The Dentist.

[Trunk]

I don't care who says they don't mind going to the dentist, there is no way to stick a pointy metal object between the tooth and gum and scrape off calcified bits without it causing a lot of pain.

I bring it on myself. I hadn't been in 5 years. This is mainly because I used to go to another dentist (in Maine) who I lost trust in.

Why? First of all, I'm convinced the dental hygenist intentionally sliced my gum once. She cut the skin over an incoming wisdom tooth, and it swelled up over the next tooth. For a couple days, I would bite down on inflamed, infected gum tissue. When I went back, the infection was so bad that I needed penicillin. And, they wanted to charge me for it.

That's not all. So, I didn't go back for a few years. When I finally went back for a cleaning, they said, "you have a filling and we need to fill it." I said, "well, I'll have to get it filled in Baltimore because I'm leaving town." I go to a dentist in Baltimore and he says, "how long have you been going to this dentist? Not only do you not have a cavity, you have nothing that could possibly be mistaken for a cavity."

Thanks original dentist.

Flash-forward 5 years to last week. I go in for a cleaning at the guy in Baltimore and I need such a cleaning that I had to go back today for them to finish it.

However, they did say that they were surprised at how good my teeth looked for not having been in 5 years. I attribute this to good genes, and the set of dental tools I bought off Ebay a couple years ago (you really can scrape off your own tartar).

So, now they want to put me on the "6 month" plan. What a load of dentist-perpetrated horseshit that is. Every 6 months? With $200 X-rays every couple of years? Bull shit. I'd like to see a dental consumer organization stand up for that. That's at least twice as often as anyone needs to go.

Besides, who is looking out for the crooks? What if that medical school drop out wants a new microwave, so he decides he's going to work in an extra cavity filling this week, maybe make you take an extra X-ray? What if that dental hygenist decides to give you a little extra poke with those implements because her boyfriend dumped her? Where are the checks on this industry? Why can't she sit on your lap while she's cleaning your teeth? I want to know!

And, I question the dentist's utility anyway. So, the space between my tooth and gum fills up with calcified stuff? After cleaning, I have space there and I think little bits of food and mush are getting in. I liked the fortress I had built up.

And, I think that we're totally over X-rayed at the dentist. My teeeth have looked the exact same for the last 15 years. They don't need to do X-rays. I'll let you know if I have a tooth growing out my head.

Maybe the worse part was after the picking and the polishing, she flossed me. She rammed that thread in between my teeth, way up into my gums, like she was trying to saw the tooth out. I could taste the blood.

-----------------
"Is it safe?"

"No. It's not safe, it's... very dangerous, be careful."

[Maus Magill]

Originally Posted by Trunk

-----------------
"Is it safe?"

This is why I avoid the dentist. I saw that movie, and realized my dentist looked just like Sir Lawrence.

[Velma]

I just got back from the dentist. It wasn't so bad. I got the strawberry flavored toothpaste. Kind of like brushing your teeth with Mentos.

My husband kind of likes going, he always needs something done and he enjoys the gas. I've never had a cavity or needed orthodontia so that might be why I don't actively dislike the dentist. For me it's a chance to lay down for a while.

[Trunk]

The upside: I did get a free toothbrush and some minty floss.

[AwSnappity]

Originally Posted by Trunk

Maybe the worse part was after the picking and the polishing, she flossed me. She rammed that thread in between my teeth, way up into my gums, like she was trying to saw the tooth out. I could taste the blood.

Ugh, and then the worst part is they always say condescendingly, "Tsk tsk. You should floss more, and then your gums won't bleed." Yeah, lady, I actually do floss, but I'm no masochist. You're freaking rubbing my gums raw, that's why they're bleeding!

[Lord Ashtar]

There was a piece in Reader's Digest a few years ago about a guy who went to dentists all over the country to see what they would try to get him to go for. First, he went to a dentist he had been seeing since he was a kid so he could get an honest evaluation of his teeth. According to this guy, he had maybe two cavities to fill, but was in otherwise fine shape.

One guy wanted to fill something like 22 cavities, charging him well over $10,000 for all the work.

Another guy said he didn't need any work at all.

