[MERGED] Taking Care of My Teeth (The General Dentistry Thread)

[MrHuFriedy]

Originally posted by the_poll_master
fyi lang:

both composites and compomers are tooth-colored restorations, right? but as to their differences...

composites are the usual restorative materials that we use - either self curing or light cured - the old-school-of-tooth-colored-restorations we used in our internship, remember?

compomer are the new breed of composites, technically polyacid modified composites. Word derived from composite + glass ionomer = compomer! These are used as a liner or base material on deep dentinal areas. The likes of Dyract, Luxat, Hytac, etc. Basically, it's the same thing, just with a greater bond strength, as manufacturers claim it to be.

but clinically speaking, it is the same thing. tooth-colored, etch-bond techniques. though you can charge a patient a little bit more when using compomers since they are "hybrid" composites...

have your tried compoglass? still.... the same...

hope I somehow helped...

Yeah, i've tried using a compomer for restoring a class V caries located both on the enamel and on the exposed cementum. Since it had GI (glass ionomers), it chemically bonded with the dentin in the cementum and also, since it had resin, it mechanically bonded with the etched enamel on the coronal area. I haven't researched yet on its wear resistance (since it being a cervical caries) but i think its stronger than a conventional resin (composite) and since it had its own range of shades same to those of composites, esthetics was of a comparable degree too. However, i'd like to know if this would mean that conventional composites would be soon wiped out. I bet there is still some disadvantage in using compomers. From my experience, the moment my dentist placed a GI liner/base on a deep class 2 cavity, i felt a sharp continous pain lasting for 2 minutes or so (eventhough i was under Local Anesthesia) probably due to the acid component of the GI. Have u got any information on this?

thanks for the info.

Hey Misa, do u know how much odontectomy costs nowadays? does it depend on the complexity of the case? i've got 2 upper 3rd molars left. my 2 lower 3rd's have already been taken out last year.

[the_poll_master]

Originally posted by MrHuFriedy


... However, i'd like to know if this would mean that conventional composites would be soon wiped out. I bet there is still some disadvantage in using compomers. From my experience, the moment my dentist placed a GI liner/base on a deep class 2 cavity, i felt a sharp continous pain lasting for 2 minutes or so (eventhough i was under Local Anesthesia) probably due to the acid component of the GI. Have u got any information on this?

thanks for the info...

i guess not. amalgam has been with us for a looooong time and despite its documented disadvantages (hg contents and all, poisoining and cases of metallurgical allergies) it's still here.

conventional composites on the other hand, for sure, has the same fate. firstly, let's face it, the filipino px is not that concerned with his dental needs. he waits for his condition to be a "terminal-ended" case. although nowadays there are already the new breed of dental-conscious pxs, most of the time still pxs visit the dentist when it is all ready too late and the only thing we, dentists can do is extract it, right? or on the other hand, they might be interested in a restoration but will opt for the cheaper one... so naturally, correct me if i'm wrong, for amalgam being the cheapest followed by composites then compomers and so on the px will choose COMPOSITE (that is if he prefers a tooth-colored restoration). so MALABONG maglaho sa ating practice ang composites!

with regards to the acidity of the etchant, either with composites or compomers, i guess it's the same. both use phosphoric acid (probably in just varying percentages - 25-35 depending on what brandname). let's face it acid IS acid. so no mater what the manufacturer's say...acid pa rin yan so just like what you personally experienced there was still a tinge of pain, right?

how about you guys? have you had experience on using a light-curing restoration which doesn't need an etchant? (minus the use of mechanical retention, of course!)

[Misa Hayase]

Hello Pollmaster! Aba! An actual dentist here in the PEx at last! I hope you'll frequent this folder because mas marami kang experience clinically and I won't be able to answer everything.
I'm afraid I won't be able to offer an opinion on those composites... Ang nagagamit ko palang so far is the ones that need etchant. =) (yun lang meron sa school, hehehe).


Mr HuFriedy...how about you? =)

[MrHuFriedy]

Originally posted by Misa Hayase
Hello Pollmaster! Aba! An actual dentist here in the PEx at last! I hope you'll frequent this folder because mas marami kang experience clinically and I won't be able to answer everything.
I'm afraid I won't be able to offer an opinion on those composites... Ang nagagamit ko palang so far is the ones that need etchant. =) (yun lang meron sa school, hehehe).


