going to the dentist

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I like going to a dentist a lot because I know the dentist very well and we talk about various stuff when I'm in there.

I was amazed to discover that once I changed my diet and changed the way I was cleaning my teeth, my teeth have that just-went-to-the-dentist smoothness every day now.

Probably not a solution for most people because all the time when people see me eating, they start asking a lot of questions and end with "I couldn't live like that!" (although, for me, to go back to the way most people live would be a punishment, it feels so good to eat natural foods!) But that was the one thing I was missing about going to the dentist was the super-clean tooth feeling and now that I've found that on my own, the only reason I forsee for me to go to the dentist is if a tooth hurts or a filling falls out or something along those lines.

I've even healed my periodontal disease with my lifestyle changes. The last time I went to the dentist, the hygienist measure my gum pockets and was amazed because I had reversed the damage and my gums had grown back where previously they were bleeding and receding. I love the way I heard someone else put it: if you eat processed food, expect to have processed teeth. I thought it was silly until I tried it for myself and now I understand how much damage I was doing to my teeth by eating a poor diet.

I went to the dentist today and found out that I have the beginning stages of gum disease and thus have to see a periodontist for a painful "deep clean" that involves shots of Novocaine.

Boo.

Not to hijack the thread, but Sparrowrose, could you elaborate?

Don't eat processed foods and don't use a tooth-cleaning product with glycerin in it (it coats the teeth and prevents the natural functions of saliva in the mouth.)

being a dental student myself...

I dont mind going to the dentist as long as they don't stick that huge needle inside my mouth. I'm damned scared of that needle.

but after being forced to practise injection with my collegues in uni, I kinda got used to it...

for those who believe fluoride is poisonous:

everything can be poisonous in high dosage, but beneficial in a certain amount.

simple examples: water, oxygen, vitamins, iron, folate...etc

And then there's fluoride. I've seen far too many studies that show that fluoride does nothing to protect or preserve teeth. So it's like taking a little dose of arsenic and saying that it's beneficial because it's not enough to harm you. Why bother with it in the first place? What's helped teeth is better hygiene and better nutrition and fluoride got the credit because it was introduced at the same time.

dental plaque is caused by biofilm, which is pretty much "unite of bacterial", the only way to remove it is by removal such as toothbrushing and flossing.

calculus (ie. tartar) is the mineralisation of dental plaque caused by saliva. High salivary flow is beneficial in caries prevention, but it also causes tartar if plaque. The reason why the lower incisors (lower front teeth) is the most common tartar deposition area is that there are salivary gland openings right next to them.

and there are too many research which shows obvious benefit of topical fluoride application, which includes prevention of dental caries. Fluoride not only aids in remineralisation of enamel but also prevent enamel from demineralisation. The fluoride is also to be restored in enamel and released when the pH in oral cavity drops.

Once the carious lesion pass its "white spot lesion" stage, the process is irreversible, and a invasive precedure will be needed to restore the teeth.

Not saying that fluoride is essential in everyday life, but it is absolutely non-toxic and beneficial to oral health in under certain dosage.

I'm more worried about all that radiation anyway. My municipality doesn't put fluoride in the water, so I'm pretty safe from it. But why on earth would I want to get my head blasted with radiation every six months? That's just beyond my comprehension, especially as the effects of radiation are cumulative over one's lifetime -- it doesn't "wear off" between dentist visits. The last thing I need is thyroid cancer mucking up my life.

not quite sure what you're referring to, the only way to receive radiation in a dental clinic is taking an x-ray

Yup, and I quit going to my dentist because I was sick of getting an x-ray every visit. My teeth aren't going anywhere! Why the HELL do they have to be x-rayed every six months even though nothing had changed. That's just quackery.

I had a filling done yesterday. I had a reaction to the anaesthetic. I nearly collapsed and my blood pressure become very low. The procedure itself didn't hurt but the numb feeling afterwards invaded the whole of the left side of my face. It was horrible.

I will now brush my teeth more often.

The only good thing was that the NHS paid for my filling (I live in London) because I have income support.

Wow, that's strange, SparrowRose. My dentist only xrayed me once in a while, not every visit.

Personally, I love going to the dentist. I obsess over my teeth and love the idea of an entire office and professionals dedicated to it. Weird, I know. And even weirder, regarding the needle....when I was 4 or 5 years old I climbed in the dentist chair and said to him, "I hope you're going to use the needle in the back of my mouth, I really like how it feels". He and the hygienist stopped in their tracks, looked at me and then at each other. I had no idea at the time that people were usually uncomfortable at the dentist.

I don't know about your case, but they shouldn't be doing that. x-ray should only be taken when needed for assessment, treatment planning, or during certain procedure.

Maybe you should talk to your dentist about it, ask him why he take x-ray every six month. Also you have every right to refuse x-ray.

do you know what kind of x-ray is it?
bitewing? periapical? OPG?

you mentioned that you hav periodontal disease. Is it chronic periodontitis? that might be the reason. but talk to your dentist about it. you dont have to take it if you don't feel comfortable to =)