Should I listen to my dentist?

[Downtroddenhousingass]

Apparently I have a hole in a tooth. He said it must be hurting, when it isn't at all.

He wants to drill it and fill it.

All very slap dash with an NHS appointment.

I'm tempted to not take his advice and go and see a private mercury free dentist for a second opinion. He couldn't tell me if it could be filled with metal or plastic. Both aren't great for you so would rather avoid.

If I can't feel any pain could it heal itself?

Am I not allowed to question dentists? They know absolutely everything and the advice thy give now will never change?

@willdoitinaminute can you explain more about this new contract? Surely if your oral hygiene is perfect you won't need treatment anyway? NHS dentists can't just suddenly refuse to fill your cavaties or perform root canals can they?

Are you scared of the needles or something OP? If you want to say what the real problem is then someone in the know will be able to suggest something.

You didn't question me. I told you we don't get paid to drill, as did another dentist on the thread and you said we do as it's more appointments. We aren't paid per appointment.

@CherryBlossom23
Excellent oral hygiene doesn't preclude dental caries; which is 99% down to sugar frequency. There is zero point in a dentist embarking on any restorative treatment ie caries removal unless that individual has satisfactory oral hygiene.
This is what the new contract will focus on.

Is your dentist older? I changed dentist recently (I'm not in the UK though so no advice on that front sorry) and my new one is very happy to discuss different treatments and options with me and why she feels it would be better to do a filling or not etc. I have cured resin or cement fillings in my teeth, no metal ones though I believe I might have had a metal one replaced? I'm not 100% sure. I could have paid extra to upgrade but decided to opt for the basic one. I asked about the reason for avoiding amalgam and she said that although there are health risks, the risk is negligible to the patient, it's more risky for dental technicians who are there in the office potentially doing several of those fillings a week and so breathing in the fumes. Her reason for avoiding them however was that you have to drill away more healthy tooth which she prefers to avoid. I really appreciate that approach.

I had an older dentist in the 90s who retired in the mid 00s and had a lot of fillings from him. I do think dentistry has changed a lot since then but I'd definitely recommend changing (if you can) to a dentist who you feel comfortable with.

Interesting about the NHS approach, the German health insurance will only pay out for things like root canals if you can prove that you've had regular dental check ups and yearly cleanings (the health insurance pays for these so they know) for X number of years beforehand. So it definitely benefits people to keep on top of their dental health.

If you don't have check ups you might not know whether your dental hygeine is good. I only started using interdental brushes recently because I didn't realise they were necessary before.

Just go private & get the epoxy filling you want.

I'm worried about either mercury or plastic in my mouth. My parents have no end of problems with their teeth as they were all drilled being from the time dentists now admit they drilled too much and less ethical ones did it to boost their income.

He just rushed me and didn't really give any options or discuss it. Said there was a hole and was gleefully telling me he's going to drill it out. Yes an older dentist.

I take it seriously and really it to be explained to me and not rushed.

Bertie yes he was older. Was yours on the NHS? Sounds fab and just what I want. I can get the money for a private appointment. Looks like £70 consultation and £180 ish for a filling. But if I could get a good NHS dentist then I would rather avoid it

The filling I want is none! The composite fillings are said to have bpa in them. Money isn't the issue I'm having.

Can you feel the hole? How deep is it?
How about... get a 2nd opinion. Doesn't have to be a mercury shunning dentist.

(AFAIK) The problem is this: if that hole starts to rot (coz unlikely you cannot keep it very clean, and the rot-resistant enamel is now removed, so will rot), it could rot deep until it finally hurts. At that point, the decay will have hit a nerve. You're facing root canal or having it pulled. You can choose how to play this out.

Can you feel the hole? How deep is it?
How about... get a 2nd opinion. Doesn't have to be a mercury shunning dentist.

(AFAIK) The problem is this: if that hole starts to rot (coz unlikely you cannot keep it very clean, and the rot-resistant enamel is now removed, so will rot), it could rot deep until it finally hurts. At that point, the decay will have hit a nerve. You're facing root canal or having it pulled. You can choose how to play this out.

Can you feel the hole? How deep is it?
How about... get a 2nd opinion. Doesn't have to be a mercury shunning dentist.

(AFAIK) The problem is this: if that hole starts to rot (coz unlikely you cannot keep it very clean, and the rot-resistant enamel is now removed, so will rot), it could rot deep until it finally hurts. At that point, the decay will have hit a nerve. You're facing root canal or having it pulled. You can choose how to play this out.

I'm a dental nurse and from experience if you need a filling there's no way to avoid it without making the situation worse.

Teeth are the only part of the body that cannot heal themselves. You don't want to leave a hole/decay in your tooth because it will only progress and the decay will get into the nerve in the middle of the tooth. Then you would be looking at root canal treatment or an extraction.

The tooth hasn't bothered you yet because it's not into the nerve which is a good thing.

