Dental issues.....again.... - Page 3

Drythe · ‎07-09-2011

F1wild, wish you were closer to me, like your conservative approach to care!

"Animals are not my whole world, but they have made my world whole" ~ Roger Caras

gazelle77 · ‎03-01-2013

On 8/15/2014 F1wild said:
On 8/15/2014 gazelle77 said: So I went for a cleaning yesterday. I set up an appointment for next week to have a crown done on an old 30 year old mercury filling filled molar with fractures in it. Well this morning when flossing, a crowned molar on THE OTHER SIDE of my mouth broke! Probably the dental cleaning I had yesterday caused it if it had a weak place in the old crown..... I would like to cry now..... So I went back today AGAIN to the dentist and got a temporary crown on until next week when they can prep the tooth for another permanent new crown. I can not chew on it as it is sensitive with the temporary crown. Is that normal??? My teeth have given me nothing but heartache it seems... Now I have to pay for two crowns $$$$$$$. Teeth issues and my bad joints.... I sometimes understand why people get depressed and just want to give up.

I just wrote a long explanation-I'm an expanded-function dental hygienist. I'm not sure where it went, but this time I'll be brief.

When it comes to silver/amalgam/mercury fillings, they are subjected to the tonight's thermal dynamic properties. Expansion and contraction with temp changes, like a road in summer winter. The filling doesn't expand and contract, causing cracks & eventually fractures. Tooth-colored fillings are chemically bonded to the tooth so not the same issues. A lot of people, the last with silver fillings have to get crowns.

The other crown probably wasn't weakened by the cleaning (not sure if you meant tooth or crown broke) because these crowns, most porcelain-fused to metal are made to withstand the chewing forces of the back teeth (more ppi than anything else in body). Maybe small incipient decay under crown or cement gave out. If crown was still whole it can be cleaned out and reused, if not new crown.

Your poor tooth has been through a lot. Losing crowns or tooth fractures sprain the little ligaments holding the tooth to bone. So it's just like a sprained ankle, only it feels bigger in your mouth. Take OTC pain meds and ice packs, just like for a sprained ankle.

I'm sorry you have to go through this. Dental problems are awful! Keep us posted to how you're doing.

Thank-you! So helpful!

the crown had NO medal used....a chunk just broke off! It was10 years old.....I have a mouthful of crowns...first one that ever failed on me. No decay, I just pray the poor tooth withstands all the trauma. CAN I ASK YOU THIS....it hurts to bit down on the tooth when I eat. Should I just not chew on it until next Thursday? Is this normal with a temporary?

Azcowgirl · ‎04-10-2012

You have my sympathy. I had a bridge installed, and the nerves in that area just would not settle down and I absolutely could not chew on that side, went back several times, dentist adjusted the bite, and still no relief, a year later finally somewhat better . I haven't been back, every visit is another big expense and I blow through my insurance in one visit. Now I should get a partial, but so expensive even after ins., I just keep putting it off. Good luck, hope it gets better.

chickadee · ‎10-29-2010

On 8/15/2014 Colonel Meow said:
Oh, I feel badly for all you ladies who have been experiencing such issues! ${#emotions_dlg.crying}$ I'm going to ask a question that may seem obtuse, but please realize that I'm asking in all sincerity and with genuine curiosity.

At what point do you make the decision to just pull the tooth rather than try procedure after procedure to fix it? Some of you have spoken about tens of thousands of dollars being spent on dental procedures (with no help from insurance). Has there ever been a time that you just had to throw in the towel and give up on a tooth?

I've had to do that with 4 in the past 2 years, and now another one is acting up. This is on teeth I've already spent tens of thousands trying to fix with root canals and crowns, and going to endodontist for retreats at over 2000 each time. And those fail within a couple of years. After the last one failed, I decided to give up. It cost over 200 bucks just to have them pulled, so it's not like that's cheap, either!

Now I have yet another root canal/crowned tooth that is acting up and I'm in tears over it. I know a lot of people judge and say to take better care of my teeth, but they have no idea! I brush, floss, and use a water pick twice a day. I do not have gum disease. My problems arise from severe dry mouth as well as TMJ/teeth grinding and breaking teeth.

