand at dentists now, never the injection.

Does your practice do the wand, OP?

No we don't. I wish! Mainly wish for our patients tbh.

@ExDN

Bit late but ex Dental Nurse here *@IAmADNAMA* the terminology has brought back terrific memories from the 90's. I'm not in the UK but worked for a surgeon who did the first implants in my country. I even got brought to Sweden to train up on Branemark. One massive op he did was sorting out a cleft palate patient by taking bone from his hip, creating a palate and 1 year later placing the implants. 12 hours he was in theatre that day.

He also had a clinic in Manchester, he flew there once a month (I wasn't the nurse that went with him) as seemingly knocking womens teeth out as a dowry was a very common practice years ago. He made a lot of people very happy (and him of course at the price of them)

Practices over here are amazing now. How it's all changed.

Housewoes you may just need the filling filed down a bit to fit your bite, it can cause pain. 2 minute job with articulating paper and smoothing I think lol coming back to me now:)

Love this!

@polkadotpjs

Knocking teeth out as a dowry??? Oh my goodness

My teeth are awful. I've got receding gums and they're getting worse. During lockdown I let my hygiene slide/ brushing of course but no teepee or floss. I've started again but dreading going back and the gum receding is horrible. Is there any hope? I'm so ashamed at how lax I got. I was very down looking back

Don't beat yourself up about it. It happens to the best of us even with the best intentions.

We have placed perio chips in patients with periodontal disease but a few we have actually managed to fill the area that is receding with filling material (private treatment).

@Housewoes23

I realise I'm late to the party but I had a filling just after restrictions were lifted and it has started hurting when I chew on that same tooth. What may have happened?

Also, did you ever question your career choice or have you always been happy with it?

Sorry forgot to say no I haven't questioned my career choice. I absolutely love it.

What is the wand?

Thanks for answering my questions!

I use prescription toothpaste, 5k ppm fluoride. OK to swallow?

@Dilbertian

What is the wand?

I've copied this as they say it better than I can!

The Wand Anesthesia System uses patented technology to control the flow rate and pressure of the anesthesia during the injection. Three speeds are tailored for each injection type to ensure optimal comfort and effectiveness.
The Wand Anesthesia System also identifies intraligamentary tissue so dentists can find the precise location for injections. As a result, patients receive successful, virtually painless single tooth anesthesia (STA) with no collateral numbness.

@Dilbertian

Thanks for answering my questions!

I use prescription toothpaste, 5k ppm fluoride. OK to swallow?

Try not to swallow it and just focus on spitting. As you have prescribed toothpaste you have a higher fluoride content.