Teeth and Dental work

[Yel]

It astounds me that in this day and age we don't have anything really to repair / replace enamel and the best they do is add composite that breaks off often within 1-18 months. I think it's a conspiracy as an enamel that could be painted on would put many dentists out of business

The less you have done the better imo as it starts a process of ongoing and costly maintenance for the rest of your life. And don't go to Turkey to get your teeth filed down to pegs as teeth are part of your overall health! These influencers only do it because it's free for them.

I kinda think there's something in the root canal conspiracy theories and how they let something dead remain in your mouth. But that should go on the conspiracy theories thread

Lidl versions of nked bars are the work of the devil as they often have a bit of the hard nut shell and that's fractured a tooth. The fruit and nut bars are generally horrific for teeth with how they stick anyway.

 

[aliceband]

Bizarre one!
I’m under 30 and have absolutely crap teeth and it’s really starting to get me down.
My parents were very strict on sugar when I was young, no fizzy drinks/juice/sweets etc. My dentist says my oral hygiene is brilliant and I’m just unlucky.
I feel every time I go to the dentist I need new fillings or replacement fillings (some huge ones) and I’m very close to a couple of root canals or even extractions of my back teeth.

So I’m curious to know just how unlucky I am!! How old are you and what’s the state of your mouth?

 

[PreciousVenus]

Teeth are SUCH a genetics thing. I was never taken to the dentist as a child, my parents didn't believe in it as apparently modern toothpaste is too good to need it. I went to the dentist for the first time aged 25, I'm now 32 and have no fillings.

 

[babykalechip]

My turn to shine!! I had stains on my adult teeth that my pediatric dentist said were not harmful. When I switched dentists the new dentist saw the stains and filled ALL of them "just in case."

That was 16 fillings. Eight on the top and 8 on the bottom. The novocaine doesn't work well on me because I burn through it too quickly, so after 6 shots I just had to white knuckle the pain.

My orthodontist fit me with a retainer that was too tight that caused one of my teeth to crack. I had a root canal on that one, which was actually less painful than my 16 fillings.

Those fillings were done so poorly that one of them popped straight out of my mouth. When I went to get it filled at a different dentist, he told me I had 12 more cavities.

I got a second opinion and was told that he was scamming me. Turns out I had 6 cavities though, all surrounding the original fillings that were done poorly.

I wish I'd never let them fill those stains to begin with! Too bad I couldn't have seen my pediatric dentist forever :/

 

[Tommyb]

I'm currently recovering from a root canal I had yesterday. I was in terrible pain for 3 days before being seen. I hate the dentist like we all do. I try to stay on top of things as we had a private dentist appointment when we were younger who was very drill heavy. All my problems iv had as an adult are in teeth that were worked on when I was younger.

I have also had an abscess and ended up with a very large cyst that was attached to the jaw bone . Had to have it removed and it has 3 roots all going in different directions. Hence I'm terrified of the dentist.

Got myself in a bit of a state yesterday before going to the dentist but the pain was too much.

Root canal is not the horror story everyone makes out it to be... technology has changed and I was done in 50 minutes.

The sharp throbbing pain has gone as the nerve that was starting to die has been removed. Although my mouth is quite sore and I'm still taking painkillers.

Anyone who has tooth pain please please get to the dentist. The pain will get worse. I couldn't even take care of myself by day 3.

 

[Pixipoppy]

I feel your pain. I’ve been very unlucky with my teeth. Had to have some removed as a kid due to overcrowding. Got my first adult filling at 12 (I’m 32 now) and since then I’ve had basically every one of my back teeth filled at least once - my record was 3 fillings in one dentist visit. Have one cracked tooth that needed to be restored as a lot of it came away (I think it was filled too deeply). They are now saying a couple of my old fillings are too close to the nerve - I’m not sure what this even means for me to be honest! I’ve been so careful, I don’t drink fizzy drinks and never have. I brush twice a day and use mouthwash. I live in such fear of losing a tooth.

On top of that I’ve had braces twice and have to get them whitened as they are naturally a horrible yellow colour. I inherited the terrible teeth from my mums side of the family! I pay so much just to keep them looking “average”

 

[aliceband]

My teeth are good over all. Just wish they was alot whiter. Too much coffee and red wine are they are abit stained. Cant afford to pay 100s to get them whitened at the dentist

Crest white strips are really good! Can’t usually buy them in the UK but I think you can find them on eBay ...

 

[aliceband]

30, had 1 filling . My mum was strict with sugar bringing us up, but I’ve been terrible since my 20’s so i probably have it all to come

You must just have teeth of steel

My turn to shine!! I had stains on my adult teeth that my pediatric dentist said were not harmful. When I switched dentists the new dentist saw the stains and filled ALL of them "just in case."