He went to something like 40-60 different dentists and every one of them told him something different. It's a crapshoot. If you find a dentist you trust, you're one of the luckiest people alive.

[TonyF]

I went in for a toothache in #14. (Go into the office enough, and you'll learn the numbers too!)

Back in late May, I was chewing some gum and I bit down on something hard. It was a little white thing, which I figured was a filling - it came from the only tooth I'd ever had filled.

Well, whatever. A lost filling can wait until summer, when I'm free. Then I forget about it, till early August, when I'm awoken in the middle of the night with a pounding soreness.

I go to the dentist in the morning and he pokes around, takes some x-rays, asks what's up with the teeth. Once the x-rays are back, he starts the spiel.

"Well, your teeth appear fine, but it's actually a 180 degree difference." He starts pointing at dark spots - the look like film grain, to me - and telling me how they are decay and need to be filled - particularly the massive hole in #14.

So - a week before I'm off to college - I get 13 fillings in 3 days. That was fun! I was particularly excited in that the last day, I'd be getting that #14 fixed up, no more problems. I mean, the other fillings were cool and I have no problem getting them out of the way, but that tooth was killing me.

He finishes up - sits me up and all that - then tells me: "So, you'll need to talk to an orthodontist about that last tooth - you'll need a root canal, then you should come back for a crown. It'll be about $1000 for each, maybe more."

Well that's kind to mention. Oh yeah, I'd gone $300 over insurance by then.

I have a toothpick wherever I go, now.

Oh, the funny thing about my story: it occured to me about a week after the fillings when even more little, white chunks came out of my mouth. It finally donned on me - that was my tooth fracturing and little pieces of tooth and enamel falling off. I guess the fact that pieces of my tooth - and not a filling - were coming out was missed during the checkup.

---

Let me tell you about my sister. She has the same dentist; she dreaded her appointment last September, because she was familiar at how he liked to milk clients. Unfortunately she forgot about it until a day or two before, and he'll charge you for breaking an appointment without 24 hours notice.

He does a check-up and... uh oh! That filling there, it's loose! It was put in totally improperly, so he'd better fix it.

Funny, Mr. Dentist - you're the one who did the filling.

Oh, well, I'll fix that up for free then... just schedule an appointment and we'll fix it up...

She comes back so he can fix his work. Uh oh - I see some decay right next to the filling. No "Should I fill that in while I'm working on you?" - he says he'll just fill that one while he's at it.

She heads toward the office when: That'll be $500.

[Bippy the Beardless]

Originally Posted by Maus Magill

This is why I avoid the dentist. I saw that movie, and realized my dentist looked just like Sir Lawrence.

It was Lord Laurence if you don't mind

Well Friday I go to Dentist so he can do some embroidery on my gums

[ShadiRoxan]

When I was fourteen my wisdom teeth were starting to come in. The dentist told me that they shouldn't be a problem since they're coming in straight and there was plenty of room for them. This was followed quickly by a "You need to have them removed". No way you're getting in there and cutting out perfectly fine teeth.

I've also lost two fillings. One a white one which as I've been told by several dentists they aren't as long lasting. The other was a silver filling that I had done two months ago. I was flossing and it popped right out. Now there's a possibility that the insurance won't cover the second filling because work was done on it so recently. It's not my fault. I was doing what you're suppose to do.

I've had fillings done so that I can't floss between my teeth, which leads to more decay.

I've had my appointment lost before. They told me one day but put me in their computer for the day before. Not sure if they tried to charge for a missed appointment since it was when I was under my mother's insurance. The receptionist had the nerve to tell me that I was wrong and making it up.

I hate the dentist plenty, but I love my teeth enough to get over it.

[zweisamkeit]

Man, do I feel lucky! I love my dentist; I've been going to him since I was 5 (I'm 22 now). He's a very cool guy, friendly and talkative and (most importantly, obviously) knows what he's doing. He also did my braces, and didn't try to get my mom to put me in braces when I still had baby teeth (I knew people in 2nd grade with braces; what's the point in that??).

I've had a few cavities, and tooth removals (two wisdom teeth and baby teeth early on that just didn't fall out). I can honestly say I have never had a bad experience, an attempt at ripping me off, or anything else. Hell, he even gave me professional dental whitening for my upper teeth free!


