Teeth and Dental work

[AladdinSane]

Definitely nightmare! I get scared to eat some foods as I don’t want my teeth to snap as they’re so weak, my dad is the same lots of his are broken or fallen out. I have terrible anxiety going to the dentist it makes my stomach flip talking about it. Maybe last or before i got my back tooth taken out a few years before that I got a bottom back one taken out, when I was younger I remember getting a few out from my back and when one grew back it pushed its way to the back inside so two teeth next to my big one is one tooth behind (if that makes sense lol)
I have two kids and I’m always on to them brushing properly they don’t have fizzy drinks never tried any, my oldest didn’t even have fruit juice until she was 2 when someone gave her some but my family think I’m so harsh not giving them coke or lemonade, they’re 7 & 4 so if they want when they’re older go ahead but for now look at me and see what it’s done to mine.
It’s weird though as I always look at peoples teeth and think wow are people looking at mine as I’m looking at theirs, I do debate on getting them done privately and spending all that money but for one I don’t have that money and two I’m so scared of the dentist and feel like my teeth are beyond any repair to make them health and white.

Honestly the cost of dental is absolute madness. Also the fact he's having to wait a month before it can be removed is crazy to me. You wouldn't just leave a broken bone sticking out of someone's arm haha!

I don't blame you for being like that with your kids. I've gone mental over my tooth hygiene over the past couple of days cos I'm terrified of similar things happening to me. My partner has broken his tooth on a biscuit before so he now refuses to eat them without a cup of tea

It makes me so sad that the cost means people can't afford to be happy with their teeth. It's so sad. Especially when some things are just genetic or cannot be helped due to missed procedures by a dentist etc.

 

[Penguinandthepinecone]

I also take floss with me everywhere (sometimes floss 3-4 times a day, use mouthwash at work after eating and sometimes brush my teeth midday at work, I floss religiously at night followed by tepe interdental brushes, I’m picky about toothpaste fluoride levels and follow with Duraphat prescription toothpaste which I smear on after brushing and sometimes push duraphat into my gaps with a tepe brush. But I still get a lot of problems (mostly repair upkeep)

 

[aliceband]

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.

Apparently you don’t inherit bad teeth but you can inherit bad saliva which is rubbish at neutralising your mouth

 

[Scorpihoe]

I’m 23, I’ve had a few fillings in my teens but overall I know my teeth could be worse. I do like them but I think I’m gonna save up for Invisalign to make them straighter

To the people who want Crest whitening strips, I buy mine off a lady on Instagram, she sells bath and body works mostly, but sells the whitening strips too. I always buy from her and she’s great! Her Instagram is @usatoukscents

 

[AladdinSane]

I’m 32 have had so many fillings and teeth out I think my teeth are awful and I have gum disease, since I was younger I’ve had a terrible sweet tooth I’d drink cans of cola all day with bags of sweets. I have bonding on all of my top teeth basically and A few years ago my front tooth snapped then I got a denture but that broke and it wouldn’t go back in, so now I have one pegged in (not sure of the proper name ) but yeah I hate hate my teeth I never smile in Any pictures. I do wish I looked after them properly though

Oh bless you. It's such a nightmare isn't it? Teeth are so delicate to say they're so strong and I'm convinced they should be able to grow enamel or something. And that some dentists do tell you incorrect information to get money out of you. Private dentists scare me with that.

My granddad spent all of his adult life with no back teeth. He had dentures made but refused to wear them. There are also rumours in the family he pulled them out with pliers.

How many teeth do you have out if you don't mind me asking? I actually think teeth problems are way more common than people think! I know I was oblivious to it until my partner had his trouble. Weirdly he looks after his teeth so well but does grind them when he's asleep which we think has caused a lot of the issues.

 

[Lola UK]

You’d be surprised how many people walk around with dentures, partial dentures, bridges, crowns, gaps at the back it’s not uncommon.

why doesn’t your husband want root canal? If it’s saveable he could have a root filling and then have it crowned. If he wants it out, why doesn’t he have it removed and then wait and see how he manages the gap. I’m not sure they would fill the entire gap with a bridge, maybe just the one tooth. He needs to consider that when you bridge a tooth, you have to drill a healthy tooth to help hold the bridge.

Gold standard treatment is to have an implant to fill the gap, but it is expensive.

