Dentist update

Alex and I both went to the dentist this morning for what I thought was supposed to be a routine cleaning for both of us after my initial new patient appointment with our new dentist up here in Michigan.

Alex did great! He got x-rays, told the hygienist and then the dentist about his loose tooth and how he bumped his teeth a few months ago and then got his teeth cleaned and used the "yogurt. well it looks kinda like yogurt!" (fluoride treatment.) The dentist did say that his top front right tooth is a little loose and the root is starting to deteriorate/shrink, most likely from the bump, but due to his age it will only be falling out a little early if it does fall out in the next few months. Also looking at his x-rays, the bottom two and other top front tooth will probably be falling out in the next few months just from him being almost five and stuff. No cavities, nice clean healthy teeth for Alex and he did a great job!

Mom, on the other hand... well no cavities, but the initial new patient visit took a LONG time, full set of x-rays, and a periodontal pocket exam (basically they measured the pockets in the gums around all 28 of my teeth to see how much space there is and see if there is any gum disease). I still at age 28 1/2 (hee, hee, my kids keep reminding me that I'm almost 29!) have 3 baby teeth!!!! and they are still in pretty decent shape, with only one showing some root deterioration. I do have some tartar build-up since it's been 3+ yrs since my last dentist visit (SHHH!), and some 4mm pockets in my gums which show warning signs of gum disease so it's a watch and wait game basically, preventative type stuff, more regular visits, flossing more regularly, etc. They wanted to do the "deeper" cleaning today since it's been so long, instead of the regular cleaning but the insurance won't cover the full amount, nor will it cover the fluoride treatment for me (?), so even though it's not a ton of money, I'm going to go back for my cleaning in a week or two after payday, and preferably without the munchkins since it may take a little longer. Then we discussed my bridge, well non-existent bridge now. I had an impacted molar about 12 yrs ago and had it removed (3rd tooth from the back, not including wisdom teeth), they put a permanent bridge in and attached it to the two teeth on either side. Usually those hold up for around 10 years. The middle of last year or so it fell out. Now they either need to clean out and fill/cap the two teeth that are basically exposed on one side each where they were drilled out a little for the composite filling holding the bridge in place, kind of like a cavity, because there is some minor damage to the teeth causing some pain and sensitivity to cold. Or they can grind the teeth down and crown them with a new fixed bridge in between them. For the two caps/fillings it's about $120, after insurance. For the crowns and bridge, almost $800, after insurance!!! I think I can live with a hole way back there, to save almost $700! That's just insane to me. The insurance would be paying over $1000 still. Last but not least, one of my wisdom teeth came in some time last year, a few weeks after my bridge fell out (same side) but the other three are impacted and may be causing damage to my teeth. So another game of wait and see. Two of them are completely sideways and the other is at a weird angle. Enough about my strange teeth though, LOL!

Ethan goes next week to get his x-rays, cleaning and possibly his loose tooth pulled. His adult tooth on the bottom is all the way in, pushing the baby tooth completely forward but not out :( He tries to wiggle it but it just won't come out and now it's starting to hurt some when he does wiggle it so he doesn't even try anymore. Who can blame him? Why make your own mouth hurt, right? So off to the dentist to get it looked and hopefully they can just give a quick little yank and out it will come. I have to remember to call Ethan's cardiologist and have them fax over a letter or something about his heart condition and what antibiotic he needs before dental work can be done, so the dentist can write up the script for me and he can take that. Otherwise, there is a risk of serious infection.