Dental work

Charlie Mike

Charlie Mike

Sober since 1-7-14 (still a Paranoid Nutjob)
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Nov 1, 2000
Messages
28,365
Yesterday, I just had my first ceramic crown glued in after my first root canal. It looks like I'll have another root canal and crown next week. This is after 6 years of not seeing a dentist (aggravated by years of methamphetamine abuse). The piper must be paid eventually and now is my time. Wasn't fun but dental pain is worse than a few hours in the chair.

Wondering what kinds of work you guys have had.
 
I went years without any professional check-ups. When I finally made it to a dentist, they went "Cha-Ching!" and I maxed out a credit card getting everything done. At that point I needed 1 root canal, which is the reason I went in the first place, plus at least 8 cavities filled. A couple years later, I had 5 teeth removed, including the first root canal, and my wisdom teeth. All this was without insurance, and took forever to pay off.

I finally got dental insurance (not paid by my employer), and have since had another root canal and 2 crowns. The last year or so has been good, as I finally have everything currently dealt with.

Unfortunately, my 2nd son, @ 12 years old, just got braces last week, and I made the first payment of $995 for that. Even with insurance, braces are a bitch. I have another son who is looking at braces in about 2 years, as well. I hope to have the first set paid off by then.

Luckily, my wife has only needed a couple fillings in the last 20 years we've been together, so she's been cheap. My boys have all been good about no cavities, as well.

I sometimes wonder if having them all yanked and going with the fake smile is worth considering, as I can see that I may have issues with my remainder of not-so-pearly whites. My dad had that done @ about 60. I hope to make it at least that far.

Good luck with the teeth, and with life in general.
 
Root canals and crowns are no fun. Holding the jaw open during the procedures always gives me migraines. And crowns require multiple visits, which is a hassle. Good luck. And as you know, insurance, even dental insurance, barely covers crowns. Dentists know how to make money.
 
My RC and crown was about $1600 combined.
 
If they do a good job on the crowns they last a long time and they're relatively trouble free. Even if they loosen up over the years they can fix them.
I have a few crowns and a bridge. I think they've been in for about 7 years and one was repaired about a year ago.
 
When I was 10, I had an abscess in my gums. Woke up christmas eve morning with my cheek and face super swollen. Called the dentist and he said that I had to have the tooth pulled immediately. Luckily for me there was a dentist on call who agreed to come in and pull the tooth. My gums and cheek were so swollen that the novocaine wasn't able to provide enough numbness to the affected area. I had a molar pulled with no essentially novocaine - I have hated the dentist ever since. But you are totally right CM, not going back often enough is worse than going and dealing with the hours in the chair! I try to go at least once a year now.
 
Headed to the dentist for my first one now! Oh the joy.
 
It's always good to know people.

Root canals are such a pain! I'm not sure why, but in a haze I swear I seen them point a ray gun (from COD nazi zombies) into my mouth as I smelled burnt plastic.
 
They've been doing crowns the same way for decades. You would think they would have invented better ways to do crowns.
 
Daniel Dorn said:
I sometimes wonder if having them all yanked and going with the fake smile is worth considering, as I can see that I may have issues with my remainder of not-so-pearly whites. My dad had that done @ about 60. I hope to make it at least that far.
Click to expand...

I've seriously thought about that, myself. Had a great aunt and uncle who both had that done in their late 50s. Sure would be nice to never have a cavity, cracked tooth, etc. ever again.

The most recent work I had done was the extraction of an upper rear molar about 4 weeks ago. The tooth had been filled to the point where it was mostly filling material and had cracked in several spots. Doc told me it needed to come out, but (of course) I put it off until two big chunks finally broke off and it started hurting where the gums stated growing over the sharp edges. It was a three-rooter, and doc had to break it into pieces and remove each root separately. Woot! Fun times! Good thing he gave me a scrip for Vicodin. Man, when the lidocaine (or whatever) wore off, I felt like someone was stabbing a dagger into my gum. :grumpy::D Almost totally healed now, fortunately. :thumbup:
 
I had all mine removed in three surgeries. At that point I had 19 exposed roots in my mouth. Dentures are cool. Going to the dentist now is like going to get your tires rotated. I go outside for a smoke while they clean my teeth in an ultrasonic machine.
 
Root canals done properly will last a long time. I had a dentist who was in the forefront of modern procedures who did a root canal on me back in the 1970's. I still have that tooth. But I also had one done in recent times that lasted only a few years and disintegrated one morning while eating bacon and eggs. The dentist had to pull it out pieces.
 
I brush and floss morning and night. haven't had any problems in almost two years, they can keep the needles the f**k away from me..before that I had a couple fillings and two crowns.
 
When I was 10, I asked my dentist why not get false teeth right away. He said that one can bite 10 times harder with real teeth than with false teeth. I started paying more attention to dental hygiene. 60 years later, I still have all of my teeth.
 
I have been pretty lucky, so far the worst has been having all of four of my wisdom teeth removed at the same time. Event that wasn't too bad with the drugs I was given.
 
Bad language advisory...

[video=youtube;5nfLFDmyfSI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nfLFDmyfSI[/video]
 
Charlie Mike,
Thanks for the great advise, It looks like things are headed in the Right Direction. Don't turn the wheel, stay on the road.
 
CM, Last Monday I spent 6 hours in the chair for dental work and will be there again next monday, LOL

You want to keep your own real teeth as long as possible.
You start to get bone loss in your jaw where you have had your teeth removed. Look at the picture of old George Washington on the dollar bill. They say he had cotton stuffed in his mouth to fill it out from losing all of his teeth.

He doesn't look happy!
 
I go back next Thursday for the crown prep. This should be relatively painless.
 
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