Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with health and teeth

Kitty teeth

greta simone — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:40:54 -0800

Cat filter: Do I really need to get her teeth cleaned? I just got back from my yearly vet check-up, and they recommended a teeth cleaning for my cat, stating that she has some gum disease. They showed me what indeed looked a little nasty, and then told me that a cleaning would cost from $250-350. I am very broke, getting ready to finish grad school, look for employment, and move to a large city. I cannot feasibly afford this, and probably won't be able to for quite some time.

I spoke with my mother shortly thereafter, and she said that I didn't need to get a cleaning, with her rationale being "they are animals. Their teeth get dirty. The cleaning is a vet racket". Now, I tend to be one of those cat-mamas that leans toward over-care and protection of my dear feline.

My questions are these: Have you, Mr. or Ms. Cat owner, gotten this recommendation from a vet and not gone ahead with the cleaning? Did you have negative consequences because of your decision? Is this neglect if I don't do it? Should I just bite the bullet and put this expense on my credit card?

Any and all experiences are welcome.

Thanks.

Do wisdom teeth really need to come out, or is my dentist trying to hustle me?

katala — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:51:21 -0800

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? My question, dear MeFites, is... do you really need to have your wisdom teeth taken out if they're not causing you any pain? I mean mankind has lived with these things in their head for thousands of years before modern dentistry and health funds made it "compulsory" to have them removed haven't we?

I have always had good strong straight teeth. The last time I saw a dentist was when I was 12 years old for a general checkup. I am now 30, I've never seen a dentist since as I've never had any trouble with my teeth, but I thought it was about time for a general checkup (I was not in any pain btw).

The dentist today took some xrays and did an examination and told me I need to have all 4 wisdom teeth out asap due to cavities and then probably a filling or root canal on one of my back molars. I won't bore you with the details but I really got the "used car salesman" vibe - scare tactics, time pressure tactics, etc.

Now my stance on wisdom teeth has always been that I wouldn't have them out - while the expense doesn't really bother me I'm not interested in the pain or the risk involved in being anesthetised.

My question then is - do my wisdom teeth really need to be removed if they're not causing me any pain, provided I learn to clean them better and just get the cavities filled??

Has anyone been in my situation and ignored the dentist with dire consequences??

I'd be very grateful for any advice you can give me and my "teef" :) Thank you :)!

wisdom tooth question

illegiblemess — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:49:10 -0800

wisdom teeth removal questions - laughing gas only? is two separate removals a bad idea? I need to get all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed - only one is out enough to be functional, so of couse this one has a cavity. This is the easiest/cheapest of the removals, the other 3 are either "impacted" or "deeply impacted" and thus more expensive/painful to remove. There's no pain really in any of them which is why i was told to get them removed in july and am only dealing with this now.

My insurance only pays 1000$/year of anything, which I've already used up almost half of this year. The oral surgeon's receptionist told me that with the first non-impacted tooth, usually laughing gas alone is just enough, but they highly reccomend an IV drip for the anything impacted. It would save me about $800 if I got the easy tooth removed now and the other three done in Jan with the IV, but I am a little hesitant to think that any tooth removal could be done without being completely out of it, and paying for the IV twice makes it not really worth it. I'm not broke, so an extra 800$ won't kill me if it's better to do it all at once, but I can think of so many other things I'd rather do with my money.

So my questions are: Has anyone had a wisdom tooth removed with just novocain/laughing gas, what's it like? Is it generally just a bad idea to split up the procedure like this, will I be making myself miserable to have to go through recovery twice?

Groan. I need dental braces as an adult... many questions.

lottie — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:11:37 -0800

Groan. I need dental braces as an adult... many questions. About fifteen years ago, when I was a teenager, I had my teeth straightened over many uncomfotable years. My teeth, as a result, were perfect, but since have moved dramatically, and continue to move and I have become sort of embarrased about them. I should mention that I'm 34 years of age, so re-visiting the days of my braces sounds about as appealing as, well, adolecence itself.

I saw an Orthodontist here in Sydney this week. Everything they said was exactly as I suspected, and they seemed like a terrific office in general. Sadly, the quote I received to correct my teeth, all from the underside (meaning no work visible) was $12,000. Needless to say I about swallowed my own teeth in alarm, and said I'd get back to them.

This quote is perhaps double what I was expecting to pay - I can probably justify up to $7,000. I called them this morning, explained it was too expensive for me, and asked if they could propose any other options, particularly, a less expensive option if I just take the plunge and get standard braces and be done with it. The revised quote? $9,000 because "my solution was relatively simple".
Pah.

