I went to the dentist today. Fortunately no cavities. I asked what a person could do about temperature sensitive teeth and I was given a small tube of Crest, Sensitivity Protection. She said that after one and one half or two weeks temperature sensitivity would be almost totally gone.

Im going to add a couple of tubes of this toothpaste to my preps. BTW, when was the last time YOU went to the dentist?

Ds

-- ds (ds@deepsouth.com), December 16, 1999

Answers

three cleanings per year, with at least two root canals per year. bridges upon bridges, at least I've got insurance. this has been going on for the last ten years.

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), December 16, 1999.

My brother and I both just had our wisdom teeth out as part of our y2k preps...haven't been able to eat for about 3 days now!!

-- Orson Wells (wells@whitebulb.com), December 16, 1999.

Reth! Rufff fiff mourrrinnn!

-- Patrick (pmchenry@gradall.com), December 16, 1999.

Orson, you and your brother are lucky. You could have been me. I went to get them removed the monday before Thanksgiving. I took off the whole week figuring I'd rather be home and miserable than and work and miserable... :)

Unfortunately, there were complications. I was going in to remove 3 wisdom teeth (the 4'th was AWOL, which saved me around $300. Too bad the rest weren't too... :( ). Anyways, the top left was coming in ok, bottom left was impacted facing forward, bottom right was partially impacted and growing into the jaw. He managed to get the top out no problem, the bottom ones were tougher. He took out most of the bottom right (except for the roots) and the top 2/3'rds of the right one. Then he had to stop because I was bleeding too much (he was worried that it would get out of control and I would start choking). Fortunately I was out of it in twilight sleep with all of this. I had to set up another appointment in a week after the mouth had healed a bit to go after the bottom two again.

So, Monday, and Tuesday, Applesauce. Wednesday Applesauce and oatmeal. At least Thursday (Thanksgiving), I could eat a bit of turkey.

Now, the next Tuesday, I go to the doctor, get put under, and finally get everything taken out. So, another 3 days of applesauce and oatmeal... :( Oh, and lots and lots of pain meds... :)

All I can say is, I am glad it is over. To be honest, over the years I was always told to get them taken out because they would cause problems. They were causing problems, but if it weren't for Y2K, I wouldn't have gotten them taken out for another 3 or 4 years (in which time they probably would have caused even more problems). Considering the problems getting them out, I am damn glad I got it taken care of now instead of after Y2K. Who know's if the pain meds would have been available? It's something I am glad I don't have to encounter...

-- James Collins (jacollins@thegrid.net), December 16, 1999.

I used Sensodyne and some other pasts for sensitive teeth, with some benefit. The best thing on the market fro eliminating sensitivties and building tooth strength, IMO is Enamel On -- claims to actually add or rebuild enamel. Works great: all senstivities vanished with the first brushing.

-- SH (squirrel@huntr.com), December 16, 1999.

Just was there today, myself, also! Great book to have is "Where There is No Dentist". Also read you can put wax in a washed out filling as a temporary. My dentist is a GI and already lives off the grid but he lives far away if things go down.

-- Sheri (wncy2k@nccn.net), December 16, 1999.

ds, I'm clean. BTW, please try another sensitivity toothpaste--house brands are good and cheaper. I found my CVS kind better than Crest. Sensodyne is better, too.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), December 16, 1999.

I have impacted wisdom teeth

If they go bad and there is no meds or dentist then it will probably have to be self administered euthaniasia...

-- don't want to say (wherever@who.knows), December 16, 1999.

I've tried the leading brands of toothpaste for sensitivie teeth. Enamelon is the best by far. BTW, I went to the dentist a couple of weeks ago hoping to get some bridgework started. Turns out I have a gum problem in the back (couldn't see it, it's in the back!) I'll be seeing a periodontist next week. So, I won't get new teeth by the rollover, but thankfully, I'll keep what I've got!

-- margie mason (mar3mike@aol.com), December 16, 1999.

Orson,

You've my sympathies, I had one cut out a month ago. It took a few stitches, and a week of Tylenol, but I'm feeling MUCH better right now.

Hope you get well soon!

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), December 16, 1999.

I have been catching up on dental work for the last year. My dentist is a true GI. He is prepared at home and at his farm. Last week he gave me surgical masks, rubber gloves, antibiotic swabs amoung other things.

We are in a suburb of D.C. and he has some interesting patients. I will not pass on what he told me but his teenage children are grounded from 10:00 New Years Eve.

Watch what they do, not what they say.

P.S. I think I paid for his preps.

-- ghost (fading into the@background.com), December 16, 1999.

Ooouuuccch,

The dentist was my most expensive prep item. I had to have two bridges and six crowns. Just got my (critical) permanent ones on left side. Scheduled the others for the first week of Jan...trying to spread out the Insurance (isn't much but helps some) The right is more for "balance" and "bite". Everybody else in the family is great. My Christopher has the most discustingly healthy teeth you can imagine. Not a single cavity...ever. Sheesh. He did have periodontal work done (((ouch)))

Thanks for the tips on sensitive teeth care

-- still a little tender (karlacalif@aol.com), December 16, 1999.

After the gum surgery, my teeth were sensitive for over a year. I ate and drank room temp food for months. If I knew then what I knew now, I would be wearing dentures!

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), December 16, 1999.