<p>Sensodyne is a great toothpaste to help with sensitivity.</p>
<p>Update: Got several second opinions last August. All said it has to be done, but it was okay to wait until this summer. </p>
<p>So, surgery is set for tomorrow. We are all dreading this, but had a nice discussion with the anesthesiologist, yesterday. (S chose the option of being out for the procedure.) I hate taking the kids to do this kind of stuff. H is, of course, working out of the country…</p>
<p>I guess I’m just doing a little pre-procedure venting.</p>
<p>Good Luck to your son! Hope he comes thru the procedure w/o much difficulty. And re the appt-making: This summer as our student is home and can still visit his Drs, I have made the appts for him including eye, dentist, and reg check-up. However, I don’t intend to discuss with Drs issues about his health unless they request my presence. Yes, it is time for our almost 20 yr old to take charge of his health. Even tho, he was in charge this past Feb, 11 hrs from home and having to deal with the Student Health Center for what ended up being a nasty ear infection. But, he handled it! So, even tho we are paying for his health and dental Ins, as well as the visits to the eye doctor, and it has always been my position that since I was paying the full price, I should be informed, I have decided that this summer he will take responsibility. After all, we do not know if he will be home for another summer and at least, he is very familiar with all of these drs (had them since birth, essentially). I figure he hopefully will not be intimidated by them. And, by the way, I intend to suggest that he make a list of questions to ask these drs (if he has questions), since most 18-20 year olds are sometimes not focused on the task at hand. Hopefully that will make the process seem more valuable to him. Again, good luck to your son!</p>
<p>to help prevent future problems
coenzyme q10 not only helps your heart but your smile!
[Effect</a> of topical application of coenzyme Q10 on a…[Mol Aspects Med. 1994] - PubMed Result](<a href=“Effect of topical application of coenzyme Q10 on adult periodontitis - PubMed”>Effect of topical application of coenzyme Q10 on adult periodontitis - PubMed)
[Natural</a> Remedies for Gum Disease](<a href=“http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthconditionsdisease/a/gum_disease.htm]Natural”>7 Natural Remedies for Healthy Gums)
I also like tea tree oil toothpicks & the soniccare/Oralb toothbrushes</p>
<p>Westcoastmon–interested in your link, but it didn’t work. Would you have another?</p>
<p>Emeraldkity–are there any stores you know of that carry toothpaste w/coenzyme Q10 (or special toothpaste brands)? </p>
<p>I feel like the spaces between my teeth are widening (not noticeable, except to me) & it’s making me nervous. I have very cavity-prone teeth & looking for anything to strengthen/prevent more bad stuff from happening!</p>
<p>Good luck to your son, Karen! Hopefully it will be a safe & successful surgery.</p>
<p>I don’t use the toothpaste, but this is a good brand of nutritional supplements
[Source</a> Naturals :: Coenzymate B Complex](<a href=“Source Naturals Coenzymate™ B Complex”>Source Naturals Coenzymate™ B Complex)</p>
<p>I am not a dentist, but with aging we have some bone loss and that includes our jaw, that should probably be looked at, that might cause spaces between teeth?</p>
<p>Thanks, emeraldkity! I was thinking about that bone-loss thing, too.</p>
<p>My diet has holes (hardly any protein [all veg], little dairy, little iron) so I’ve started taking calcium supplements. Maybe should go the coenzymate route too (guess that would mean I’d have to start taking the B vits that coenzymes are supposed to metabolize! lol).</p>
<p>You can find any info on CC…it’s great!</p>
<p>Thinking positive thoughts for Karen’s son!</p>
<p>Karen, I’m keeping fingers crossed for your son and hoping it will go OK.</p>
<p>Jolynne, I was shocked to learn that at least in our neck of the woods, close to 70-80% of the population is Vit D deficient!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Well, I am a dentist and you are correct that it can be caused by bone loss (but not necessarily the result of aging) and needs to be checked out.</p>
<p>Karen,</p>
<p>The procedure your son is having is among the least invasive periodontal procedures that are done (because it typically involves soft tissue only and not bone). The graft recipient site usually isn’t very sore at all. If they use the palate as a donor site (sometimes artificial material is used instead), it will feel like a “pizza burn” for a few days. As long as he’s careful eating and follows instructions, he should be able to resume his normal activities the day following surgery (But go by what the surgeon tells you, not some anonymous poster on the internet ;))</p>
<p>Jolynne - try this link:</p>
<p>[Perfect</a> Prescription](<a href=“http://www.perfect-prescription.com/shop_category.php?c=1]Perfect”>http://www.perfect-prescription.com/shop_category.php?c=1)</p>
