Post: #226

@kavakid- or you can try MI-paste. Basically the same thing.

@Dirtyblueshirt- all insurance are terrible esp solo insurance. If you have to get insurance, get a PPO insurance. Each insurance company has several tiers of insurance levels. Its really tough to say.

Post: #227

I have a brag. I just got tapped to become a co-instructor for implant teaching seminar. Pay is shit but resume-padding will be amazing!

Its going to be interesting being 20 years junior to most attending doctors (students)

Post: #228

Exactly how harmful is tobacco to dental health? Which forms of consumption generally impose the most severe effects (dipping, cigarettes, or cigars), and why? Overall, what's more orally damaging, acidic drinks or tobacco products? Thanks man

Post: #229

Bump.

Awesome thread DVY, I have two questions my teeth are in perfect condition according to my dentist however he suggests I do a deep cleaning to help my gums, this runs at about 600$ and it's done one section of the mouth at a time. Is this necessary?

Also my wisdom teeth haven't been removed but they don't really bother except on random occasions. When should I take them out? I am still pretty young (23).

Post: #230

Is it necessary to mix hydrogen peroxide with water when you gargle? A 50/50 mix?

Post: #231

I am not answering questions that I've answered multiple times already. Please read the thread.

@Oz- this is a common semi-scan. I'd really need to see X-rays/visually to confirm, but its often done just to milk patients. Persian offices in LA are notorious for this. At 23, its often a scam. But once again, Id need to see it myself.

Maybe get a different opinion or 2?

Post: #232

Have I messed my mouth up if I haven't been mixing hydrogen peroxide with water? Just rinsing with hp, spitting it out, then rinsing it out with water.

Post: #233

DVY, Where I'm living at the moment (the UK) Invisalign costs over $2,000.

Do you see this treatment getting cheaper over the next few years?

Would it be worth doing some 'medical tourism' and getting invisalign in a different country?

thanks

Post: #234

DVY, you recommend getting a soft toothbrush but any brands and models that you prefer?

Post: #235

(06-01-2014 04:51 PM)Screwston Wrote:  DVY, you recommend getting a soft toothbrush but any brands and models that you prefer?

This is a fantastic soft toothbrush:

Dr. Collins Perio

I'm sure DVY would agree.

Post: #236

My question is, for someone in their mid 20's, what would be the cost/time investment for braces or corrections?

I've never had cavities or any sort of dental procedures done other than checkups and cleaning, but I've got a mild overbite (which goes unnoticed unless i deliberately open my mouth wide) and an overlapping incisor.

I can get away with it but I work in an image conscious industry and have received comments about it. My other teeth are totally fine, just wondering if it's worth pursuing.

Post: #237

T-brush- Anything soft or ultrasoft. Any brand will do.

@colspanker- invisalign constantly needs to be monitored. What if you lose/break one of the retainers? Not worth it. Shop around in UK.

@SS- do it if you want. Its gonna be 1-2 years for braces. Id recommmend metal or ceramic braces not invisalign. Much better results.

Post: #238

A piece of mines has her wisdom teeth coming in. She is in horrible pain and probably infected. Headaches, can't sleep, medicine only does so much.

She has no money what so ever. Is there any low cost oral surgery out there? I did some research and Austin offers free surgery for study purposes. Her area university doesn't have a dental program and she is too far from Mexico.

I don't know what the affordable health care act offers. I doubt she is signed up anyway. She is under 26 though. Anyway, why can people go to the doctor and get bill but when it comes to dental work nothing is covered?

Post: #239

@Belize King- Go to a US-based hospital w/an Oral Surgery wing. Usually they open at 8am. She'll be waiting a whole day for it, but itll get taken out. She might have to pay 100-200 dollars though (way cheaper than most offices).

Because the cancer that is socialized medicine hasn't spread to dentistry YET. Hospitals operate at a huge loss in various departments and try to overcharge in other departments. Thats why you see 3k dollar MRI (private is 300 buxs) or 750 dollar aspirin tablets (real cost 10c) or 500 dollar ambulance rides (poor people in LA never pay for it, so it jacks up the price for everybody else).

Everything has a cost in life, even if it isn't fully visible. Really is a tragedy of the commons situations.

Post: #240

DVY, this is great! As you allude to, socialized medicine hides true costs and encourages waste. Thanks for helping us with good dental hygiene while saving money.

I've had a couple of questions in the back of my mind for years, so here goes:

1) My enamel has worn off a couple of incisors, over the years resulting a deep concave wear zone in the underlying dentin; I asked my dentist to "spackle" in something, and he put in something (epoxy?) that lasted for a couple of years before popping out. What is the best long-term solution to maximize lifetime of those teeth? (crown?) Other than avoiding sugary/acidic foods, anything else to do to preserve enamel?

2) Regarding a vaccine for cavities: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caries_vaccine says "no strong economic interest" in reducing cavities ?!?!?! Give me a break. Most of my major dental work started from a cavity in a bad spot not being noticed in time. Do you have any good news for us for future cavity reductions from this or any other technology?

Again, your advice to all of us is greatly appreciated!

Post: #241

^1) Put a new filing in. Keep your natural teeth as long as possible. Brush your teeth (with soft t-brush). Abrasion from overbrushing wears away enamel. Use a high-fluoride T-paste to strengthen enamel

2) Caries is not a true disease. Its bacterial transformation based on acidity (from digesting food). Natural flora gone bad essentially. The dental vaccine thing is imo a long ways off.

