From tooth sensitivity to soreness to...

[mindless1]

I am only stating that hydrogen peroxide causes tissue damage. It is an indiscriminate oxidizer that harms broken skin/open gums/etc in addition to killing bacteria. Whether that is more of an advantage to combat the bacteria or detriment to healing, depends on the situation.

This is why it is time to see a dentist. If that's what the dentist advised, I am not second guessing that. Any self remedy is worse than getting into any dentist sooner, getting their primary care and then deciding what to do next. If they want to pull all your teeth and cut your testicles off, you can get a different 2nd opinion. Main thing is get the primary treatment for the infection so it doesn't spread.

 

[Muse]

I could get dental insurance through my HMO where I'm on a Medicare plan. It would boost my monthly payment. It would almost certainly save me money. But I would not be able to go to my current dentist. I suppose I'd be treated by some dentist who I've never heard of. My dentist comes highly recommended. there was a thread at Nextdoor a couple years ago started, I suppose, by someone looking for recommendations for a local dentist. One guy got the most by far and after I felt confident to go to a dentist finally (Moderna covid-19 vaccinated), I started seeing him. He was hands on at first, but I usually don't see him, I see one of his underlings although the woman who's been attending me is a dentist as well. Like my former, long time dentist, every assistant in his office is female. I'd still be with my former dentist but he retired... just before the pandemic hit. He was probably really glad he'd retired just then. He was good, but my new dentist seems to have a higher level of dentistry going on. For one thing, I've gotten a couple of deep cleanings, one for the left side, the other for the right. I don't think my former dentist's practice supported deep cleanings. He never mentioned them.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I could get dental insurance through my HMO where I'm on a Medicare plan. It would boost my monthly payment. It would almost certainly save me money. But I would not be able to go to my current dentist. I suppose I'd be treated by some dentist who I've never heard of. My dentist comes highly recommended. there was a thread at Nextdoor a couple years ago started, I suppose, by someone looking for recommendations for a local dentist. One guy got the most by far and after I felt confident to go to a dentist finally (Moderna covid-19 vaccinated), I started seeing him. He was hands on at first, but usually don't see him, I see one of his underlings although the woman who's been attending me is a dentist as well. Like my former, long time dentist, every assistant in his office is female. I'd still be with my former dentist but he retired... just before the pandemic hit. He was probably really glad he'd retired just then. He was good, but my new dentist seems to have a higher level of dentistry going on. For one thing, I've gotten a couple of deep cleanings, one for the left side, the other for the right. I don't think my former dentist's practice supported deep cleanings. He never mentioned them.

I didn't think I needed dental insurance until I started examining my Quicken accounts for the annual expense, which climbed from being below $1,000/annum. Probably over the last six years, I've had maybe $15,000 in expenses. I was a fool to switch dentists in 2017 -- a change over a misperception I had about my long-standing dentist and his politics.

I went from the frying pan into the fire, and the new outfit was harvesting my wallet and my teeth. I went back to Paul for a second opinion about one of their fillings that came loose six months after it was installed. They would've been guilty of malpractice if they'd pulled that tooth. They had tried to sell me on a root-canal and then an implant, arguing that the tooth with the lost filling would give me an abscess. Paul just fixed the filling and it's been fine ever since. The other outfit didn't take insurance, because it would invite scrutiny from the insurers.

We patched up. We occasionally meet for lunch.

The dental insurance should cover 100% for the semi-annual cleanings and X-rays. Then, at most 50% up to some annual limit -- I think it was $5,000. But I would really be in a pickle now if I hadn't started with insurance when I went back to Paul. Suddenly, there are fewer fillings per year, and the only serious work arose for an implant I needed after breaking a tooth. When you get old, your teeth are weaker. They may have cracks in them.

Mostly I'm able to cover any dental expense throughout the year from monthly income, which would otherwise be saved. But unless you lost all your teeth and they were replaced by a 4x4, it's just an expense of getting old.

And, yes, I was stupid to change dentists over my anger and distress of that year. But save it for the P&N forum. Frankly, I don't want to talk about any of that anymore. I'm totally exhausted with it. I have less and less personal energy with each passing year.

 

[Muse]

I didn't think I needed dental insurance until I started examining my Quicken accounts for the annual expense, which climbed from being below $1,000/annum. Probably over the last six years, I've had maybe $15,000 in expenses. I was a fool to switch dentists in 2017 -- a change over a misperception I had about my long-standing dentist and his politics.

I went from the frying pan into the fire, and the new outfit was harvesting my wallet and my teeth. I went back to Paul for a second opinion about one of their fillings that came loose six months after it was installed. They would've been guilty of malpractice if they'd pulled that tooth. They had tried to sell me on a root-canal and then an implant, arguing that the tooth with the lost filling would give me an abscess. Paul just fixed the filling and it's been fine ever since. The other outfit didn't take insurance, because it would invite scrutiny from the insurers.

We patched up. We occasionally meet for lunch.

The dental insurance should cover 100% for the semi-annual cleanings and X-rays. Then, at most 50% up to some annual limit -- I think it was $5,000. But I would really be in a pickle now if I hadn't started with insurance when I went back to Paul. Suddenly, there are fewer fillings per year, and the only serious work arose for an implant I needed after breaking a tooth. When you get old, your teeth are weaker. They may have cracks in them.

Mostly I'm able to cover any dental expense throughout the year from monthly income, which would otherwise be saved. But unless you lost all your teeth and they were replaced by a 4x4, it's just an expense of getting old.

And, yes, I was stupid to change dentists over my anger and distress of that year. But save it for the P&N forum. Frankly, I don't want to talk about any of that anymore. I'm totally exhausted with it. I have less and less personal energy with each passing year.

I'm getting older (everyone does, period), I have no money to burn but figure health comes first and have not spared my teeth top priority. My mother, who was anything but a scientist, would say occasionally that taking care of your teeth is super important. That's the only thing she said that about, so yeah, it made an impression on me. My father was an M.D., so was a scientist. He wasn't the kind of person to try to inculcated you with his opinions, although he clearly advocated good driving. I eventually adopted that, but state mandated videos of horrific accident scenes were what impressed me with the necessity to give up aggressive driving in my middle 20's.

I have not tried to skimp on dental fees, however there was a long period when I did not see a dentist. I got through that without major work needed, but I do have a few crowns.

I've been lucky to have good dentists. My former dentist was the younger associate who took over for the dentist who was recommended by a woman I know who was a dental assistant, when he retired. I stayed with that younger guy until he retired end of 2019. He inspired confidence because his advice always struck me as well founded. He was a man of sensitivity, personable, likeable. I liked his staff. Late in his practice, his wife would come in one day a week as the receptionist, also obviously an intelligent person. He knew the limitations of his practice and when I needed treatment that was beyond his capabilities he referred me to competent local professionals. I trusted his judgement, and he would always explain his reasoning for his determinations and often give me the option of deciding between alternatives in treatment, procedures. I never feared going to my every 6 month appointments. If I needed emergency treatment (only a few times), I could call, he was there, a 10 minute bike ride away. I suppose he took vacations but don't recall that being an issue. My current primary care physician takes 2 week vacations seemingly several times a year. Quite often if I email him, it's an associate who responds. I had much more confidence in my previous dentist (than my PCP). When I went into his office, I saw him. My current dentist, it seems I probably won't, which does concern me, however his staff seems quite competent. He has quite the burgeoning operation. He told me the day I met him that his son (I believe an accredited dentist already) is likely to come on staff in the near future, he's just working with other dentists to get a feel for the profession before he comes on board. It won't surprise me if he becomes my dentist one day ... soon.