Mr HuFriedy...how about you? =)

Misa Hayase - hehehe, gulat talaga ako na may sumagot na totoong dentist. siya dmd na tayo soon to be dmd pa lang. (Tnx a lot Pollmaster) Actually misa, (naks) nakagamit na rin ako ng walang etchant. The teacher (who is a Gladys-liit look alike) told me to use the product she was doing a study on.
Dr. Pollmaster , it had a one-step etching and bonding agent technique. combined na siya into one. She acually used it on me (as part of her study's subjects) and she also let me use it on two of my patients. the first thing that i noticed was that it smells (and tastes) stronger than the conventional bonding agent. It tasted like mighty bond in my mouth. but it was definitely a short cut from the usual etching-rinsing-drying-bonding agent-drying-curing technique.
p.s. Misa Hayase - are u ready for the civac this sun? may kasama daw tayong models e.
Pollmaster - i bet u've read misa hayase's previous replies. oks naman diba? dentist-material na ba?

[Misa Hayase]

BTW peeps... MrHufriedy is a good friend of mine...and he definitely knows more than I do... He'll be able to answer your questions also if I can't, or kung wala rin si the Mr Pollmaster.

[the_poll_master]

misa and mrhufriedy - it's great to know that some people don't just engage in small talk. that is why i joined your thread!

hope to be reading/interacting more about topics like these...

guys, help lang ako as long as i know the answer ha. ok lang ba yun?

[Misa Hayase]

The Poll Master... hehehe....hang around more often and we might rename this thread after you,

Teka, may legit dentist na dito! Ba't wala ng may sumasakit na ngipiN!!!

[MrHuFriedy]

Originally posted by Misa Hayase
The Poll Master... hehehe....hang around more often and we might rename this thread after you,

Teka, may legit dentist na dito! Ba't wala ng may sumasakit na ngipiN!!!

Oo nga misa hayase or should i say team pustiso's team captain. Bakit wala nang sumakit sa mga ngipin nyo? folks, just to let u know, we recently joined a "tribyang pusit" ( a trivial pursuit spin-off) quiz show and misa got to answer a question not known by everyone else. WAY TO GO MISAAAA! Remember jholooohgs rule! too bad we only finished 4th. nakalimutan kasi ng assistant JOLOGS head namin na kasama si Tanada (and not tatad) sa VOT FOR D CHAMMP.

[melrosegirl]

please help me....

About 2 months ago, I had my two front teeth bonded kasi there was a gap in between ( I posted about this). At the same time, I also had several molars filled. My dentist told me that I have gingivitis. i wasn't aware of this kasi yung gums ko lang sa molars ko yung affected. Anyway, after all these parang na-ngingilo yung teeth ko but I thought it was just because of the filling so I ignored it kasi tolerable naman.

Now my problem is this. About 3 weeks ago, I noticed that my gumline around my molars were turning red ( at first, mayroon din akong mga singaw sa gums)....but yung part lang near the teeth...hard to explain pero parang may red line around my teeth...the rest of the gums okay naman yung color. So anyway, I started using pyodontyl and bactidol/listerine. But hindi parin nag-improve yung condition. I also noticed na the affected part eh yung teeth na nilagyan ng filling. The rest, okay naman.

Related kaya yung swollen gums ko sa procedure na ginawa sa akin? Meron kaya syang maling nagawa or is this just a case of gingivitis?

One more thing, I noticed that my two front teeth are separating again. Di ba this is a sign of serious gum disease? I'm so scared kasi this time, if they separate again, hindi na sya kaya ng simple bonding procedure. Anyway, will retainers help to prevent my teeth from moving? Since may bonding na yung front teeth ko, is it impossible to wear braces na?

What more can I do for my gums? I brush 3x a day, floss, massage my gums with pyodontyl and gargle with bactidol or listerine.

please help.....thanks!

[Misa Hayase]

CALLING MR HUFRIEDY AND POLLMASTER! HELP!

[Misa Hayase]

CALLING MR HUFRIEDY AND POLLMASTER! HELP!

Melrose girl... some further questions lang...
1) The pangingilo after the filling... hanggang ngayon nangingilo pa rin? Kasi sensitivity is quite normal after a filling procedure.

2) Calm down... =) When you say separate? Panong separate? Is are the front teeth actively mobile (umuuga?) or parang nagdrift lang sila apart gradually? kung talagang umuuga siya then it's periodontitis (parang worse than gingivitis kasi bone is also destroyed)... but I don't think you have that. You didn't mention kasi whether the gums sa front teeth mo were swollen and bleeding.

3) Yung fillings sa molars mo, what kind were they? and were are they located? sa parang top? or the side near the tongue? Or the side which touches the teeth?