_{Couldn't do my bottom teeth, because I have two fake teeth and wouldn't want teeth bleach to get near them and make them very oddly mottled.}

[bouv]

I wouldn't say I enjoyed going to the dentist, but I didn't mind either, which is suprising cause I've had over 10 cavities filled, most of them before I was 10. And I never got the gas. Oh no, not for bouv. I always had the several shots of novacain in the roof of my mouth and cheeck. And that stupid rain ponch and metal vice grip on my teeth. Ugh. Yet I still never minded going to the dentist (maybe cause it was 45 minute away so I always got out of school for a few hours when I had to go.) Plus, I always got a new toothbrush and a small little toy when I went! I haven't been since my freshman year of college, and now that I graduated and am off my parents dental coverage, I would have a hard time to go again. I have dental coverage at my job, but I work for the University of Vermont, but live in NY, and the plan doesn't cover any dentists out here. I'd have to travel two hours each way to find one I can go to, and that's pretty much me lising an entire day of work, and I like to save my sick days and vacation days for when I'm actually sick or on vacation.

Oh, and the fact that all the hygenists at my dentists practice were 21-24 year old hot chicks didn't hurt none too much either.

Which brings up a point: In the 19 years I went to the dentist, I never, not ONCE, remember a male dental hygenist. Why is this? I'm sure they are out there, but the seem even more rare than male nurses. Was my dentist and his partners just sexist?

[AwSnappity]

For the first 14 years of my life, I never had any dental problems whatsoever. I was horrible about brushing my teeth and ate all kinds of junk. No cavities. Then we moved to Illinois and the new dentist found four cavities. And then six months later he found two more. And then six months later another one. And so on. And all throughout this time, my oral hygiene habits improved immensely. Yet I still kept getting cavities. My first cavity-free visit since then was last summer, and I'm 20. I always figured the change was due to fluoride in the drinking water where I used to live, but now I wonder if it wasn't the dentist just drilling teeth for the sake of drilling teeth. My dad says the guy is pretty unethical with regards to billing practices, so it's not out of the question. At least we're not going to go to him anymore.

[Silentgoldfish]

Yup, not 2 minutes after he'd finished telling me I had freakishly good teeth and whatever I was doing to keep 'em perfect (yes, perfect, you cannot have better teeth than mine) was obviously working my dentist wanted to sell me a 500 dollar mouthgard to stop wear and tear.

I figure, by the time my teeth'll be worn down enough to bother me I'll be 90 and they'll be the least of my concerns.

So fuck 'em all, I'm not going back to the dentist unless something starts hurting.

[Agrippina]

Originally Posted by Silentgoldfish

So fuck 'em all, I'm not going back to the dentist unless something starts hurting.

That's my philosophy. The most likely scenerio is that my body will tell me when something's wrong. I trust my body more than some guy who just wants money.

I'm an Anti-Dentite!

Jerry Seinfeld: What do you call a guy who flunked out of medical school?
Girlfiend: I don't know.
Jerry: A dentist.

[Trunk]

see, I'd like to never go back again.

but they kind of hook you.

if you don't go for 5 years, the cleaning is a son of a bitch.

and, they tell you scare stories about how the calculus deposits will expand and push your gums away from your teeth and then you've got full blown periodontal disease and there's nothing you can do about it.

I just wish there was some straight dope on the dental industry because the ONLY people giving us the information and the recommendations are the people who benefit from it.

there is no doubt in my mind that "every 6 months" is a load of crap.

[yBeayf]

My dentists rocks! He is a fine old British chap who is the only dentist I've ever gone to, and has been my family's dentist for at least 15 years. Great demeanor, competent hygienists, and he's never ever averse to explaining exactly what he's doing and why he's going to do it, to the extent of handing you a mirror and letting you watch while he pokes your tooth and demonstrates that there is in fact a cavity there. He's filled many a cavity on me (most of which were my fault; I hate to floss), repaired chipped teeth, and fixed my brother up when he had several teeth knocked out. The guy knows his stuff.