Post: #242

I have naturally thin gums. Ive been recommended for a gum graft. sounds horrible. Is there any new treatment on the.horizon? maybe stem cells or something?

Post: #243

[quote='DVY' pid='745564' dateline='1401935733']
^1) Put a new filing in.

There was no filling originally, it's the wear surface abrading the bottom tooth. I'd estimate it's 2mm wide, 0.5 mm deep, but my tongue can definately feel a pocket. When he put epoxy in, it felt slightly convex instead of concave.

I wear a nightguard to avoid grinding, when I remember. Work stress makes me grind, apparently.

My goal is EXACTLY what you're saying - keep the natural ones as long as possible.

Post: #244

(04-17-2014 02:50 PM)DVY Wrote:  I have a brag. I just got tapped to become a co-instructor for implant teaching seminar. Pay is shit but resume-padding will be amazing!

What are the down sides/risks to implants?

Post: #245

Hi DVY,

what do you think about xylitol - do you use it by your own?

I use it since a while and noticed that my tatar has minimalized in general. And also my teeth become a little more brighter. On the enamel xylitol invigorating and promotes remineralization. I take it after lunch and before going to bed.

Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol#Dental_care

Post: #246

Xylitol- good stuff. Basically is an inedible sugar that doesn't feed the bacteria in your mouth. Works well but def not in dosages in the gums or mints. Its basically a better solution for gum/mints to chew xylitol gum versus regular sugared gum. There are specialized rinses that are designed for autoimmune patients or cancer patients, but cost $$$$.

Implant Risks- minimal for most. Worst case is the implant doesn't integrate into the bone and needs to be redone or taken out. For the lower jaw, you need to make sure there is enough length/width that no anatomic structures are perforated.

@clever alias- ehh, kind of those borderline situations. I personally don't do them because my results are mediocre at best w/gum grafts. I have a 70% partial or full success rate w/gum grafts. Specialists might have a little better (75-80), but its nowhere near 90+% success rate. I try to avoid doing anything invasive that I can't guarantee good results.

Post: #247

It's been 3 years since my last visit to the dentist. Did i fuck up?

Post: #248

I went to DVY’s dental office a couple of weeks ago and wanted to share my experience.

His service is top-notch, he’s a real cool guy to talk to, and most importantly he’s completely up front and honest as to what your dental needs are.

His pricing is also very fair.

Post: #249

I have a random question.

I've always been slack about brushing my teeth twice a day and usually only brush in the morning. Kind of dumb since it seems like nighttime would be the more important time to do it, while you still have food on your teeth, etc. I was fortunate to be blessed with some strong teeth, though, and I've never had a cavity, so I guess that caused me to be sloppy.

Anyhow, I've recently been trying to take up the habit of doing it twice a night again. I've noticed that my mouth tastes worse in the morning when I brush my teeth at night than when I don't. What's up with that? This isn't a new observation; it's something I noticed when I was younger too. I think it's part of the reason I usually fell out of the habit.

Perhaps gargling with some mouthwash or baking soda before sleep would help?

Another thing. I always take a toothpick and and spend time meticulously cleaning my teeth after eating. I can't believe how many bits of meat come out, and if I don't do this, I can feel it all in my teeth. Is this close enough to flossing, or is it far from being as effective? I'm pretty thorough about it, and I often think about tribes around the world that reputedly clean their teeth with twigs and have great teeth (obviously they don't, or didn't, have access to floss)

A third question for you. I read somewhere that (I make that vague statement a lot - need to start recording my sources haha) brushing teeth just with water is pretty damn effective too, and that toothpastes are largely a marketing scheme. Does that mean the removal of debris and bacteria with friction is the more important part of brushing your teeth? Or is the paste an essential ingredient?

This last one is just curiosity, though I do sometimes brush just with water in a pinch. Meaning if I run out of toothpaste, I just make a note to buy it later rather than running out to the store.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #250

@DVY Would appreciate your thoughts on the following:

I have three root canals without crowns on them.
All three teeth have some level of infection in the roots/gums and so I've been told I need all three RCs replaced, then post&core build-up followed by crowns on all three teeth.
One of the three teeth has very little surface left to play with, so a RC might not even happen, it could be an extraction followed by an implant.
The other two, hopefully will get the go ahead to do the replacement RC followed by post&core + crown on both.
Two of the three teeth have lesions (possibly the third as well, but it's tbc).
The teeth in question are #12, #13 and #14 (upper left portion of my mouth, from my perspective).
Another option I've been told is to have all three teeth taken out and implants put in, but I'm not so sure if that's a good idea.
Endodontist has yet to perform any procedure aside from x-rays, I've postponed it for a little while while I weight up my options.
She said she doesn't know exactly the situation til she gets in there and does the cleaning out of the old root canals, to determine whether each tooth can be saved,etc.
I'm also gonna go back to my dentist and chat to him as he hasn't really given me enough info thus far (the endodontist has given me more info thus far than my dentist).
What would be your recommendations based on what I've said above?
I have no pain in two of the three RCs, sometimes have some tenderness in the third RC but it's pretty minor.
Am based in Ireland so things might work a little differently to the US perhaps.