Willow Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 ES has just broken a molar, not eating anything hard, he says it just broke off big enough piece he kept it Now I have taken him to the dentist every 6 mths since he was a toddler. Only 2 small fillings in his life and one of those was because the dentist muddled his notes with his brothers minimal soft drinks over the years, few sweets when he was younger. Always checked with dentist whether he was cleaning his teeth well enough Am I unreasonable in thinking his dentist should have spotted something ? Or do 18 yr olds teeth just break apart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 I had 3 broken teeth before my dentist twigged that I grind my teeth in my sleep , which cracks teeth. Solution was a night guard, worn one for 30 yrs now, most nights ,and I never miss when I'm having an arthritic flare. It has also eradicated the pain in my lower jaw. Does your ES grind his teeth in his sleep ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted November 26, 2014 Author Share Posted November 26, 2014 That's interesting Angie, I don't know. He sleeps heavily so he may not know. I'll get him to think about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Hi willow, he may have had a subliminal crack in his tooth that would be impossible to see or diagnose with no symptoms as they are largely invisible on x-Rays. Cracked teeth are a nightmare and the dentist would usually diagnose once the crack gets bad enough to warrant drilling the tooth to investigate. Symptoms of a cracked tooth are largely pain on the release element of biting and not on the biting itself. The crack could have been there for years but if it isn't causing any pain then will go largely unnoticed, because it is often the internal part of the tooth that has cracked and then, when your least expecting it, the said tooth will sheer off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Hello Willow! This happened to me when I was about 13 and since then I've had six other teeth crowned when large bits (a good half of the tooth often) fall off. As your son says, they just "go", I can tend to spot the signs it's going to happen now though. I'm a teeth grinder, well, more of a day time clencher than a grinder so if you can help your son sort this out NOW it will save him a lifetime of (very expensive) dental treatment. It's nothing to do with decay, or poor dental hygiene, the pressure that is exerted on jaws when we grind/clench is just MASSIVE. I would talk to the dentist about anything that's available to help him and keep us posted with how he gets on!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted November 26, 2014 Author Share Posted November 26, 2014 Eek Bramble that sounds scary I asked him when he rang this am and he doesn't think he grinds his teeth but he said he wouldn't know. My OH grinds his teeth and has problems but he didn't get good dental care as a child so I thought his problems stemmed more from that lack of care than his teeth grinding. Maybe I should get him to wear a guard ES has an appointment later this am so I told him to ask the dentist about teeth grinding as a possible cause. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted November 26, 2014 Author Share Posted November 26, 2014 Gavclojak, Interesting they can't necessarily see the crack on x-ray. I might be less grumpy with his dentist at home when I see her next... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 No, they definitely can't see cracks on x-rays (usually) - there's really no way of knowing this sort of thing is going to happen, except from years of experience in my case!! Sometimes the tooth is painful before it breaks as the crack sort of opens it up when you bite on it, but that's not always the case. What I'd be really interested in finding is a mouth guard to wear during the daytime - that I can still speak with etc - bit of a long shot though!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 (edited) Wow lots of talk about tooth grinding going on here!! With Tooth grinding or bruxism dentist will usually see wear patterns in the molars, kind of flattening of the biting surface,if left untreated you will go on to develop TMJ dysfunction and you may get reduced opening of the jaw often you will get a clicky jaw, tension type headaches, .....don't start worrying that you are all grinding, its really common and usually easily treated. As a rule dentist do usually pick it up before it becomes a problem You can wear a thin bruxism guard during the day, its a little like an orthodontic retainer, would talk a little practicing but as a rule the grinding is usually at its worst at night. If you are not in view of anyone else, pop a pencil in your mouth between your front teeth....that will stop you grinding during the day! Edited November 26, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 This is interesting; I am a night time clencher, and often wake with a stiff jaw. My dentist mentioned it once, but the price of a guard is prohibitive, so I declined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 I'm a clencher and grinder. I only grind my teeth at night, but if stressed or concentrating hard, I do clench my teeth during the day too. My dentist made me a teeth gard, which works great. No sore jaw muscles anymore. Once in a while one of my jaw muscles would clench up so tight, that I couldn't close my jaw anymore, since my teeth wouldn't align. Makes it almost impossible to eat and very painful! Haven't had that problem since. Had a cracked tooth when I was a kid too. But it was a molar that had a filling in it. There was a little air cavity beneath the filling, making it weak and easy to come apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 This is interesting; I am a night time clencher, and often wake with a stiff jaw. My dentist mentioned it once, but the price of a guard is prohibitive, so I declined. Ask your dentist to refer you to your local oral surgeon or teaching hospital and they will or should make a bruxism guard free of charge. The price of an NHS guard is based on NHS Band 3 charge of £219.00 At last a thread I know something