Hey, I must tell you that if you've never had a cleaning using ultrasonic equipment, you are going to the wrong dentist! This newish technology is quicker, more efficient, less painful, and gives a better result than the traditional scraping with those horrid pointy things. Sometimes hand scraping in addition to the ultrasonic is necessary, but still, if you can reduce the amount of time someone is scraping away at your mouth, great!
We did an x-ray on the lower left tooth -- the one that was deemed unsaveable -- and it does appear there is not only reattachment but the beginnings of bone regeneration. It's too soon to declare the tooth saved, but I have high hopes!
We're still a few months away from deciding on whether I'll go with orthodontia or veneers...I'm looking into Lumineers as a possibility. Any thoughts appreciated.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Whoosh
So it's been ages since I last posted, and that's mostly because right now it's just a waiting game. We won't know if the Emdogain is working for a while yet, and no additional dental work can be done until the bone is regenerated to a certain point. But the office hooked me up with a WaterPick, something I've never used before but now I'll never be without. Really, it's a great appliance, once you get the hang of it.
Remember that scene from Roxanne where the firefighters are practicing with the firehose and it's totally out of control, and the hose is whipping them all over the place? That's what I felt like the first couple of times I used my Waterpick, but once I got the hang of it, by God it's a miracle. Not to be too gross, but the fact is that little bits of stuff come out from between the teeth, even after a thorough brushing. It's better than flossing, in my opinion.
I also had a silly thought the other day. I was cleaning the kitchen, the perennial chore, and I realized I spend MORE time every day cleaning the kitchen than I do taking care of my mouth. THAT's sad.
Remember that scene from Roxanne where the firefighters are practicing with the firehose and it's totally out of control, and the hose is whipping them all over the place? That's what I felt like the first couple of times I used my Waterpick, but once I got the hang of it, by God it's a miracle. Not to be too gross, but the fact is that little bits of stuff come out from between the teeth, even after a thorough brushing. It's better than flossing, in my opinion.
I also had a silly thought the other day. I was cleaning the kitchen, the perennial chore, and I realized I spend MORE time every day cleaning the kitchen than I do taking care of my mouth. THAT's sad.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Poor little girl
I read that story about the poor little five year old girl who is now brain dead after dental sedation. Here's an excerpt from the Chicago Sun Times.:
"Diamond Brownridge, the 5-year-old Southwest Side girl who slipped into a coma after being sedated by her dentist, was clinging to life late Monday at Children's Memorial Hospital.....Diamond's sedation involved three steps. First, she was given a substance to drink from a cup. Then the clinic administered what it called "goofy gas,'' Travis said. Finally, she received intravenous sedation....the child, who had been grinding her teeth, had complained of dental pain and been diagnosed with two cavities, her mother said. She was also getting caps on some lower teeth..."
Ok my first question is why is a five year old child getting caps on lower teeth?
Second, of course, is what happened?
No one seems to know at this point.
For more information about the dangers of IV sedation, here is an article by ABC News.
But the episode led me to do a google news search on dentists. It brought up a story about sexual abuse, a story about a Birmingham (UK) dentist accused of ordering a firebomb attack on a Birmingham house which killed a six-year-old girl, and a whole bunch of other strange stories about dentists. These stories led me to look up that urban legend about dentists having high suicide rates. I found this article, which seems to refute that claim, although it has a very funny graphic cartoon.
"Diamond Brownridge, the 5-year-old Southwest Side girl who slipped into a coma after being sedated by her dentist, was clinging to life late Monday at Children's Memorial Hospital.....Diamond's sedation involved three steps. First, she was given a substance to drink from a cup. Then the clinic administered what it called "goofy gas,'' Travis said. Finally, she received intravenous sedation....the child, who had been grinding her teeth, had complained of dental pain and been diagnosed with two cavities, her mother said. She was also getting caps on some lower teeth..."
Ok my first question is why is a five year old child getting caps on lower teeth?
Second, of course, is what happened?
No one seems to know at this point.
For more information about the dangers of IV sedation, here is an article by ABC News.
But the episode led me to do a google news search on dentists. It brought up a story about sexual abuse, a story about a Birmingham (UK) dentist accused of ordering a firebomb attack on a Birmingham house which killed a six-year-old girl, and a whole bunch of other strange stories about dentists. These stories led me to look up that urban legend about dentists having high suicide rates. I found this article, which seems to refute that claim, although it has a very funny graphic cartoon.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Because I'm worth it!
Dental appt today! And there's something good, something bad, and something embarrassing to tell.
First the good, I have this molar -- I think it's tooth #30 for those who number their teeth -- which is pretty well compromised. It's always had a huge filling in it, and the pockets around it are enormous and inflammed and all that crappy stuff. So initially the decision was made to just have it out and go with (probably) an implant. But now we're going to try to save it! Yay! I say try, because it's pretty far gone, and there may not be any hope for it. But JC is going to give it a go with the perioscope and a big dollop of Emdogain and we'll see what happens.
Now the bad. I seem to be a plaque making machine! Thanks, Mom! I remember my dentist when I was a teenager telling me I had "your mother's plaque issues", by which he meant that I make plaque like a bee makes honey. No, not out my butt! Just all the time. I am admittedly going to have to be even more vigilant than ever to keep the darn things clean. As it is, I brush twice a day and swish vigourously with Listerine (ugh) at least 3 times a day. JC thinks I ought to use the Sonic Care for four minutes each time I use it. That's two cycles, because the Sonic Care is set up to automatically shut off after 2 minutes. Plus I really have to floss more. For a long time I didn't floss because it caused my gums to bleed but I have no excuses now. My gums don't bleed anymore, not since the perioscopy. (That's one good reason to consider this super deep cleaning treatment even if you aren't at the point I was -- the point of near hopelessness.) So I will start flossing -- honest!
And the embarrassing -- well, you know how you want your teeth to be super clean when you go to the dentist? I brushed last night, and twice this morning, and Dr Bursell still found a little piece of pizza from last night's dinner lodged somewhere. How disgusting is that???? but it just goes to show you that you think you're getting 'em clean but you really aren't.
More good news -- one of my pockets has gone from 12 mm to 3. That's really good.
Next I'll go back for the perioscopy on that molar, and then in six weeks' time go for another cleaning...not a super deep one this time but just to keep the plaque at bay.
No major work, though, for a few months, because the Emdogain is still working, and the healing is still occuring (we hope!).
Oh -- so I also have this little issue with occlusion, which is basically the way the teeth bite against each other. (Origin: 1590–1600; < L occlūdere to shut up, close up, equiv. to oc- oc- + -clūdere, comb. form of claudere to close]) Occlusion is a big deal because if your teeth don't clamp down in just the right way, it can cause all kinds of problems. So Dr Bursell took a diamond tipped (hence the title of this piece) dealybob and ground down the surfaces of two of my upper side teeth. Just a little. Just enough so that the clamping down process is a little evener. I was worried but it didn't hurt at all.
Tomorrow Im going to try to find some time to write about anxiety, where my anxiety is at right now, what I've learned, and how I'm learning to cope.
First the good, I have this molar -- I think it's tooth #30 for those who number their teeth -- which is pretty well compromised. It's always had a huge filling in it, and the pockets around it are enormous and inflammed and all that crappy stuff. So initially the decision was made to just have it out and go with (probably) an implant. But now we're going to try to save it! Yay! I say try, because it's pretty far gone, and there may not be any hope for it. But JC is going to give it a go with the perioscope and a big dollop of Emdogain and we'll see what happens.
Now the bad. I seem to be a plaque making machine! Thanks, Mom! I remember my dentist when I was a teenager telling me I had "your mother's plaque issues", by which he meant that I make plaque like a bee makes honey. No, not out my butt! Just all the time. I am admittedly going to have to be even more vigilant than ever to keep the darn things clean. As it is, I brush twice a day and swish vigourously with Listerine (ugh) at least 3 times a day. JC thinks I ought to use the Sonic Care for four minutes each time I use it. That's two cycles, because the Sonic Care is set up to automatically shut off after 2 minutes. Plus I really have to floss more. For a long time I didn't floss because it caused my gums to bleed but I have no excuses now. My gums don't bleed anymore, not since the perioscopy. (That's one good reason to consider this super deep cleaning treatment even if you aren't at the point I was -- the point of near hopelessness.) So I will start flossing -- honest!
And the embarrassing -- well, you know how you want your teeth to be super clean when you go to the dentist? I brushed last night, and twice this morning, and Dr Bursell still found a little piece of pizza from last night's dinner lodged somewhere. How disgusting is that???? but it just goes to show you that you think you're getting 'em clean but you really aren't.
More good news -- one of my pockets has gone from 12 mm to 3. That's really good.
Next I'll go back for the perioscopy on that molar, and then in six weeks' time go for another cleaning...not a super deep one this time but just to keep the plaque at bay.
No major work, though, for a few months, because the Emdogain is still working, and the healing is still occuring (we hope!).
Oh -- so I also have this little issue with occlusion, which is basically the way the teeth bite against each other. (Origin: 1590–1600; < L occlūdere to shut up, close up, equiv. to oc- oc- + -clūdere, comb. form of claudere to close]) Occlusion is a big deal because if your teeth don't clamp down in just the right way, it can cause all kinds of problems. So Dr Bursell took a diamond tipped (hence the title of this piece) dealybob and ground down the surfaces of two of my upper side teeth. Just a little. Just enough so that the clamping down process is a little evener. I was worried but it didn't hurt at all.
Tomorrow Im going to try to find some time to write about anxiety, where my anxiety is at right now, what I've learned, and how I'm learning to cope.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
New problems
Oh, man, just when I thought things were looking up, and my teeth were getting back to normal, one of them started to crumble today. From what I can tell, a piece of the tooth must have chipped off somehow, and it feels really weird on the inside. I can feel the sharp edges of the filling with my tongue. I think this is the tooth that one dentist told me had a crack in it. It's probably going to have to go. Dammit. That makes 3 teeth that are going to have to be pulled soon....I hope, of course, that it can just have a crown put on it, but with my dental luck that's doubtful.
On the bright side, I really do feel that the perio treatments I've had are making a huge difference. I'm sure the pockets are getting smaller, and I'm sure I'm growing bone back again. I believe I'll be able to keep 23 or 24 teeth (as opposed to having 14 of them yanked, as the first dentist wanted to do), and while it's a long way off, I do expect to have a great looking smile someday.
After all the necessary extractions, replaced fillings, and what not, I'm still going to be faced with the question: veneers or not veneers?
On the bright side, I really do feel that the perio treatments I've had are making a huge difference. I'm sure the pockets are getting smaller, and I'm sure I'm growing bone back again. I believe I'll be able to keep 23 or 24 teeth (as opposed to having 14 of them yanked, as the first dentist wanted to do), and while it's a long way off, I do expect to have a great looking smile someday.
After all the necessary extractions, replaced fillings, and what not, I'm still going to be faced with the question: veneers or not veneers?
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Cost of Emdogain treatment
A few people have asked me how expensive Emdogain treatment is. Not being a dentist or periodontist, I don't know the answer to that. I do know one thing, though. The cost of Emdogain treatment is in direct relation to how it's applied. If your dentist/periodontist wants to do gum flap surgery with Emdogain, that's going to run you pretty good because of the surgery. The Emdogain itself will not be the most important expense in that situation.
If you're lucky enough to find someone who will treat you non-surgically, then the cost will be considerably lower. For more info on Emdogain, visit Judy Carroll's website (listed and linked on the right side), it's a font of good information.
And insurance will often pay some of the Emdogain cost, although not all of it.
If you're lucky enough to find someone who will treat you non-surgically, then the cost will be considerably lower. For more info on Emdogain, visit Judy Carroll's website (listed and linked on the right side), it's a font of good information.