I called a friend who has been through the same thing of late and asked what she has paid, and if she can recommend her Orthodontist. She is having the complete treatment for $6,000, and likes her guy, who I can't see because of where my work is situated.

I can't really shop around, and see other dentists until I find the right price, because the initial consultation fee seems to be in the range of $300 wherever I go.

I'm sure it depends on your "case", but does anyone know:

Is there much variation in price from Orthodontist to Orthodontist?
Is anyone seeeing someone good, and affordable in the Chatswood area?
On the other hand, does anyone know of a great orthodontist in the city (Sydney) or elsewhere who does Saturdays or other peculiar hours, like later in the evenings or opens the practise early in the morning?
Does anyone know a good pricing hack - is any private health cover advisable, or a waste of money?
Any other tips?

When Does Most Tooth Decay Occur?

jacobean — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:58:07 -0800

When does most tooth decay occur? Obviously it depends on diet, lifestyle etc.

But for the average Western person who eats three meals a day, when does most tooth decay occur? at night? after meals?

Why does gargling with listerine hurt?

shivohum — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:10:21 -0800

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. Also, it may be just my imagination, but I feel like whenever I do this I feel these grainy "bits" in the back of my throat, as if there's tiny pieces of something that the listerine has broken down and detached.

My cats need Listerine.

danb1 — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:54:21 -0800

Help cleaning kitty teeth? Can anyone recommend any homeopathic dental cleaning options for cats? Our two cats have red gums and crappy breath, and they need a dental cleaning, but we are both students and can't afford the hundreds of dollars it would cost to have our vet do it.

DC Dentist Recommendations?

whitneykitty — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:02:07 -0800

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!

How to combat receding gums?

krisken — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 10:09:57 -0800

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?

Seeking Encouragement About the Fate of My Teeth

Anonymous — Thu, 31 May 2007 10:29:17 -0800

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 Don't ask me why I neglected my teeth for so long; I'm not sure I could tell you. There were certainly some self-esteem issues involved, as well as issues of hiding from the world and making myself unattractive. Also, I perfectly understand that this may engender a really big "ewww!" factor, but the reaction's not helpful to me. Neglecting the most basic of basic daily maintenance routines is a symptom of depression; that's just how the dice hit the table with me. Sorry.

Basically, I'm looking for two aspects of recommendations from the Mefite community.

First, I'd appreciate recommendations with regards to equipment. For toothpaste, I'm thinking I'd get one of those brands that are supposed to address gum problems and/or enamel issues. Is one of those subbrands better than the other? (i.e. is Crest 'Everything and the Kitchen Sink' better than Colgate 'Super Duper Miracle Gums'?) And I have no idea what brand toothbrush would be best. I'd appreciate recommendations for both manual (for now) and the fancier kind (for later) ... I've heard good things about Sonicare. Is it worth the $120ish?

Second -- and this is the primary question, the reason I ventured into Ask Mefi, albeit anonymously -- I'm looking for reassurance from people who've had the same problem and rescued themselves, or from any Mefite dental professionals. Namely, I'd like any reassurance you can give (a) that I can get to a point where a dental visit won't equate to a visit to Guantanemo, and (b) that it's unlikely that my next step will be dentures, i.e., that it's not likely that I've wrecked my mouth altogether.

The plan is to twice daily prerinse with Plax, then brush, and then follow up with Listerine. I'm going to follow this routine for three months, during which time I'm going to look for a good dentist. (I know — flossing. I'm not going to worry about that for now. I hate flossing, because I've got these huge-ass fingers that I can't navigate in there with. And those little hand tools never seemed to work at all for me. I'm hoping the double-rinsing will do enough for now. I think flossing frustration might've been part of the derail in the past.)

I know you can't see my teeth or gums, but there aren't any major twinges or pains bothering me. I don't see any cavities, although I'm not entirely sure what to look for. The worst I can see is that my gumline around the bottom incisors has pulled back a slight bit, and there's one spot near one tooth where the gumline looks a bit darker (I think it might be periodontitis, if I understand the term right), and there's some heavy tartar deposits on my bottom cuspids.

(Also, I know age might be a factor in answering this question. I'm in my early thirties. And I had good dental maintenance up until a few years ago, and my teeth were sealed with flouride when I was a child, which, from what I understand, is a plus in terms of adult tooth health.)