I don't have any more money to put in to fixing the same teeth over and over and over again. Some of the ones I don't have any more, I'm still making payments on the repairs I made to them while they were still in my mouth. I'm mortified about my newly missing teeth.All the ones in front are still there. Maybe I can keep those and just get partials in the back. My front teeth are pretty. *sigh*

PINKdogWOOD · ‎05-13-2010

I could have been the one to start this blog this past Tuesday. Had my checkup on MOnday, Dr S puts 'watches' on my 45 yr old silver fillings in molars as well. Of course one 2nd one in from back upper right had a temp crown put on too. Perm goes on Sept 4.

I'm retired w/dental insurance by MetLife. IMO, Snoopy can have his insurance back b/c this plan is 65/53 split AND they get to decide which way to go with this depending on the work I have done. My new crown must be one of those things whereby I pay 65% an d they pay the mere 35% because my fair share was only (and I use this term very loosely!!!) a whopping $667.95!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANd, after my dental office files my claim, I could potentially owe them mo' money, mo' money, MO' MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MetLife Dental obviously is NOT good for me & my hubby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Sagal · ‎03-13-2012

Dental work is SOOOO expensive and the insurance plans are woefully inadequate for the costs these days. I have always had problems with my teeth - my dentist keeps saying its because I have dry mouth which contributes to the problem. I finally started going to my local University Dental School and it has saved me thousands of dollars and I have been very happy with the results - but even then its still expensive. But I'm determined to keep my teeth in shape!

flickerbulb · ‎03-09-2010

I went in for one crown a couple of months ago. When he was working on that tooth, he told me the tooth next to it had decay and he had to do that one too.

So, those get done and this eats up my annual allowance from insurance. Last month, some other tooth on the other side starts pinging with nerve pain. I go to the dentist and they won't even see me unless I cough up several hundred dollars.

I tell them I don't have it so they give me antibiotics and ibuprofen. It is still pinging, especially when I talk. Guess what I do for work: I talk. I teach and students show up Monday.

Unless I walk in with hundred dollar bills pinned to my shirt, I am SOL.

Madisson · ‎10-13-2011

On 8/15/2014 chessylady said: I can sympathize. I have lost two molars in the last year and had one emergency crown replacement. Burned through my insurance in the spring. In September I have dental implant surgery with a sinus lift which I am dreading. I will be out $4500 since no insurance company will pay for implants. It was that or a bridge and I felt the implant would work the best for me. I just tell myself that this too will pass.

chessylady, insurance companies are beginning to pay for implants. Check on your insurance. People just assume they won't cover, but many are these days. Of course, they only cover up to your maximum, which is usually $1,000-$1,500. Our insurance covered the $1,500 for my husband's implant last year.

Some people do drugs. I do shoes....Celine Dion

Silverandgold · ‎03-10-2010

Going to the dentist is a never ending money pit. I maintain my theory that while numb & they are working on one tooth, the surrounding teeth are 'traumatized' and for me, inevitably, start acting up shortly thereafter even if they never had a problem. I go for a cleaning, no problems, & suddenly thousands of dollars of work 'is needed'. I am going to skip the 'professional cleanings'. In the last one, the hygenist was extremely rough & sure enough, some issues have cropped up. I'm done unless something really bothers me (pain) - no more proactive stuff. The prices are ridiculous & even with dental insurance, crowns & root canals are only partially covered.

Silverandgold · ‎03-10-2010

On 8/16/2014 pink dogwood said:
I could have been the one to start this blog this past Tuesday. Had my checkup on MOnday, Dr S puts 'watches' on my 45 yr old silver fillings in molars as well. Of course one 2nd one in from back upper right had a temp crown put on too. Perm goes on Sept 4.

I'm retired w/dental insurance by MetLife. IMO, Snoopy can have his insurance back b/c this plan is 65/53 split AND they get to decide which way to go with this depending on the work I have done. My new crown must be one of those things whereby I pay 65% an d they pay the mere 35% because my fair share was only (and I use this term very loosely!!!) a whopping $667.95!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANd, after my dental office files my claim, I could potentially owe them mo' money, mo' money, MO' MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MetLife Dental obviously is NOT good for me & my hubby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

ITA. I have MetLife also & it's the same.