<p>audiophile - I beg to differ. I had gum grafts done several years ago and my palate felt a lot worse than a “pizza burn.” It took about two weeks for it to heal and in the meantime I couldn’t eat any solid foods my mouth hurt so much. My oral surgeon told me my experience was typical.</p>
<p>I had two grafts done in my mid 20’s – don’t want to reveal my age now but
my oldest is almost 30 (and we had kids late!). I don’t recall too much about the procedures except that I disliked the amount of Novocaine and that it was difficult to keep my mouth open for so long. With good oral hygiene and regular dental care (cleaning sometimes 4 times a year rather than 2 times), my periodental disease has been kept to a minimum for 30 years or so. I have started to see a periodontist only in the past two years but need no procedures other than thorough scaling and cleaning – I have 4 cleanings a year and alternate between dentist and periodontist.</p>
<p>I also have a 25 year old with Type 1 diabetes. At age 18 he began visiting the endocrinologist and other MDs on his own. He generally makes his own appointments – occasionally asking me to do so. When surgery is involved, my DH or I generally become involved. I also have a college junior who has been making his own appointments and even locating some medical specialists near college (we check them out on line or through friends who are in similar fields). </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>There have been advances in techniques. Did a quick search and found this article: [PERIODONTAL</a> PLASTIC SURGERY AND OLDER GUM GRAFTING TECHNIQUES (FREE GINGIVAL GRAFTS AND SKIN GRAFTING)](<a href=“http://www.sfperiodontist.com/periodontal_plastic_surgery_and_older_gum_grafting_techniques.html]PERIODONTAL”>http://www.sfperiodontist.com/periodontal_plastic_surgery_and_older_gum_grafting_techniques.html) which may be a bit technical, but explains it very well. The patients I refer to the skilled periodontists I work with (one even uses Alloderm instead of palatal tissue) rarely experience more than a few days of discomfort. Believe me, they would let me know.</p>
<p>Audiophile:</p>
<ol>
<li>What causes bone loss?</li>
<li>What fixes bone loss?</li>
</ol>
<p>Glad you’re here.</p>
<p>I had the grafts on lower teeth; the worst part was this bandage kind of thing I had to wear for a week; REALLY gross looking. And no solid food. Mostly a whole lot of discomfort, not really painful. I think I had the surgery in am and went to work in afternoon. Told not to exercise for a week or two.</p>
<p>I had two grafts/fairly weird but painless procedure/painful afterwards and my face was very bruised. However, as a result of the grafts I had bone regeneration (weird but I was 50) and have had far fewer gum and dental problems since.</p>
<p>Thanks for the good wishes and helpful info. Especially from audiophile. The link is reassuring.</p>
<p>I’ve heard a range of stories (from ‘no worries’ to ‘weeks of pain’) from my real life friends, and I’m hoping that S’s experience is okay. </p>
<p>Mostly, I don’t want him to be scared. We’ve discussed the techniques he used in the past to get through wisdom teeth removal; that event was much easier than he had anticipated. He actually does fine with pain, but has a good imagination that runs wild before medical procedures.</p>
<p>Great info, here! Thanks for the link, Westcoastmon! I wonder if, audiophile, you’d have any suggestions on thinks to do to prevent periodontal problems? (any thoughts on tooth soap or coenzyme, if you had a minute?).</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Karen, how did your son’s procedure go?</p>
<p>
Karen, Similar to childbirth stories, you usually don’t hear much about the uncomplicated ones. Certainly his apprehension is normal, though. Best wishes to your son! </p>
<p>VeryHappy,</p>
<p>Simply put, bone loss/periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the gums, but there is a significant immune/heredity component not discussed all that much. Here’s a good link: [Procedures</a> for Treating Gum Disease](<a href=“http://www.perio.org/consumer/procedures.htm]Procedures”>http://www.perio.org/consumer/procedures.htm)</p>
<p>Unlike the conservative position paper of the American Academy of Periodontology, I do believe lasers will have an increasing role in treatment and use the only FDA approved laser for treating advanced periodontal disease: [url=<a href=“http://www.millenniumdental.com/patwelcome.html]Periolase[/url”>http://www.millenniumdental.com/patwelcome.html]Periolase[/url</a>] When I received my certification, 1/2 of the group were periodontists and more and more are coming around to embrace it. However, CT grafts and many other periodontal procedures still have to be done traditionally. Caveat: this topic of discussion in a dental forum would get as heated as an affirmative action thread here. ;)</p>
<p>Those were fascinating links, audiophile, thanks. Sounds like we should all take some Vit C supplements & maybe calcium supplements, too.</p>