Dental Health

[yogafoodtravel]

Just wondering how my dental health compares against the norm,

I am 36 and have had 2 wisdom teeth out as they grew out at strange angles and were constantly infected

I have 5 fillings in molars

1 root canal which was OK until the tooth cracked. I now face having this crowned or out.

How does this compare to others do I have terrible teeth for my age. My dentist just laughs when I say I have bad teeth.

I’m a dentist. It’s all rather dependent on who you compare yourself with. Deprived / transient population: your teeth would be pretty good. Certainly compared to my usual patients your teeth sound minimally restored. But compared to other population groups (let’s say middle class Australians, only because they were the most dentally fit group I’ve worked with), yours are pretty poor.

But: what you describe is related to experience of dental treatment. Which does largely correspond to history of dental decay. It has no relevance to current active decay or gum disease. Which in many ways is a better measure of current ORAL health.

I would consider myself middle class, I earn slightly above the average salary , eat healthily etc.

The dentist always comments on how clean my teeth are, never needed a full scale and polish etc, so I obviously have weak teeth.

What would be normal for a middle class person?

To add my fillings were all done over 6 years ago.

The wisdom teeth came out in the last 2 years

The root canal was as a result of a cancer scare in the jaw and subsequent investigations. Just miffed that the root canal filling is now damaged and I could loose this tooth too!

I’m 45 and in the last year have completely ruined my teeth with clenching due to stress. I am missing lower molars on both sides, and have three teeth with root canals (all molars). I have four other fillings, and had four teeth extracted as a child for orthodontic reasons.

I’d consider myself “middle class” in terms of earnings, occupation etc. I have never missed a dental checkup, or not had recommended treatment. My gums were deemed “perfect” at my last checkup in April, and I have no active decay.

I now wear a night guard for the clenching, and the source of the stress has been resolved, so hopefully I can keep the rest intact! My teeth are obviously crap, but people often comment on how white and straight they are.

So I had to have the previously root canal tooth out today as it had split completely down one side and infected. What a traumatic experience took 60 mins in the dentist chair and a small amount of root was impossible to remove. I was literally shaking in the last 10 mins. Bottom molar being removed was no fun.

I am also worried the infection may have spread to my back top molar (no wisdom tooth there) on same side as it has hurt for a few days and is now throbing more than the removed tooth. Dentist said probably not infected but referred discomfort. I hope he is correct on that one as I can#t face more trips to the dentist.

I avoid the dentist. I never went growing up. As a teen I developed tmj and it's uncomfortable during appts and for ages after. Aside from a temporary change in diet in early 20s that led to a few cavities and therefore dentist trips, my teeth are largely white straight and feel strong. My oh made me go to the dentist 8 and 12 years ago. We were newly together and he was aghast that I didn't go. Both times dentist complimented my hygiene and took x rays and all was fine. I brush 2 to 4 times a day, never floss unless something is stuck in my teeth.

Wow Yoga - that does sound horrific 😱

I'm 38 - no fillings. Regular dentist visits, but I am slightly terrified I will need one one day, so have been avoiding the dentist recently 😬. I don't drink squash, juice or fizzy drinks ever - only tea or water usually - perhaps this has helped? 🤷‍♀️