Your dentist may not have been able to tell you which type of filling would be best because he might not be able to tell until he sees the extent of the decay when he cleans it out. Silver fillings are better for large fillings in back teeth.

Absolutely get a second opinion if you're unsure of the advice but you don't want to end up in pain by not filling the cavity.

I am a retired dentist well I'm still on the register but not working
if there is an actual hole even just 1mm diameter it will not remineralise whatever you do
however if it is just a weak area which will show on exam or in the mouth as a shadow under lighting it maybe possible for it to remineralise please note may it depends on the extent,
leaving it once it is a physical hole and delaying treatment will end up with a bigger filling than if sone now, if the dentist thought it was big enough to cause pain or sensitivity at least it doesn't sound like a demineralisation area to me but obviously having not seen you I can't possibly say

I would advise getting a second opinion if you want one sooner rather than later as once decay goes from enamel to dentine it can be just a few weeks to irreversible nerve damage, lots of nerves die slowly without any pain, no pain unfortunately doesn't mean healthy, it is thought that most nerves under deep fillings die eventually thankfully for most this is something they are completely unaware of,

once decay is in dentine it spreads horizontally undermining the enamel above then suddenly one day the tooth cracks and part of it breaks off then it is a big job

I did monitor various patients with some demineralisation for a while, but the decision on monitoring depends on the patient, a regular patient with good oral hygiene is a candidate for monitoring someone with generalised gum disease and a few proper holes who only comes every 2-3 years is not a candidate for monitoring

the NHS dentist can't say categorically as whether metal or white until all decay removed as only certain types of cavity can be filled with white on NHS if it is large it will be metal

I can't feel it yeold, already scheduled to go back and see him next week. Will try to get a second opinion this week someowhere.

Thanks so much mrsk and teacup you have both been so useful, really nice to have some helpful dental experts give such valuable help!

I'm guessing if they drill it out and say it's too deep for white I can just pay there and then for it to be done privately?

Coconut oil to heal a hole in your tooth, brill Sunday night reading.

eek, sorry about 3x post, just froze at this end!

You could always leave the tooth to “heal itself” and then have an extraction in future. Then you won’t have to have a filling.

Yawn that's all been said before. Pathetic as I didn't even say I expected coconut oil to heal a hole.

could it heal itself

Best laugh I’ve had all weekend 🤣

Your question is “should I listen to my dentist?”
Answer- yes.
See another dentist (not me please!) and get a second opinion and listen to that instead if you wish.
Or don’t. Up to you- your teeth!

You're very easily amused if you think that's funny.

Fancy that the human body healing itself from something you haven't even seen the damage of.

If it's an actual hole it won't heal itself, if it's a slight lesion just in the enamel you could 'heal' it or at least prevent it ever progressing but not using coconut oil, using fluoride toothpaste and meticulous oral hygiene.

On the NHS you get paid more per hour for check ups over fillings and there's obviously less materials involved. So you would make more money if you filled your day with 10 minute check ups than 30 minute fillings especially once you include the materials. If a dentist is saying you need a filling they aren't doing it to make money! It will be because they genuinely think you need a filling. And if it looks deep enough that they think you might be getting pain if get it filled asap before it actually does!

With the new contract the idea is you improve your oral hygiene before the work is done, you don't have to have perfect to start with but need to have good OH to start the treatment. Therefore preventing you needing further work in the future.

I'm not sure what you want to fill it with if you don't want amalgam or composite. Gold? Or a temporary filling? The dentist can't tell you which filling material as there's lots of factors for example the amount of moisture, depth and size of the cavity that can affect it, nd are unknowns until all the decay has been removed.

Your welcome to see another dentist if you are worried, I wouldn't begrudge one of my patients that

Thanks blue really appreciate a helpful reply.

Is gold a genuine filling option?

I've heard of porcelain but my dentist said that was just for crowns.

If it really needs to be filled I would like it filled with something that isn't toxic (mercury) or doesn't have health risks (bpa in composite).

I've heard that composite fillings can vary alot and in recent years they are much stronger than they used to be.

I don't think the attitude of some people here is helpful, saying you should just beleive one dentist as they've had training. I have two family members that would be dead if they just accepted what the first doctor told them and didn't get a second opinion.

Yes dentists have training, but they aren't perfect and healthcare is developing. Many of the things done a few decades ago are rubbished now, and no doubt that pattern will continue. It's understandable they do the best they can that has been prooven. But any dentist that gets annoyed over a patient wanting a second opinion must not have that much faith in their own decision.

Anyway I've booked my appointment with a private dentist and have 1200 on my credit card so perfectly prepared to pay what it takes to get it fixed with someone that can clearly explain and reassure me. :)

Coconut oil can heal holes in teeth?
Why wasn't anyone told about this before? To think all those people who are terrified of dentists and all those who have paid out sums of money for dental treatment could have avoided it all by simply using coconut oil. 😱
FGS, you might as well just stick some blu-tac over it ( the white one of course )
Coconut oil ffs 😂