 

[Blue Rose]

Hi. I’m 19 and have finally stopped sucking my thumb so am finally getting my teeth fixed. My dad is a dentist and has an orthodontics practice (Ik, I’m an embarrassment) and has said I can either have a fixed brace or he’s willing to pay more for Invisalign. Both would give the same result in the same time and so the only difference is how they look. I’m starting university in September so am wondering if people will think I’m weird for still having braces in university or as I’m still a young adult is it not as embarrassing to have braces. I do also look a lot younger than my age so recon in public people will assume I’m secondary school aged. If I get Invisalign I’ll have to take it out to eat and then put it back in. I’ve had a brace before that covered my teeth and I hated the feeling of it on my teeth if they weren’t properly brushed so I’d rarely eat when I was out and would just not wear it after eating unless I could easily brush my teeth. I also know that with a fixed brace I’d have to be more careful when cleaning my teeth but think as I can’t take them out I won’t have the problem of forgetting/not wanting to wear it. I know this thread is more about teeth health but if anyone’s had braces, any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciate.

 

[Jugganaut]

My partner was quoted around £600 for a private root canal. Then to be told it might not even work if he has it done and he would have to pay for tooth removal.

Dental work is soooooo expensive!! Based on our drama before Christmas, I have now started to budget a dental fund, just I'm case

I hope you aren't in too much pain. Dental pain is actually the worst!

Thank you! Fortunately not atm, the dentist said I was in pain when the tooth was dying but now it’s dead I won’t get any pain until it starts to become infected. I’ve had an abscess before and know the pain!!

I might have to bite the bullet and go on finance.

that’s a smart idea to start saving!

 

[Suzesnooze]

That's a relief to hear! Does he have any nerve showing on his tooth? My partner does which is causing him a bit of pain but the antibiotics are easing that. I think it was initially infected too hence the antibiotics. He's now describing it as having a scab in his mouth that hurts when he touches it. My partner also grinds his teeth so we've bought a mouthguard this week and a new electric toothbrush to help him!

Honestly I've never been as anxious as this week. It's such a scary thing to see someone in so much pain and you not be able to help. Plus he's only eating soup at the moment cos he's convinced he can't eat anything else.

No the nerves not showing but it does sometimes cause him a bit of pain but I think it's when food gets stuck. He uses an electric toothbrush. I've used one for years.

Your partner's tooth would definitely have been infected if he's on antibiotics or he may have had an abscess on it? It's hard to see someone in pain with toothache as the problem with it is that it's constant. There is no let up from the pain until the antibiotics kick in or the tooth is treated.

 

[Gold_7]

Jeez guess youre a private patient

Im NHS for other stuff though?

 

[JoJo76]

I'm 44, had a few fillings and a root canel. I am the worlds most pathetic person at the dentist, he has to give me a valium prescription to be able to do anything. Recently a filling fell out and I'm really putting off going.

 

[Lola UK]

Definitely nightmare! I get scared to eat some foods as I don’t want my teeth to snap as they’re so weak, my dad is the same lots of his are broken or fallen out. I have terrible anxiety going to the dentist it makes my stomach flip talking about it. Maybe last or before i got my back tooth taken out a few years before that I got a bottom back one taken out, when I was younger I remember getting a few out from my back and when one grew back it pushed its way to the back inside so two teeth next to my big one is one tooth behind (if that makes sense lol)
I have two kids and I’m always on to them brushing properly they don’t have fizzy drinks never tried any, my oldest didn’t even have fruit juice until she was 2 when someone gave her some but my family think I’m so harsh not giving them coke or lemonade, they’re 7 & 4 so if they want when they’re older go ahead but for now look at me and see what it’s done to mine.
It’s weird though as I always look at peoples teeth and think wow are people looking at mine as I’m looking at theirs, I do debate on getting them done privately and spending all that money but for one I don’t have that money and two I’m so scared of the dentist and feel like my teeth are beyond any repair to make them health and white.

you sound like a great mum looking after your kids teeth

the problem with sugars is the amount of time there is a sugar attack on the teeth which causes decay. Snacking is the worst culprit, as is sugary drinks throughout the day! Keep sugars to mealtimes, have a squash at mealtimes and then water other times. There are lots of hidden sugars in foods, such as yoghurts, crisps, those toddler snacks also! Cheese is a great snack as it neutralises the sugars.

The worst is when toddlers drink sugary drinks from bottles throughout the day, or go to bed with milk and let the milk lie on the teeth all night.

brush twice a day and spit don’t rinse with a fluoride toothpaste.

Hope this isn’t patronising for anyone, but you don’t know unless you know!

 

[AladdinSane]

I lost one in my 30’s (due to infection) and since then I’ve had another 4 out but one was a wisdom tooth. I have a big gap on one side but you can’t see it when I smile but I do have other loose ones but am supposed to see a hygenist every 3 months but that got delayed in covid.

I was diagnosed with gum disease age 20. You control it with brushing, flossing, interdent brushes, regular hygenist treatment.