That was 16 fillings. Eight on the top and 8 on the bottom. The novocaine doesn't work well on me because I burn through it too quickly, so after 6 shots I just had to white knuckle the pain.

My orthodontist fit me with a retainer that was too tight that caused one of my teeth to crack. I had a root canal on that one, which was actually less painful than my 16 fillings.

Those fillings were done so poorly that one of them popped straight out of my mouth. When I went to get it filled at a different dentist, he told me I had 12 more cavities.

I got a second opinion and was told that he was scamming me. Turns out I had 6 cavities though, all surrounding the original fillings that were done poorly.

I wish I'd never let them fill those stains to begin with! Too bad I couldn't have seen my pediatric dentist forever :/

That’s something that really freaks me out about dentists, whether you genuinely need work doing or if they’re doing it to make some more money. I know from friends in the states they are terrible for scamming people like that and then in adulthood their teeth are literally crumbling.

46 and 1 filling, I have had teeth out due to over crowding and braces though. I haven’t got a sweet tooth but grew up with unlimited sugary stuff available so must just be lucky

So lucky!!

37 and 2 fillings which I recently got replaced with white ones. I had braces as a teenager and while I hated it at the time I'm so glad I did, people do comment that I have nice teeth They do require maintenance though, I whiten them every few weeks. My husband has perfect teeth without having to do anything but brush twice a day which pisses me off lol

I know plenty of people like that!! So unfair

 

[Merpedy]

I'm 20 and I have a few extracted teeth and a lot of fillings. A lot of it is from me being scared of the dentists and just letting my teeth get bad but now I need a new filling every 6 or so months

Turns out my teeth are just crap. Doesn't matter how much I brush or floss

Seems to be a running theme in the family

 

[DanaScully]

Also under 30. I have some mild enamel erosion on my front teeth and four fillings. I had metal fillings put in as a teen but I paid to have them replaced with composite ones a few years back.

I haven't seen the dentist for over a year because of COVID but for the past few years at my six month check-ups I usually just get a clean and am sent on my way.

 

[Penguinandthepinecone]

I’m the same as the original poster. I’m 37 and pretty much every back tooth has restoration in it, I have quite a few root fillings, crowns and one implant. It costs me a fortune to maintain. I’ve never been a fizzy drinker, don’t smoke, rarely drink alcohol (apart from uni years), and I have a healthy diet, and every other part of my body health is great (e.g weight, good hair, skin etc). However there’s no issues with my front teeth, not a single filling, so I look like I have healthy teeth they are white.
These are the things that I believe have contributed to all my dental problems:
-my mum was slightly hippie’ish and was very fearful of chemicals in the 80s particularly where dental education was concerned so we were always taught to rinse the toothpaste out of our mouths, I didn’t learn the correct way until early/mid 20s, she also refused the fissure sealants that most children have painted on their back teeth as a preventative as she didn’t want chemicals added to our bodies
-80s and early 90s dentistry was bad and there were massive financial incentives to perform lots of fillings, so many of my fillings were done when I was quite young which leaves a lifetime of maintenance. I doubt I needed them.
-I definitely should have been given a brace and had teeth extracted, to reduce overcrowding, I need to floss a lot, if you have a small natural space between each tooth your saliva can wash between easily which protects your teeth. I don’t have any space.
-I also learnt that my biting ridges are quite big, whereas some peoples back teeth are more flatter, so again more areas for food to trap.
-I reckon I have bad saliva
-although my diet is healthy it does include lots of fresh food (acids and sugars, lots of tomato based sauces etc) A dentist’s version of what’s healthy to eat is very very different from anyone concerned about body nutrition.
-I’ve had two children which gives you extra bad saliva during hormone changes.
-I definitely think I’ve been exploited by many dentists, I pay for white fillings, so as soon as they see I’ve paid for an implant and have white composite fillings they see (no different to how some tradesmen judge your house/car before quoting for a job)

I’ve only come to these answers after finding some really good dentists and hygienists, who don’t come out with the usual guilt trip ‘you must brush badly, eat lots of sugar, drink fizzy drinks’ crap. I always say, well why are my front teeth in such good condition, and I’ve always been a petite size 6/8 so I hardly look like an over-eater.

I now have a really good private dentist who is focused on preserving the life of teeth, he sometimes does fissure seals when an NHS dentist would be pushing a white filling. I have B U P A 20 which refunds most of my fees for white repairs, check ups and twice yearly hygienist.

