Cat filter: Do I really need to get her teeth cleaned? [more inside]
posted by greta simone on Mar 30, 2009 - 30 answers

Do wisdom teeth really need to come out, or is my dentist trying to hustle me? My question, dear MeFites, is... do you really need to have your wisdom teeth taken out if they're not causing you any pain? [more inside]
posted by katala on Nov 4, 2008 - 52 answers

wisdom teeth removal questions - laughing gas only? is two separate removals a bad idea? [more inside]
posted by illegiblemess on Oct 19, 2008 - 35 answers

Groan. I need dental braces as an adult... many questions. [more inside]
posted by lottie on Jul 31, 2008 - 10 answers

When does most tooth decay occur? [more inside]
posted by jacobean on May 13, 2008 - 8 answers

Why does opening my throat and *gargling* with listerine, as opposed to merely rinsing like I would when brushing my teeth, hurt a lot? I don't have a sore throat or any other throat troubles I know of. [more inside]
posted by shivohum on Nov 26, 2007 - 7 answers

Help cleaning kitty teeth? [more inside]
posted by danb1 on Oct 18, 2007 - 10 answers

I searched the archives and came up with two threads DC-wise, one recommending doctors in general and another with recommendations for cosmetic dentistry. The dentist I'm looking for is metro accessible (preferably NW DC) and has reasonable rates (completely out of pocket) for a standard cleaning and plaque removal/scaling. Thanks!
posted by whitneykitty on Sep 25, 2007 - 4 answers

Help! My teeth are just fine, but my gums seem to be receding. I can't see my dentist for three months. What can I do in the meantime?
posted by krisken on Jun 25, 2007 - 22 answers

Due to some psychological issues, over the last one to two years, I've brushed my teeth ... well, probably no more than ten times, total. Having somewhat exorcised whatever little demon caused this neglect, I'm now trying to work my way back to dental health; I need some encouragement that the next step isn't going to be dentures. As always, there's [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 31, 2007 - 48 answers

Delayed cold sensitivity in teeth? Anyone know what this is? It's not quite a brain-freeze, not actually cold-sensitivity, it's exactly this: 45 minutes to an hour after I eat something frozen, I get a sharp ache deep inside in my upper gums/skull (about where the canine eminence lies). [more inside]
posted by kokogiak on Jan 2, 2007 - 7 answers

[Dental Filter] So, my gums are doing an awful lot of bleeding. It will be at least four months before I can go to the dentist. What can I do about this in the mean time? [more inside]
posted by EatTheWeak on Dec 13, 2006 - 28 answers

Reccommend a dentist in NYC who takes insurance? [more inside]
posted by scazza on Nov 21, 2006 - 10 answers

Our feisty little cat has snapped a canine. What should we do? [more inside]
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen on Aug 26, 2006 - 14 answers

What toothpaste is the best for the health of my teeth and gums? [more inside]
posted by riffola on Dec 7, 2005 - 42 answers

how often should i change my toothbrush?
posted by brandz on Nov 24, 2005 - 33 answers

Does a mercury filling open to saliva present a health problem? [more inside]
posted by goalyeehah on Sep 30, 2005 - 8 answers

Anybody ever have this happen: Every once in a while (but more often lately) when I'm eating, my jaw will "crack"right near my right ear and then hurts like a mother*@!$&. What causes this? I've never had my wisdom teeth removed...I'm wondering if that's related or not.....anyone?
posted by stevyb on May 13, 2005 - 17 answers

Is toothpaste bad for your teeth? I recall seeing what was maybe a blog entry by some MeFite on his or her personal site that said (following details are sketchy!): toothpaste is bad for your teeth because of the glycerin, which doesn't allow teeth to "re-enamel". This is just from memory, so I may not have stated it correctly, and I can't find the site again. There was much more information that was very surprising to me (including something about flouride making teeth brittle, and also something about fruit), and I'd like to read more about this. Does anyone here recognize this being from your own site? Has anyone else heard of the toothpaste=bad thing?
posted by taz on Feb 6, 2005 - 32 answers

My boyfriend needs to go to the dentist. He recently chipped a tooth, and hasn't been in ages. The problem is two-fold: One, he's TERRIFIED of going, especially because of his long time away from the dentist, and because of deep-rooted fear of the dentist and two, he has no dental insurance. He's agreed to go if I can find a dentist that will accept him without insurance and I go with him to hold his hand. How do I find a dentist that will see him without insurance and will be accomodating to his fears? 1-800-dentist seems secretive at how they arrive at their recommendations.
posted by agregoli on Nov 15, 2004 - 21 answers

Toothache. What are some good temporary ways to hold off the pain until dentist time? [more inside]
posted by wackybrit on Jul 31, 2004 - 22 answers

I'm looking for advice on dental insurance. My girlfriend's employer does not provide it and she generally doesn't need it because she has magic cavity-preventing saliva. seriously, she's never had a cavity, never goes to the dentist! But now, she can feel one of her wisdom teeth starting to act up and probably needs an extraction. (others should probably be extracted while she's at it.) Should she go with bargain insurance (and can anyone recommend a good dental insurance company), or should she just get the work done without insurance and pay it back over time? If it makes a difference, we're in the Bay Area.
posted by badstone on Jul 26, 2004 - 14 answers

YuckHabitFilter/NeedMoreToWorryAboutFilter: Say you tend to chew on plastic pens while working, despite efforts to stop. Aside from the obvious Googleable dental detriments (tooth wear) and, um, choking risk I guess, are there any other dangers, esp. ones not grounded in Freudian analysis? Are you ingesting scary levels of leeching plasticizers and resins? If so, can you litigate? Kidding...
posted by tss on Jun 8, 2004 - 8 answers

Extracting Wisdom: I've been putting it dodging it for years, but it's looking (and feeling) like I'm going to have to get my wisdom teeth pulled. I do have insurance, but I have to go to a specific provider - a provider I've never actually been to before. Any advice on questions I should ask or things I should look for? Is one oral surgeon as good as another or should I shop around and/or pay extra if needed?
posted by aladfar on Jun 7, 2004 - 24 answers