Going under the dreaded drill...

[Alex Franke]

Edit: Whoopsie! Wrong section! - Mods please move to Coffee Pot -- this is certainly no brgain!

Turns out I need a root canal to bring my mastication rate back up to optimal hum that I'm used to... The culprit? Probably bruxism combined with a hard porcelain crown on the mating tooth. Next time I think I'll get gold and a bite guard...

I *so* hate going to the dentist... Plus it looks like I'll have to put off moving to the dark side for a bit longer... (sigh!)

[LCHIEN]

so let us know how it feels to have a unisaw and Biese fence installed in your mouth.

[leehljp]

I haven't figured this world out just yet . . . hating going to the dentist. When I have a bad tooth ache, the dentist is my best friend. Get an extra shot of novocain. I write this with a bad tooth ache just waiting until my appointment time to (hopefully) start a root canal. The whole jaw is aching.

I had a cracked filling one year ago and immediately pain started - deep down. I begged the dentist to do a root canal but he insisted it was not necessary. Within a week after the filling, I was back and told him it hurt slightly to chew on the filling. He said give it a month. I did and it still hurt mildly. I could chew soft foods but not nuts like pecans, almonds or peanuts. But I put it off.

About 3 weeks ago, it started little by little hurting more - even with softer foods and hot or cold liquids or foods.

Now to get rid of that pain - a dentist and root canal are welcome!

[dbhost]

Lee,

It's completely psychological. I don't mind going to the dentist anymore since I found a sedation dentist. He gives me a valium before I go in for my appointment and he could cut off my left arm for all I care...

Seriously, I admit to a severely irrational fear of needles. I can gash myself open and hardly notice, but get completely unhinged at the sight of needles...

[ragswl4]

Lee,

It's completely psychological. I don't mind going to the dentist anymore since I found a sedation dentist. He gives me a valium before I go in for my appointment and he could cut off my left arm for all I care...

Seriously, I admit to a severely irrational fear of needles. I can gash myself open and hardly notice, but get completely unhinged at the sight of needles...

Amen to that. I had some oral surgery a few years back and the surgeon gave me valium before my visit. As you say, he could have cut off my head and I would have felt no pain. I have had 6 root canals since that time and all without pain but all with valium. Better life through chemistry in this case.

[atgcpaul]

I can feel your pain.

I used to love going to the dentist...when I had better health care. I was
told yesterday I'd be needing a crown after having a filling drilled out and
replaced. That's $900 I'll never see again. Bruxism is the probable culprit, too,
causing a crack to form below my filling. Probably job stress. Same job that
gives me crappy health care.

I hate wearing the night guard but I think I might start again because it's
cheaper than the alternative.

Paul

[billwmeyer]

I like my dentist, he is a great guy. I'm not afraid of needles either, I just have trouble getting deadened. I have had 6 shots of novacaine and still felt it. Pain pills have minimal effect on me. When I was in 3rd grade, they had trouble putting me under with ether for my tonsilectomy.

So, the dentist is a good guy, but not my favorite place to go.

Bill

[Alex Franke]

so let us know how it feels to have a unisaw and Biese fence installed in your mouth.

Yeah, tell me about it. $1000 for a root canal treatment, and another $1000 for the crown. That could be such a nice "dark side" saw!

I haven't figured this world out just yet . . . hating going to the dentist. When I have a bad tooth ache, the dentist is my best friend. . . . Now to get rid of that pain - a dentist and root canal are welcome!

I always feel better after going to the dentist. They really do a great job of making the pain go away and making the teeth feel clean. But it's the part where I'm sitting in the chair that I really dislike... First of all, the hygienist that I usually get is just brutal. (I think I'll start requesting the other one again.)

I don't like getting the shots either... or even all the sounds and smells, and poking and scraping involved in the process -- especially when you see the dentist exerting more effort than you feel is appropriate for the inside of your mouth. And those x-ray films are just too big for my mouth, too.

[Alex Franke]

I hate wearing the night guard but I think I might start again because it's cheaper than the alternative.

I picked up one of the DIY night guards at the drug store. I figured I'd give it a try before I ante up another $1000 for the one the dentist makes. (Why does everything seem to cost $1000 at the dentist?)

Any luck with those?

[atgcpaul]

I picked up one of the DIY night guards at the drug store. I figured I'd give it a try before I ante up another $1000 for the one the dentist makes. (Why does everything seem to cost $1000 at the dentist?)

Any luck with those?

When he told me I should wear a night guard, he wanted several hundred for
a custom one. I got one from CVS. It's OK. It makes me slobber but I'm a
back sleeper so it's not too bad. It takes me a little longer to fall asleep, too,
because I keep chewing on it and that keeps me awake. But it's not too bad
because I still start dozing less than a minute after hitting the pillow. I might
try to remold it again because there's a spot that irritates my mouth.

Overall, I'd prefer to sleep without it. However, I noticed I don't have tension
in my neck when I wake up so it must be doing its job. I've also been doing
some research on Amazon for a better one.

Paul

[ironhat]

I've used the pliable ones with the adjustable hinge (kind of a cam) to adjust the length, as I recall, Alex. It did the trick so I just keep it around in case the bruxism starts again.

My doc uses a newer drug instead of Novacain and it does seem to help. The delivery system is automated. The needle is attached to a tube and a pump. When it pumps enough in that back-pressure is sensed it stops, beginning again whe it receives the "all clear". He also has a mill right there that mills the new crown as per a photo-impression. The stock is color matched to your own colors and start to finish - hollowing out, photo, milling, glue and cure - takes two hours. I've done two and it's no sweat.

[Black wallnut]

Good luck Alex! Hope you have better luck than I'm having. Put me in the column of those that do not like going to the dentist.

After 3.5 days of pain free life Tuesday they removed the packing they placed in my wisdom tooth socket. 24 hours later I was in so much pain I had to return to get it repacked. Hopefully when they remove the packing next Monday all will be well and I'll remain pain free.

[Alex Franke]

After 3.5 days of pain free life Tuesday they removed the packing they placed in my wisdom tooth socket. 24 hours later I was in so much pain I had to return to get it repacked. Hopefully when they remove the packing next Monday all will be well and I'll remain pain free.

Yeah, I had the wisdom teeth taken out a couple years ago. That was just brutal. On the way out they said, "You'll want to pick up this prescription on the way home." I didn't listen, thinking I would just have my wife pick it up a couple hours later. Boy was I ever wrong to wait!

I think I went back three or four times before it was all said and done. (Remind me to never get my wisdom teeth extracted again )

Good luck to you, too!