All About Dental

[sall]

jedamum, I asked the 1st dentist if it’s ok to extract the molar and just leave a gap there. He said the surrounding teeth will shift about because of the gap and then the gum also collapse. Now after extraction, this 2nd dentist said next time, can consider denture or implant.

[auntieM]

I am one matured adult with missing Upper third molars(right at the back).. ...

For years/decades, dentist and I have been 'waiting'. Luckily it doesn't affect me at all.. ..
Anyone else with the same problem?

[jedamum]

auntieM:

I am one matured adult with missing Upper third molars(right at the back).. ...

For years/decades, dentist and I have been 'waiting'. Luckily it doesn't affect me at all.. ..
Anyone else with the same problem?

you must have very healthy and strong gums.

[auntieM]

jedamum:

auntieM:

I am one matured adult with missing Upper third molars(right at the back).. ...

For years/decades, dentist and I have been 'waiting'. Luckily it doesn't affect me at all.. ..
Anyone else with the same problem?

you must have very healthy and strong gums.

Guess they are just normal.. Save a little Colgate along the way..
Told me DH very easy to identify my skull if I kena :nunchuk: ... ..
:razz:

[auntieM]

My DS's milk tooth fell out couple of days ago and it is still bleeding lightly when he brushes it (kena the gums)..The area is a little red but no swelling and discomfort otherwise..

Just wondering if I should bring him to the dentist..advice appreciated..

[winth]

Just to share alittle and bring about the awareness of dental problems in children:


My 8 year old DS1 is someone with dental problems. At 2, he has a decay on his milk tooth (started as a small spot on his front tooth). By 5-6, his milk teeth started falling off, including his decayed milk tooth. Soon, I realised that his upper deck of teeth seems to be ‘out of place’ and are not inline with his lower deck. Thinking that he needed braces, I started researching and asking around fo the best age for braces. Everyone, including a neighbourhood dentist suggested braces after all permanent teeth appear, which would be early teens.

Everything changed when there was a deep decay on his molar.

So, thinking that it’s a ‘simple’ decay, I quickly booked an appointment with this neighbourhood dentist, expecting the hole to be patched up. (Disclaimer required: we have nothing against this dentist, he’s a nice guy basically… I mean on a personal basis, not professionally though) So this dentist had my child checked, and he started shaking his head in dismay. He told me that the decay is so deep that it has killed its ‘nerves’ and DS1 would need a complicated root canal treatment. To convince me farther, he poked at the decay and asked my son if it hurt. My son nodded his head and so Dr concluded that root canal was the only treatment possible. Confused and angry (with myself for not detecting the decay earlier), I called DH while the nurse was pushing me to make a deposit for the specialist treatment (which was from $600 onwards). DH stopped me immediately, told me to come back and explain further. Being a Type A, I almost screamed at him for not wanting to treat our son, but well… I listened (luckily) and came back to explain the matter.

DH then told me that the diagnosis might be wrong (DH has a vast experience with dentists) and wanted me to go for a more expensive dentist which he goes for. (Definition of expensive: small hole for $60-80 bucks by this exp dentist while the neighbourhood dentist could do it at $35). I made this appointment and waited reluctantly for 1 week. I felt that his decay can’t wait (since it’s so HOPELESSLY deep), and DH was just being difficult.

Trip to the dentist:
Dr: Hey son, sit down pls
DH: Dr, my son has this decay here (DH resisted saying the extent of the decay to see if Dr could do any independent diagnosis)
Dr: Let see, well… quite deep though… should have let him come earlier
Me: (Looking at DH) that’s true…
Dr: Let me fix this (drill, drill, patch patch) OK, we’re done
DH: Thanks!
Fees = S$ 80

And comparing this to potential specialist treatment of at least $600, $80 is nothing!

With this dentist, he soon noticed my son having dis-aligned teeth and was asking if we were doing anything with it. DH told him that we would go for braces but everyone is saying to delay treatment until his adult teeth have fully emerged.

Dr: I’ll refer you to my wife, she specialises in children dental problems

(2 more weeks of wait)

When we finally spoke to her wife, we realised that it is not an issue of crooked teeth DS1 had. The problem was genetic and it was a jaw problem. DS1’s molars (when placed together) will have their upper deck teeth covering 90% of his lower deck teeth, so his incisors could not cut food properly. Without the lower deck to stop the upper deck (the 2 decks completely miss each other), his front teeth keep growing and it soon looked like they are overly big as compared to his lower set of teeth.

To correct this jaw problem, it has to be done immediately, BEFORE his milk teeth dropped completely, when his jaw is still ‘soft and growing’. Because if all adult teeth are out, a surgery would be required if it is to correct a jaw problem.

We spent another S$1200 for this, and now DS1 is on corrective scheme to adjust his lower jaw issue. Everything is going well and my son now wears a corrective wear that ‘forces’ him to tilt his lower jaw a little out. 6-8 months down, his lower jaw teeth should start shifting out.


To parents out there: Do go for a separate diagnosis and sometimes, paying something more might actually save alot.
And for parents who think that their children might need braces, go for a diagnosis (with a professional) to see if it is a jaw issue or simple crooked-teeth problem.

Jaw issue is genetic and if the child has it, usually one of the parents will have that too. It can be identified when u try to put your upper and lower molar together and your front and lower deck are not aligned to match each out.

Hope this little personal experience helps…

[sall]

Anybody has gone for dental implants? Can share the experience? I’m very worried about the level of pain.

[jedamum]

sall:

Anybody has gone for dental implants? Can share the experience? I'm very worried about the level of pain.

you mean the level of heart pain on the amount of $$ spent? :evil:

[sall]

jedamum:

you mean the level of heart pain on the amount of $$ spent? :evil:

Haha, level of physical pain during the treatment. If the treatment is not so painful, I'll feel so relieved that I won't feel the heart pain.
If you remember, I just extracted my molar, went for a review and the dentist said to prevent the neighbouring teeth from moving, there are 3 options. Use dentures, do a bridge or do implant. He said implant is a better choice than bridge.
You mentioned that the gum must be strong for implants , rite? Is it only for the front tooth, in your case, or applies to back tooth as well?

[jedamum]

sall:

jedamum:

you mean the level of heart pain on the amount of $$ spent? :evil:

Haha, level of physical pain during the treatment. If the treatment is not so painful, I'll feel so relieved that I won't feel the heart pain.
If you remember, I just extracted my molar, went for a review and the dentist said to prevent the neighbouring teeth from moving, there are 3 options. Use dentures, do a bridge or do implant. He said implant is a better choice than bridge.
You mentioned that the gum must be strong for implants , rite? Is it only for the front tooth, in your case, or applies to back tooth as well?

not sure about the level of physical pain, but thinking about the long term benefits, i think should be worth it.
before doing implant, i believe the dentist may need you to do an imaging of your teeth/gum. from there, he can see if you have enough 'bone mass' to carry out implant. if don't have, i was told that need to do some 'treatment' to the gums/bone(??) prior to the implant (for back tooth as well). better for you to talk to your dentist. and do note that not all dentists are qualified to carry out implant surgery.