My recent trip to the dentist: something fishy?

[Muse]

I read your OP. If it were me, I'd get a detailed report on the work they see and go get a "2nd opinion," see another dentist, hear what they say, get a report if at all possible and compare. I would for sure not do without at least one more "opinion."

Myself, I see my dentist every 6 months. I once went for a long stretch without seeing a dentist, did do basic hygiene in the interim, but I don't advise it. I have a lot of fillings, many pretty big. You're asking for trouble down the road if you don't take care of your teeth. I've had one root canal, could possible use more, but I'm getting by. I almost never get cavities now, usually if I need dental work it's repair of a previous filling. I do not dread going to the dentist, there's usually nothing to be done other than cleaning, inspection, and every other time I have xrays.

 

[tcG]

You do know that gold is also a heavy metal and can cause neurological damage?

I did a bit of cursory searching and it looks like gold salts or gold solutions can cause side effects as an orally/intramuscularly administered treatment for certain diseases, but that metallic gold of high purity (the kind used in dentistry, particular for foil fillings) is non-toxic and extremely stable.

 

[Muse]

You get more exposure to mercury from eating canned fish than amalgam fillings. Maybe they should make selling fish illegal then?

I asked my dentist about my amalgam fillings and he assured me that there's no concern. I don't remember the details but I was reassured. BTW, he's obviously close to 60 and I'm told (by his wife and himself confirms) that he's never had a single filling done! I guess he has good genes!

 

[SheHateMe]

I have on both sides of my mouth, wisdom teeth that have been teasing the idea of coming in for years.

I went to a consult with a new dentist in VA (cause I moved from MI) and she started going on and on about how they had to schedule a surgery for me with a specialist or something because the wisdom teeth were trying to break through and it was going to mess up the alignment of my other teeth.

She kept asking me if I felt pain when I ate and I said no...so she suggested they extract the teeth as soon as possible.

That was 3 years ago. The Wisdom teeth are still under the gums and haven't come in. Never felt pain once.

My insurance wasn't going to cover that either.

 

[Corporate Thug]

I have on both sides of my mouth, wisdom teeth that have been teasing the idea of coming in for years.

I went to a consult with a new dentist in VA (cause I moved from MI) and she started going on and on about how they had to schedule a surgery for me with a specialist or something because the wisdom teeth were trying to break through and it was going to mess up the alignment of my other teeth.

She kept asking me if I felt pain when I ate and I said no...so she suggested they extract the teeth as soon as possible.

That was 3 years ago. The Wisdom teeth are still under the gums and haven't come in. Never felt pain once.

My insurance wasn't going to cover that either.

my dentist removed 3 of my wisdom teeth only when they formed massive cavities and were causing paid (the 4th never came in). Anyway, it was a simple extraction. He charged $200 cash for the whole thing.

 

[who?]

Besides brushing and flossing a germ killing oral rinse is a good idea.

 

[nextuszerodmd]

i'm actually a dentist, in a residency training to become an oral maxillofacial surgeon.

feel free to ask questions

 

[Tequila]

lolwut on the not covering white fillings.
Many dentists don't even do amalgam (metal) fillings anymore.

^This. My remaining silver fillings are from the 70s. Anything these days is white.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

^This. My remaining silver fillings are from the 70s. Anything these days is white.

FWIW, military still gives metal fillings. I'm cool with it as I've had ZERO pain from any of those teeth. I got my wisdom teeth pulled, at least 8 root canals and 10 fillings on Uncle Sams dime.

 

[TallBill]

FWIW, military still gives metal fillings. I'm cool with it as I've had ZERO pain from any of those teeth. I got my wisdom teeth pulled, at least 8 root canals and 10 fillings on Uncle Sams dime.

I've had two fillings fail and need crowns from army dental work. I somehow got about 20 cavities during 8 months in Afghanistan and they went to town.