And insurance will often pay some of the Emdogain cost, although not all of it.
Friday, August 25, 2006
IV sedation
My SO -- I'll call him P --had a tooth out yesterday, one that had been bothering him for many years. 10 years ago a dentist had told him the tooth (a far back one) needed a root canal. That dentist stuck a temporary cap on it, and P just let it go until it got to the point he couldn't stand the pain anymore. That's how much he didn't want to go to the dentist!
Anyway, we found someone who does IV sedation dentistry, and P jumped on it! So yesterday was the big day. We arrived five minutes early, had to wait about 10 minutes, then called him in to the operating room. They took his blood pressure, and taped some electrodes (?) to his chest to monitor his heart and breathing. P says he felt reassured by that because he knew they were going to be keeping a close eye on him.
Next, the dentist wheeled in a bag of IV (like you see on tv), asked P to relax, put a rubber tube around his arm and had him clench his fist. The dentist sprayed some freezing stuff on the arm and told P this is going to feel a little chilly. Then there was a little stick, then the dentist started chatting, and P remembers nothing after that.
The whole procedure took about 40 minutes, including removal of the tooth and placement of bone graft material. The dentist numbed the area around the tooth, so that when P woke up he didn't feel any pain there.
I was called in after the procedure was over, and I have to admit, P was pretty funny, he was verrry out of it and kind of dazed for a good hour afterwards. (He remembers nothing of the ride home.)
The total cost of this appointment was $901.00 (yes, I asked what the $1 was for, but the receptionist looked at me blankly!!). Not sure how it breaks down, but I know that more than 50% of that was for the sedation itself.
But it's something he totally recommends to anyone who's about to undergo a procedure that worries them!!
Oh, and the dentist sent him home WITH the extracted tooth (in 3 pieces) and you should have seen the cavity! Omigod! It was like a bullet hole. I can't believe P lived with that thing in his mouth as long as he did. We're so glad it's out now!!
Anyway, we found someone who does IV sedation dentistry, and P jumped on it! So yesterday was the big day. We arrived five minutes early, had to wait about 10 minutes, then called him in to the operating room. They took his blood pressure, and taped some electrodes (?) to his chest to monitor his heart and breathing. P says he felt reassured by that because he knew they were going to be keeping a close eye on him.
Next, the dentist wheeled in a bag of IV (like you see on tv), asked P to relax, put a rubber tube around his arm and had him clench his fist. The dentist sprayed some freezing stuff on the arm and told P this is going to feel a little chilly. Then there was a little stick, then the dentist started chatting, and P remembers nothing after that.
The whole procedure took about 40 minutes, including removal of the tooth and placement of bone graft material. The dentist numbed the area around the tooth, so that when P woke up he didn't feel any pain there.
I was called in after the procedure was over, and I have to admit, P was pretty funny, he was verrry out of it and kind of dazed for a good hour afterwards. (He remembers nothing of the ride home.)
The total cost of this appointment was $901.00 (yes, I asked what the $1 was for, but the receptionist looked at me blankly!!). Not sure how it breaks down, but I know that more than 50% of that was for the sedation itself.
But it's something he totally recommends to anyone who's about to undergo a procedure that worries them!!
Oh, and the dentist sent him home WITH the extracted tooth (in 3 pieces) and you should have seen the cavity! Omigod! It was like a bullet hole. I can't believe P lived with that thing in his mouth as long as he did. We're so glad it's out now!!
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Emdogain explained
Here is a link to JC's blog, with an entry that explains the magical power of Emdogain. This is well worth a look, because frankly it's not that easy to find good solid info about Emdogain on the web, and most of the information one does find talks about surgical application of the enamel matrix protein. JC does a non-surgical application that is a LOT less gory (there are pictures of THAT on her blog too - don't look at them if you're eating breakfast right now!!) and doesn't require cutting the gums.
Here's one set of x-rays that shows the incredible difference Emdogain can make in the regeneration of bone. The first picture is before, obviously, and the second is after. I'm no radiologist but even I can see the remarkable difference in the amount of bone!
Needless to say, I am a total convert to the whole process that JC uses, and I'm going to put a permanent link to her website here, so that the word gets out. This is 21st century dental care, people, and deserves a wide audience, so if you know anyone who is facing dentures, implants, extractions, "hopeless teeth", etc, please pass the link along. I can't tell you how strongly I recommend her procedures.
Here's one set of x-rays that shows the incredible difference Emdogain can make in the regeneration of bone. The first picture is before, obviously, and the second is after. I'm no radiologist but even I can see the remarkable difference in the amount of bone!
Needless to say, I am a total convert to the whole process that JC uses, and I'm going to put a permanent link to her website here, so that the word gets out. This is 21st century dental care, people, and deserves a wide audience, so if you know anyone who is facing dentures, implants, extractions, "hopeless teeth", etc, please pass the link along. I can't tell you how strongly I recommend her procedures.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
fourth quadrant!
This morning was my final visit with JC for the perioscopy. The fourth quadrant -- sounds like an episode of Star Trek, doesn't it? The Fourth Quadrant, where the Starship Enterprise slipped into a wormhole and Dr Spock turned into a bunny rabbit on steroids...okay I digress....
Anyway! So now all four quadrants are super duper deep cleaned all the way down to their little roots:
I asked JC if I would need to have this procedure every year or two, and she said no, not for at least five years. Hallelujah! She also recommended a SonicCare toothbrush. I used to have one but when the battery died I just didn't buy a new one. But I will now. As it was explained to me, the sonic waves disrupt the formation of calculus (that's the hard stuff that has to be scraped off teeth). And I am sick to death of calculus!! So I will go out and buy one tomorrow. They're not cheap - I think I paid $80 for my last one, and replacement brushes are criminally expensive, just like everything else in dentistry.
My next step is to go back in six weeks for a checkup. The dentist doesn't want to start any actual dental work until the Emdogain and perioscapy has had a chance to do its thing, grow a little bone and get the deep pockets reattached. I'm taking my low dose tetracycline every day, as well as a multitude of Vitamins. Particularly Im taking lots of Vitamin C which promotes healing.
(as an aside...if you're ever facing surgery of ANY kind, where you'll have an IV in your arm, DEMAND that vitamin C be put in the IV - it works miracles in the healing process!)
Here's my best case scenario: in six weeks time, my tissue, gums, bone and whatever else is in there will be sufficiently healed and strong that we can go ahead with dental work. I still want my Invisaligns!!! I need some kind of orthodontia to straighten the teeth and stop the overcrowding that is one of my big problems. I also want the teeth whitened.
Over the next few days I will try to get a photo of the teeth on this blog. Despite all JC's hard work, she hasn't done anything in terms of appearance -- all her work is beneath the surface, so to speak. So the appearance of my smile is still pretty bad. Check back in a few days and hopefully I'll have something for you.
Anyway! So now all four quadrants are super duper deep cleaned all the way down to their little roots:
I asked JC if I would need to have this procedure every year or two, and she said no, not for at least five years. Hallelujah! She also recommended a SonicCare toothbrush. I used to have one but when the battery died I just didn't buy a new one. But I will now. As it was explained to me, the sonic waves disrupt the formation of calculus (that's the hard stuff that has to be scraped off teeth). And I am sick to death of calculus!! So I will go out and buy one tomorrow. They're not cheap - I think I paid $80 for my last one, and replacement brushes are criminally expensive, just like everything else in dentistry.
My next step is to go back in six weeks for a checkup. The dentist doesn't want to start any actual dental work until the Emdogain and perioscapy has had a chance to do its thing, grow a little bone and get the deep pockets reattached. I'm taking my low dose tetracycline every day, as well as a multitude of Vitamins. Particularly Im taking lots of Vitamin C which promotes healing.
(as an aside...if you're ever facing surgery of ANY kind, where you'll have an IV in your arm, DEMAND that vitamin C be put in the IV - it works miracles in the healing process!)
Here's my best case scenario: in six weeks time, my tissue, gums, bone and whatever else is in there will be sufficiently healed and strong that we can go ahead with dental work. I still want my Invisaligns!!! I need some kind of orthodontia to straighten the teeth and stop the overcrowding that is one of my big problems. I also want the teeth whitened.
Over the next few days I will try to get a photo of the teeth on this blog. Despite all JC's hard work, she hasn't done anything in terms of appearance -- all her work is beneath the surface, so to speak. So the appearance of my smile is still pretty bad. Check back in a few days and hopefully I'll have something for you.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Dental Holidays?
I heard about this on European Journal the other night. Apparently you can go to Budapest or other less expensive country and get your dental work - including implants - for up to 1/3 to 1/4 the cost of having it done in Britain. Probably cheaper than in the US as well, who knows! Anyway, here's an article - with before and after pictures - about it. The article is short, so I've copied the whole thing, but you'll have to go to the site to see the pics:
A dental holiday in Hungary
Mr Stephen Hayes, 62, a businessman from Cheshire, thought he might lose his teeth because the expensive dental treatment he needed was not available on the NHS, but he managed to save £17,000 by flying to Hungary on a "dental holiday". Mr Hayes required a long course of treatment to repair his teeth, including gum surgery, implants, bridges and crowns. Unfortunately this work wasn’t available on the NHS, and a private dentist in south Manchester told him the cost would be £25,000.
His local dentist said there was nothing he could do about his gingivitis but when it developed into periodontitis - a deterioration of the membranes holding the teeth in the bone - Mr Hayes sought a second opinion. A quote from a top dentist in south Manchester totalled £25,000 incorporating gum cleaning, five teeth implants at £2,000 a piece and on top of the implant costs, gum surgery, crowns, bridges and numerous appointments and check-ups. Mr Hayes looked into having the treatment abroad and within a week he was on a flight to Budapest where his extensive dental treatment cost just £8,000.
A dental holiday in Hungary
Mr Stephen Hayes, 62, a businessman from Cheshire, thought he might lose his teeth because the expensive dental treatment he needed was not available on the NHS, but he managed to save £17,000 by flying to Hungary on a "dental holiday". Mr Hayes required a long course of treatment to repair his teeth, including gum surgery, implants, bridges and crowns. Unfortunately this work wasn’t available on the NHS, and a private dentist in south Manchester told him the cost would be £25,000.
His local dentist said there was nothing he could do about his gingivitis but when it developed into periodontitis - a deterioration of the membranes holding the teeth in the bone - Mr Hayes sought a second opinion. A quote from a top dentist in south Manchester totalled £25,000 incorporating gum cleaning, five teeth implants at £2,000 a piece and on top of the implant costs, gum surgery, crowns, bridges and numerous appointments and check-ups. Mr Hayes looked into having the treatment abroad and within a week he was on a flight to Budapest where his extensive dental treatment cost just £8,000.
Monday, July 31, 2006
another appt
Back from my third appt with JC. Did the lower left quadrant today. I have one molar that has to come out on that side, so she didn't bother with it, which I think made the appt go faster. She said she did a "nerve block" today, which is much better than just shots of novocaine or whatever, and indeed, I was pretty profoundly numb for the whole appointment. That was a relief! I'm hoping the fourth appointment goes as smoothly. And then I start dealing with the other problems -- I want all my old fillings replaced. I think I need to have some kind of braces or whatever because my bite is so out of alignment that when I bite down, almost none of my teeth meet each other. That's a bad thing.
I still have anxiety, and still have Valium before each appointment. Even so, I feel myself tensing up and have to consciously relax my shoulders about every ten minutes, as I can feel they've tensed up. But it's all eminently bearable.
Today I spent a little time on google looking up dental anxiety sites. YOu would not believe how many of them there are! I mean, really! Can it possibly be true that dentists are not aware of how deep and prevalent dental issues are among the populace? I have one comment for them -- if you would gear your advertising AND your actual practice toward addressing dental anxiety, word of mouth (no pun intended) would make you the richest dentist in town.
