Dentist today-----4 new cavities!!

[eyeamdry]

I went to have my six month cleaning and check up as usual with my dentist.  They found 4 cavities. 
Part of this would include one or two breaking off teeth.  Not the whole tooth, but a corner or a good piece of the tooth.  I have been lucky since I've had SJS 5 years and have not had a bunch of cavities.

My teeth are ancient though and I spent my whole kid's life in the dentist chair getting drilling and filling without novacane.  My much older sister and bro kept telling me that the needle hurt so much that I shouldn't get it.  I think I was in my 20's before I discovered the needle was never as bad as drilling on an exposed nerve. My teeth are mostly porcelain crowns, a few gold crowns and a few of my own teeth held together by fillings.  I was just surprised and disappointed as I know this will likely be standard from now on.  I have an appointment next week to get most of them taken care of.  My partial anchors on one or two of the teeth and I know this is a problem.

After my dentist appointment. I went out by myself and got my hair done.  Since my knee replacement I have been relying on hubby to go with me to most places.  I also get weak leg/knee area when I am walking and having him with me is security.  Then I went to a couple of stores in strip malls and got errands taken care of.  I then went to the big mall and parked by Pennys.  I went to JCP and shopped on the second floor and then down to the first floor.  I had stopped and rested a few times.  By the time I got to the car, my legs and feet were numb.  The drive home was 1/2 hour through 5 pm traffic.  When I got home, I hit the couch and didn't move for 3 hours.  I felt I got a lot accomplished today.  Lucy

[Joe S.]

You had such a busy day! I had that check up with no new cavities but they missed one below the gum. The tooth had to be pulled. I am now dealing with a dry socket. Oh well, it's not like I haven't been through this before.

[mshistory]

This is why I dread going to the dentist! I've always had a lot of cavities, even as a child. About four years ago, I went to the dentist and they found a ridiculous number of cavities - it took FOREVER to have one side of my mouth worked on. I was in that chair for several hours. It was HORRIBLE. We moved to another city, and I found a dentist who did sedation dentistry to finish the other side - LOVED sleeping through the whole thing. Unfortunately, he was out of network, so I'm back with a dentist who doesn't do sedation dentistry. 

If your dentist offers sedation, that makes these procedures so much easier to go through - but I have a lot of anxiety with dental appointments.

Hope you're feeling rested and better today.

[irish]

Lucy, Sorry to hear that you have 4 cavities. However, at your age, which is close to mine,lol, I would hope that they can keep patching you together cause you are not going to live another 30 years. Or willyou??

My hubby is having the same issues that you are. Every time he goes to get them cleaned there is usually a cavity and he has had some teeth pulled. Dentist keeps talking caps and hubby keeps refusing. He says why spend all that money at his age. Hang in there girl. Irish

[eyeamdry]

Yes, Irish, I do plan to live another 30 years and you should too.  I will keep patching and if necessary a new crown to hold in my partial etc.  Fortunately, I do have dental ins and this is limited in coverage but still a God send to have.  It would pay for a crown a year.  Right now I'll go in for some patchwork.

Kind of surprised me because it's the first time since SJS that I've had a bunch of cavities.  Lucy

[Patze]

Hi Lucy,

Wow, you have been a very busy lady!  Want to bottle that energy and sell me some?  Pretty please??? 

Yeah, went to the old dentist myself and have one cavity, three broken and one that is cracked in several places.  I see lots of dollars leaving my wallet in the next month or so, ugh (thats with dental insurance too).

Take care of yourself lady (quit burning up the school track, you're making the rest of us look bad! )-

Patze

[eyeamdry]

I wanted y'all to know things weren't as bad as they could have been.  I did not have numbing as dr didn't think I would need it.  So, I spent a little over an hour in the chair with my mouth pulled open and him drilling away.  I took my water bottle and every few minutes I'd hold up my hand - meaning get everything out of my mouth I am going to take a drink of water.  I had no pain this time and the doc worked his magic.  None of the cavities were bad so I didn't need any crowns at this time.  I am sure I will soon as I can't go too long without them.  The bill was $300 but insurance will cover some of that.

I have the best dentist.  He is truly a master at his craft.  He is 72 and semi-retired and I am dreading the day he goes off work entirely.  I know he can't work forever.  He is a very young 72 so maybe I can hope for more time.  I don't care for the other 2 dentists at the clinic.  One is 6' 11' TALL and no I am not kidding.  His hands are the size of basketballs.  He looks so odd when he is bent over working on someone in the chair.  Yeah to my dentist.  Lucy

[Meld256]

Lucy,

I'm so glad to hear your dentist appt. went well.  Sounds like you have a great dentist; aren't those just wonderful to find?    Like you say, hopefully he will stick around a good while longer. Good you don't need any crowns at this point. 

You're really doing well with your new knee; I'm very happy for you. If I ever need a replacement down the line, I'll know you're the expert to check in with.

Take care, 
Melinda

[Patze]

Wow Lucy, 72?  That is so neat!  Lucky you to have one so skilled!  No numbing?  Wow, now I am impressed (have to have my gums numbed by the gel just to get a cleaning done - hypersensitive mouth )! 

Now if I can convince the assistant to quit trying to drown me!   She likes to make sure my mouth stays moist but has a bit of a heavy hand with the water spritzer (a chocking and coughing Patze is not a pretty sight! ).

Take care of yourself now -

Patze