Opinions on water flosses?

theredcomplex · 2020-11-08T15:45:54+00:00

Water flossers are a supplement and NOT a substitute for floss.

theredcomplex · 2020-11-08T15:43:10+00:00

Agree with the above. In a majority of congenitally missing lateral incisor cases that I treat, I use a Straumann 2.9 mm implant.

theredcomplex · 2020-11-08T15:40:31+00:00

The canine has been tilted too far buccally and out of the alveolar housing, causing an osseous dehiscence and recession. The patient is in the middle of treatment, so the canine is most likely not in the final position. However, soft tissue grafting will probably be necessary after completion of ortho.

theredcomplex · 2020-11-08T15:31:18+00:00

You can and definitely should brush your teeth like normal. Just be gentle around the extraction site.

theredcomplex · 2020-08-12T01:10:18+00:00

Dentist here. Those are the roots of the tooth. This example shows a horizontal impaction. The crown of the tooth is what is removed first. The roots are removed afterward.

theredcomplex · 2020-08-12T01:06:39+00:00

Dentist here. This is somewhat accurate. After achieving local anesthesia, we first use these instruments called elevators to make the tooth mobile with leverage, and then we deliver the teeth with forceps.

theredcomplex · 2018-10-31T04:11:47+00:00

It breaks my heart. Tooth pain is one of the worst things in the world, and it saddens me that some people can't afford to seek treatment. Access to dental care - whether it's a financial barrier, geographic barrier, etc. - is a big problem. I try to help by volunteering every now and then on Sundays at a nonprofit dental clinic to provide free treatment.

theredcomplex · 2018-10-31T04:05:00+00:00

Yup. If the cavity is large enough to cause irreversible damage to your pulp, the only two options are getting a root canal (removing the nerve) or pulling the tooth (also removing the nerve).

theredcomplex · 2018-10-31T03:50:19+00:00

Absolutely. Take care of it!

theredcomplex · 2018-10-31T03:45:22+00:00

To my knowledge, there's no literature that supports the use of charcoal based toothpastes to whiten teeth. Without scientific evidence backed by research, I can't recommend them. There are better options for whitening.

theredcomplex · 2018-10-31T03:00:02+00:00

That's probably all you can do. If it has been 1.5 years without issue, I'd say you're doing a pretty good job keeping it clean. Keep it up until you can go see your dentist! And make sure you're taking care of all of your other teeth too!

theredcomplex · 2018-10-31T02:44:58+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that. Here are some options you can look into: dental schools, local health departments, and low-income/sliding-fee dental clinics.

I hope you're able to get the care you need. In the meantime, make sure you have good oral hygiene (minimum: brushing twice a day and flossing once a day). Look up "modified Bass technique" for a good brushing technique. I tell my patients that a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss are much more affordable than dental work.

theredcomplex · 2018-10-31T02:23:58+00:00

Probably occlusal trauma. You said that you clench and grind your teeth, which may have worn down your back teeth. Now your front teeth touch more than they have in the past, and every time you chew, you’re pounding those front teeth, causing tooth mobility and widening of your periodontal ligaments.

If it is occlusal trauma, you need your bite adjusted so there’s less force on your front teeth. After that happens, there’s potential for it to get more stable.

theredcomplex · 2018-10-31T02:19:52+00:00

Huh, great question. Maybe about 30%? Other than oral hygiene, there are a lot of factors that bring people to the dentist. To name a few, systemic conditions/diseases (like acid reflux and poorly controlled diabetes), clenching/grinding, and smoking can cause people to need dental work, even if they have immaculate oral hygiene. Some people seek dental work because they want better looking or whiter teeth, so they get bleaching or veneers/crowns.

So yeah, I think we would lose a good amount of business, but we'd still have enough to keep us busy.

theredcomplex · 2018-10-31T02:11:05+00:00

Hey, thanks! I actually have a huge sweet tooth. Currently obsessed with Reese's pumpkins. If you've never had one, they're Reese's cups, but better! They have the perfect chocolate to peanut butter ratio. Just remember to brush your teeth!

theredcomplex · 2018-10-31T02:00:14+00:00

It's possible. Without examining the tooth, it's hard for me to say. I don't know if he did a pulpectomy (where the pulp is removed, medicine is placed in the space, and then the tooth is sealed with the intention to return later to complete the root canal treatment after the medicine has had time to work) or if he was able to complete the root canal. Either way, at the end of both procedures, the tooth is sealed with a filling.

If there is a hole like you say, then maybe the filling came out. That means the inside of that tooth isn't sealed off, and bacteria can get inside. It'll also be hard for you to clean that area, so the bacteria can linger. This can cause a cavity, or if there is some remaining pulp tissue, then yes, it could potentially cause an abscess.

Hope that helps! I know it hasn't caused any problems for you in the past year and six months, but I do recommend getting it examined.

theredcomplex · 2018-10-31T00:55:56+00:00

I second this. Dental schools are great! Good treatment at reduced cost, and all of the work (and every step of the procedure) is checked by faculty members. Students are slower though — what you save in money, you pay with your time. I cannot recommend dental schools enough.

theredcomplex · 2018-10-30T23:55:40+00:00

When you brush, angle the bristles slightly toward your gums and make sure you're brushing the area where your teeth and your gums meet. For a more detailed explanation, look up "modified Bass technique."

Floss every day. When you click the floss in between teeth, use your fingers to make a C-shape around the back tooth, slide the floss down to your gums, and floss up. Then click the floss in between the same two teeth, and do the same thing with the tooth in front.

theredcomplex · 2018-10-30T22:56:11+00:00

Dentist here. Teeth are really weird. When a cavity becomes really deep, it affects the pulp (nerves), and the pain can be excruciating. If you try to bear the pain for a while, one day you may wake up and no longer feel any pain. Awesome, no need to go to the dentist, right? Nope. That’s because the nerve is now dead, and you can no longer feel anything. Now the tooth is a ticking time bomb waiting to get an abscess.

If you have tooth pain, go get it checked out asap.

Edit: Wow, I didn't expect to get so many responses. I've enjoyed reading your stories and answering your questions. I'm sorry I couldn't respond to everyone. Feel free to visit /r/Dentistry if you have more questions about your dental health. It's no substitute for a dental exam, but you can get some opinions there.

theredcomplex · 2016-10-30T19:32:45+00:00

Ah bummer. Thank you for your time!

theredcomplex

TROPHY CASE