Here are just a few sites:
Beyond Fear
I still have anxiety, and still have Valium before each appointment. Even so, I feel myself tensing up and have to consciously relax my shoulders about every ten minutes, as I can feel they've tensed up. But it's all eminently bearable.
Today I spent a little time on google looking up dental anxiety sites. YOu would not believe how many of them there are! I mean, really! Can it possibly be true that dentists are not aware of how deep and prevalent dental issues are among the populace? I have one comment for them -- if you would gear your advertising AND your actual practice toward addressing dental anxiety, word of mouth (no pun intended) would make you the richest dentist in town.
Here are just a few sites:
Beyond Fear
Dental Fear Central (my personal fav site)
Dental Fear(actually a NY dentist's site but has some good info)
Dental Fear (looks like it's paid for by dentists, but some good info)
Web MD ( a little condescending -- for example, it says "People with dental anxiety...may...have exaggerated worries or fears". This completely negates the fact that many people with dental anxiety have painful or humiliating past experiences that make their worries or fears completely legitimate!!)
And just for fun (or a learning experience), take the Dental Fear Questionnaire here. You may find (as I do) that your level of anxiety isn't all that bad, in fact is normal.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
A progress report
So it's been about a week now since the upper left quadrant was deep cleaned, and about two weeks for the upper right. Several things are happening. First, two or three distinct spots on the upper inside of my mouth are really sensitive to heat, cold and sugar. It's as if some nerves were laid bare. I'm hoping this is only temporary, as it makes it hard to drink cold water (and it's been in the 90s here) or eat ice cream!! Second, the upper gums are becoming a much healthier color, much pinker and much less red. It's easy to see the contrast between the upper and lower gums. Also, I had one tooth that you could wiggle a little bit, and it seems to be more firmly planted now.
I know the healing process is a long one, and I am doing clumsy visualization exercises when I have time -- trying to imagine the bone and gums growing and regenerating. ONly time will tell whether this will happen, but I'm hopeful.
My significant other just left for his first appointment in ten years. I'm anxiously awaiting his return. I just hope hope hope he doesn't need too much work done.
That's it for now. Next appt is Monday, when JC will deep clean and periostat one lower quadrant. She said she can give me a nerve block so that I'll be profoundly numb this time. That's an important phrase -- profoundly numb. Remember to use it the next time you go to the dentist: "Doc, I want to be profoundly numb before you start sticking sharp objects in my mouth."
I know the healing process is a long one, and I am doing clumsy visualization exercises when I have time -- trying to imagine the bone and gums growing and regenerating. ONly time will tell whether this will happen, but I'm hopeful.
My significant other just left for his first appointment in ten years. I'm anxiously awaiting his return. I just hope hope hope he doesn't need too much work done.
That's it for now. Next appt is Monday, when JC will deep clean and periostat one lower quadrant. She said she can give me a nerve block so that I'll be profoundly numb this time. That's an important phrase -- profoundly numb. Remember to use it the next time you go to the dentist: "Doc, I want to be profoundly numb before you start sticking sharp objects in my mouth."
Friday, July 21, 2006
cleaning redux
One of the purposes of this blog is to hopefully let other people learn from my experiences. And what I learned -- about myself, at least -- is that I shouldn't try to bite off more than I can chew (figuratively, of course!). I was hopeful that we could do a couple of quadrants yesterday, but when I got there, I realized that I am really only capable of sitting in the chair for a limited time (despite the fact that these chairs have memory foam padding, which makes for a rather more pleasant sit than most dental offices). Thinking of doing two quadrants began to seem a little overwhelming. I need to know things like "how much longer" and "when can I get out of here?" So JC and I agreed to go one quadrant at a time.
And I also think dentists and hygenists are a little like hairdressers. They need to get to know you, your needs, the way your hair (or teeth) respond. And that requires building up a bit of a relationship. JC knew this time to numb the hell out of my mouth before even beginning to clean. And whooo-eeee did she numb my mouth. I wonder if that's what Botox feels like, becuase honestly you couldn't move a muscle if you tried.
So the upshot is that we did the upper left quadrant in about an hour and a half, it was 80% less painful (I did still feel a couple of pokes, especially near the end as the numbing agent began to wear off). I tried to do a Zen kind of thing where if I felt anything, I just "went somewhere else" in my mind, which also helped a little. Believe me, any and all tricks you can use to make time go faster, and to reduce any pain, are worth it.
JC has a little radio she'll let you listen to, and a warm blanket if you want it. Some dental offices even offer movies. I've always thought it would be way cool if they brought in a foot masseuse so you could have a pedicure while the hygenist works, that way, you'd be gorgeous "head to toe", literally, when the time is up!
But seriously, the point is, do what you need to do to make your dental visits as comfortable as possible. Don't be afraid to speak up, ask for what you need, mention any concerns, do mental exercises, and most of all, keep the lines of communication open.
I go back on the 31st for the next quadrant, and the last one will be in August. Then the fun begins all over again...I want my old fillings replaced, I want some kind of braces to help with the crowding and spacing, I want them whitened. But that's all still down the road a ways.
But have you noticed I'm much calmer now? Well, I am. And you will be, too, after a few times in the chair!
And I also think dentists and hygenists are a little like hairdressers. They need to get to know you, your needs, the way your hair (or teeth) respond. And that requires building up a bit of a relationship. JC knew this time to numb the hell out of my mouth before even beginning to clean. And whooo-eeee did she numb my mouth. I wonder if that's what Botox feels like, becuase honestly you couldn't move a muscle if you tried.
So the upshot is that we did the upper left quadrant in about an hour and a half, it was 80% less painful (I did still feel a couple of pokes, especially near the end as the numbing agent began to wear off). I tried to do a Zen kind of thing where if I felt anything, I just "went somewhere else" in my mind, which also helped a little. Believe me, any and all tricks you can use to make time go faster, and to reduce any pain, are worth it.
JC has a little radio she'll let you listen to, and a warm blanket if you want it. Some dental offices even offer movies. I've always thought it would be way cool if they brought in a foot masseuse so you could have a pedicure while the hygenist works, that way, you'd be gorgeous "head to toe", literally, when the time is up!
But seriously, the point is, do what you need to do to make your dental visits as comfortable as possible. Don't be afraid to speak up, ask for what you need, mention any concerns, do mental exercises, and most of all, keep the lines of communication open.
I go back on the 31st for the next quadrant, and the last one will be in August. Then the fun begins all over again...I want my old fillings replaced, I want some kind of braces to help with the crowding and spacing, I want them whitened. But that's all still down the road a ways.
But have you noticed I'm much calmer now? Well, I am. And you will be, too, after a few times in the chair!
Thursday, July 20, 2006
2nd appt
Well, today is my second appointment with JC. I'm not so much frightened as I am just dreading it. For some reason I have a hard time getting numb in certain places and it just plain hurts. So I'm just going to see how it goes, ask for Valium, and try to relax. I hope we can do two quadrants but maybe I can only bear one at a time. I'll decide while I'm in the chair, and I'll report back when I get home -- assuming Im in any shape to type.
I need to update you, also, on the fact that I will, in fact, have to have three teeth extracted. It seems that every time someone takes a close look inside my mouth, they find something else that needs to be forcibly removed. More on this later....
A brief note...my boyfriend hasn't been to a dentist in ten years. The last time he was there, a dentist told him he needed a root canal. He never went back. This is, apparently, a common story. The tooth has deteriorated and now gives him constant pain, so he's finally agreed to go to the dentist (he's a bigger phobic than me, it turns out!) during my next JC appointment. So we'll be a household in pain for the next few months...
I need to update you, also, on the fact that I will, in fact, have to have three teeth extracted. It seems that every time someone takes a close look inside my mouth, they find something else that needs to be forcibly removed. More on this later....
A brief note...my boyfriend hasn't been to a dentist in ten years. The last time he was there, a dentist told him he needed a root canal. He never went back. This is, apparently, a common story. The tooth has deteriorated and now gives him constant pain, so he's finally agreed to go to the dentist (he's a bigger phobic than me, it turns out!) during my next JC appointment. So we'll be a household in pain for the next few months...
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Dental Embarrassment
I ran across an interesting study entitled "The contribution of embarrassment to phobic dental anxiety: a qualitative research study". I mean, sometimes you wonder why they have to have these studies - they could have just given me the money and I'd have told them there's a relationship between embarrassment and anxiety!! But seriously, I'm going to quote for you the beginning premise and the conclusion of the study and then give you the URL if you're interested in reading more.
Beginning Premise:
Earlier Scandinavian studies indicated existence of a vicious circle of dental anxiety, in which embarrassment, shame or guilt have a central role in facilitating both anxiety and treatment avoidance, but they gave few details as to the exact role of embarrassment in this vicious circle.
Beginning Premise:
Earlier Scandinavian studies indicated existence of a vicious circle of dental anxiety, in which embarrassment, shame or guilt have a central role in facilitating both anxiety and treatment avoidance, but they gave few details as to the exact role of embarrassment in this vicious circle.
Conclusions
Embarrassment is a complex dental anxiety manifestation with qualitative differences by complaint characteristics and perceived intensity. Some cases exhibited manifestations similar to psychiatric criteria for social anxiety disorder as chief complaint, while most manifested embarrassment as a side effect....Sensitivity and understanding about the psychosocial nature of the dental health care environment should be an aim in the education of dentists in the 21st century, in order to prevent and treat suffering from extreme or phobic dental anxiety and related dysfunctional phenomena.
In other words, embarrassment is a real factor in dental anxiety, and the degree of it is greater for some than for others. Duh! But it's still an interesting read. You can read the whole thing here. By the way, I love this chart:
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Ow Ow Ow
Well, I had my first appointment. I'm not going to lie to you, it was brutal. There are so many things wrong with my teeth and gums that this is really going to be a painful and difficult process.
I had to have four Valium, and at least 5 shots of Novocaine (it isn't really novocaine, but something similar but I can't remember the correct name). I couldn't get completely numb, and that was the worst part. There were two specific spots, under the gumline, where I could feel quite completely what her instruments were doing. And that is painful. I finally decided I was just going to grit my teeth (figuratively) and not show the pain on my face. Because I knew I had to get through this.
2 and a half hours later and we had just finished ONE quadrant. Since the appointmnet was scheduled for four hours, it wouldn't have been possible to complete a second one, so my next appointmnet will be just for one more quadrant.
The tools she uses are an endoscope and perioscope. Or maybe theyre both the same tool -- but anyway, it's a tiny camera with a bright light on the tip. She sticks that way way down under the gum, inside all those pockets we're not supposed to have but we all do. The thing that's different is she can "see" a lot farther down and a lot more thoroughly than a hygenist who just sticks tools down there and "feels" for calculus. Judy can actually see - via the camera, which sends a picture to a video screen -- all the way down, and all the crap that's down there.
She also managed to get a little Emdogain applied to the upper right quadrant.
I have my fingers crossed that the next appointment won't be so painful or difficult, but even if it is, I'm determined, motivated, and hopeful.
I had to have four Valium, and at least 5 shots of Novocaine (it isn't really novocaine, but something similar but I can't remember the correct name). I couldn't get completely numb, and that was the worst part. There were two specific spots, under the gumline, where I could feel quite completely what her instruments were doing. And that is painful. I finally decided I was just going to grit my teeth (figuratively) and not show the pain on my face. Because I knew I had to get through this.
2 and a half hours later and we had just finished ONE quadrant. Since the appointmnet was scheduled for four hours, it wouldn't have been possible to complete a second one, so my next appointmnet will be just for one more quadrant.
