doublehippy writes:
"I'm a 63 year old woman, who recently had to have #14 molar removed... a tooth that held a bridge. Very decayed... not a candidate for a root canal. My dentist cut the bridge, salvaging the front tooth that held the bridge, and my oral surgeon was able to extract the bad tooth (with the rest of the bridge attached). This was the only tooth in my mouth I wanted pulled (horrible pain) the other tooth missing on that side was a root canalled tooth with crown. The root cracked and had to be yanked. There's another tooth missing on the other side (upper right jaw) from when I was a teenager (back molar...sorry, don't know the #). I don't want to get involved in bridgework there. Other than that, I have all the rest of my teeth (including 2 wisdom teeth). No fillings/decay at all in any of my front teeth and I even have 2 front molars without any fillings at all.
I looked into implants.... specifically for the upper left jaw where the bridge used to be. Expensive, to say the least. At 63, I really hesitate to spend thousands of dollars. The other option, of course, is an upper partial (3 teeth...2 on the left upper jaw and 1 on the right upper). Obviously, the less expensive option. Too, I'm not sure I want to deal with moving the sinus, bone grafts, etc. - again, lots of $$. This could be a possibility since we're talking upper jaw.
I've been researching partials, and am really not sure I could ever get used to the metal bar that would rest against the roof of my mouth. What's the scoop on the "flexible" partials? What if I were to just do the 2 teeth on the upper left hand side...with metal clips? How stable would that be?
I would appreciate any input/guidance. Thanks so much for reading.
Do you have any advice for this forum member? Should she invest in dental implants or consider a partial denture? Visit the Dentistry Forum, and share your expertise!
I need to thank my dad for alerting me about this...
While I was on vacation, my local news ran a story about the possibility that small amounts of bisphenol A (BPA) could be present in some types of dental filling material. If you are not familiar with the health concerns surrounding BPA, I suggest you read this overview about BPA written by our Guide to Environmental Issues, Larry West.
Before you cast a gigantic stone at amalgam fillings as the culprit for the potential BPA exposure; hold your horses. According to the report, BPA is found in white dental fillings and dental sealants, but in the eye's of the American Dental Association (ADA), the levels of BPA in dental material is insignificant. The ADA's Council for Scientific Affairs released a statement in July of this year that, long story short, declares that BPA is "rarely used as a formula ingredient in dental products," and according to research, the exposure to BPA via six dental sealants for a male child aged 7 to 14 is "two to five times lower than the estimated daily exposure from food and environmental sources."
As with any issue regarding the safety surrounding the materials used in dental fillings, it is in your best interest to discuss any concerns you may have, with your dentist. However, this topic does pose a valid question, not only to dentists, but to the powerful regulatory agencies that provide citizens with a trusted voice on what is and isn't harmful for us and our children:
Does BPA, regardless of the amount, really belong in dental material?
Dental emergencies can occur at anytime but the fact is, many people have no idea how to handle a dental emergency when one occurs. I was at a slow pitch game last weekend, and watched a girl take a line drive right in the kisser. The result? Her upper upper front tooth was completely knocked out. How was it handled? I hate to say it, but I felt really embarrassed watching how this situation was handled. It was very clear that not one person knew what to do in the case of a dental emergency.
Have you ever witnessed a serious dental emergency occur? Do you know what to do with a tooth that has been knocked out? I have put together a comprehensive guide that explains what you should do in the event that a serious dental emergency occurs.
Learn more about serious dental emergencies by reading:
Randman 76 writes:
Hello All,
I am hoping I could get a little insight on this topic. About two weeks ago I went in for my 2nd root canal. My first root canal was about two years ago on my #18 tooth. Recovery took about a week and didn't have any lasting issues. My 2nd root canal was done on my #31 tooth and I am having some post numbness. Several hours after my root canal the Novocain wore off and I could feel everything. Took some pain killers for a few days to help. Three days later I woke up to some numbness on the right side of my lower lip. Throughout the week the numbness spread to my chin and the lower gums in the general area. I spoke to the oral surgeon and he told me that is perfectly normal and not to worry about it and that the numbness should subside soon As much as I trust my oral surgeon I would still like to get a 2nd opinion on this to put my mind at ease. I appreciate anyone's thoughts on this.
Have you experienced something similar? Visit the Dentistry Forum if you can offer this member some advice, or if you have a question of your own feel free to start your own thread.
