Health Chats
Dental Health
Tuesday May 05, 2009, 03:00PM - 04:00PM (EST)
Good oral hygiene is a crucial part of your overall health, but other than flossing and brushing every day, how do you ensure that you're in good dental health? What do dentists looks for in their oral exams? Is an electric toothbrush better than a manual one? Is that pain you feel a cavity? How do you prevent your gums from bleeding? Get answers to these questions and more when you join MedHelp's monthly hour-long chat with dentists from Top 3 Dentists, an invitation-only group of the top dentists in the U.S. Learn about the two most common plaque disease - tooth decay and periodontal disease - and the most common procedures including fillings, extractions, restorations, crowns, root canals, bridges, and gum therapy.
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
Yes, but water pic is not a replacement for flossing!!!
Poobah:
I should have mentioned that my crown (the one that didn't have much cement) was loose enough that saliva did get into it, AND it was root canaled right before the temp crown was put on. There was leakage, and I told the dentist. But he denies that the abscess is due to lack of cement.
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
How long did you have the temp crown on?
Frenchmaid:
My dentist told me that I had a little start of gingivitis... and that by flossing my teeth it will go away.... how many time do you have to floss..... and also where I have a crown put on it seem to be irritated there and they told me that I have to be careful when I floss in that area because I did not have much tooth left so it's close to the gum. That's why it bleeds when I do it...Does this sound right?
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
Frenchmaid, gingivitis should be eliminated by good oral hygiene. As far as the bleeding around the crown it somehow does not sound right!!
Lisak007:
Are some very elderly people managing to keep their original teeth all their life these days? Is there hope in the idea of never having to have dentures?
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
:) of course.....with good oral hygiene
ChitChatNine:
What type of fillings do you prefer to use .. the newer white kind or the older metal ones? Insurance doesn't pay the difference but I've been getting the new bonded type. However, I'm not game to remove any of my old fillings unless they need further work just for cosmetic reasons.
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
I prefer the white ones. The metal ones are older that the first Ford. They did their service for dentistry. In addition are you ok with 50% of mercury in them? Remember dental insurances are not concerned for with the well being of their patients or what is best...they are more concerned with making money off of you and me
Frenchmaid:
I have a lots of root canals in my mouth for some reason. My saliva is too acidic and it eats the enamel on my tooth. Is this unhealthy?
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
Saliva is usually a buffer it is the is bacteria in your mouth that causes the cavities. Check your diet
Frenchmaid:
It kind of feels puffy in that area with the crown....Should I be really concerned?
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
yes it could be an ill fitting crown, or irritation to the material
Poobah:
Actually it was not a temp crown, sorry. It was the real thing. A 9 unit bridge with my real teeth underneath. They put it on and wanted me to "try it out" first (3 months). In that time, I told them that there were 2 gaps next to my front teeth that leaked and saliva and food would go through. Then after 2 1/2 months, my cement flushed out, and the dental tech didn't seem to be concerned. Now after a year, my two front teeth both are abscessed. I had no cavities or pain in them before the work.
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
that is possible, once you prep the teeth for crown it is closer to the pulp and caries in dentin spreads much faster
SFmonsterdark:
I sometimes get one or two canker sores in my mouth. Every once in a while, I get a whole bunch. What causes the canker sores? Can anything be done to prevent them?
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
are the sore preceded by a vesicle? In that case it is not a Canker! Canker sores are believed to be due to stress???? A good treatment is using laser therapy, which most dentists do.
SeatownHero:
About two weeks ago I had four (front bottom teeth) lava crowns put on and I am really dissatisfied with them (size and color). Do you know if it's possible to have them removed or are they too permanent? Before I ask my dentist, I wanted to know if it's possible (or easily done) without too much pain to have them removed so I could have him make me new ones.
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
Anything can be removed, but there is always the possibility of pulpal(nerve) damage.
latenight:
Do you do need to treat deep pockets on the gums (5-6mm)? What are the possible treatments?
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
Deep cleaning, then good oral hygiene
Frenchmaid:
Bacteria would be caused by my diet. Could you gave me an example of what would cause this? Thanks.
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
Sweets, sodas, cereal, etc
sportster334:
I get a pain in certain teeth when I eat something with sugar or something that is too cold. Does this mean that it could be a cavity, something else, or just sensitivity?
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
There is a good possibility of a cavity and sometimes also recessions around the gums
Poobah:
Thanks for being honest. My dentist insisted that it was not his fault....but at the same time told me that once a tooth is root canaled that there is always a risk to infection. So why wasn't he concerned about all that saliva that leaked in?!!! Oh well...he has now decided to rectify the matter, and is re-doing the RC. So far it seems to be working. No pain or puss. Can an abscessed tooth be repaired by re-doing the RC?
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
Yes.....but why don't you consider a second opinion?
ChitChatNine:
I had 2 mercury fillings removed from molars/deep cavities for cosmetic reasons and ended up with 2 root canals. They were very old, deep fillings (maybe older than the first Ford LOL) That's why I'm gunshy to have any others removed. Maybe that was something out of the norm since the fillings were very very deep to begin with ?
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
Yes, you have to understand that the other negative feature of amalgam fillings they are prone to micro leakage after the first 24 hours. But not all deep Amalgam fillings will end up in root canals
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
When there is a gap between the crown and the tooth
Frenchmaid:
What is an ill fitting crown?
Dr. Ramin Mehregan:
oops see my previous response
