<p>Steve,
That sounds like the dentist was fraudulently diagnosing and then treating areas that didn’t need it. Unfortunately, there are crooks in every profession.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I am sure this was directed at me on it. Well I am happy with my decision since it has already bought me more than 6 months. I don’t have a dead fragile tooth. I am sure it is coming but I have a normal looking tooth for now.</p>
<p>audiophile- would you care to comment on the very recent practice of doing mouth x-rays in addition to the usual every so often (less frequently than my dentisit suggests) bitewings? My last visit to the dentist I walked out because before the hygenist would clean my teeth they wanted to do a series of whole mouth (or some such) xrays in addition to the bitewings I figured were a good idea. I wasn’t going to sit and wait to have my teeth cleaned until the dentist had time to discuss the need with me. I was told they were now doing them every five years. I am a physician and don’t understand how this would be helpful in an asymptomatic patient. They could have gone ahead and done the cleaning while waiting for the dentist. Fortunately I use a good electric tooth brush and don’t feel I absolutely needed the cleaning. Good practice in the past although my usual dentist had retired. I did not follow the recommendation for a crown after a procedure on a large cavitied tooth a few years ago- my idea being there can be problems with crowns (been there already) and I would rather risk the loss of the tooth in the distant future. This dentist had given me internet sites to read up on things when I didn’t want to do as she suggested. I feel they should have done the cleaning then let me ask my questions instead of doing xrays before the dentist could explain them. Their waste of an appointment time.</p>
<p>It is good to do preventive dentistry but sometimes I wonder about new suggestions. The additional x rays at my own expense that won’t lead to any indicated treatment, for example. Physicians have dropped a lot of routine testing that used to be done decades ago such as annual chest xrays. I would want to know that the yield was high.</p>
<p>If anything, the latest recommendations have lessened the frequency: <a href=“http://www.ada.org/sections/professionalResources/pdfs/topics_radiography_chart.pdf[/url]”>Internal Server Error | American Dental Association;
<p>IMO, full mouth x-rays should be decided on an individual basis based upon the dental history. If a patient our age has had multiple fillings, crowns, root canals, etc., then 5-7 years for a full mouth series or a panoramic film to show root pathology is appropriate. If there is a sudden deterioration of multiple teeth or supporting structures (as in the OP’s case), I would request a new full series regardless of when the last one was taken. However, if the patient has only a few scattered fillings and is resistant to decay and periodontal disease, then 7-10 years would work for them.</p>
<p>The purpose of a professional dental “cleaning” should be to remove the biofilm in pockets over 3mm, areas where the patient cannot reach, and accumulated tartar. I continually remind my hygienists that stain is not pathology and not to aggressively polish off every last bit of it unless it is a cosmetic concern of the patient.</p>
<p>Thankyou for all the responses…Audiophile I especially found your post interesting. I had an MRI today and my doc is sending me to a Nuerologist. I have been waiting to hear from the office for the appointment.</p>
<p>momma-three, are all the hurting teeth adjacent somehow? Is it possible the first crown has thrown off your bite so that your whole mouth is starting to hurt? Is is possible you’re grinding or clenching your teeth at night? That can cause similar throbbing pain in multiple teeth (the more you worry about your teeth, the more you may be grinding…).</p>
<p>Also, for the teeth that you’ve had root canals in - was there decay that penetrated into the inner space or came really close to the nerve? That would necessitate a root canal, but pain without decay could have a different origin.</p>
<p>^ going off of this, are you sure you haven’t cracked a tooth?</p>
<p>Momma, the first thing I thought was referred pain, either from a poor fitting crown or a change in bite. Did he see an abscess for the subsequent root canals or some other evidence of damage to the nerve? I am not a dentist, but my H likes to say that he has more crowns that the Queen of England. We have been through a lot with his dental work.</p>
<p>I really hate any dental procedure, and I have had a few rough experiences having fillings redone -by three different dentists. The first problem was sensitivity, which went away. We only stopped going to him when my H’s tooth broke when his filling was redone. The next guy totally changed the shape of my tooth when he redid the filling, and I had terrible pain for a long time;luckily xrays showed no infection, so I did not have more work done. I got used to the change in my bite, but I was mad at this guy. Perhaps it was referred pain, but I felt that it was really horrible.
The most recent guy - no problems at all. He is very careful and so far so good.</p>
<p>I am also a dentist. I agree with all of audiophile’s points.</p>
<p>Routinely prescribing antibiotics for root canals is not the standard of care. Some situations will need a prescription but they are rare.</p>
<p>Needing 4 root canals in a 4-month period is unusual. The consultation with an endodontist is an excellent idea. Pursuing a neurology consultation is also a good idea.</p>
<p>To the op: is your mouth heavily restored? If you had many large fillings done about the same time, they may be wearing out about the same time. After your first root canal, did you have a crown? Have you had the bite checked? Are you favoring one side over the other with chewing? Do you eat very hard foods? I am seeing many more teeth cracked by chewing whole almonds.</p>
<p>Your scenario requires careful diagnosis and a thorough look at your whole mouth.</p>
<p>I just want to add that I had a tooth filled and then began having horrible facial pain. Went back to the dentist, he x-rayed and said there was no problem. Made an appointment with a neurologist because the pain was incapacitating similar to Trigeminal Neuralgia. Before I could see the neurologist, the tooth blew up – infection and root canal time!</p>
<p>My dentist, who is very good, refers to an endodontist for root canal treatment.</p>
<p>Old thread ferom over 2 yrs ago. There is a newer dental thread currently active.</p>