Dental Visit On Tuesday

[BonusMom]

I'm scared.

I'm a white knuckler to begin with and they're going to remove some tissue and bone to prepare the tooth for a crown as there is a rather deep cavity in the tooth.  The dentist is also replacing the crown next to the subject tooth.

I'm working myself into a tizzy over this.  I don't have a driver so I can't take any Ativan prior to the visit, but I have Norco waiting for me when I get home....

[Joe S.]

By practicing a simple meditation, I was able to have a root canal without Novocaine.

Breath in and think, "I am".
Breath out and think, "calm".
repeat...

I have had other dental procedure that this have made more bearable. It works best if you practice it for a few weeks before you go in.

[irish]

I had just an enormous amount of dental work that spanned about 17 years. I had many teeth pulled one at a time plus had very, very any infections because I had low t-cells and it wasn't known then. I also had many caps, a couple steel pins inserted in just a bare amount of tooth to help anchor it for a cap. I also had multiple abscesses and just plain yukky stuff done.

I will tell you that they will numb you up the best they can. What I learned to do over the years was sort of a self hypnosis. Maybe you could practice it at home a little off and on before the big day.

I just placed my hands on the sides of the chair and would close my eyes and concentrate on the music until I was just overwhelmed by it---to the point of almost ignoring the rest of the world. If that didn't work I would talk myself into a safe, peaceful place. I would usually choose a large hayfield with lots of flowers, walking with the gentle breeze. I have also placed myself lying on my back in the grass watching the clouds float by. Attempt to put your mind somewhere else and concentrate on the somewhere else. It really does work. There will be breakthrough pain and I would tap my fingers on the end of the arms of the chair when that occurred.

I am so glad that my teeth are now long gone---as is a lot of money sorry to say. My advice to anyone who is starting to lose their teeth is to sort of draw a line in the sand. When you reach a certain amount of money or caps,etc start finding someone to remove your teeth. You will feel so much better. Also, start saving your money even if it is 20$ every pay check. This can be money to use for the teeth extractions. Good luck. Irish

[Shani]

Hi BonusMom.

I see that Joe and Irish gave great advice already.
I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed that all goes well.
And the recoervering too.

[anita]

To sort have a take on what Irish suggested with the thought/focus on music.  Why not enhance that by taking an mp3 player and listening to music (and truly focusing on every word) while the dentist works.

Good luck

[BonusMom]

Proceedure went well and the prosthodontist put me at ease.

He would like me to consider getting two implants (dental) for some upper teeth I'm missing and had a partial plate made in June 2009 for.  He said my bone is good and referred me for a 3D xray for measurements.  For implants, they'd put me to sleep.

I was sent home today with scripts for antibiotics due to MVP and Percocet for pain, which hasn't  been too effective unless I take more than one tablet.  I get the stitches out next Weds.

Thanks for the relaxation techniques.  I used them and they were effective.

Anyone else have dental implants?  Please share your experience.....pros/cons?

[ohiolady]

Hi Bonusmom,

I just had a dental implant this past year and so far so good.  I, actually, had it done without sedation.  And, I hate dental work but was afraid the sedation would make me nauseous.  I had good bone so did not need graft.

If you think of any specific questions, I'll check this thread and see if I can answer.

Anna

[Loon-Lover]

You are all so brave! GIVE ME SEDATION!!!! I get put in what they call twilight, even when I get my deep cleaning once a year, they give me funny gas! 

[Cheryl]

Bonusmom,
I have a new dental implant, too.  I had a bone graft done first, and it took months for new bone to form.  Then following the implant surgery, it took months for bone to grow around it.  The entire process from extraction to getting the permanent crown took almost a year.  Yours should take less time, since you don't need a graft.   Pros:  I love having the new tooth.  It won't decay or wiggle or hurt.   Cons:  Cost and time involved. 

I wish you the best!
Cheryl

[Daisy1234]

Hi Bonusmom:

I've had significant dental work done over the past 8 to 10 years due to severe Sjs.  In 2010 alone, I have had 3 dental implants and 4 root canals, 2 teeth extracted, 2 bone grafts and 2 gum surgeries just to give you an idea of my experience with dental procedures and I'm only talking about the 2010 year. 

Depending on what is being done for my dental implant, I may elect to have sedation or not.  When it involves an extraction of a molar, and a bone graft I will ask for sedation as it is much easier on me physically.  I see an oral surgeon and a prostectic dentist for my implants although my regular dentist says he is very comfortable doing them.  However, the prostetic dentist charges almost the same price, and that's what he does all day versus my dentist who only gets to do an implant once in a blue moon so I go to him.  The prostetic dentist also made me a flipper (a small partial plate) when I a previous dental implant done on an upper canine tooth a few years ago and I was very pleased with the result.  My sister on the other hand elected to go to her regular dentist (she also had an upper canine tooth go bad almost at the same time as me) for her implant and the flipper he made her never seem to fit her correctly so she ended up not being able to wear it.  She also never went ahead and got the implant either.

One thing I would specifically warn you about is getting an implant for a 2nd molar.  I faced this dilema this year when my upper right 2nd molar had to be extracted.  My oral surgeon examined my bite and told me that first of all, 2nd molars do not make good candidates for dental implants, as they will often fail and also depending on the bite, may not even need to be replaced.  Something to keep in mind if this happens to you.

[BonusMom]

Is the second molar on the upper or lower?

I need the implant on the upper right...

[Daisy1234]

In my case, it was the farthest back molar, meaning the 2nd molar on the upper jaw.  If this is the same for you, you may wish to have a heart to heart discussion with whoever you are seeing.  Asking them about the chances of success and longevity and what guarantee they provide if the implant fails.

Wishing you good luck,
Daisy

[BonusMom]

I looked at the xray  referral and it's teeth 3 and 4...........better odds at being successful?

[Daisy1234]

I believe so, teeth 3 and 4 are an upper 1st molar and a bicuspid if I recall correctly.  They are better candidates for implants than a 2nd molar, but this is still dependent on the dentist doing the work, the bone structure underneath where the implants will be inserted and your ability to heal.

You may wish to still ask the dentist about the "what happens if this fails" scenarios so you know what you are getting into.  Implants are generally pretty costly.

Best of luck,

Daisy