The tools she uses are an endoscope and perioscope. Or maybe theyre both the same tool -- but anyway, it's a tiny camera with a bright light on the tip. She sticks that way way down under the gum, inside all those pockets we're not supposed to have but we all do. The thing that's different is she can "see" a lot farther down and a lot more thoroughly than a hygenist who just sticks tools down there and "feels" for calculus. Judy can actually see - via the camera, which sends a picture to a video screen -- all the way down, and all the crap that's down there.
She also managed to get a little Emdogain applied to the upper right quadrant.
I have my fingers crossed that the next appointment won't be so painful or difficult, but even if it is, I'm determined, motivated, and hopeful.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
D-day
Well, two months (plus) after my journey began, I will go for my first actual treatment today. I am already starting to panic, having shortness of breath, sweating, etc. What am I frightened about? You name it. Im afraid she'll start the perioscopy and then say it's useless. I'm afraid some of my teeth will fall out while she's working on them. I'm afraid of pain. I'm afraid of sitting with my mouth open for four hours. I'm afraid my ride home won't show up. I'm afraid...just afraid.
I'm taking deep breaths, and I have a Valium if I need it. I hope I won't. The All Star game is on tonight (if not rained out!) and I want to be at least semi alert for that. My boyfriend promised me ice cream for dinner if I go through with it. So there are reasons to ...just project past the next six hours and focus on 5pm. By 5pm I'll be home...sore, yes, but home...with this perioscopy half over...and the second treatment (a week from Thursday) should be better because at least I'll know what to expect...
Wish me well...
I'm taking deep breaths, and I have a Valium if I need it. I hope I won't. The All Star game is on tonight (if not rained out!) and I want to be at least semi alert for that. My boyfriend promised me ice cream for dinner if I go through with it. So there are reasons to ...just project past the next six hours and focus on 5pm. By 5pm I'll be home...sore, yes, but home...with this perioscopy half over...and the second treatment (a week from Thursday) should be better because at least I'll know what to expect...
Wish me well...
Monday, July 10, 2006
big day tomorrow
Well, I had a nice weekend - went to the horse races and won about $4, then out to dinner, and otherwise just relaxed. Now I'm back to reality, and facing four hours, yes, four hours, in the chair tomorrow, as JC begins the super deep cleaning, planing, whatever it's called. I can only hope it doesnt hurt too horribly much, that I can get through that length of time without choking, vomiting, panicking, crying, or dying. And then next week I have another four hour appt. Hopefully that will be the worst of it. I think she will apply the Emdogain during these appointments.
I have to give her a check for $3600 tomorrow. Insurance might pay a pittance of that, but I looked at my insurance benefits and they allow something like 50% (because she's not a "preferred provider" , and the max for cleaning/scaling/plaining is something like $150 a quadrant. I don't know if that means they'll actually fork over $75 per quad or what. I am fully expecting to be "out" the whole $3600, and am only glad that someone was able to help me out with this payment.
I will have to have a LOT more work done after this - this is just the beginning, to get the playing field ready to play on, so to speak.
Thank God I have a ride home from this appointment (I don't drive or own a car). Otherwise a cab would probably cost $30.
I am really scared.
I have to give her a check for $3600 tomorrow. Insurance might pay a pittance of that, but I looked at my insurance benefits and they allow something like 50% (because she's not a "preferred provider" , and the max for cleaning/scaling/plaining is something like $150 a quadrant. I don't know if that means they'll actually fork over $75 per quad or what. I am fully expecting to be "out" the whole $3600, and am only glad that someone was able to help me out with this payment.
I will have to have a LOT more work done after this - this is just the beginning, to get the playing field ready to play on, so to speak.
Thank God I have a ride home from this appointment (I don't drive or own a car). Otherwise a cab would probably cost $30.
I am really scared.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
JC
Well, I had my appointment with JC this morning -- no, not Jesus Christ, but she may be the new Messiah! I have her permission to use her name and to direct you to her website. She's Judy Carroll, her website is here, and I'm a fan. Her philosophy and methods are different from anyone I've encountered before, she's using cutting edge techniques, and she has a great attitude! And if you've been following my blog, you know I'm a cynic! Judy works out of an office in North Seattle (Lynnwood, to be exact). Not a great neighborhood, but once you enter the office you feel quite calm and in good hands. A great water feature, a comfy waiting room, and short waits. I filled out the necessary forms and went to the bathroom. While I was in there, I heard my name being called. Now that's quick!
Judy practices perioscopy, which is extreme cleaning, planing and scaling using a tiny tiny micro camera and tool. She also does Emdogain without surgery, which was a huge relief to me! I have been adamant all along that I want Emdogain, ever since I found out about it, but was not looking forward to the surgical procedure that most dentists use. So I needed no convincing about any of this. I am on board and motivated!
The dentist Judy works with (can't recall her name right now, but she's a wonderful person) stopped in and we talked about my dental needs beyond the periodontal disease. At some point, I actually may have a beautiful smile! Even if it is veneers -- at least they'll be supported by (mostly) my real teeth! I will need a couple extracted, they're just too far gone. And I'm okay with that.
Initial payments for two sessions of deep cleaning and Emdogain will run me about $4000, or a little less. Yes, that's a TON of money, and insurance will pay little or none, but again, I'm motivated and can live with that amount, for what I'll get. First appointment (FOUR hours) will be next Tuesday, July 11. I don't know what kind of shape I'll be in for blogging that day, but I'll try.
Judy accepts (and has) patients from all over the world. Check out her website before you submit to having all your teeth pulled. Or put it off for a few months, until I can give you a more complete review of how things go for me. Maybe she'll be the answer you're looking for.
It's early days yet, and I haven't actually been treated so my information is really only what I've read and heard. I will definitely keep you posted, though!
Judy practices perioscopy, which is extreme cleaning, planing and scaling using a tiny tiny micro camera and tool. She also does Emdogain without surgery, which was a huge relief to me! I have been adamant all along that I want Emdogain, ever since I found out about it, but was not looking forward to the surgical procedure that most dentists use. So I needed no convincing about any of this. I am on board and motivated!
The dentist Judy works with (can't recall her name right now, but she's a wonderful person) stopped in and we talked about my dental needs beyond the periodontal disease. At some point, I actually may have a beautiful smile! Even if it is veneers -- at least they'll be supported by (mostly) my real teeth! I will need a couple extracted, they're just too far gone. And I'm okay with that.
Initial payments for two sessions of deep cleaning and Emdogain will run me about $4000, or a little less. Yes, that's a TON of money, and insurance will pay little or none, but again, I'm motivated and can live with that amount, for what I'll get. First appointment (FOUR hours) will be next Tuesday, July 11. I don't know what kind of shape I'll be in for blogging that day, but I'll try.
Judy accepts (and has) patients from all over the world. Check out her website before you submit to having all your teeth pulled. Or put it off for a few months, until I can give you a more complete review of how things go for me. Maybe she'll be the answer you're looking for.
It's early days yet, and I haven't actually been treated so my information is really only what I've read and heard. I will definitely keep you posted, though!
Thursday, June 29, 2006
An open letter to Paul Allen
Dear Mr. Allen --
I have a funny feeling you have dental phobia. There's no other explanation why such a brilliant and wealthy man should have such a dismal smile.
I'll be happy to go with you to the dentist. All you have to do is pay my dental bills for the next three years!
I'm not kidding.
I have a funny feeling you have dental phobia. There's no other explanation why such a brilliant and wealthy man should have such a dismal smile.
I'll be happy to go with you to the dentist. All you have to do is pay my dental bills for the next three years!
I'm not kidding.
Oy
You won't believe what's happening now...the perio specialist I talked to yesterday called me today. She looked at my x-rays (they're digital so can be emailed quickly) and said "yes, you have severe bone loss, but you have a lot of bone left, and we can probably work with you." We had set up an appt for Monday but she had to change it because of the holiday.
Here's the funny part: she's giving a presentation on her methods on Wednesday afternoon, and who is on her list to be in the audience? Dr B, my dentist! We laughed about this, and she said she would like to see me BEFORE her presentation, and she would like to take a couple of pictures of me (my teeth I guess) to SHOW at the presentation! is she going to humiliate Dr B? Should I cancel all my future appointments with him?? Can she really save my teeth? This is such an interesting turn of event...no answers yet but now it looks as though there's a chance I won't have to have everything pulled...and I'm jazzed about that! There are still a lot of issues -- a couple of lower teeth that are going to have to be pulled and replaced for sure, but maybe, just maybe, I can keep most of my uppers....stay tuned! The appt is for Wednesday morning July 5. I'll tell you more about her methods tomorrow.
Here's the funny part: she's giving a presentation on her methods on Wednesday afternoon, and who is on her list to be in the audience? Dr B, my dentist! We laughed about this, and she said she would like to see me BEFORE her presentation, and she would like to take a couple of pictures of me (my teeth I guess) to SHOW at the presentation! is she going to humiliate Dr B? Should I cancel all my future appointments with him?? Can she really save my teeth? This is such an interesting turn of event...no answers yet but now it looks as though there's a chance I won't have to have everything pulled...and I'm jazzed about that! There are still a lot of issues -- a couple of lower teeth that are going to have to be pulled and replaced for sure, but maybe, just maybe, I can keep most of my uppers....stay tuned! The appt is for Wednesday morning July 5. I'll tell you more about her methods tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Oops I did it again!
In my desperation, I was on the internet again today...it can be a dangerous thing, folks. I bet doctors and dentists hate people who self-diagnose using the web! But I do it all the time, and so far I'm still alive.
Anyway, so I found this website for a "Periodontal Therapist" who uses a Dental Endoscope, which is "an extremely tiny fiber optic camera that can go up to 14 mm beneath the gum line--a place where no dental professional has been able to see before." Now, I don't know if this can help me, given the advanced bone loss and so forth that I have, but her website gave me hope. I gave her a call, and she is going to see me on Monday! I told her I had an appt tomorrow for my first scaling and planing, and after discussing with her, I decided to postpone that appointment til after Monday. I also had my x-rays sent up to her.
I don't have a lot of hope, but she does mention Emdogain on her site, so maybe, just maybe, she's the person I'm looking for. She's not a dentist, so I would still need to retain Dr B, I guess, although he's actually a prosthodontist. The whole thing confuses me, all the different specialties. I remember when I first contacted Dr B's office, I asked if I needed a "regular" dentist as well, and the office said, "No, Dr. B would love to be your full care dentist." Hmm.
Anyway, so I found this website for a "Periodontal Therapist" who uses a Dental Endoscope, which is "an extremely tiny fiber optic camera that can go up to 14 mm beneath the gum line--a place where no dental professional has been able to see before." Now, I don't know if this can help me, given the advanced bone loss and so forth that I have, but her website gave me hope. I gave her a call, and she is going to see me on Monday! I told her I had an appt tomorrow for my first scaling and planing, and after discussing with her, I decided to postpone that appointment til after Monday. I also had my x-rays sent up to her.
I don't have a lot of hope, but she does mention Emdogain on her site, so maybe, just maybe, she's the person I'm looking for. She's not a dentist, so I would still need to retain Dr B, I guess, although he's actually a prosthodontist. The whole thing confuses me, all the different specialties. I remember when I first contacted Dr B's office, I asked if I needed a "regular" dentist as well, and the office said, "No, Dr. B would love to be your full care dentist." Hmm.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Thursday's appt
Well, my first actual "treatment" appointment is coming up on Thursday. I am already starting to panic. The dentist gave me a prescription for Valium - just two pills - and I need to get that filled. I'm supposed to take one the night before, and the other one hour before the appointment. This worries me becuase I don't have a ride home from the dentist and I'm afraid I'll be terribly high or something....can I take the bus home in that condition? Does anyone know? I never take drugs and have never had a Valium....