I hate my teeth condition and it causes a lot of stress.

 

[Gold_7]

I went to the dentist yesterday for the first time since lock down last year - I will need a wisdom tooth taken out in the near future and it’s just under £500!

 

[aliceband]

I feel your pain. I’ve been very unlucky with my teeth. Had to have some removed as a kid due to overcrowding. Got my first adult filling at 12 (I’m 32 now) and since then I’ve had basically every one of my back teeth filled at least once - my record was 3 fillings in one dentist visit. Have one cracked tooth that needed to be restored as a lot of it came away (I think it was filled too deeply). They are now saying a couple of my old fillings are too close to the nerve - I’m not sure what this even means for me to be honest! I’ve been so careful, I don’t drink fizzy drinks and never have. I brush twice a day and use mouthwash. I live in such fear of losing a tooth.

On top of that I’ve had braces twice and have to get them whitened as they are naturally a horrible yellow colour. I inherited the terrible teeth from my mums side of the family! I pay so much just to keep them looking “average”

We sound very similar, though luckily I’ve never needed braces. So frustrating as I have friends with zero fillings and they are constantly eating and drinking sugar!!

Late twenties, 1 filling last year.
overall teeth are in good condition, but very yellow (sadly naturally). Had braces but the teeth have moved again, so may look into having more orthodontics in the future...

Very envious of your 1 filling! I’ve lost count..

 

[Tatooine_legend1]

My teeth aren't the healthiest either. But for me it's definitely been my love for sweet things going back to when I was in school. I was a fat kid and constantly ate sweets. I would say I'm fortunate my teeth still look decent aesthetically, but close up and the damage appears more obvious. Underneath my front 4 teeth there is some form of erosion I need to sort out. I had four amalgam fillings a few years back. I do not take good enough care of my teeth if I'm honest. I went to the dentist between 10-13 years old, but since then the last time I went was to have the fillings about 5/6 years ago and I'm now 32. I need to sign up to a denplan like my friend has, but I keep putting it off.

 

[Greencatfysh]

Teeth are SUCH a genetics thing. I was never taken to the dentist as a child, my parents didn't believe in it as apparently modern toothpaste is too good to need it. I went to the dentist for the first time aged 25, I'm now 32 and have no fillings.

I’m similar. I rarely go (embarrassingly) and never had a filling or anything. I had wonky incisors though and got Invisalign so sorted now. I think it really is genetic, I’ve also never broken a bone or anything so maybe it’s just to do with general bone density and strength?

 

[Scorpihoe]

My advice, take some paracetamol an hour before the hygenist as it can be quite painful (depending on how much plaque you have).

I went last year, it wasn’t so bad but it just builds up so fast for me I’m planning on getting invisilign but my dentist recommended sorting the fillings out first

 

[kittypaws]

Bizarre one!
I’m under 30 and have absolutely crap teeth and it’s really starting to get me down.
My parents were very strict on sugar when I was young, no fizzy drinks/juice/sweets etc. My dentist says my oral hygiene is brilliant and I’m just unlucky.
I feel every time I go to the dentist I need new fillings or replacement fillings (some huge ones) and I’m very close to a couple of root canals or even extractions of my back teeth.

So I’m curious to know just how unlucky I am!! How old are you and what’s the state of your mouth?

You're pretty much describing me here! I'm 29 next week and so far have had 5 extractions and 2 root canals! I'm very unlucky lol, my teeth are all in good condition as in none of them are rotting, they're all nice and white and straight. I just have no luck

 

[Penguinandthepinecone]

quote: Implants are SO EXPENSIVE! Maybe hoping to pocket some cash themselves!


My advice is to always get a second opinion if a dentist says a tooth needs to be removed, and be very hesitant of having a tooth removed by the same dental practice that is pushing and offering an implant as a solution. If you have an implant go elsewhere to an implant specialist, rather than give your normal dentist reason to think that if they pull your tooth you’ll be booking them for a £2000 implant treatment.

 

[Twertle]

I’ve currently got an abscess I’ve got antibiotics and had it drained slightly at the dentist but the swelling in my face is still very apparent and the abscess is leaking out of my tooth. Last night I thought the swelling had gone down but I’ve woken up this morning looking worse?
I’m quite upset about it. I really tried to look after my teeth after loosing quite a few to neglect when I was younger but obviously I’m doing something wrong.

 

[Ensay]

It's very hard to get an NHS dentist near me. I'm private but I only have check ups every six months, so the cost is manageable. The way I see it is that regular check ups and hygienist visits should hopefully put off bigger/more expensive work - so I don't mind paying the regular costs.