Dental issues... getting to the 'root' of the problem.

Started by s/v Faith, September 23, 2010, 03:44:26 PM

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s/v Faith

I went to see a dentist friend of mine yesterday.

  I have had semi-annual visits to the dentist most of my adult life.  When I retired, I no longer had any sort of dental coverage so I had pretty much just done the 'brush-floss-cross-your-fingers' thing.

  While cruising, I chipped a tooth in heavy seas south of Cat Island.  Thankfully, it did not cause me pain, and I never really thought much of it until yesterday (my modeling days are far behind me now)....

  So my dentist friend says I need $4000 worth of crowns.... the (not one but) TWO teeth I though I chipped were cracked.. and have been.  The damage is such that he says if I do not do something soon I will not be able to.

  Other then wax and oral 'b' what do you do to prepare for dental issues that might crop up?

 
Satisfaction is wanting what you already have.

Tim

QuoteOther then wax and oral 'b' what do you do to prepare for dental issues that might crop up?

Rob banks?  ::)
"Mariah" Pearson Ariel #331, "Chiquita" CD Typhoon, M/V "Wild Blue" C-Dory 25

"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails."
W.A. Ward

s/v Faith

Quote from: Tim on September 23, 2010, 06:56:32 PM
QuoteOther then wax and oral 'b' what do you do to prepare for dental issues that might crop up?

Rob banks?  ::)

  That is about like CapnK's answer... the vice grips 'solution'.

I think it is good to think things through like that, but not quite sure he needed to 'practice' quite so much...

Satisfaction is wanting what you already have.

CharlieJ

I've used channel locks to pull  my own teeth on two occasions.

Time made it unlikely I could see a dentist and the pain was bad.

So I did what I had to do.
Charlie J

Lindsey 21 Necessity


On Matagorda Bay
On the Redneck Riviera

Captain Smollett

Quote from: CharlieJ on September 24, 2010, 08:48:36 PM

I've used channel locks to pull  my own teeth on two occasions.

Time made it unlikely I could see a dentist and the pain was bad.

So I did what I had to do.


Oh, you are a better man than I am.  I doubt I could do that...I'd have to be VERY desperate.

I had a root canal a few years ago that didn't "take" the first time.  The time between the first and the second was absolutely excruciating.  I cannot say I ever even entertained the notion of pulling the tooth (myself or at the dentist).

Shudder....
S/V Gaelic Sea
Alberg 30
North Carolina

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.  -Mark Twain

s/v Faith

Quote from: Captain Smollett on September 25, 2010, 08:27:20 AM
Quote from: CharlieJ on September 24, 2010, 08:48:36 PM

I've used channel locks to pull  my own teeth on two occasions.

Time made it unlikely I could see a dentist and the pain was bad.

So I did what I had to do.


Oh, you are a better man than I am.  I doubt I could do that...I'd have to be VERY desperate.

I had a root canal a few years ago that didn't "take" the first time.  The time between the first and the second was absolutely excruciating.  I cannot say I ever even entertained the notion of pulling the tooth (myself or at the dentist).

Shudder....

Remember the scene in 'castaway' where Tom Hanks uses the ice skate to knock out his infected tooth?

 I am betting channel locks are a pretty good alternative.  ;D


So, CJ.....

... as I read it you are suggesting that the dental kit include lots of rum... no?  ;)
Satisfaction is wanting what you already have.

geneWj

I have never had to resort to C.J.'s method of dealing with a cranky tooth, but if I had to I would.  When we have cruised for any length of time; the dentist has always first been visited.
We had a problem with one of Mary's teeth when cruising in the Sea of Cortez.  Went into Mazatlan and for the (lol) price of $35 she had a new crown made and installed.
End of problem.
I carry in my medical kit two very powerful pain killers so I guess it would not be Rum and pray! LOL.
geneWj
Keep Learning!!

SV Wind Dancer

It also helps to keep your diet lo-carb and use diluted peroxide as a mouthwash...works for me

Captain Smollett

Sitting in dentist office this moment...broken crown.
S/V Gaelic Sea
Alberg 30
North Carolina

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.  -Mark Twain

s/v Faith

Quote from: Captain Smollett on October 13, 2010, 10:02:10 AM
Sitting in dentist office this moment...broken crown.


Oh man... sorry.

How did you break it?

  How long had you had it?

    How much was it to get it replaced?
Satisfaction is wanting what you already have.

Captain Smollett

Quote from: s/v Faith on October 15, 2010, 09:40:04 AM
Quote from: Captain Smollett on October 13, 2010, 10:02:10 AM
Sitting in dentist office this moment...broken crown.


Oh man... sorry.

How did you break it?

  How long had you had it?

    How much was it to get it replaced?

Well, I got lucky on this one.  I've had this crown for years, and a week or so ago, I just noticed part of it had broken off.  It was only the outside, not the 'core' that is the actual crown.  So, there was no pain, just a jagged edge of the tooth (that served well to distract my tongue).

Anyway, the dentist just ground it down a bit to smooth things off and we called it good.  It coincided with my regular check-up, so the timing was good.

I thought that might be the approach he would take, but was slightly worried he would want to replace it.  That would have likely been a BIG job.

By the way, I have had crowns pop off and have to be re-glued.  That was more unpleasant than this.

Really, it took less than 5 minutes for him to examine it and smooth it out.

Sometimes you get lucky.   ;D
S/V Gaelic Sea
Alberg 30
North Carolina

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.  -Mark Twain