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Anti-Dentite T-shirt
So I was reading about this guy who's trying to save his house by selling t-shirts and I thought, well, everyone else is making t-shirts, so why not me? 
Here's what I came up with . (It says Anti-Dentite.) It's based on that Seinfeld episode where Kramer accuses Jerry of being an anti-dentite.
If you can think of something better for a t-shirt, let me know!!! I was thinking along the lines of "I got all my teeth pulled and all I got was this lousy t-shirt" but who's gonna wear something like that???
Anyway, if you don't wanna buy it, at least click the link and then go to the CafePress marketplace and see if there's anything else you want. They have zillions of t-shirts and bumper stickers, and if you go there through my link, I'll still get a little tiny commission, and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you helped me out a little! And of course for that I would be eternally grateful.
Here's what I came up with . (It says Anti-Dentite.) It's based on that Seinfeld episode where Kramer accuses Jerry of being an anti-dentite. If you can think of something better for a t-shirt, let me know!!! I was thinking along the lines of "I got all my teeth pulled and all I got was this lousy t-shirt" but who's gonna wear something like that???
Anyway, if you don't wanna buy it, at least click the link and then go to the CafePress marketplace and see if there's anything else you want. They have zillions of t-shirts and bumper stickers, and if you go there through my link, I'll still get a little tiny commission, and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you helped me out a little! And of course for that I would be eternally grateful.
Monday, June 19, 2006
the big question
So I'm still trying to find the answer to my question: if my upper teeth are sound (no new cavities, just a couple of existing fillings, which would need to be replaced), and I have extensive bone loss, and implants need bone, and there are bone graft or regeneration procedures, then why wouldn't I be a candidate for bone regeneration without removal of the natural teeth?
I know I'm missing something here. Anyway, I found this ask-a-dentist site, and posed my question there. I've bookmarked it and we'll see if there's any answer. The site is kinda interesting in any case - go to the FAQs section to see all the kinds of questions people are asking.
I know I'm missing something here. Anyway, I found this ask-a-dentist site, and posed my question there. I've bookmarked it and we'll see if there's any answer. The site is kinda interesting in any case - go to the FAQs section to see all the kinds of questions people are asking.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Today's Insult
Hmm...I'm thinking of renaming my blog "The Daily Insult"! (I'm just kidding!) Today the periodontist's office called and said there was no reason for me to even come in and see them, as they looked at my x-rays and concur with dentist #1, that there's too much bone loss, Emdogain wouldn't help me, there's no bone regeneration in my future. Sigh. Then I got the mail, and there was a bill from dentist #1 that said the insurance, in fact, did not pay for the photo shoot or the plaster cast, both items designed primarily to scare and freak out a patient. So insult number two, I will have to pay $170 for those two items. I'll itemize the bill for you later tonight or tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Perio
Well, I screwed up my courage and called the periodontist. The person who answered the phone was discouraging - he said that Emdogain is "not for everyone" and "if you have extensive bone loss, it may not be for you."
Excuse my French, but this so pisses me off. Because when you look at their website, and at other websites that tout the miracle that is supposed to be Emdogain, they ALL imply that it's a viable alternative for anyone with any kind of bone loss. In fact, there are x-rays on a number of sites that show miraculous bone regeneration.
Really, the dishonesty and greed in the dental industry is a serious, serious problem.
So I persisted, and he finally set up an appointment. Late July was the earliest he could "fit me in". And what was the next thing out of his mouth? "Initial exams cost $170, and we ask that you take care of that at the beginning of the appointment." (He also said that Emdogain is very expensive, and can run $4000 for the treatment. I laughed and laughed, because that's pennies compared with what Dr Bryant is proposing.)
It's all about money, folks.
Excuse my French, but this so pisses me off. Because when you look at their website, and at other websites that tout the miracle that is supposed to be Emdogain, they ALL imply that it's a viable alternative for anyone with any kind of bone loss. In fact, there are x-rays on a number of sites that show miraculous bone regeneration.
Really, the dishonesty and greed in the dental industry is a serious, serious problem.
So I persisted, and he finally set up an appointment. Late July was the earliest he could "fit me in". And what was the next thing out of his mouth? "Initial exams cost $170, and we ask that you take care of that at the beginning of the appointment." (He also said that Emdogain is very expensive, and can run $4000 for the treatment. I laughed and laughed, because that's pennies compared with what Dr Bryant is proposing.)
It's all about money, folks.
Monday, June 12, 2006
You'll recall I'm phobic.
I've been telling myself all last week that THIS week, I'll call that fab periodontist I found, and make an appointment. It'd be a sort of second-opinion-am-I-a-candidate-for-emdogain appointment. And here it is Monday evening and I haven't done it yet. You'll recall that I have a phobia. I hate dentists. BUT quite possibly I hate the idea of losing all my uppers even more. So damn it I'm going to call tomorrow!!!! I'll post how it goes. It's just a phone call, after all.....
Friday, June 09, 2006
Insurance
Well, I got a notice from the insurance company yesterday, and I'm trying to decipher it. It seems that the Oral/Facial Imaging charge of $25 is not covered, nor is the Diagnostic Cast at $185.00. This is at odds with what the dental office told me, and in fact they sent me a bill that included these two items listed as "paid by insurance". So I don't know if I now owe this $210 or not.
And I still haven't had a lick of treatment yet.
This bill is interesting, though, because it lists these things:
PLAN MAXIMUM: $1500
ORTHO MAXIMUM: 750
ORTHOGNATHIC MAXIMUM: 5000
TMJ MAXIMUM 500
Does anyone know what those things are? I mean, I know the plan max is the annual max for regular treatment of things like cleanings, fillings, etc. And the ortho I assume is braces? bridges? But what is orthognathic? Dictionary.com defines it as having a jaw that does not project forward. What in God's name does that mean? I'm sure I don't qualify, but maybe I could get my dentist to lie and say some of the work he's doing is orthognathic. Any chance???
And I still haven't had a lick of treatment yet.
This bill is interesting, though, because it lists these things:
PLAN MAXIMUM: $1500
ORTHO MAXIMUM: 750
ORTHOGNATHIC MAXIMUM: 5000
TMJ MAXIMUM 500
Does anyone know what those things are? I mean, I know the plan max is the annual max for regular treatment of things like cleanings, fillings, etc. And the ortho I assume is braces? bridges? But what is orthognathic? Dictionary.com defines it as having a jaw that does not project forward. What in God's name does that mean? I'm sure I don't qualify, but maybe I could get my dentist to lie and say some of the work he's doing is orthognathic. Any chance???
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Joke
i went looking for dentist jokes. A LOT of them center on dentists as greedy people who want your money. Here's an example:
Patient: "It must be tough spending all day with your hands in someone's mouth."
Dentist: "I just think of it as having my hands in their wallet."
You know what I say? If there's a stereotype of dentists, there has to be a germ of truth in it somewhere. If you're a dentist and you're reading this, I'd like to hear from you how you justify your prices. I don't want to hear the crap about how expensive the equipment is - we all have student loans we're trying to pay back.
Patient: "It must be tough spending all day with your hands in someone's mouth."
Dentist: "I just think of it as having my hands in their wallet."
You know what I say? If there's a stereotype of dentists, there has to be a germ of truth in it somewhere. If you're a dentist and you're reading this, I'd like to hear from you how you justify your prices. I don't want to hear the crap about how expensive the equipment is - we all have student loans we're trying to pay back.
Friday, June 02, 2006
the bill
Remember how I was complaining about how hard it is to get good information about dental costs? Well, my first bill came, and I'm going to give it to you straight - or as straight as the bill will allow me to.
Here's what I have so far (and remember, I have not had any actual treatment yet):
Examination (Initial) $ 85.00
FMX (Intraoral-complete series) 95.00 (that's X-rays)
Oral/Facial Photographic Images 25.00 (that's the dentist and his digital camera)
Casts-Diagnostic 185.00 (the molds he made to accompany his Power
Point slide show)
Face Bow 0.00 (I don't know what that is, but no charge)
TOTAL SO FAR $390.00
------------
I think the charge that chaps my hide is the $185.00 for the casts. He calls them diagnostic, but I think they're really mostly to scare you. I don't know if the insurance will cover them, but even if they do, that just means $185 it won't be able to pay for anything else (ie I'll have to pay). Remember, I have a $1500 per year max on my insurance plan.
Comments welcome, or heck, share YOUR outrageous dental bill.
Here's what I have so far (and remember, I have not had any actual treatment yet):
Examination (Initial) $ 85.00
FMX (Intraoral-complete series) 95.00 (that's X-rays)
Oral/Facial Photographic Images 25.00 (that's the dentist and his digital camera)
Casts-Diagnostic 185.00 (the molds he made to accompany his Power
Point slide show)
Face Bow 0.00 (I don't know what that is, but no charge)
TOTAL SO FAR $390.00
------------
I think the charge that chaps my hide is the $185.00 for the casts. He calls them diagnostic, but I think they're really mostly to scare you. I don't know if the insurance will cover them, but even if they do, that just means $185 it won't be able to pay for anything else (ie I'll have to pay). Remember, I have a $1500 per year max on my insurance plan.
Comments welcome, or heck, share YOUR outrageous dental bill.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Power Point
WEll, I'm back from my consultation, and let me tell you, peeps, I am totally freaked out. Completely! There's too much to tell in one post, so I'll just start and then add more tomorrow. Basically I just sat through an hour long Power Point presentation on how I need all my uppers yanked and implants put in.
Suffice it to say there is NOTHING worse than seeing a giant image of yourself cast up on a huge screen, from 14 different angles. He starts with the basic image -- there you are grinning like a goddamn idiot with the hideous smile, gaps and all, staring back at you. Honestly, at first all I could see was this hair that's growing on my upper lip! Omigod!!!! One huge ugly hair! I wanted to rush home and tweeze the damn thing out right there. The picture was so magnified that you could see every pore, every every every thing. Then he moves on to the most godawful closeups of the inside of the mouth. omigod. I think I'm going to be sick! He points out all the areas of this and that and calculus and puffiness and abcess and infection and and and....
but guess what? I don't have a single cavity. Nor any erosion of the teeth themselves. Now, it just seems wrong to pull out 12 (er..how many teeth are up there anyway?) or 14 perfectly sound teeth.
The lowers seem reasonably okay, a little work and they'll be fine.
And the kicker -- he'd never heard of Emdogain.
Oh I have so much more to tell, but I'm completely wasted and exhausted right now so it'll have to wait......
Suffice it to say there is NOTHING worse than seeing a giant image of yourself cast up on a huge screen, from 14 different angles. He starts with the basic image -- there you are grinning like a goddamn idiot with the hideous smile, gaps and all, staring back at you. Honestly, at first all I could see was this hair that's growing on my upper lip! Omigod!!!! One huge ugly hair! I wanted to rush home and tweeze the damn thing out right there. The picture was so magnified that you could see every pore, every every every thing. Then he moves on to the most godawful closeups of the inside of the mouth. omigod. I think I'm going to be sick! He points out all the areas of this and that and calculus and puffiness and abcess and infection and and and....
but guess what? I don't have a single cavity. Nor any erosion of the teeth themselves. Now, it just seems wrong to pull out 12 (er..how many teeth are up there anyway?) or 14 perfectly sound teeth.
The lowers seem reasonably okay, a little work and they'll be fine.
And the kicker -- he'd never heard of Emdogain.
Oh I have so much more to tell, but I'm completely wasted and exhausted right now so it'll have to wait......
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Patron Saint?