[MLS]

The every 6 months is a very good idea. I intend to never, never, ever have a toothache again. The ones I had as a child when cavities went unfilled because the teeth involved were supposedly going to fall out in a few months anyway were such agony that I'd do anything to avoid a repetition. If you go every 6 months, the cleaning is no big deal. If there's a cavity, it's an itty bitty one that you don't even need novacaine for. Our dental hygienist also checks our blood pressure, and does an exam for oral cancer.

I am fortunate that we have a marvelous dentist, just like his father, who was our dentist before he retired.

[flamingbananas]

I go every six months. I never really minded going, though the last three years were utter hell since I had braces and they clean braces with this high power baking soda gun. The lady that worked on my teeth would ALWAYS miss my teeth and get my tounge with a high powered gun. It made it bleed. Orthodontists is what I hate. I think mine meant to slice my cheek. *mutter mutter*

[SteveG1]

Bla bla bla. I faithfully brushed and flossed and rinsed, all that happy horse shit. Then recently I suddenly get a horrible pain, out of the blue. I go to the dentist, and find out the teeth are great but the gums and bone are "gone". It doesn't matter what you do, it just goes bad sooner or later.

I only had one obviously bad dentist, years ago. He kept gouging my gums with the pointy proby thing and then telling me it didn't hurt. Next time he gouged me, instead of flinching away, I crunched down HARD on his finger. Then I smiled and told him that didn't hurt either. Revenge was sweet, in a carnivorous sort of way. He was very careful for the rest of the session, and I never went back to him.

[MLS]

Originally Posted by SteveG1

Bla bla bla. I faithfully brushed and flossed and rinsed, all that happy horse shit. Then recently I suddenly get a horrible pain, out of the blue. I go to the dentist, and find out the teeth are great but the gums and bone are "gone". It doesn't matter what you do, it just goes bad sooner or later.

Negatory. If you had been going regularly to a competent dentist, he/she would have detected the beginnings of the gum disease and helped you take the necessary steps to prevent it from going further.

[whiterabbit]

In theory I am all for not going unless something hurts. The problem is that I had a tooth that was just crumbling, and it didn't hurt, so I ignored it. Now I have a nice new crown, and a rather large running dental bill. If I'd waited until it hurt, I don't think I'd have a tooth there anymore, which would suck even more than the crown and the bill in the long run.

I'm going to try to get in at least yearly, just to catch anything. I have a dentist that I like, he's excellent at handling my rather considerable anxiety. I actually walk out of the office in a good mood.

I love your story, [b]SteveG1]. What a jerk!

[bouv]

Originally Posted by Trunk

they tell you scare stories about how the calculus deposits will expand and push your gums away from your teeth and then you've got full blown periodontal disease and there's nothing you can do about it.

"I'm afraid you've got calculus on your teeth. See that there? That's a second-order partial differential equation on your right back molar. And that little spot on your gums there? Fourier series...though it might be a Taylor expansion, I'll need to do some tests first."

[CrazyCatLady]

Originally Posted by Trunk

I don't care who says they don't mind going to the dentist, there is no way to stick a pointy metal object between the tooth and gum and scrape off calcified bits without it causing a lot of pain.

If you're having a lot of pain, your gums are inflamed from all the bacteria and other crap that's been festering up in there. Scraping around healthy gums shouldn't be particularly painful. Just yesterday I had my follow-up visit after having periodontal scaling, and there's a huge difference between how painful the cleaning was this time versus 8 months ago, when I had my first cleaning in...well, long enough that I'm not exactly sure how long it had been. I've still got a few tender pockets that aren't healing as well as the rest of my mouth, but other than those spots, it wasn't painful. A little uncomfortable, yes, but not painful.

So, now they want to put me on the "6 month" plan. What a load of dentist-perpetrated horseshit that is. Every 6 months? With $200 X-rays every couple of years? Bull shit. I'd like to see a dental consumer organization stand up for that. That's at least twice as often as anyone needs to go.

Are you sure about that last bit? All my life, I've heard six months as the standard interval for prophylactic cleaning. I mean, my cheap-ass, won't-pay-for-any-periodontal-work dental insurance pays for two cleanings a year. I just can't see them paying for that if it weren't standard preventive care, you know?

