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Post from: Healthbolt

Sometimes, on the way to the dentist, I’ll forget to brush. Especially if I’m at work or something and have eaten before my appointment. I think this is sort of gross, but I feel silly apologizing or asking the dentist not to judge me. What’s the proper etiquette here?

Melynda (My dentist and lovely wife) says:
The dentist has most assuredly seen it all: mouths much worse than yours, as well as immaculate, sparkling mouths (though those are much more rare). Feel free to just ask the dentist for a toothbrush and some toothpaste so you can brush. Trust me, they have tons and you were probably going to get one anyway.

This avoids the tricky dilemma of answering “do I need to brush- I just ate and didn’t have time?” The dentist doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by demanding that they brush, and truthfully most don’t care too much about finding a little piece of leftover Dorito betwixt your teeth. But it will make the appointment more pleasant for you if you don’t have to worry about what the dentist/hygienist is thinking when they look at your teeth.

Do you have a question for Melynda? Send it here.

Post from: Healthbolt

Nigel asks:

What would you recommend for someone who has avoided the dentist for years due to a bad experience involving pain,who now, however, wants to go back? My concerns range from having another bad experience to being ripped off by the dentist, as I know I will have a fairly large amount of work to be done.

My Dentist (and lovely wife), Melynda:

Well, you’re certainly on the right track by recognizing the importance of your dental health and that you need to see a dentist at some point. Your fears are valid, and there are many people who avoid the dentist for as long as possible for the reasons you’ve described. But this is not a problem that will go away.

Get references from friends or co-workers about dentists they’ve had positive experiences with, and make an appointment ASAP. The sooner you get in there, the more likely you’ll be able to catch problems before they get big and expensive.

During your first visit let the dentist know that you’ve had a bad experience in the past. Tell them what happened that caused you so much pain. Sometimes a simple change, such as using a different kind of anesthetic, will make a world of difference. If the dentist hears your story about the last experience, then she or he can make sure to avoid these sorts of mistakes when treating you. It’s really important that you be able to trust your dentist and feel comfortable talking to them.

Beyond that, nitrous oxide is a great tool for anxious patients.

Your financial concerns are understandable, as well. Dental care is expensive! Especially if you do not have dental insurance. Costs vary from one dentist to another, but you should be able to call several dental offices in your area and ask for approximate pricing for fillings, crowns, etc. This will give you something to use when comparing offices.

If the receptionist seems reluctant to quote you pricing, it’s probably because of the variations of different treatments that can’t be determined without giving you a comprehensive exam. Even the kind of cleaning you get depends on several different factors. To ease your mind, you should know that you can always accept some treatments, and tell the dentist you’d rather wait on the more expensive or the less pressing issues.

If you live near a dental school, and have a lot of time for dental appointments, that’s another good option. Dental school fees are typically half of what you’d be charged in private practice. The care you receive at a teaching facility is very thorough (you have not only your student dentist, but all of the faculty he/she works with as well as specialists in almost every area readily available to provide consults at no charge) but also very slow.

I hope that helps. Once again, the longer you wait, the greater the potential for things to become worse. So start taking steps now, and good luck!

Note from Wade:

You really should just go and get it over with. You’re probably imagining it to be worse than it is. I know I always do that. I’m a huge baby in the dentist’s chair, but by far the the worst part of it all is thinking about it before hand. So stop building it up in your head; get in there and see what you actually need to have done. It’s probably not as bad as you think. I’ve found that it’s a rare thing when reality can match the power of an anxious imagination.

Do you have a question for our dentist? Submit it to Tips with “dentist?” in the subject line.

[tags] dentist, cost, anxiety [/tags]

Post from: Healthbolt

Me: With platinum and diamonds trendy of late, what’s the best material, from your point of view, to put in my mouth?

My Dentist (and lovely wife), Melynda: Almost any material used today in dentistry is fantastic. Gold is probably one of the best materials you can put in your mouth. It has very nearly the same hardness as your teeth. This is in contrast to porcelin, for example, which is more abrasive than natural teeth and has the potential to wear away your natural teeth if they oppose each other.

On the other hand, most people FAR prefer the look of porcelin in their mouth to the look of gold. (Refrain from making gold tooth jokes, please.) Particularly in the front teeth! Gold has its negative qualities as well, mainly being much more operator-sensitive and more time consuming. A gold filling is created by a lab, in a similar manner to a crown, and thus takes at least two appointments. For this reason, most patients and dentists opt for traditional amalgam (silver) or composite (white) fillings that can be placed quickly in a single appointment. Both are excellent restorative materials, by the way.

Do you have a question for our dentist? Submit it to Tips with “dentist?” in the subject line.

[tags] teeth, materials, dental [/tags]

Post from: Healthbolt

Me: Halloween is generally considered awesome by the masses; I’m sure dentists love it as well. After all, it creates patients right? What’s the best way to avoid undoing all our dentists’ hard work in a few, short, fructose-fueled, glorious hours this evening?

