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rikibethThe good news: I don't have any cavities.
The bad news: my gums are not in good shape, I have some bone loss, and I grind my teeth a lot. And they strongly recommend a root planing and scaling that isn't covered by my insurance. Yeah maybe after this NEXT year's taxes.
I am fairly pleased with the practice, though. When the hygienist came in, she asked how I was, and I said, "Nervous." I went on to explain that I hadn't been to the dentist in about ten years because of lack of coverage, I knew things were going to be bad, and PLEASE just do the cleaning without a running commentary on how bad things were, and save any recommendations for additional treatment until AFTER all the implements were out of my mouth. Oh, and no lectures about flossing: I don't do it, I know I should, but it hurts like hell even when my gums are in good shape because my teeth are very close together, and I'm open to alternative suggestions like rinses or a Sonicare toothbrush, but flossing is just not going to happen.
She was awesome and listened to everything I said, cleaned things up without lecturing and without causing me too much pain, and even the dentist didn't get all critical on me, just said "this is what you need, this is what it costs, call us when you can."
You know how, when you have an old car, sometimes it's a bad idea to flush out the engine, because the deposits of gunk are kind of what's holding it together, and it'll get rattly if you get rid of them?
Yeah. My mouth feels a little bit like that right now.
But I did the right thing.
The bad news: my gums are not in good shape, I have some bone loss, and I grind my teeth a lot. And they strongly recommend a root planing and scaling that isn't covered by my insurance. Yeah maybe after this NEXT year's taxes.
I am fairly pleased with the practice, though. When the hygienist came in, she asked how I was, and I said, "Nervous." I went on to explain that I hadn't been to the dentist in about ten years because of lack of coverage, I knew things were going to be bad, and PLEASE just do the cleaning without a running commentary on how bad things were, and save any recommendations for additional treatment until AFTER all the implements were out of my mouth. Oh, and no lectures about flossing: I don't do it, I know I should, but it hurts like hell even when my gums are in good shape because my teeth are very close together, and I'm open to alternative suggestions like rinses or a Sonicare toothbrush, but flossing is just not going to happen.
She was awesome and listened to everything I said, cleaned things up without lecturing and without causing me too much pain, and even the dentist didn't get all critical on me, just said "this is what you need, this is what it costs, call us when you can."
You know how, when you have an old car, sometimes it's a bad idea to flush out the engine, because the deposits of gunk are kind of what's holding it together, and it'll get rattly if you get rid of them?
Yeah. My mouth feels a little bit like that right now.
But I did the right thing.
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no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 04:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 04:43 am (UTC)If you can spare it, you might want to invest $25 or so in a over-the-counter bite guard to help with the bruxism. The grinding may well be contributing to the gum problems. I have bad TMJ, and even though I wear a custom-molded splint and floss nearly every night, my gums are still receding a bit in areas that take the most pressure from grinding and clenching.
Feh. Why can't we keep growing new teeth like sharks do?
no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 05:35 am (UTC)Although the two I've had have both been custom-made, and worth every cent many times over.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 05:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 06:24 am (UTC)And, yeah, I understand the money priority thing, but GUM LOSS and BONE LOSS and ENAMEL LOSS are really, really scary things. I've watched my partner deal with gum loss, and it's been just . . . icky. To say the least. *shudder*
no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 06:47 am (UTC)Read your description of your partner's woes, and ACK. Just...ACK.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 02:50 pm (UTC)The last biter I got was . . . six years ago. Thank god it was covered under my dental plan.
And yeah, Greg really went through the wringer. To be fair, he didn't HAVE to have used his own tissue, but thought he'd give it a shot. Really, really, REALLY bad idea. He had a horrific gash in the roof of his mouth, couldn't eat (which led to him getting cranky very quickly) . . . and we were going through a ridiculously stressful house purchase, along with the attendant packing and moving. Not sure why I didn't kill him.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 03:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 05:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 05:08 am (UTC)"There he is, girls, he's the leader of the plaque..."
and...
"Wait! I'm not numb!
Aw shut up, open wide, here I come!"
no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 05:27 am (UTC)Those things are worth their weight in fucking platinum, let me tell you. I've had all of . . . two? since my early 20s. That'd be 15 years ago now. Not gonna preach if you're on the train, but if you're not . . . *swoon*
no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 05:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 05:34 am (UTC)The worst part is having the impression made. Otherwise . . . well, get a stick of gum, chew it, and smear it over your lower teeth, inside and out. It's about like that. Ever have a retainer in high school? Pretty similar.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 06:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 12:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 12:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-01 12:29 pm (UTC)