My dentist has suggested that I get my teeth cleaned every four months, actually, to stay on top of my periodontal disease. And since this is a man who goes to great pains to point out the drawbacks of the more expensive option and the advantages of the cheaper option, I don't think for a second he's trying to rip me off. If he makes a recommendation, I have complete confidence that he's got sound medical reasons for doing so.

[Trunk]

Originally Posted by CrazyCatLady

Are you sure about that last bit? All my life, I've heard six months as the standard interval for prophylactic cleaning. I mean, my cheap-ass, won't-pay-for-any-periodontal-work dental insurance pays for two cleanings a year. I just can't see them paying for that if it weren't standard preventive care, you know?

Well, of course I'm not sure.

But, to me it's like your tailor telling you you need a new pair of pants every six months.

Or your bartender telling you you need a drink every day.

Let Ralph Nader tell me I need to go every 6 months, or an independent health watchdog organization, not the dentist, or the ADA.

I mean, I didn't go for 5 years. My gums were sore, but she didn't think they were unhealthy. They weren't pulling away. They weren't really inflamed. The cleaning was a little more aggressive but that's it.

I'm not even sure that brushing twice a day is the best option. My BIL, who is French, brushes only once per day and he thinks twice a day brushing damages the gums and enamel. And if we can't look to the French for good hygeine, where can we look?

I kid, but I think he's onto something too. (he also wonders why we call it a "toothbrush" when you use it for all your "teeth")

There's just no one looking out for you in Dental World.

Who's putting that "stripe" on your toothbrush? The toothbrush company! Yeah, it's in their best interest to give you the most cost-effective recommendations.

"Jim, we need to see 5% growth again this year, but everyone already has a toothbrush."

"Well, we could lower the time it takes for that little strip to disappear."

"But, we're already down to 2 months. We can't go any lower Jim."

[secretsmile36]

I'm a proud anti-dentite.

[Vinyl Turnip]

Anyone have, or have any opinion on, gum graft surgery? My dentist is pushing hard for me to have it in one area where the gums have receded. Insurance will pay for most of it (leaving a $300 or so deductible), but I've been stalling because I'm not really anxious to get it done. Don't want to deal with the pain, recovery time, and inability to eat solid foods for a while unless it's really necessary, and I'm not completely convinced it is.

I'm pretty resistant to their upselling, though... I did eventually get (and continue to use) a night guard, but it took about three years to talk me into it.

[kaylasdad99]

Okay, who else thought this thread was going to be about that lady dentist in Poland who pulled out all of her ex-boyfriend's teeth?

[Tom Tildrum]

Originally Posted by kaylasdad99

Okay, who else thought this thread was going to be about that lady dentist in Poland who pulled out all of her ex-boyfriend's teeth?

I thought they were making a sequel to The Artist.

By the way, I'd be curious to hear how Trunk's teeth are doing, and whether he's been back to the dentist in the intervening eight years.

[Coup Fourre]

Originally Posted by kaylasdad99

Okay, who else thought this thread was going to be about that lady dentist in Poland who pulled out all of her ex-boyfriend's teeth?

Um, me!

I'll just chime in that I don't go to the dentist unless I'm in pain.

I know, not good.

[Kobal2]

Originally Posted by Silentgoldfish

So fuck 'em all, I'm not going back to the dentist unless something starts hurting.

Two problems there : the first and least important is that by the time it starts hurting for real, it's probably already too late and you're in for a root canal or worse, a pull.

The second is that it'll start hurting on a Saturday evening around 10 PM .

[Giraffe]

Originally Posted by secretsmile36

I'm a proud anti-dentite.

Bumping an eight year old thread to post a fifteen year old joke? You're consistent, I'll give you that.

[johnpost]

Originally Posted by secretsmile36

I'm a proud anti-dentite.

Originally Posted by Giraffe

Bumping an eight year old thread to post a fifteen year old joke? You're consistent, I'll give you that.

zombie or no

you said a mouthful.

[Jeep's Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Vinyl Turnip

Anyone have, or have any opinion on, gum graft surgery? My dentist is pushing hard for me to have it in one area where the gums have receded. Insurance will pay for most of it (leaving a $300 or so deductible), but I've been stalling because I'm not really anxious to get it done. Don't want to deal with the pain, recovery time, and inability to eat solid foods for a while unless it's really necessary, and I'm not completely convinced it is.

