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Original poster

Dental Chronicles

455 replies

Mrsmorton · 12/02/2015 20:17

I have noticed a number all of the dental related questions on MN get repeated once a month or so; this may be entirely unwelcome but what I intend to do is to make a series of detailed posts answering the most common questions so that I can signpost posters to an answer. Often they disappear in chat and then resurface.

I am a dentist (that's no secret on here) but I have no way of proving my qualifications and neither do I feel the need to. I hope that this will be of some assistance to someone at some point!!

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Original poster
Mrsmorton · 17/03/2015 16:47

hard I don't treat children generally but I think at that age, they're hard to reason with? Is he generally rational etc? Do children that age understand cause and effect? I don't know!!

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Original poster
Mrsmorton · 17/03/2015 16:52

Higgle, braces very do much work on root filled teeth. They are still held in by the periodontal ligament which is absolutely alive. Very rarely, the tooth can be fused to the bone but rare and not generally adult teeth.

Braces and bleaching are better than veneers or crowns. I've got a crown and wish my dentist had offered to bleach the tooth and put some white filling on. So far I've had three veneers and two crowns. I get my treatment free and have some very talented colleagues so if I was a "muggle", I'd be pissed off!

This treatment started 15 years ago so...
The root canal treatment, If it is asymptomatic and no infection present on x Rays isn't necessarily a problem. It's good practice to tell the patient wjat you can see on the radiograph even if it doesn't need intervention. Sometimes it's best to redo the treatment. Sometimes beat to leave.

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Hardboiledegg · 17/03/2015 16:58

He does to some extent but I don't think he's getting the bigger picture yet. We've just moved to a new area so I might discuss it with the new dentist when we go for check-ups. Part of the trouble is that we move quite frequently with DHs job so every 18 months to two years we have to find a new dentist in a new area so there's not much continuity.

Thclockstrucktwo · 17/03/2015 18:50

I have to have my first filling next week. I'm am so petrified that they are doing it under consious sedation. I am still so scared that I am vomiting!

mabelbabel · 18/03/2015 13:43

Mrsmorton - I'm sorry if this has been covered already. My daughter (age 8) has a white spot on one of her lower incisors (adult teeth). We are due a dentist visit soon, but could you tell me what the likely causes of this might be? Is it something to worry about?

Higgle · 18/03/2015 15:20

Thank you so much for your positive response. DS has bee putting his head in the sand a bit and thinking the worst about his tooth, so the knowledge that it can be "braced" again is very helpful. He will be home for a weekend very soon, so I'll share this with him then.

Original poster
Mrsmorton · 18/03/2015 15:33

Mabel it could be anything! We call it hypoplasia. Lots of potential causes, often no consequence. White spots can be treated for cosmetics but it's often not worth it and can be a bit tricky.

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mabelbabel · 18/03/2015 16:36

Oh ok. I Shan't panic then.

JRShotMe · 20/03/2015 13:13

I was wondering if I could ask a question; this is a great thread by the way. I had a root canal carried out on my second premolar on the upper lhs about 10 years ago (I'm now 33). I had the first premolars removed as a teenager for orthodontic treatment. The root canal tooth has gone dead and a bit grey over the years although luckily it's far enough back that it's not noticeable - I notice it when I look in there obviously though. Anyway, the tooth then broke on the inside quite badly about 3 years ago and the dentist patched it up, which has held so far but all that's left really is the outer 'shell' of the tooth. It's the only tooth I've ever really had any problems with and I need to get something done about it before the rest of it breaks too, so having been to the dentist to talk about it this week they've recommended a bridge/crown, attaching to the molar behind. However, I've seen on this thread that you've said you don't recommend bridges, and to be honest I'm not entirely sure how it's going to work or look and am a bit concerned, so would there be any alternatives that you would recommend or is that the best option? Will it look natural and be ok for the neighbouring teeth - it won't damage them? Would an implant be better? I know they're a lot more expensive but I could stretch to it if it was a significantly better option than the crown/bridge. Thank you so much, and sorry for all the questions, my dentist is very nice but didn't really address my concerns and I was kind of rushed out of there with just a list of the costs!

Original poster
Mrsmorton · 20/03/2015 13:33

I haven't said I don't recommend bridges! In some situations they are absolutely the best option and in my patients, as soon as the premolars need RCT then extraction and bridge is an option I give due to the risk of fracture and all the shit that goes with premolars.

I almost always use resin bonded bridges which cause no damage to the adjacent tooth. They look good and are relatively easy.

Implants are great but I know very little about them. See what your dentist has to say and let him know you don't want to damage any surrounding terry.