I can't answer yet the the other questions... medyo complicated for me... tawagin ko lang si mr.Hufriedy (or Mr pollmaster if he comes) and we'll get to you in a jiffy.

So far, you've been doing great (brushing, flossing, gargling)...maintain that. When you brush and floss, pay attention to the gum line, okay? When brushing, start from the junction where the gum meets the tooth enamel, angle it 45 degrees (the idea is that part of the bristles go slightly under the gumline...slightly ha, don't use force or anything ) tapos brush towards the direction of the tops of your teeth (bale downward direction if you're brushing the upper teeth, and upward pag lower teeth.)

[the_poll_master]

[QUOTE]
Now my problem is this. About 3 weeks ago, I noticed that my gumline around my molars were turning red ( at first, mayroon din akong mga singaw sa gums)....but yung part lang near the teeth...hard to explain pero parang may red line around my teeth...the rest of the gums okay naman yung color.
[QUOTE]

* Question lang po muna: Have you undergone oral prophylaxis?
It can be a possibility that since the affected teeth are the molars only, then localized lang ang problema mo = limited lang to that particular area. So we can suspect calcular deposits (tartar) could've been causing the inflammation in these areas. The sensitivity that you feel around this area may also indicate deep-seated calculus

Also, do you have any systemic disease that requires long-term medication? Because there are certain drugs that affect the gums - pero usually eh all of them. Since in your case, it's localized lang right?

[QUOTE]
So anyway, I started using pyodontyl and bactidol/listerine. But hindi parin nag-improve yung condition. I also noticed na the affected part eh yung teeth na nilagyan ng filling. The rest, okay naman.
[QUOTE]

* Bactidol and listerine are mostly used as anticeptic gargles while pyodontyl claims to reduce inflammation on affected areas. Since your condition haven't improved with its use then you might've been using the wrong gargles/toothpaste. You can try using amosan (dispensed in sachets that you can get from your dentist or drugstores - without prescription) to alleviate pain and control inflammation.

[QUOTE]
Related kaya yung swollen gums ko sa procedure na ginawa sa akin? Meron kaya syang maling nagawa or is this just a case of gingivitis?
[QUOTE]

* Your gingivitis existed even before your teeth were restored remember - your dentist noticed that and told you.

[QUOTE]
One more thing, I noticed that my two front teeth are separating again. Di ba this is a sign of serious gum disease? I'm so scared kasi this time, if they separate again, hindi na sya kaya ng simple bonding procedure. Anyway, will retainers help to prevent my teeth from moving? Since may bonding na yung front teeth ko, is it impossible to wear braces na?
[QUOTE]

* The migration of your front teeth doesn't equate to gum disease. It could be because you have missing teeth that causes them to drift. Gingivitis will cause your teeth to fall off not drift apart.

[QUOTE]
What more can I do for my gums? I brush 3x a day, floss, massage my gums with pyodontyl and gargle with bactidol or listerine.
[QUOTE]

* First things first:

1. If you haven't had that oral prophylaxis, have one. If your condition will turn out to be demanding beyond normal scaling procedures then expect long-term treatment procedures.

2. Ask your dentist to give you an overall assessment of your oral cavity to include treatment plans that go with it. At the same time ask if a radiograph (x-ray) of your mouth can be taken for further evaluation.

3. Do what a good patient must do and follow your dentist's advice.

[Misa Hayase]

Thanks pollmaster !That was very prompt and systematic! =)

BTW, Melrose, if you're looking for amosan, it's made by the Oral B company.

[MrHuFriedy]

Melrose: question lang, after doing what pollmaster told you, are the 'singaw's still there? i'm assuming that when u said that it is "singaw" u mean na painful siya to the slightest touch (or worsens when u eat something sour/salty) and that sorrounding the singaw is a whitish halo of gingiva. different siya from a "pimple" in the gingiva (aka: sinus tract) wherein something yellowish (pus) somteimes exude and is painless. the later type kasi may pertain to a periapical (inside the gingiva underneath the tooth) infection trying to breaktrough the bone-gingiva because of increasing pus pressure. pero since sabi mo u've just had the tooth filled, baka hindi naman nga periapical infection yon (well, sana hwag). singaws of the painful type may have lots of causes. the least worst na cause is trauma like if ur gingiva rubbed up to something rough or natamaan ng toothbrush. pwede rin namang viral ang cause as in herpes simplex type. hehehe. still, it SHOULD disappear in a few days kung trauma lang ang cause niya. besides, the best thing about our oral cavity, although very sensitive siya dahil every square centimeter of our mouth is full of nerve endings, any abrasion on the gingiva heals without scarring. walang kelloid (tama ba spelling ko?) sa loob ng bibig ng tao. right pollmaster?