I had it way back in junior high school. The gum line on my lower front teeth was receding, and in one place it was torn or something. The surgery worked; the gum line in that area looks completely normal. I still have a sizable scar on the roof of my mouth, but it doesn't really bother me. By the way, I highly recommend being knocked out for this procedure.

[Broomstick]

Originally Posted by Trunk

Let Ralph Nader tell me I need to go every 6 months, or an independent health watchdog organization, not the dentist, or the ADA.

I go every six months because if I don't my gums start to bleed. However, I am entirely comfortable with the notion than many other people can go longer. It would be strange if there wasn't variation between people.

I'm not even sure that brushing twice a day is the best option. My BIL, who is French, brushes only once per day and he thinks twice a day brushing damages the gums and enamel.

I try for three times a day because, based on empirical experience, that's what works best for me. Again, I am totally comfortable with the notion that individual needs for tooth brushing vary considerably due not only to diet but tooth and saliva composition.

I'm all for double-checking and second opinions.

[digs]

Originally Posted by zweisamkeit

Man, do I feel lucky! I love my dentist...

Same here. Didn't realize how lucky I was to have a competent dentist, who actually listens, too (lets me skip the Novacaine, because I'd rather have five minutes of pain than five hours of numbness).

[Giraffe]

Originally Posted by digs

Same here. Didn't realize how lucky I was to have a competent dentist, who actually listens, too (lets me skip the Novacaine, because I'd rather have five minutes of pain than five hours of numbness).

As someone who hates Novocaine numbness more than almost anything, allow me to share a recent discovery: OraVerse, a shot that is like a Novocaine antidote. And they give it to you while you're still numb, so you don't feel a thing. It's the best thing ever. No more chewing your tongue off trying to eat lunch with a numb mouth.

[Vinyl Turnip]

Originally Posted by Giraffe

As someone who hates Novocaine numbness more than almost anything, allow me to share a recent discovery: OraVerse, a shot that is like a Novocaine antidote. And they give it to you while you're still numb, so you don't feel a thing. It's the best thing ever. No more chewing your tongue off trying to eat lunch with a numb mouth.

Sounds amazing...ly like something my insurance wouldn't cover.

[Kimstu]

Originally Posted by digs

Same here. Didn't realize how lucky I was to have a competent dentist, who actually listens, too (lets me skip the Novacaine, because I'd rather have five minutes of pain than five hours of numbness).

Oh boy, me too. I'm sure I'll want anesthetic if I need a root canal someday or something grisly like that, but for the occasional ordinary cavity filling I'd rather skip the prick and just get drilled. Um, well, you know what I mean.

Forgoing anesthetic injections is also my personal yardstick for dentistical competence. Over the years, the dentists I've had who were willing not to use Novocaine on request have always been very good and reliable, while the one or two who insisted on giving the injection left me very unhappy with their work.

[digs]

Originally Posted by Kimstu

I'd rather skip the prick and just get drilled...

Ok, admit it... you've never been to a dentist. You just thought up an awesome line and had to use it.

[SticksAndString]

I'm with you..I hadn't been to the dentist in close to ten years because I really disliked going. But the pain from my impacted wisdom teeth and my numerous cavities finally became too much for me to put up with.

So I submitted myself to the tender mercies of a new dentist, who, on the first visit, promptly stuck a sharp pointy thing into one of the cavities and was surprised when I whimpered. "Oh, does that hurt? I'm SO sorry." Riiiight.

Somehow he convinced me that I'd have an easier time of it if I let them put me totally under (sleep dentistry, he called it) when I came to get my cavities filled. And because I really really hate going to the dentist, I let him put me under because I thought it would be easier for me and I wouldn't be as stressed out.

I swear, if I hadn't been so goofed on nitrous, I would've been crying. They needed to insert an IV for the sleep dentistry and the guy putting it in didn't seem to know what the hell he was doing..he had to stick me like 4 times in order to get it 'in a good spot'.

