Dental Chronicles

[Mrsmorton]

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!!

Mrs Morton -Thank you for the advice - Our dentist has confirmed that my Dd's different gum is due to the frenum being attached between her teeth. He said it often retracts, but it not, it can be cut.

I also wanted to know what to do about getting my older Dd a gum shield for secondary school. Her front teeth stick forward quite far and she is currently wearing a functional brace for this at night time. She broke both of her front teeth in an accident, so I would like to ensure they are protected. Should we ask our dentist or orthodontist for a fitted gum shield or buy one from the shops?

Thanks Mrsmorton for this amazing thread! I'm hoping I can overcome my fears and go to the dentist. It's so hard to choose a dentist apart from reading online reviews,

I hope you don't mind but I have PM'd you

Well, I have some metronizadole from the GP and have dentist appointment tomorrow, I look like I've got a golf ball in my mouth and it's agony, worse than childbirth!
I am petrified of going to the dentist and ashamed of what they will think of my awful teeth but I just want it over

What a good thread no idea if it's still going but if it us I've got a question.. my gum is swollen over 1 tooth only it's actually been like it for about 3months there wqs pain pain when I brushed it for a while but that's now gone. It felt as if it was really tender & sore in 2 little areas on the gum. Just wondering why it might be like this & whem it might go?

I hope you don't mind me asking a question.

I need to have a front tooth out (presently crowned but tooth is loosening). At worst I want sedation, at best general anaesthetic, how do I get a referral for this?

Also, how to stop dentures moving whilst eating (I have top and bottom), and to stop it hurting when attempting to eat?

You're a diamond for this thread Mrsmorton.

Thanks for a great thread Mrsmorton, I have a quick question if I may.

I have a very small mouth and really struggle to brush my back teeth properly without gagging terribly. At the moment I use my electric toothbrush (with the smallest head) without toothpaste then use a very soft, small headed manual toothbrush with toothpaste. It is ok but not ideal and I still gag, sometimes to the point of actually vomiting.
I see you said at the start of the thread there are tips and tricks, gels/swabs and non-foaming toothpaste etc and wondered if you could point me in the right direction for these please?

Thanks

I'll have a read of these Qs later and try to help.

Hello mrsm
I lost a front molar on the left side last year (failed filling then failed root canal :()
I'm considering an implant - thoughts? I keep biting my inner cheek due to the gap :(

Oranurse is a non foaming toothpaste that apparently performs well and we use this sort of thing in hospitals and community practice where people don't like bristles. Ultimately the plaque does need mechanically removing though, mouthwash etc can only help so much. The toothettes can be cut in shapes which may help. Disclosing tablets may help you identify any areas you are missing.

Have you done anything about your gag reflex? I've heard good things about hypnotherapy.

serioussteve what has your dentist said? Dentures can very difficult to get satisfactory results, especially lower dentures so without knowing more, I can't help sorry.

Hi Mrsmorton - I've started another thread and then seen this thread, so will re-ask my question here ... hope that's OK

Hi there, I've had a crown fitted today with temporary cement as it was very sensitive. Anyway, it's now loose and every now & then really sensitive. I've called the emergency dentist an hour ago but still waiting for a call back. I know (or at least hope!) I'll get an emergency appointment with my own dentist tomorrow, but what do I do tonight?

Google says see if you can actually take the crown off so you don't swallow, or worse - inhale, it. I'm too much of a wimp to even try as it's so sensitive even with the crown on.

So do I try & remove & risk being in agony all night, or leave it alone and risk swallowing/inhaling it, or just stay awake all night?

badders I don't have any thoughts on your gap. If you've the money then an implant might be the answer but not every person or gap is suitable for one.

I'd leave it alone tbh coconut if it comes off you'll almost certainly wake up and not swallow or inhale it. It doesn't sound ideal though, is it a permanent crown fitted with temp cement or a temp crown? It shouldn't be loose tho really.

Thanks Mrsm - that's reassuring.