Thanks in advance to anyone who worked their way through this rather yucky query.

The Cold Hard Tooth, Ow!

kokogiak — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:20:08 -0800

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). I don't always get it, but often. It never happens sooner than 45 minutes after I'm done (totally done, ice cream eaten, mouth warm, dessert practically forgotten). The ache is specifically located about 1/2 inch below my right nostril, about where you'd expect the roots of my upper teeth to be. It's not sensitive to touch (in fact feels a bit better if pressed on), and lasts anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour.

I believe one of the teeth there has had a root canal, but that was years ago, and this phenomenon is only months old. My dentist thought I was crazy when I asked her - I can't imagine what would cause such a long delay between cause and effect.

Stop Gap Measures

EatTheWeak — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 11:08:48 -0800

[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? So, yeah, my mouth is sort of in rough shape. It's become common to wake up needing to spit blood in the morning. Sometimes it even happens when I stay up too late at night. When I brush my teeth, I wind up bleeding into my toothpaste. I realize only a dentist can provide a meaningful solution to this, but I won't have insurance until the spring. So, what can I do in the meantime to reclaim my teeth and gums a bit.

Reccommend a dentist in NYC who takes insurance?

scazza — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 13:35:36 -0800

Reccommend a dentist in NYC who takes insurance? I adore my dentist but I just got insurance and need to save the $700/year. Would like someone nice, with gentle hygenists, you know, the usual.

Broken-tooth cat - what to do?

i_am_joe's_spleen — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 14:03:18 -0800

Our feisty little cat has snapped a canine. What should we do? Last night he wandered in and we noticed that one of his canines has snapped about halfway down.

It doesn't seem to be bothering him at all. I've had a look. The pulp is not exposed and the break is clean. Is there anything worthwhile we can do for him?

And how the hell does a cat do this anyway? He's a small tabby, less than two years old, rescued from a shelter.

Toothpaste quandary

riffola — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 10:23:52 -0800

What toothpaste is the best for the health of my teeth and gums? Please limit your answers to toothpastes that are widely available in the US, not too expensive, made by Colgate, Crest, Close-up, etc.

when to change a toothbrush?

brandz — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 20:19:13 -0800

how often should i change my toothbrush?

Mercury fillings

goalyeehah — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 20:41:15 -0800

Does a mercury filling open to saliva present a health problem? I have had a verticle cracked molar tooth for the past six months. The enamal was lost (probably to chewing and swallowing) but the mercury filling remains intact. The tooth is open down to the gum. I rub my tongue over it a lot. It is cracked down to the gum. I know the arguments mercury versus non-mercury fillings. I have also not been able to afford a dentist to take care of this and am beginning to wonder if this is adversely affecting my health.

Clicking Jaw...

stevyb — Fri, 13 May 2005 09:18:14 -0800

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?

Is toothpaste bad for your teeth?

taz — Sun, 06 Feb 2005 02:30:43 -0800

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?

How can I find a dentist for my boyfriend who has no insurance and is terrified of dentists?

agregoli — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 09:26:14 -0800

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.

Toothache

wackybrit — Sat, 31 Jul 2004 12:27:57 -0800

Toothache. What are some good temporary ways to hold off the pain until dentist time? I'm at the age where wisdom teeth are becoming a problem, and as luck would have it.. it started on a Saturday morning. This leaves two days before calling the dentist is even an option, and it'll take some time to get an appointment (this is what the UK is like, my friends).

It took me 8 hours to get to sleep last night, and I was in agony. Painkillers didn't help, I tried co-proxamol, paracetamol, and tons of ibuprofen (which is usually recommended for this) to no avail. The tooth in question is half way out, but the other half has a few millimeters of gum to smash through.. and this is the problem (I don't think I need to get it removed, just the gum cut). Swishing around with water helped for a while, but the benefits of this wore off.. now I'm onto clove oil, which is providing the best solution so far, but it won't be long before I get adjusted to this.. I keep reading that warm salt water washes help, but this sounds like something for infections or broken teeth, and not just for generic pain.

So, MeFiers, any wonderful, wacky, or weird treatments to tide me over until dentist time?

Dental Insurance

badstone — Mon, 26 Jul 2004 10:48:19 -0800

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.

Chewing Pens

tss — Tue, 08 Jun 2004 10:42:03 -0800

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...

Extracting Wisdom

aladfar — Mon, 07 Jun 2004 14:26:38 -0800

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?