GEE WHIZ!
I go see 45 adolescents to improve their psychosocial outlook and come back to all these replies…
Here are my answers, in no particular order, so please don’t assume I’m playing favorites:
Dan C: Gold or porcelain CROWNS should be the same cost. No more labor involved, and same basic lab fees for making them. Insurance companies should cover either, but maybe it’s dif’t in Quebec. Which reminds me, I left an outfit in the Frontenac in 1993 when I played a gig there (saxophone). Can you go see if it’s there? (ha ha…) Insurance companies have ZERO logic. They aren’t on your side, remember. If the fillings are small I repeat - white composites will generally be fine and stand up to normal oral wear and tear.
Recoba: Small “nicks” don’t mean bugger all. If it’s decay, they should fill it. If it’s a minor little enamel chip, it will be fine. And no, brushing after a post-workout shake wouldn’t hurt, but won’t really change much. You’ll be fine, trust me. Once in the morning, once at night. No more, really unless you’re on a date/just ate garlic. REMEMBER FOLKS: overbrushing will remove healthy enamel and create way more problems. And while I’m on that topic, THROW OUT ALL TOOTHBRUSHES THAT ARE “MEDIUM” OR “HARD”. “Oh, but Dr. Dietz, my teeth feel cleaner when I use a hard brush…”. Want to know why? Because you just removed 10 microns of cavity fighting enamel. It’ll never be back. Are you happy? Keep scrubbing away then, and when you get about two millimeters into the tooth, and can no longer drink cool water or breath outside air for fear of sending your brain into spasms, you’ll remember what I said, and go buy 5 cases of Sensodyne.
US=GG: Good comeback. But I won’t turn this into a fight. I like most Americans. They invented almost all of the technology that guides my new specialty of Orthodontics. In fact, it was NASA and the U.S. Navy that invented the alloy that straightens teeth in record time and gives children a new, confident smile. So, if you want to fight keep it limited to anything involving MonsieurQuebec.
Dan C: Yes, Sonicare, in my opinion, is well worth the extra money. I have NEVER seen a tooth brush as good as it. The new model (that came out in the past 6 months) is so good that I would guess, if used properly, you will almost never need a major cleaning again. Darn, I wish they paid me to say that, but I’m only telling the truth. I’ll say it again. Go buy one for you and your spouse/date, except don’t say it’s a Christmas/Birthday gift as I’ve found that there’s little to no romantic foreplay worse than giving a loved one an oral care appliance. (not that I’ve done that…)
Oh yes - Colgate TOTAL. Buy it. Buy stock in Proctor and Gamble, while you’re at it.
Ms Anderson: Amalgam fillings ARE the same things as Mercury fillings. There is some information on the Canadian and American Dental Association Websites, respectively. Regarding your tooth, I’d say it sounds pretty darn bad. I wish I could help you out. I’d fix it for nothing as a gesture to other T-folks out there. However, get it looked at quickly. Ask for referrals from friends for a good dentist. And trust them if they can fix it either way. Better than extracting it and needing to replace it or suffering from chewing problems.
Bleaching VS Veneers: I’d probably be better off starting a dental health thread. Short answer: If your front teeth look okay but are just stained/naturally darker then bleach. The newest home kits (WhiteStrips/Paint on Stuff) work just fine for “most” people. Don’t waste money at the dental office until you’ve tried the cheaper home kit first. Secondly, laser bleaching is no different than any other bleaching, so quit throwing money at dentists. They have enough. Spend it on a new set of dumbells or some Hot-Rox.
Veneers: Are a wonderful option IF your “bite” is generally okay, and if you aren’t a grinder. Also, if you’d like your teeth to look a little bigger (a la Hollywood) then they work too. But they don’t last forever, and if you clench your teeth when your workout, they’ll snap off faster than a Cupcake Orgasm.
Final Note: Almost everyone in Hollywood has a “fake” smile. If you want super bright, perfectly shaped teeth, then prepare to spend 20,000.00 to get what you see when you watch the Grammy’s, Oscar’s, etc. And that’s got to be redone every 5-10 years generally speaking.
I’m off to go bake some chicken and veggies. I’ll check back tomorrow for more of these typing workouts. This is like “finger-cardio” only my pulse seems to be a lot more than 150 bpm. Maybe if I shut down that window of www.HotDentalAssistants.com it’ll go down…
To Tell You the Tooth,
this is kind of fun.
Like Ann Landers, only with teeth, and without the amusing “my wife left me for another dentist” stories…