My Dentist (and lovely wife), Melynda : Candy isn’t exactly the best choice for a snack. The bacteria in your (or your child’s) mouth LOVE all that sugar, and the sticky factor just makes it stay around longer for the little buggies to feed on. The bacteria, in turn, produce acid which can deteriorate the enamel of your teeth. Then come cavities.

But you don’t have to be the meanest mom in town and not let your kid have ANY candy. Try to give your child (or yourself, as is going to be the case for me if we have any leftover candy after tonight, and I have my fingers crossed that we will) a few pieces to go along with his or her meal. It’s really important to try and not just eat a piece every hour or so.

By eating a few pieces with meals or your regular snack, your saliva will have a chance to combat all that sugar. Chewing sugar free gum and drinking water can help your body to buffer all that acid. And of course, remember to keep brushing your teeth for two minutes at least twice a day…

Do you have a question for our dentist? Submit it to tips@healthbolt.net with “dentist?” in the subject line.

[tags] dentist, halloween, candy, cavities, tips [/tags]

Post from: Healthbolt

Me: So I’ve been taking fluoride in community water and from various dental care providers for years, but what’s it do?

My Dentist (and lovely wife), Melynda : Fluoride forms a chemical bond in the enamel. Enamel is made up mostly of Hydroxyapatite. The fluoride takes the place of the hydroxy Point is, it makes your teeth stronger and harder due to chemical things, so bacteria and acids have a harder time breaking through. AND systemic fluoride (in drinking water- 1 part per million is ideal) is more effective than topical fluoride.

Do you have a question for our dentist? Submit it to tips@healthbolt.net with “dentist?” in the subject line.

[tags] dentist, fluoride, teeth, care, cavity [/tags]

Post from: Healthbolt

Me:
How do I pick a good mouthwash?

Melynda (My dentist and lovely wife):
There are a lot of different mouthwashes available. Fluoride mouthwash is great if you live in an area that does not have fluoridated water, or you drink only bottled water. Your dentist may also recommend it if you have a high caries (the technical term for cavities) rate.

Some mouthwashes are referred to as “cosmetic.” They do little more than freshen your breath and many have a high alcohol content which can dry out your mouth. Scope is an example of this type. Mouth rinses such as Listerine and Crest Pro-Health both do a very good job of killing bacteria in your mouth. Listerine has a high alcohol content, so it might be better to avoid that if you have problems with dry mouth. Crest Pro-Health has no alcohol and it has a longer substantivity (which means it keeps working for several hours after you spit it out).

The step beyond this is often prescribed for patients who have periodontal disease or a high caries rate. It’s called Chlorhexidine, and it tastes awful, but is very good at killing the bacteria in people’s mouths.

[tags] dental, care, mouthwash [/tags]

Do you have a question for our From the Other Side of the Drill feature? Send it to tips@healthbolt.net with “drill?” in the subject line.

Post from: Healthbolt

Me:
Should I floss before or after I brush?

Melynda (My dentist and lovely wife):
The most important thing is to JUST FLOSS! Every other day is great. The ideal way to floss is before brushing, because that removes some of the plaque between your teeth, and loosens some of it. Follow that up with brushing and it will rid your mouth of those loosened plaque particles as well as the plaque on the chewing surfaces and smooth surfaces of your teeth.

[tags] dental, floss, brush, teeth, routine, order [/tags]

Do you have a question for our From the Other Side of the Drill feature? Send it to tips@healthbolt.net with “drill?” in the subject line.

Post from: Healthbolt

Me:
So what’s with wisdom teeth anyway? Why do we have them if they just have to be cut out?

Melynda (My dentist and lovely wife):
Wisdom teeth are actually not harmful in many people. For those who have mouths large enough to accomodate 4 additional molars, wisdom teeth pose no problem at all other than a few more surfaces to brush.

But many people have jaws that are just too small to house 4 extra teeth, and this is why they start coming in wierd ways (sideways, pointing out toward your cheek, just plain lodged in your bone…) and possibly emerging, getting infected and causing pain. I’d venture to guess that our jaws have evolved smaller due to our change in diet, but the teeth haven’t quite caught up in everyone.

Post from: Healthbolt

Me:
This picture of a Hello Kitty tooth implant was posted on Boing Boing a few days ago. Is this a Photo-chop or what?

Melynda (My dentist and lovely wife):
While it’s possible that picture is real, most likely, it’s a fake. When a dentist places a crown on your tooth, or on your implant, or even does a filling, s/he makes sure that your “occlusion” is perfect.

That just means that your teeth bite together correctly. That’s what they are doing when they place that little piece of paper in your mouth and tell you to “tap tap tap,” or “grind all around.” The paper marks any spots that may be hitting together too early so the dentist knows what to remove.

If your occlusion isn’t just about perfect it can result in headaches, unnatural tooth wear and even severe pain in some people. So, unless the dentist who placed Hello Kitty checked and rechecked her owner’s occlusion, thereby probably grinding poor Kitty’s face all up, I’d guess this picture has been tampered with.

[tags] Hello Kitty, implant, tooth, Photoshop [/tags]

Post from: Healthbolt