A few months later, I had to have my wisdom teeth out and they needed to knock me out again. The nurse (or whoever she was) didn't turn the nitrous up enough and this time, the guy had to stick me NINE different times before they found a good vein. I know I'm not the easiest stick in the world but DAMN. After the third or fourth time, I was really tensed up beacuse I knew they were going to keep sticking me till they found a good one and I was trying not to cry. Knowing there might be kids in one of the other patient bays, I was also trying my best not to cuss at the poor dude. I kept saying things like "Son of a truck driving platypus!" and cussing in Klingon.

Finally, surgery's over, seems to have gone well except for the fact that there is a rock-hard swelling along my jaw. I freak out and call the dental office, only to be told that's normal and to just take my pain pills and use the stupid nasty prescription mouthwash which causes me to have the WORST heartburn ever.

Bleh.

I need more work done, but I'm so tempted not to go back after those experiences.

[Tom Tildrum]

Originally Posted by Vinyl Turnip

Anyone have, or have any opinion on, gum graft surgery? My dentist is pushing hard for me to have it in one area where the gums have receded. Insurance will pay for most of it (leaving a $300 or so deductible), but I've been stalling because I'm not really anxious to get it done. Don't want to deal with the pain, recovery time, and inability to eat solid foods for a while unless it's really necessary, and I'm not completely convinced it is.

How much are you hurting now? I have a spot where the gums have receded, and it only really bothers me when the dentist is cleaning my teeth. She's never suggested this for me, but maybe my spot isn't big enough.

In general, my attitude toward dental work or oral surgery is that i'm really reluctant going in, but really grateful afterward. If it's not a big problem, then don't sweat it, but if it's serious, I don't think it's a good idea to let short-term pain dissuade you from something that will provide long-term relief.

Originally Posted by Vinyl Turnip

I'm pretty resistant to their upselling, though... I did eventually get (and continue to use) a night guard, but it took about three years to talk me into it.

How does that work? Does this guy just sit there in your bedroom while you sleep?

[Vinyl Turnip]

Originally Posted by Tom Tildrum

How much are you hurting now? I have a spot where the gums have receded, and it only really bothers me when the dentist is cleaning my teeth. She's never suggested this for me, but maybe my spot isn't big enough.

It doesn't hurt at all, actually. Just have a spot in front where the gums receded---from brushing too hard, it is accused--- and the root is (barely) exposed.

[lorene]

Originally Posted by Vinyl Turnip

Anyone have, or have any opinion on, gum graft surgery? My dentist is pushing hard for me to have it in one area where the gums have receded. Insurance will pay for most of it (leaving a $300 or so deductible), but I've been stalling because I'm not really anxious to get it done. Don't want to deal with the pain, recovery time, and inability to eat solid foods for a while unless it's really necessary, and I'm not completely convinced it is.

I can say without any exaggeration at all that it was one of the worst experiences of my life*, but I also had a total douche of a gum surgeon who claimed that Advil would be plenty to help with the pain.

But, man, that is one experience I hope to never repeat.

*For the sake of comparison, let me point out that I have been through labor and childbirth twice, had acute appendicitis and an emergency appendectomy, and a fractured tibia. So, it's not like I've never known pain.

[Vinyl Turnip]

Originally Posted by lorene

I can say without any exaggeration at all that it was one of the worst experiences of my life*, but I also had a total douche of a gum surgeon who claimed that Advil would be plenty to help with the pain.

My dentist indicated they'd give me pain meds, but the more I learn about it the less hurried I am to undergo the procedure.

[Broomstick]

Originally Posted by Vinyl Turnip

It doesn't hurt at all, actually. Just have a spot in front where the gums receded---from brushing too hard, it is accused--- and the root is (barely) exposed.

I've had a couple spots on my lower gums that receded in my 20's due to my own neglect. Almost 30 years later no problems have arisen from them, but then, I am now fanatical about regular cleanings and good dental hygiene. Receding gums can lead to problems, but whether you'd rather have gum surgery to restore them or just keep up with your dental hygiene is your choice. I'd advise you do one or the other, though, rather than do nothing going forward.

[Tom Tildrum]

Originally Posted by Vinyl Turnip

My dentist indicated they'd give me pain meds, but the more I learn about it the less hurried I am to undergo the procedure.

Yeah, I felt the same way when my doctor suggested foreskin restoration.

[Jeep's Phoenix]

The pain meds I got when I had my wisdom teeth removed were much better than the ones I got for the gum graft.