Dentist and gum cleaning /root planing

[TheBookworm88]

Have a long and convulated history the past year and have varying diagnoses of tmjd as well as atypical facial pain. Due to the pain I'm in I've become extremely phobic of any dental treatment. To complicate matters I developed gum disease in pregnancy and need a deep clean. The hygienist was due to carry out the deep clean but found her very abrupt at the initial consultation. I've recently been going to a private dentist who seems really nice and said he could do the deep clean for me (one half of the mouth at a time). I'm just wondering has anyone else had this done by a dentist as opposed to hygienist. His speciality is cosmetic dentistry so not sure how often he would be doing gum clean/root planing etc. Im sure he is perfectly competent but I'm just so phobic I'm wondering would a hygienist maybe be better?

I had my teeth cleaned by a private dentist recently. I had my doubts but he was actually better than any hygienists I've been to. He was gentle, patient and my teeth felt very cleaned and polished. His specialty is cosmetic dentistry as well.

Thanks so much for the reply @Nets888. Was that a root planing? He's a lovely guy but just my phobia has really sent my brain in to overdrive about it all.

No it wasn't a root planning.

OP, I can't comment on the dentist issues so this is tangential but have you thought of using a waterpik to help with gum issues?
it's easy to find them if you google and there are other types of water flosser that are also good, I recommend using saline solution instead of plain water to be extra kind and healing for your gums (homemade saline is fine)

@C3SC thanks for the reply. I actually have a waterpik but the hygienist was rather scathing when I mentioned it. I've never actually plucked up the courage to use it (have images of all my fillings being blasted out!), but will maybe give it a go on the gentlest setting with salt water. Do you use a waterpik?

yes I use mine 3 x per day have done for a few years now and I feel it has made a big difference to my gum & teeth health
why I wonder was the hygienist scathing? (does it mean less business for dentists?)

Hi bookworm- no particular advice to offer re: cleaning, but just wanted to say that I have also had 18 months of muddly TMJ/bruxism/atypical facial pain issues.
It's been a bloody nightmare (is still ongoing) and you have my sympathy

Hi OP. I as root planing done by a private specialist periodontal dentist a few years ago. I was very nervous but she was very good. Lots of pain relief. I now see her every six months, and her recommend hygienist at the same practice every three - so they work together.

I had root planing by a periodontal dentist a few years ago. It was done over two sessions and worked really well. My gum disease is now under control.

If I had to have it again I'd probably go to hygienist first as it was very expensive to be done through the periodontist, but my gum disease was quite bad.

Teepee brushes combined with flossing is better than a waterpik but if you'd use a waterpik rather than nothing, then that is much better than nothing all all.

@C3SC I'm not really sure why she wasn't in favour of the waterpik. Maybe she thought I would only use the waterpik rather than the teepees. She was just quite rude throughout the whole consultation. I think she thought I was being dramatic when I was in the chair but it was sore when she was poking about in my mouth. I apologised several times for being nervous and jumpy but she just sort of sighed.
@opalescent thank you for the kind words. Do you mind me asking what triggered yours? I'm definitely a clencher but don't have 'typical' tmj symptoms apart from occasional clenching. I've damaged a couple of molars from clenching and had to have a lower one out. Do you wear a splint? My dentist is making me a michigan splint but have heard very mixed reviews on them.
@RedRosie glad you're getting your gum issues sorted! That's handy they work in the same practice.
@MissisBoote did you find the treatment sore? Yeah interdental brushes definitely seem like the gold standard for gum disease. It's amazing how much gunk they get out!

Sorry @opalescent meant to say I dont have typical tmj symptoms apart from clicking. I generally don't have issues with opening my mouth (although can't open it terribly wide), but don't have the headaches etc that are typically associated with tmjd. Although the diagnosis of clenching is definite, they are querying atypical facial pain as I don't tick enough boxes for tmj. Personally I find AFP a really disappointing diagnosis as I feel it's a diplomatic way of dentists saying it's a psychological issue rather than a physical matter. My dentist suggested I started on anti depressants which made me feel extremely demoralised. He then sent me next door to his colleague to get a splint made and straightaway she noticed a hairline crack in an upper molar which could be causing pain. So different dentists have completely different opinions.

@TheBookworm88 No it wasn't painful. He was very careful about making sure I had plenty of pain relief. A bit tender afterwards for the rest of the day as you'd expect but that was all.

After months of being batted between my dentist and GP (and second, third and fourth opinions), I truly feel bruxism is the source of my dental issues.
Like you, I don't have classic TMJ symptoms- my pain is dental rather than a muscular jaw ache.
The Atypical facial pain diagnosis was thrown into the mix, when I had a tooth extracted, following intractable pain that was not alleviated by a rct, despite my dentist seeing no sign of infection, and no crack or other issues. Almost as soon as the tooth was extracted, the pain moved to the tooth next door. I don't feel it's nerve pain though- I believe that my continual clenching is bruising ligaments under teeth, and moves around due to my irregular bite, which has worsened following extraction of teeth.

I have only ever had a soft mouth guard, which I feel makes things worse. My new dentist has recommended a hard, free plane mouthguard, which will hopefully discourage clenching. If that doesn't work, she will make me a (much more expensive) Michigan splint.

I also need an implant, to replace the tooth that was lost 😞.
The whole thing has been a massive pain in the arse!!

I have had root planing at my dentist. I’m dental phobic so need lots of anaesthetic and gentle sympathetic treatment, which is why I go to this particular practice. Anyone abrupt or dismissive would have me running a mile. It is expensive (I’m in Germany and my health insurance doesn’t cover it all) but well worth it to have my lovely dentist take care of everything.

@opalescent are you me? That's exactly what I've been experiencing. When I had my LL6 extracted the pain then moved to the 7s but I think that was because my bite was further thrown out of alignment. My molar was also extracted after the pain didn't settle following rct. Do you have pain on chewing or if you talk too long? I'm basically on a liquid/soft diet the past 5 months. It really sucks. Plus I'm now getting a lot of pain in my gums but unsure if that's due to the gum disease or if it's pain caused by clenching. Probably a silly question as I'm sure you've researched loads (like myself) but have you tried magnesium or diazepam? I do find diazepam helps (or at least relaxes me enough to stop fretting about it all so much), and have very recently bought magnesium glycinate as have heard it's good for clenching but haven't used it yet. My gp prescribed amitriptyline but haven't taken it as need to be able to get up in the night for 6 month old DD.

Glad you have a nice dentist @ChaToilLeam! It makes all the difference doesn't it.

Hi i know this thread is old but wondered if you’ve got an update on how you are now as I’m in a similar situation and it’s very miserable. Hope your feeling better