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Original poster
Mrsmorton · 20/03/2015 13:41

Who the fuck is terry? Teeth. Surrounding teeth.

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IncaAztec · 20/03/2015 22:16

Hi, my DC was born with a white spot/lump towards the middle/front of her tongue.It is actually inside the tongue rather than on the surface. I've seen a dentist and GP but it is very hard to see in an uncooperative 18 month old. The dentist and GP both felt it was a congenital abnormality but no-one has been able to put a name to it. Have you ever heard of such a thing? It obviously concerns me as a parent but health professionals less so.

Original poster
Mrsmorton · 21/03/2015 13:22

No, I've not seen/heard of this. Sorry!! It may be nice to find out when she's older!

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IncaAztec · 21/03/2015 18:13

Thanks for the reply- maybe one day I'll find out! I have a personal theory that it is some sort of midline/very minor palate type defect and that when her tongue separated from her mouth in the womb, it didn't do it properly leaving more tongue tissue in the middle. Its only my theory until someone puts a name to it!

Carrie5608 · 23/03/2015 10:01

Hi Mrs Morton, I was wondering if you could help me. Last friday I woke up with severe jaw pain. I have been to the dentist who has diagnosed Temporal Mandibular Joint problem and has given me exercises to do.

I have now had this for ten days it is really sore. I can't eat, I can't wash my teeth as my jaw won't open far enough and it is very sore.

what else I can do?

DeliciousIrony · 23/03/2015 10:35

Hello MrsMorton, could I ask you a question? A couple of weeks ago I noticed some minor pain/sensitivity in one of my molars, and when I had a look it seems the whole tooth has discoloured, gone a greyish colour. The pain only lasted about a day, but the tooth is still grey.

I had a check-up 6 months ago and everything was fine, as it usually is. I want to get this looked at, but I'm putting it off as I am waiting for a job to start and have no money at the moment. Is this something that is ok to wait for a few more weeks? Thanks!

Original poster
Mrsmorton · 23/03/2015 12:41

TMJ disorder is a nightmare!! Exercises and some ibuprofen gel usually help my patients. It takes ages to resolve and it's important to keep doing the exercises even when it's better.
A hard bite guard can be helpful but they're difficult to make and not all dentists are comfortable with them.

delicious difficult to say without seeing it. If it's been sore, it's probably worth getting it looked at.

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Original poster
Mrsmorton · 23/03/2015 12:42

A couple of weeks will probably be ok. Don't wait too long tho!

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JRShotMe · 23/03/2015 14:33

Sorry, haven't had a chance to check this for a few days, thank you for the reply. I will speak to the dentist again and probably go for the bridge if it won't damage the surrounding teeth!

dillite · 27/03/2015 12:14

MrsMorton, hi, it's me again.

It's now been 3 weeks since my tooth came out and the gum appears to be inflamed and is quite sore still- chewing on that side is very, very sore. It now also looks as if the wisdom tooth that was next to it has become wonky and the gumline all around it is very red/ also sore. Do you think it could be that the infection that was there initially didn't clear up after the first course of ab's, or does it sound like there's a new one? Another thing is that the gum does still bleed, mostly when I brush, as careful as I try and do it. The amount of blood is, well compared to how much there usually is when brushing, quite significant- sometimes it's pure blood that I spit, with some toothpaste, rather than a bit of blood mixed with toothpaste, iyswim. It's quite hard not to touch it when trying to reach the wisdom tooth though, as it needs brushing too. Oh, and how long does it take the socket/ bone to get back in place to how it was post-extraction?

I am really hoping that this is all nothing to worry about, as I don't know where I will get more money for another treatment.

Original poster
Mrsmorton · 28/03/2015 11:06

Did you have the extraction done on the NHS? If so then you shouldn't have to pay again as the course of treatment is still open for three months. If it's not still open then an NHS emergency appointment is £18.50.

It takes a number of months for the bone to completely remodel, maybe a year or so. The gum is healed within weeks but it will change shape.

Sounds like you're worried so probably a good idea to go back to make sure everything looks ok.

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dillite · 28/03/2015 12:31

No, I was private. My local NHS dentist has been full for years, they only take on kids now. I will admit I am a bit worried as all the previous extractions were fine within a week. Would an emergency dentist see a private patient?

Original poster
Mrsmorton · 28/03/2015 12:48

Yes.

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dillite · 28/03/2015 13:03

Thank you, I will try and get an appointment with one.

Baddz · 30/03/2015 11:15

Help!
I had a very lArge filling in My left lower molar last Tuesday morning.
The work took over an hour
The injection hurt a lot
Since then I am in pain when I open my mouth to eat, yawn, sneeze and my ear hurts o. Tha t side
Should I go back?