I was wondering this morning if there was a patron saint of dental problems, and lo and behold, there most certainly is. It's St. Apollonia,
and her story, according to the website of Dr Bunn, an Alexandria, Virginia dentist, is this:
"Apollonia was born in Egypt in the 3rd century, and died in the year 249. She was an elderly deaconess, living in Alexandria, who lived in a refuge for Christians. She was martyred for not renouncing her faith during the reign of Emperor Philip. The account of the life of St. Apollonia was written by St. Dionysius to Fabian, Bishop of Antioch. One night, angry pagans began a riot and violently attacked believers of the faith. Apollonia had all her teeth knocked out after being hit in the face by a Christian persecutor. After she was threatened with fire unless she renounced her faith, Apollonia said a prayer and jumped into the flames voluntarily—which St. Augustine adamantly defended as an act of heroic faith and not suicide, which would be unsaintly. She is considered the patron of dental diseases and is often invoked by those with toothaches. Ancient art depicts her with a golden tooth at the end of her necklace. Also in art, she is seen with a pincers holding a tooth. Parts of her jaw and many of her teeth are presently housed in churches across Europe. Her feast day is February 9th."
er...I dunno, is that even interesting? I am weary weary weary of toothdom.
and her story, according to the website of Dr Bunn, an Alexandria, Virginia dentist, is this:
"Apollonia was born in Egypt in the 3rd century, and died in the year 249. She was an elderly deaconess, living in Alexandria, who lived in a refuge for Christians. She was martyred for not renouncing her faith during the reign of Emperor Philip. The account of the life of St. Apollonia was written by St. Dionysius to Fabian, Bishop of Antioch. One night, angry pagans began a riot and violently attacked believers of the faith. Apollonia had all her teeth knocked out after being hit in the face by a Christian persecutor. After she was threatened with fire unless she renounced her faith, Apollonia said a prayer and jumped into the flames voluntarily—which St. Augustine adamantly defended as an act of heroic faith and not suicide, which would be unsaintly. She is considered the patron of dental diseases and is often invoked by those with toothaches. Ancient art depicts her with a golden tooth at the end of her necklace. Also in art, she is seen with a pincers holding a tooth. Parts of her jaw and many of her teeth are presently housed in churches across Europe. Her feast day is February 9th."
er...I dunno, is that even interesting? I am weary weary weary of toothdom.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Holding
I'm just in a holding pattern now, waiting for my Wednesday appointment, at which time, Dr Bryant will present his "treatment plan" and I'll present my "alternate plan"!
In the meantime, a few people have asked if I'm going to post pictures. I hadn't even thought to do so, but I suppose I could...honestly I hate the way my smile looks right now but if I can bear to do so I'll get a pic and post it at some point.
Enjoy this picture of some antique dental torture device, from the Maine Antique Store. I guess we have a few things to be thankful for.
In the meantime, a few people have asked if I'm going to post pictures. I hadn't even thought to do so, but I suppose I could...honestly I hate the way my smile looks right now but if I can bear to do so I'll get a pic and post it at some point.
Enjoy this picture of some antique dental torture device, from the Maine Antique Store. I guess we have a few things to be thankful for.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Monday, May 22, 2006
More about money
By the way, I am considering creating a layperson's website to demystify the cost of dental care. Go to almost any dentist's website and you'll see information about procedures, and explanations of various things, and soothing words about insurance. But nowhere will you find a list of prices. How much does a root canal cost? How much is a crown? How about a cleaning?
So here's what I propose -- how about sending me, via email, a copy of your latest dental bill? Black out the names and other identifying information - I have no interest in knowing who you are. I just want to know how much YOUR dentist is gouging you for. If there's much interest in doing this, I will create a website. We need to demystify this process, folks.
My email is dental_hell@@yahoo.com (remove the second "@"). Write me if you think this is a good idea.
So here's what I propose -- how about sending me, via email, a copy of your latest dental bill? Black out the names and other identifying information - I have no interest in knowing who you are. I just want to know how much YOUR dentist is gouging you for. If there's much interest in doing this, I will create a website. We need to demystify this process, folks.
My email is dental_hell@@yahoo.com (remove the second "@"). Write me if you think this is a good idea.
I'm such a bitch.
My humor - especially in places like the dentist's chair - is pretty dry and can be sarcastic. But I also have an aversion to useless chitchat. So when the dental assistant (a new one, one I'd never met before) said, "So, how was your weekend?" I just looked at her and replied "Would it make any difference to you if it was great? or if it was horrible?"
Fortunately she didn't stick me with a sharp instrument.
So this morning I arrived at 7:55 and they got me in right away. Nicer than the 18-minute wait last week. Dr Bryant came in and said he was going to take some pictures. Ugh. I hate having my picture taken on the best of days. But with retractors holding my mouth out of the way (oh the indignity) -- I had to actually hold the retractors, which are just wire or plastic (I had both, for some reason) things that hook onto the sides of your mouth and pull it out of the way. I think he took about a dozen pictures, two while I was performing the feat of holding the retractors AND balancing a mirror on my tongue.
What am I, a circus act?
Then he said he was going to measure my skull. I told him he didn't need to, that I knew it was an "extra large". But he wasn't going for it. The skull measuring contraption actually requires a screwdriver. Now if you've ever been in the dentist's chair and you hear him murmur "I need to find a screwdriver", well, you can tell him it's probably with the pliers that he's going to use to pull all the teeth out at some point.
But I digress.
Oy, look at this. And who says dentists arent' sadists?
But I continue to digress.
The skull measuring device is so dignified! It's this huge metal contraption with things that stick in your ears and God knows what all. Not particularly painful, but you sit there and imagine what you must look like and you just know the reason the assistant is constantly leaving the room is so she can burst out laughing!
Dr. Bryant seems enamoured of all his little tools and contraptions. Which is fine, he's a guy with gadgets (this is why our dental bills are so high).
OK, what else...wax impressions, plaster impressions, measurements of those hideous periodontal pockets -- some of them were so deep you could pack groceries in 'em. Some of them weren't so bad...some 2's and 3's in there among the 8's and 9's.
It all took an hour, was uncomfortable, there was a little blood when he was measuring the pockets with his sharp instrument (can't the measure with something a little less barbaric???), and then he told me to come back in a week or so to discuss the treatment plan.
I told him about the shingles. He seemed to be vaguely interested, but not enough to make a "note on my chart". My chart is probably already filled up with notes like "difficult patient" and "asks too many questions".
The anxiety was less this time, I'm happy to report. I do feel a little more in control, despite the medieval torture perpetrated on me this morning. What I want is this: deep cleaning, scaling, planing (with sedation if possible, but at a minimum I want to be completely numb); Emdogain treatment for bone regeneration; braces; whitening.
Keep your fingers crossed for me.
My humor - especially in places like the dentist's chair - is pretty dry and can be sarcastic. But I also have an aversion to useless chitchat. So when the dental assistant (a new one, one I'd never met before) said, "So, how was your weekend?" I just looked at her and replied "Would it make any difference to you if it was great? or if it was horrible?"
Fortunately she didn't stick me with a sharp instrument.
So this morning I arrived at 7:55 and they got me in right away. Nicer than the 18-minute wait last week. Dr Bryant came in and said he was going to take some pictures. Ugh. I hate having my picture taken on the best of days. But with retractors holding my mouth out of the way (oh the indignity) -- I had to actually hold the retractors, which are just wire or plastic (I had both, for some reason) things that hook onto the sides of your mouth and pull it out of the way. I think he took about a dozen pictures, two while I was performing the feat of holding the retractors AND balancing a mirror on my tongue.
What am I, a circus act?
Then he said he was going to measure my skull. I told him he didn't need to, that I knew it was an "extra large". But he wasn't going for it. The skull measuring contraption actually requires a screwdriver. Now if you've ever been in the dentist's chair and you hear him murmur "I need to find a screwdriver", well, you can tell him it's probably with the pliers that he's going to use to pull all the teeth out at some point.
But I digress.
Oy, look at this. And who says dentists arent' sadists?
But I continue to digress.
The skull measuring device is so dignified! It's this huge metal contraption with things that stick in your ears and God knows what all. Not particularly painful, but you sit there and imagine what you must look like and you just know the reason the assistant is constantly leaving the room is so she can burst out laughing!
Dr. Bryant seems enamoured of all his little tools and contraptions. Which is fine, he's a guy with gadgets (this is why our dental bills are so high).
OK, what else...wax impressions, plaster impressions, measurements of those hideous periodontal pockets -- some of them were so deep you could pack groceries in 'em. Some of them weren't so bad...some 2's and 3's in there among the 8's and 9's.
It all took an hour, was uncomfortable, there was a little blood when he was measuring the pockets with his sharp instrument (can't the measure with something a little less barbaric???), and then he told me to come back in a week or so to discuss the treatment plan.
I told him about the shingles. He seemed to be vaguely interested, but not enough to make a "note on my chart". My chart is probably already filled up with notes like "difficult patient" and "asks too many questions".
The anxiety was less this time, I'm happy to report. I do feel a little more in control, despite the medieval torture perpetrated on me this morning. What I want is this: deep cleaning, scaling, planing (with sedation if possible, but at a minimum I want to be completely numb); Emdogain treatment for bone regeneration; braces; whitening.
Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Getting ready for my 8 a.m. appt -- nervous but trying to remind myself that I'm in control.
My God dentistry is expensive. It's almost impossible to find, on the web, any kind of objective comprehensive list of how much various procedures should cost. I would call this a conspiracy of silence, the dental community would probably call it a code of honor.
I'll post again later today.
My God dentistry is expensive. It's almost impossible to find, on the web, any kind of objective comprehensive list of how much various procedures should cost. I would call this a conspiracy of silence, the dental community would probably call it a code of honor.
I'll post again later today.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
I think I found a periodontist. Or an office, anyway. Funny thing is, it's on the next floor up from the prosthodontist I visited on Monday. Same building. (Okay, okay, it IS called the Medical Dental Building!) It's called Advanced Periodontic, Microsurgery & Implantology, and they offer the services I think I need, especially the advanced techniques to regenerate bone loss using a "minimally invasive" surgical procedure. But even better that that is the paragraph where they explicitly address phobia:
"We cater to our patients' individual needs and desires. Anxiety control is accomplished with oral sedation, nitrous oxide sedation, and a caring, thoughtful staff approach. IV sedation by a certified anesthesiologist is available on request."
I like that.
I dunno, maybe I'm just getting my hopes up falsely. And I think I know why. Over the last five days, I've gone through the stages of grief!I know that sounds a little strange, but when you think about it, it's not so much. Grief isn't the exclusive domain of death. We grieve for lots of things -- our lost youth, our lost dreams, our lost friends, anything we've lost, I guess. And teeth are a very very integral element of our self-image. Dreams about teeth are extremely common, and dream analysts believe the teeth symbolize anxiety about appearance, as well as fear of embarrassment (!) or a sense of powerlessness. (To read more, go here.)
So after my Monday appointment, I'll just run up one floor and make an appointment with the periodontist. In the meantime, why is it called a periodontist? I'll research that and let you know in another post.
"We cater to our patients' individual needs and desires. Anxiety control is accomplished with oral sedation, nitrous oxide sedation, and a caring, thoughtful staff approach. IV sedation by a certified anesthesiologist is available on request."
I like that.
I dunno, maybe I'm just getting my hopes up falsely. And I think I know why. Over the last five days, I've gone through the stages of grief!I know that sounds a little strange, but when you think about it, it's not so much. Grief isn't the exclusive domain of death. We grieve for lots of things -- our lost youth, our lost dreams, our lost friends, anything we've lost, I guess. And teeth are a very very integral element of our self-image. Dreams about teeth are extremely common, and dream analysts believe the teeth symbolize anxiety about appearance, as well as fear of embarrassment (!) or a sense of powerlessness. (To read more, go here.)