about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted November 26, 2014 Author Share Posted November 26, 2014 He saw a local dentist that proposed to do metal filling. Apparently the tooth is a pre molar so this metal repair would be quite visible and the chip would not be replaced. I worked with a lot of Americans so I know how they view anything less than perfect teeth and with him going into technology he will work with Americans Asa well so I think a good cosmetic result is also important So I've booked him an appointment for Monday with a new highly regarded local dentist that turns out to be an expert in handling teeth grinding. So bonus I get my ES home for Sunday this weekend he'd just been home last weekend and wasn't due to come home this weekend. Best remind ES not to eat anything hard, hot or cold in the meantime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 This is interesting; I am a night time clencher, and often wake with a stiff jaw. My dentist mentioned it once, but the price of a guard is prohibitive, so I declined. Ask your dentist to refer you to your local oral surgeon or teaching hospital and they will or should make a bruxism guard free of charge. The price of an NHS guard is based on NHS Band 3 charge of £219.00 At last a thread I know something about There aren't any NHS dentists here, at least not any taking patients, so we have to go private. I will ask at my next check up about a referral, thanks. I think he quoted me around £400 for one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 That figure sounds about right unfortunately.....I am always saddened and shocked when people are unable to access NHS dental treatment, its a disgrace!!! and don't start me off about people of pensionable age still having to pay for NHS dental treatment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Do I have t get a referral from them, or can I go straight to the oral surgeon/dental hospital? I suspect they won't want to refer me in case they can get money out of me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 My dentist didn't seem to think a night guard would help me much (I guess 'cos the problem is during the day!?) but I have to say, if it would help, I'd gladly pay £400 - that's a drop in the ocean compared with the cost of a crown (again, no NHS Dentists available), not to mention the time and inconvenience in having work done that needs a number of appointments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Here in the Netherlands I pay around €140 a month for health care insurance. But on top of that I have to pay for any costs that aren't covered by any extended insurance up to a amount of €375 a year. (this includes any drugs and unforeseen treatments I haven't insured already) With my insurance, I'm covered to a max of €500 a year in dental costs. Anything over I have to pay myself. Our healthcare is very expensive... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 My dentist didn't seem to think a night guard would help me much (I guess 'cos the problem is during the day!?) but I have to say, if it would help, I'd gladly pay £400 - that's a drop in the ocean compared with the cost of a crown (again, no NHS Dentists available), not to mention the time and inconvenience in having work done that needs a number of appointments. I agree, and I would pay it too if I had £400 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Do I have t get a referral from them, or can I go straight to the oral surgeon/dental hospital? I suspect they won't want to refer me in case they can get money out of me! Yes you would need a referral i'm afraid. I would ask next time you go! but am going to PM you another suggestion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 My dentist didn't seem to think a night guard would help me much (I guess 'cos the problem is during the day!?) but I have to say, if it would help, I'd gladly pay £400 - that's a drop in the ocean compared with the cost of a crown (again, no NHS Dentists available), not to mention the time and inconvenience in having work done that needs a number of appointments. You can wear a thin bruxism guard during the day, its a little like an orthodontic retainer, they are fairly cheap to have made too. It would probably be cheaper to have made privately as the NHS charge would be £219.00 I'm sure you could get a rigid bruxism guard done for around £60 If you are not in view of anyone else, pop a pencil in your mouth between your front teeth....that will stop you grinding during the day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Do I have t get a referral from them, or can I go straight to the oral surgeon/dental hospital? I suspect they won't want to refer me in case they can get money out of me! Yes you would need a referral i'm afraid. I would ask next time you go! but am going to PM you another suggestion Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted December 4, 2014 Author Share Posted December 4, 2014 Forgot to do an update. New local dentist did x-rays and tooth had decay that had started from side where tooth touches next tooth. So major cause was he doesn't floss now I did buy both sons dental floss but I know neither have ever used it Dentist has fixed it using white, a slightly different shade so he can see where it's been repaired for future dental work no one would notice. And given ES a talk about flossing and interdental brushes. Lovely dentist, I'm definitely switching Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 4, 2014 Share Posted December 4, 2014 Good news. Get him one of the Water Pik flossers we're all raving about - I hate flossing but these are great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted December 4, 2014 Author Share Posted December 4, 2014 Dentist recommended this DM, I'd missed the Omlet recommendation although even with that it would have been challenging to get teens to use them until there's the proof that not doing so causes a problem. ES was really lucky that the nerves in his teeth weren't affected! Discovered previous dentist had not done x-rays on either teen for years, possibly not ever as the receptionist would only say it had been a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