It's a permanent crown fitted with temp cement as it was so sensitive I said I was worried what if it was sensitive once the permanent crown was on and they struggle to get it off. So the dentist said she could use a temp cement and see if it settles. I have another appt next week to review and fix permanently. I had a 2nd crown on the adjacent tooth fitted with permanent - this was a replacement crown and that tooth has had root canal. I noticed the new crown was loose as the anaethetic wore off. I've had a temp crown on for 2 weeks with no problem.

I haven't tried to wriggle it as don't want to make worse, but there is definite movement vertically - I can see it move a tiny bit up & down

Stop looking at it then seriously, try to leave it alone. Be sensible with food etc and get seen tomorrow.

Ha - I'm not actually looking at it all the time.

Thanks so much for your very prompt reply - perfect timing.

Hello Mrs Morton
Can I ask you something too? I just saw the last poster's question and mine is related (well a bit)...
I am on holiday and lo and behold a filling came out last night while I was flossing. It doesn't hurt at all, not even sensitive really.
I phoned my dentist today and will go when I get back (am back on Sunday but they can't see me until Friday).
I am keeping it clean, eating on the other side but it is a big gap and I have to floss it to get bits of food away. Is there anything else I should do? Is leaving it 10 days a worry? I saw on line that you can buy dental "cement" or filler over the counter. Do you recommend this and if so what should I ask for? I am in France which might complicate things!
Thank you

I just read on another thread I have to do this! @Mrsmorton
So I hope that's ok, thank you again

It won't do any harm to stick something in the hole but if it's not sensitive then it probably won't have much benefit either other than keeping the hole clean. You do need to get fillings replaced, even if they don't hurt because bacteria can get into the tooth through tiny microscopic tubes (dentine tubules) but this length of time will be fine. Clearly your mileage may vary and without seeing you... etc etc...

Ask for réparation dentaire temporaire if you do decide to have a go, the trade name (most popular in UK) is DenTek.

Hi @Mrsmorton I've just seen this thread, I have a question to add if you don't mind? I started a thread this morning but didn't get any replies so I hope I'm ok to copy and paste it? I've spent the day having crying episodes and mild panics at the thought of going to the dentist as I have a horrible phobia!

"This is the second day I've had this weird toothache and I don't know if I should book an emergency appointment or not! I'm off work today and tomorrow but after that back to Monday to Friday with no scope to get time off for an appointment soon.

The actual tooth is fine and not sensitive to touch or hot or cold, it feels more like the gums but there's no redness that I can see.

I'm not in a huge amount of pain but I get an ache in the bottom left tooth area at the very back when I swallow, move my head around and generally it's worse sitting up. The rest of the time it's like a tingling sensation. I know I'm not in huge pain but the thought of putting up with this (or getting worse!!) for the next few weeks until I can get an appointment that fits in with work will drive me batty 

I don't want the dentist to think I'm wasting a valuable appointment but my teeth are in a terrible condition and I'm petrified of the dentist, I was awake at 4am this morning crying at the thought of it  should I call and ask if they'd fit me in today or tomorrow?"

If you're worried, you should book an appointment. There's nothing wrong with booking one in case it might get worse and you want to get in before it does!

The people who generally tend to be a wee bit more irritating are the ones who want your last emergency appointment before Christmas or Easter long weekend with a problem they've had for several months but couldn't be bothered to do anything about! You're not wasting anyone's time or valuable appointment.

Thanks @Mrsmorton I appreciate you replying! I shall call them tomorrow.

I'm one of those nightmare patients who cries and can't breath properly (the last dentist I saw was actually so lovely, and I still made my excuses not to go back!)

I'm just so scared in case they say I'll need to have the tooth removed, I'm so ashamed at the state of my teeth, I'm only 27

Thanks very much, that's reassuring. I'll keep it clean and look out for Dentek in the pharmacy in case I need it if it starts getting sensitive.
I will definitely be getting it replaced properly once I get to my dentist!