So after my Monday appointment, I'll just run up one floor and make an appointment with the periodontist. In the meantime, why is it called a periodontist? I'll research that and let you know in another post.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
My plan
Okay so after thinking about it for three days, here's my plan. I meet with Dr. Bryant at 8:00 a.m. Monday morning. I'll listen to his treatment plan, if he has one. Then I'll get a second opinion from a periodontist. Then I'll make a final decision.
If anyone knows of a good periodontal information site, I'd love to hear about it.
If anyone knows of a good periodontal information site, I'd love to hear about it.
A brief comment about the Donation Button on the right. I have dental insurance, but it tops out at $1500. I work two jobs, and I have some savings. But I am looking at expenses in the $20k range, and in this particular moment in history when everything is expensive, I'm merely putting the button there if anyone feels the urge to help out. I won't ask for money, I just wanted to have a way for people to help if they were so inclined.
Now I'll say no more about it, ever. Thanks.
Now I'll say no more about it, ever. Thanks.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Emdogain Gel
Does anyone know anything about Emdogain Gel? It seems to be some kind of gel that promotes regrowth of lost bone. I'm wondering if I'm a candidate for something like this. Any thoughts appreciated, either here on the blog or send me email at dental_hell@@yahoo.com (remove the second @). Thanks.
the day after the first appt
I'm too depressed to write much today. Why is it our teeth, our smile, our mouth, is an area of such sensitivity -- and I mean emotionally, not physically -- for us? I feel as though I'm a personal failure in life, my mind is full of "you should have" and "it's your fault".
Anyway, if anyone thinks I should bother with a second opinion, I'd love to hear from you. You can either reply to this blog or write me privately at dental_hell@@yahoo.com (remove the second @).
Anyway, if anyone thinks I should bother with a second opinion, I'd love to hear from you. You can either reply to this blog or write me privately at dental_hell@@yahoo.com (remove the second @).
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
after my first appt
Well, I'm back from my appointment with Dr. Bryant. I might as well use his full name, because after all, he has a website, and while the news is bad, I think I trust him.
I arrived at 10:20, already shaking with fear. Filled out the necessary forms, front desk was somewhat chaotic and while there was a veneer of friendliness, I still had that humiliation fear thing happening, and imagined they were all secretly recoiling every time I opened my mouth. I told them I had anxiety, and there were the usual assurances of gentleness, etc. After filling out the forms, I sat for about 18 minutes before the hygenist, "L" called me into her office. She said, "Here for a cleaning and checkup?" I said no, and my voice started shaking. I coudln't control myself very well, and my voice was loud and husky. I told her the last 3 dentists I went to said a cleaning was useless unless it was one of those deep scaling/planing ones. I was also crying. I asked if there wasn't a door on the exam room, and she said, no, none of the work stations had doors. She then invited me in to the conference room, which did have a door. We sat and talked, I told her a little about my previous experiences. The only time my tears dried up temporarily was when I told her I was blogging about all this. (I think that's because I feel that this blog is a form of control -- something one doesn't have any of in a dentist's office.)
We agreed to take x-rays. I asked her if they were digital and she said yes. 70% less radiation, but you still have to hold the hideous little thing in your mouth and sit very still while it digs into your soft tissue. She did 18 x-rays. It took about half an hour. Then I sat there crying while she charted my root canals, fillings, etc She would look at a tooth and then start clicking on the computer. I imagined that each click meant something horrible (and it did). She told me that if I were to have the deep cleaning, it would take 5 visits. One for each quadrant, and a fifth to simply go over things again. I took a deep breath and said okay.
She then went to get Dr. Bryant.
He was a nice man, gentle with the instruments but blunt in his manner. After having me nearly upside down in the damn chair for half an hour he pronounced that I was going to lose all my teeth. There was nothing he could do. He gave me three options:
1. get them all pulled now and get dentures
2. get partials or implants as each tooth fell apart, over time
3. begin a restoration process that would probably lead to me having all implants
I cried some more, bit my lip, and when I started to speak I didn't recognize my own voice. "You have a website," I said, "where you show people whose teeth have to be worse than mine, and who now have gorgeous smiles. Are you telling me that with all the fabulous inovations in dentistry there's nothing you can do for me?"
"We can do restorative work," he said, "and we can do amazing things."
"But," I said, "it sounds as though you're saying there's nothing you can do for me."
"Oh," he replied, "I think we can do some restorative work on you."
Now, you have to remember I was in quite a state, and I don't recall exactly what was said, what was promised, what was arranged. All I know is that I said I wanted whatever restorative work he could do, I did not want dentures, and I was willing to do whatever it took to get a decent smile back.
I'm not sure what he said at that point. But there was talk of periodontal this and that and mention that it would be a long haul, and I just kept looking out the window and nodding.
The upshot is that I go back on Monday morning at 8 am for some kind of pre-treatment session where they'll take measurements, do some diagnostic work, "talk about cost", and so forth.
So now I'm home, with a blinding headache, miserable.
I arrived at 10:20, already shaking with fear. Filled out the necessary forms, front desk was somewhat chaotic and while there was a veneer of friendliness, I still had that humiliation fear thing happening, and imagined they were all secretly recoiling every time I opened my mouth. I told them I had anxiety, and there were the usual assurances of gentleness, etc. After filling out the forms, I sat for about 18 minutes before the hygenist, "L" called me into her office. She said, "Here for a cleaning and checkup?" I said no, and my voice started shaking. I coudln't control myself very well, and my voice was loud and husky. I told her the last 3 dentists I went to said a cleaning was useless unless it was one of those deep scaling/planing ones. I was also crying. I asked if there wasn't a door on the exam room, and she said, no, none of the work stations had doors. She then invited me in to the conference room, which did have a door. We sat and talked, I told her a little about my previous experiences. The only time my tears dried up temporarily was when I told her I was blogging about all this. (I think that's because I feel that this blog is a form of control -- something one doesn't have any of in a dentist's office.)
We agreed to take x-rays. I asked her if they were digital and she said yes. 70% less radiation, but you still have to hold the hideous little thing in your mouth and sit very still while it digs into your soft tissue. She did 18 x-rays. It took about half an hour. Then I sat there crying while she charted my root canals, fillings, etc She would look at a tooth and then start clicking on the computer. I imagined that each click meant something horrible (and it did). She told me that if I were to have the deep cleaning, it would take 5 visits. One for each quadrant, and a fifth to simply go over things again. I took a deep breath and said okay.
She then went to get Dr. Bryant.
He was a nice man, gentle with the instruments but blunt in his manner. After having me nearly upside down in the damn chair for half an hour he pronounced that I was going to lose all my teeth. There was nothing he could do. He gave me three options:
1. get them all pulled now and get dentures
2. get partials or implants as each tooth fell apart, over time
3. begin a restoration process that would probably lead to me having all implants
I cried some more, bit my lip, and when I started to speak I didn't recognize my own voice. "You have a website," I said, "where you show people whose teeth have to be worse than mine, and who now have gorgeous smiles. Are you telling me that with all the fabulous inovations in dentistry there's nothing you can do for me?"
"We can do restorative work," he said, "and we can do amazing things."
"But," I said, "it sounds as though you're saying there's nothing you can do for me."
"Oh," he replied, "I think we can do some restorative work on you."
Now, you have to remember I was in quite a state, and I don't recall exactly what was said, what was promised, what was arranged. All I know is that I said I wanted whatever restorative work he could do, I did not want dentures, and I was willing to do whatever it took to get a decent smile back.
I'm not sure what he said at that point. But there was talk of periodontal this and that and mention that it would be a long haul, and I just kept looking out the window and nodding.
The upshot is that I go back on Monday morning at 8 am for some kind of pre-treatment session where they'll take measurements, do some diagnostic work, "talk about cost", and so forth.
So now I'm home, with a blinding headache, miserable.
Day of First Appt
It's Tuesday, the day of my preliminary appointment. I'm finding that I am very weak in the face of authority. As I think back to the phone call I initially made to get this appointment, I was going to ask for a "free consultation", as advertised on the website of Dr. B. But the cheery receptionist distracted me with questions, and then as we were figuring out a date for the appt, she said something like "We might as well just start the cleaning on this first visit!" in such a firm and positive way, that I thought I would sound abnormal if I said "uh, well, no...er......" so I stupidly said "Oh, okay!" trying to match her chipperness.
I know -- receptionists aren't mind readers, and even though I told her I was nervous, she didn't seem to realize that I'm actually phobic. I must keep in mind that I'm in charge, that I can "fire" these people if they don't make me feel comfortable, etc etc.
But I'm very very anxious right now. The appointment is at 10:30 and I'm already up, showered, etc and it isn't even 8 a.m.
I'm a bus rider, which is another potential problem. I just can't see myself taking a bus home from a dental visit where I've had sedation dental work or some horrible bloody procedure. I guess I can take a taxi, but money is always an issue.
Expenses! Dentists are horribly expensive. Yes, I have insurance but -- if you can believe this -- it MAXES OUT at $1500 a year. I was completely SHOCKED to discover that last night as I was anxiously looking over my coverage. $1500 will barely get me a cleaning and x-rays, for chrissake.
More on that, and the "donations" button to the right, another time.
I know -- receptionists aren't mind readers, and even though I told her I was nervous, she didn't seem to realize that I'm actually phobic. I must keep in mind that I'm in charge, that I can "fire" these people if they don't make me feel comfortable, etc etc.
But I'm very very anxious right now. The appointment is at 10:30 and I'm already up, showered, etc and it isn't even 8 a.m.
I'm a bus rider, which is another potential problem. I just can't see myself taking a bus home from a dental visit where I've had sedation dental work or some horrible bloody procedure. I guess I can take a taxi, but money is always an issue.
Expenses! Dentists are horribly expensive. Yes, I have insurance but -- if you can believe this -- it MAXES OUT at $1500 a year. I was completely SHOCKED to discover that last night as I was anxiously looking over my coverage. $1500 will barely get me a cleaning and x-rays, for chrissake.
More on that, and the "donations" button to the right, another time.
Monday, May 15, 2006
appointment
I have an appointment tomorrow (Tuesday) morning with a dentist I found on the internet. He has a great website, he promises lasers, ultrasonic cleanings, sedation dentistry if necessary, and has amazing before and after photos on his site. I'm still dubious, but I'm going.
My three rules are: no lectures, no root canals, and no outsourcing. We'll see. I'll report back as soon as possible. We will call this dentist Dr. B.
My three rules are: no lectures, no root canals, and no outsourcing. We'll see. I'll report back as soon as possible. We will call this dentist Dr. B.
Dental Phobia
I'm no expert, except when it comes to my own phobia, but it seems to me there are four main fears associated with going to the dentist: fear of pain, fear of price, fear of humiliation , and fear of being found dirty and disgusting. I suffer from all of them. The Dental Fears section of Dental Fears Central is pretty good at discussing those fears, and others you may have.
Welcome to my dental hell
My very first post. I'm going to give you a little background on my teeth, my phobia, my fears and my hopes. Let's start 12 years ago. I'd just turned 40, and my teeth were in pretty good shape, I had some fillings that were kind of old but nothing dire. I hadn't seen a dentist in about 5 years, and decided it was time. I made an appointment at a clinic not too far from my office. No fears, no worries. I arrived, waited 20 minutes (waiting times at dentists' offices is something I'll address in the future), finally got seated in a chair. A dental hygenist started cleaning my teeth. She used sharp pointed instruments, was extremely rough, laughed when I complained, and was just plain nasty.
"What I didn't know, because no one told me, was that this was no ordinary cleaning. This was what they call "scaling and planing", a procedure that should not be done without numbing the area being cleaned because, HELLO, IT'S PAINFUL. It's bloody (for me, anyway), it's ugly, it hurts. Don't you just love it when medical personnel say things like "this might be a little uncomfortable"? That means THIS IS GOING TO HURT LIKE HELL.