also melrose, u said that u just had ur 'gap' filled and that it seems to be drifting apart again. visually, do u see the gap again or do u just feel it? kasi sometimes, the feeling of teeth moving apart may just be the sensation of teeth being wedged. kasi since u have the two front teeth bonded, the material placed inbetween the teeth may have caused them to feel wedged. if visually may gap nga, baka naman, like pollmaster said, may missing teeth ka nga. but u would tell us naman that di ba so baka hindi rin (gulo ko no?) besides, why would u be so bothered with a gap kung bungi rin naman pala yung mga katabi niya

Gingivitis generally doesn't cause teeth to be lost. in gingivitis kasi, the inflammation is limited only to the ginigiva. now if the tooth is also mobile, it means that the bone supporting the tooth is slowly decreasing in height. that is no longer gingiviitis. it may be periodontitis, the disease of the periodontium (which includes: alveolar bone, cementum, periodontal ligament and the gingiva). this can't be cured by routine prophylaxis but may need some form of periodontal surgery.

However, gingivitis, pag pinabayaan, also doesn't necessarily lead to periodontitis. sometimes, pwedeng diretsong periodontitis kaagad without passing through gingivitis. or pwedeng gingivitis lang siya for long periods of time w/out turning to periodontitis. case to case yan.

Mr. pollmaster has listed a very impressive treatment plan for you. heed it and update us on any developments.

[CLaiRe_ChiLL]

Hello.... tanong ko lang no, bakit may pagkakataon na mabilis mabasag yung pasta na nilalagay sa ipin? dapat ba pag naka-pasta na yung ipin wag na yun yung ipangkakagat sa matitigas na bagay para ma-avoid yung pagkabasag nya.... yun kasi yung nangyari sakin, nabasag yung pasta ng ipin ko pagkakagat ko sa ulam ko na friend chicken, kasi ginawa ng dentist parang pinalapad yung isang teeth ko sa harapan dahil may maliit na gap sa pagitan ng molars ba yon? tsaka yung sumunod na tooth, tsaka kasi parang naka-slant yung tooth na sumunod sa molars. So ngayon may maliit na gap na naman sya in between..... ano ba dapat kong sabihin sa dentist para yung mailagay nya sakin eh yung matibay na ang kapit sa pagdidikitan nyang tooth ko..... sana masagot nyo po ang aking katanungan.....


Salamat.....

[melrosegirl]

thanks a lot for all your help!

I hope I get to answer all your questions...

Misa Hayase:

1) The pangingilo after the filling... hanggang ngayon nangingilo pa rin? Kasi sensitivity is quite normal after a filling procedure.

Hindi na.

When you say separate? Panong separate? Is are the front teeth actively mobile (umuuga?) or parang nagdrift lang sila apart gradually?

My teeth kasi are naturally close together. Then when I was 12, I had gingivitis already, pero gumaling na sya. Tapos, years later I noticed na palaki ng palaki yung gap in between my 2 front teeth. That's why I had it bonded. After the procedure, sobrang close nung teeth ko...I was even having problems flossing kasi mahirap ipasok yung floss. Now, may gap na naman sya. Hindi naman umuuga yun teeth ko although I remember my dentist telling me that while she was drilling (tama ba?), umuuga nga daw. But she never said it could be periodontitis. okay naman yung gums ko sa harap.

Yung fillings sa molars mo, what kind were they? and were are they located? sa parang top? or the side near the tongue? Or the side which touches the teeth?

Laser sya ( um...i don't know if that's the right term...its the same color as my teeth and may blue light na ginagamit), sa top lang.
****

the_poll_master :

Have you undergone oral prophylaxis?

yes, when had my teeth filled and bonded. (1st week of August)

do you have any systemic disease that requires long-term medication?

None

* The migration of your front teeth doesn't equate to gum disease. It could be because you have missing teeth that causes them to drift. Gingivitis will cause your teeth to fall off not drift apart.

I didn't have any tooth extracted. Do they just fall off? Don't they move first, then fall off? Kasi that's what Im scared of eh...baka if I don't get it treated, it might eventually fall off! :yikes:
****

MrHuFriedy :

, are the 'singaw's still there?

wala na. i don't know for sure if it was a "singaw" kasi hindi sya yung typical na singaw...more like swollen gums...at first I thought it was just that kasi I changed my toothbrush and I noticed that the bristles were kinda hard. Naisip ko baka nasugatan lang...also, since I had colds and cough, I also thought baka cold sores sya.

visually, do u see the gap again or do u just feel it?