He said dentures wouldn’t work in the gap I have or something? Implants are SO expensive though so I can’t afford them.

Oh bless you that sounds painful. COVID has really made it so difficult with some services! It makes me so mad that other people are struggling.

Implants are ridiculously expensive. I took a look at them and we were looking at £2,000 just for one tooth. It's mental. They did mention a bridge to him but I think that is just to replace the one that he may have taken out as he doesn't have any other teeth behind it other than his wisdom tooth but that is at a funny angle. It's not causing problems but I don't think they'd be able to put a crown on it. This is the first time he's been told about his wisdom tooth as well. I feel like sometimes dentists just don't say anything when they should.

Thank you for sharing though. It has made me feel better that he'll be OK.

 

[Louisej3]

23 no teeth out and 1 fillings

 

[Ninetiesbitxh]

Has anyone on this thread had composite bonds, and would you recommend? Thankfully my teeth are actually not too bad but there are a couple of minor aesthetic things like a gap and a smaller tooth that bother me and I’m wondering if composite bonding would be worth it, or just more trouble than they’re actually worth.

I had mine done two years ago, only my top 6 teeth. Generally I had good teeth, no issues just a couple of gaps that I noticed on pictures when I smile. Whilst I am happy with them now, it’s suggested they’re done every 5 years. So with an estimated cost of anything from £50-£200+ per tooth, it’s quite costly to maintain.

 

[AladdinSane]

Hi everyone!

so glad I found this thread

I need a root canal on a molar tooth. I’ve been quoted £745 private. I can probably claim about £100 back on works dental cover and the rest on finance?! Is this the going rate for this kind of filling privately? I’m going to need another one eventually soon in another tooth.

I’ve rung around and nowhere is taking on NHS patients so I think I might just have to pay so frustrating as as works cover costs 100% NHS

I too wish I’d known and looked after my teeth when I was younger

xxx

My partner was quoted around £600 for a private root canal. Then to be told it might not even work if he has it done and he would have to pay for tooth removal.

Dental work is soooooo expensive!! Based on our drama before Christmas, I have now started to budget a dental fund, just I'm case

I hope you aren't in too much pain. Dental pain is actually the worst!

 

[Tatooine_legend1]

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.

Yeah, my fault really. I left it years before visiting a dentist, then needed fillings. Then I left it again for about 5 years, and need to get a little more work (although on NHS it shouldn't be costly) done. If I went private it would be a bit more costly for sure. As they say, prevention is better than cure and it's true. I used to have great teeth. They are still ok-ish, but there's wear and tear due to my sweet tooth and lack of dental checkups.

 

[AladdinSane]

Yes I'm sure he'll be OK without dentures or anything as he can just eat on the other side like I do.

I forgot to mention I do have a dental plan so I can claim back the cost of my dental treatment but they will only pay 10% towards implants.

A dental plan sounds like a really good option for us now. Especially if he is going to have any problems going forward. He has just been told its a month referral to see the specialist which he is very concerned about as his nerve is open with no protection from the tooth as he's cracked it in half. As it's the bottom jaw, I don't think he'll be too fussed whether he has a bridge, denture or a gap. He doesn't smile with his teeth on photos anyway

You read so many horror stories on Google so it is nice to know there are real people who have had similar problems and it hasn't affected their way of life too much.

 

[AladdinSane]

Try not to worry. My husband has had a broken tooth for ages. He was meant to have it out then covid happened. They rang him after they opened again for him to come out and have it removed but he cancelled the appointment! He grinds his teeth which is probably how his broke. He now wears a mouth guard which we bought online which has helped a lot with his grinding.

Glad the pain is easing.

That's a relief to hear! Does he have any nerve showing on his tooth? My partner does which is causing him a bit of pain but the antibiotics are easing that. I think it was initially infected too hence the antibiotics. He's now describing it as having a scab in his mouth that hurts when he touches it. My partner also grinds his teeth so we've bought a mouthguard this week and a new electric toothbrush to help him!

Honestly I've never been as anxious as this week. It's such a scary thing to see someone in so much pain and you not be able to help. Plus he's only eating soup at the moment cos he's convinced he can't eat anything else.

 

[Black.bird]

On the subject of plaque, I tried a new product (new to NZ/has probably been available everywhere else for a while) a few days ago:

... And it really works! It cost about NZ$9 (intro special) and within a couple of uses, plaque which I didn't even know I had was being dislodged (mainly behind my front bottom teeth which I didn't know was there). And, unlike when the dental hygienist removes it and it hurts like heck, it just seems to come away easily when my electric toothbrush gets in there (yes, there was a small amount of blood, but definitely no pain). I'm using it nightly before brushing.