So anyway, she got a fourth of my mouth done, I was swollen, crying, angry and upset. But I was also clueless, so I agreed to come back for another torture session the next day. I did return, but my gums were still so swollen that she recommended that I not have more treatment until they'd healed, and I went home and never went back.
Fast forward to five years later. I still didn't have any pain, but my teeth were looking yellow and I knew I needed to go for a cleaning and checkup. So I found a dentist - I'll call him Dr. R -- near my house. He turned out to be rather elderly -- 65 or older -- and had a dingy little office. I was a little worried, but climbed up in the chair. He poked around, told me I needed a thorough scaling and planing, and he didn't have the equipment to do that. I would need to go somewhere else for that. He also said I needed a root canal on a lower tooth. He couldn't do that either, but he could prep the tooth and get it ready for the root canal.
The thing about the dentist office is that you, the client, have no idea if what you're being told is accurate or not. You just trust the guy with the sharp instruments. And so I did. He started drilling and drilling, and suddenly he became panicky. He told his assistant my teeth were "like sand". The tooth he was working on was crumbling. I started panicking too. At one point, he muttered, "if only I could stop this bleeding". Finally he just shoved some kind of temporary crown over the tooth, told me to make an appointment for a root canal and then come back and he would put a permanent crown over it. The cleaning could wait. He shoved a bottle of Vicodin at me and hurried me out the door.
I left, my mouth throbbing and blood still trickling out. I made an appointment for a root canal, with Dr. P. By now, I was pretty fearful. When I talked to Dr. P's office, I told them I was terrified. The nurse promised me they would give me something to calm me down. True to their word, they gave me a Valium at the beginning of the appointment. I managed to get through the appointment with a minimum of discomfort, and really, the root canal was not all that bad. It only took about an hour, the Valium was nice, Dr. P. was pleasant.
No way was I going back to Dr. R for the crown, so I found another clinic near my office. Made the appointment, got the crown (two visits). I still hadn't had a cleaning or a thorough checkup. After about six months I got my courage up and started asking officemates for recommendations. A woman I trusted gave me the name of Dr. F. I called him, made an appointment, and hoped.
Dr. F. was a friendly guy in his early 50s. He took x-rays, poked around, and said that he couldn't do the cleaning I needed. I would need to be outsourced for that. Oh, and I needed another root canal, and oh, it looks like this tooth is cracked. Oh, and this one is going to have to be extracted. He gave me the name of a dentist downtown -- Dr. J -- ("a good friend of mine" -- in case you don't speak dentist-ese, that means "I get a referral fee for patients I send to him"). I went downtown to see Dr. J.
Dr. J had a huge office with an enormous water feature in the waiting room. The sign on the door identified him as a dental surgeon. I was pretty sure this was a bad sign, I knew he was going to want to do surgery! duh!! but like a good girl I climbed up in the chair and let him poke around. He made copious notes and then I left the office, without his telling me anything. He said he would work up a treatment program and mail it to me.
Three days later I got the treatment plan in the mail. It included extensive surgery, including gum surgery, bone grafts and god knows what all. Total cost? $18,000. I threw it in a drawer and never went back.
As you can imagine, by this time my dental phobia was in full swing. But I went back to Dr. F, because he wanted me to report to him on what Dr. J had said. I did tell him. I didn't tell him I wasn't planning to go through with any of that. In the meantime, Dr. F. told me I needed a root canal on an upper right tooth right away. Turns out Dr. P, the root canal guy I'd already been to once, was a "good friend of his". So I made another appointment and had another root canal with Dr. P. Went back to Dr. F for the crown, which took two more appointments. During the second appointment, as he was fitting the crown, there was terrible pain. I squirmed and tried to complain, but he ignored me. After an inordinate amount of time, Dr F said something like "That's the best I can do" and I left his office. Three hours later I had the worst cold I'd ever had in my life. I don't normally get colds at all. My theory is that someone in the office was spreading a cold virus, and me, with my tooth splayed open, was a virtual honeypot for germs, bacteria and viruses. I was down for a week with that cold.
Dr. F's office kept calling me to make another appointment, as there was still work to be done. I put them off and put them off.
Two months later, I came down with shingles in the third cranial nerve , or at least, that's what my doctor thinks it was. My entire right eye was swollen shut and black and blue. Ugly red zits started popping up in a surprisingly linear pattern along my nose.
The doctor who examined me had no idea what it was. She called in 3 other doctors, who all came in and stared at my eye and nose as if they'd never seen anything so bizarre. One of them, at one point, said, "Well, I don't THINK it's leprosy." I was prescribed huge pills -- two sets of them, one anti-viral and the other an antibiotic. The doctor gave me both because she didn't know for sure what was wrong with me, and she was worried I would lose the eyesight in my right eye if she didn't act immediately.
I didn't lose my eyesight. Eventually the zits went away but they left pockmarks that I still have on my nose.
I went back to Dr. F one more time -- for an extraction of a lower left tooth. During that appointment I told him both about the cold and the shingles. He laughed in my face at the idea that dental work could have possibly caused either of them.
That was five years ago.
About a year ago, the teeth in the -- surprise! -- upper right quandrant began shifting. I woke up with blood in my mouth many times, and the teeth themselves drifted in various directions. That part of my mouth is now constantly painful and a couple of the teeth are loose. I worry that they can't be saved. But I still wouldn't go to the dentist anymore.
Finally last week I went on the internet and started reading about dental phobias. Most dental phobia sites are operated by dentists who promise "pain free" dentistry or "gentle dental". Ha. After my experiences I don't listen to those people anymore. But there are a couple of sites that have good information, offered by people just like me, fearful people. Dental Fear Central has a forum where you can post anything you like. I expect I'll be visiting them again. It's nice to read that you aren't the only one.
"What I didn't know, because no one told me, was that this was no ordinary cleaning. This was what they call "scaling and planing", a procedure that should not be done without numbing the area being cleaned because, HELLO, IT'S PAINFUL. It's bloody (for me, anyway), it's ugly, it hurts. Don't you just love it when medical personnel say things like "this might be a little uncomfortable"? That means THIS IS GOING TO HURT LIKE HELL.
So anyway, she got a fourth of my mouth done, I was swollen, crying, angry and upset. But I was also clueless, so I agreed to come back for another torture session the next day. I did return, but my gums were still so swollen that she recommended that I not have more treatment until they'd healed, and I went home and never went back.
Fast forward to five years later. I still didn't have any pain, but my teeth were looking yellow and I knew I needed to go for a cleaning and checkup. So I found a dentist - I'll call him Dr. R -- near my house. He turned out to be rather elderly -- 65 or older -- and had a dingy little office. I was a little worried, but climbed up in the chair. He poked around, told me I needed a thorough scaling and planing, and he didn't have the equipment to do that. I would need to go somewhere else for that. He also said I needed a root canal on a lower tooth. He couldn't do that either, but he could prep the tooth and get it ready for the root canal.
The thing about the dentist office is that you, the client, have no idea if what you're being told is accurate or not. You just trust the guy with the sharp instruments. And so I did. He started drilling and drilling, and suddenly he became panicky. He told his assistant my teeth were "like sand". The tooth he was working on was crumbling. I started panicking too. At one point, he muttered, "if only I could stop this bleeding". Finally he just shoved some kind of temporary crown over the tooth, told me to make an appointment for a root canal and then come back and he would put a permanent crown over it. The cleaning could wait. He shoved a bottle of Vicodin at me and hurried me out the door.
I left, my mouth throbbing and blood still trickling out. I made an appointment for a root canal, with Dr. P. By now, I was pretty fearful. When I talked to Dr. P's office, I told them I was terrified. The nurse promised me they would give me something to calm me down. True to their word, they gave me a Valium at the beginning of the appointment. I managed to get through the appointment with a minimum of discomfort, and really, the root canal was not all that bad. It only took about an hour, the Valium was nice, Dr. P. was pleasant.
No way was I going back to Dr. R for the crown, so I found another clinic near my office. Made the appointment, got the crown (two visits). I still hadn't had a cleaning or a thorough checkup. After about six months I got my courage up and started asking officemates for recommendations. A woman I trusted gave me the name of Dr. F. I called him, made an appointment, and hoped.
Dr. F. was a friendly guy in his early 50s. He took x-rays, poked around, and said that he couldn't do the cleaning I needed. I would need to be outsourced for that. Oh, and I needed another root canal, and oh, it looks like this tooth is cracked. Oh, and this one is going to have to be extracted. He gave me the name of a dentist downtown -- Dr. J -- ("a good friend of mine" -- in case you don't speak dentist-ese, that means "I get a referral fee for patients I send to him"). I went downtown to see Dr. J.
Dr. J had a huge office with an enormous water feature in the waiting room. The sign on the door identified him as a dental surgeon. I was pretty sure this was a bad sign, I knew he was going to want to do surgery! duh!! but like a good girl I climbed up in the chair and let him poke around. He made copious notes and then I left the office, without his telling me anything. He said he would work up a treatment program and mail it to me.
Three days later I got the treatment plan in the mail. It included extensive surgery, including gum surgery, bone grafts and god knows what all. Total cost? $18,000. I threw it in a drawer and never went back.
As you can imagine, by this time my dental phobia was in full swing. But I went back to Dr. F, because he wanted me to report to him on what Dr. J had said. I did tell him. I didn't tell him I wasn't planning to go through with any of that. In the meantime, Dr. F. told me I needed a root canal on an upper right tooth right away. Turns out Dr. P, the root canal guy I'd already been to once, was a "good friend of his". So I made another appointment and had another root canal with Dr. P. Went back to Dr. F for the crown, which took two more appointments. During the second appointment, as he was fitting the crown, there was terrible pain. I squirmed and tried to complain, but he ignored me. After an inordinate amount of time, Dr F said something like "That's the best I can do" and I left his office. Three hours later I had the worst cold I'd ever had in my life. I don't normally get colds at all. My theory is that someone in the office was spreading a cold virus, and me, with my tooth splayed open, was a virtual honeypot for germs, bacteria and viruses. I was down for a week with that cold.
Dr. F's office kept calling me to make another appointment, as there was still work to be done. I put them off and put them off.
Two months later, I came down with shingles in the third cranial nerve , or at least, that's what my doctor thinks it was. My entire right eye was swollen shut and black and blue. Ugly red zits started popping up in a surprisingly linear pattern along my nose.
The doctor who examined me had no idea what it was. She called in 3 other doctors, who all came in and stared at my eye and nose as if they'd never seen anything so bizarre. One of them, at one point, said, "Well, I don't THINK it's leprosy." I was prescribed huge pills -- two sets of them, one anti-viral and the other an antibiotic. The doctor gave me both because she didn't know for sure what was wrong with me, and she was worried I would lose the eyesight in my right eye if she didn't act immediately.
I didn't lose my eyesight. Eventually the zits went away but they left pockmarks that I still have on my nose.
I went back to Dr. F one more time -- for an extraction of a lower left tooth. During that appointment I told him both about the cold and the shingles. He laughed in my face at the idea that dental work could have possibly caused either of them.
That was five years ago.
About a year ago, the teeth in the -- surprise! -- upper right quandrant began shifting. I woke up with blood in my mouth many times, and the teeth themselves drifted in various directions. That part of my mouth is now constantly painful and a couple of the teeth are loose. I worry that they can't be saved. But I still wouldn't go to the dentist anymore.
Finally last week I went on the internet and started reading about dental phobias. Most dental phobia sites are operated by dentists who promise "pain free" dentistry or "gentle dental". Ha. After my experiences I don't listen to those people anymore. But there are a couple of sites that have good information, offered by people just like me, fearful people. Dental Fear Central has a forum where you can post anything you like. I expect I'll be visiting them again. It's nice to read that you aren't the only one.
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