Im pretty sure that there's a gap na. I can see it. After kasi nung bonding, super dikit sya and I was having a hard time getting the floss in. Complete pa naman yung teeth ko sa taas. I also noticed na yun lang ang gumagalaw...the rest dikit-dikit pa rin....parang nagse-separate lang sya sa middle.
***

as of now, my gumline is still red. Also, normal naman yung color nung gums ko near my cheek...yung sa side lang ng tongue yung red. I think hindi na rin sya swollen like before. Sometimes when I floss it still bleeds but hindi lagi.

I'm looking for an orthodontist as of now. I want to see kasi if retainers will help. I can't afford kasi to have them bonded again...sobrang lalaki na yung teeth ko nun...para na ako si Bugs Bunny!!!!

Okay lang ba if I have a prophylaxis again? 2 months ago yung last prophylaxis ko kasi. Although I floss regularly, since dikit-dikit yung molars ko, I have a feeling I'm not flossing it properly.

I would also like to ask...do you think colds, cough and stress have something to do with my gum disease?

Sorry for the long post... I really appreciate all your help and for taking the time to answer all my questions!!!!

[the_poll_master]

melrosegirl:

whoa! online consultation ba 'to? galing

a lot of factors (external or internal, local or systemic, psychological or otherwise) can affect not just the condition of our gums. but as it seems to be that you have been having this problem for quite some time now, and recurring at that, not to discredit the fact that you often visit your dentist and seems to be you're doing a good job with your oral hygiene - try popping vitamin c. around 1,000 mg for starters and then check on your gum's condition after some time, anyway there is NO vitamin c overdose. any excess you'll pee you might just be lacking in ascorbic acid that is why your gums are bleeding most of the time - since we can't blame it on your toothbrush anymore or not having prophylaxis....


claire_chill:

aah...ummmm..... again, again, again. paki ulit po! can't quite understand your situation....

can you be more certain which teeth are involved....

[CLaiRe_ChiLL]

Originally posted by CLaiRe_ChiLL
Hello.... tanong ko lang no, bakit may pagkakataon na mabilis mabasag yung pasta na nilalagay sa ipin? dapat ba pag naka-pasta na yung ipin wag na yun yung ipangkakagat sa matitigas na bagay para ma-avoid yung pagkabasag nya.... yun kasi yung nangyari sakin, nabasag yung pasta ng ipin ko pagkakagat ko sa ulam ko na friend chicken, kasi ginawa ng dentist parang pinalapad yung isang teeth ko sa harapan dahil may maliit na gap sa pagitan ng molars ba yon? tsaka yung sumunod na tooth, tsaka kasi parang naka-slant yung tooth na sumunod sa molars. So ngayon may maliit na gap na naman sya in between..... ano ba dapat kong sabihin sa dentist para yung mailagay nya sakin eh yung matibay na ang kapit sa pagdidikitan nyang tooth ko..... sana masagot nyo po ang aking katanungan.....


Salamat.....

nnggeee magulo pala yung tanong ko dito sa taas no.... di kasi ko familiar sa pangalan ng mga ngipin eh..... bale doc, yung sinasabi ko na molars mali po pala yun dapat pala incisors, yung ipin sa harap (thanks sa visual aid) kasi yung sa right side na incisors may maliit na gap, yung incisor na katabi ng cuspids eh tumubo na parang nakalihis, kaya hindi talaga sila masyadong magkadikit. So yun nga para mawala yung gap nila dinagdagan ng pasta ng dentist yung incisors na katabi ng cuspids, eh di okey na.... tas yun nga nung minsang pagkagat ko ng friend chicken nabasag yung pasta kaya ang siste may gap na naman.... kaya yung tanong ko ano bang dapat sabihin sa dentist pag nagpa-pasta ulit ako, na gusto ko yung talagang di na mababasag yung idadagdag na pasta sa incisors ko.... may iba't ibang klase ba ng pasta?

[melrosegirl]

the_poll_master :

whoa! online consultation ba 'to? galing

oops! so sorry....just worried kasi.

I've been taking Vit C...500mg...I'll try 1000mg. Thanks for the advice!!!

[EtErNiTy]

hi! just wanted to ask a q...well i have impacted molars and my dentist said i have to have it taken out before i get braces...so i had my right one taken out and it really really hurt! ...it was really inside my jaw bone...is it necessary to have it taken out? thanks!