Upset after my appointment at the dentists yesterday. I have a bit of bone loss.

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Hi Gordon. I remember you gave me some good advice on my other threads and I hope you and the other dentists can help me now. I saw the dentist yesterday and he said I had no holes in my teeth and no loose teeth but I still have inflammation and he did an x ray of my back teeth. He showed me the x ray and said I have a bit of bone loss. I was too nervous to ask him whether the bone loss was only in my back teeth or if it was all over my mouth and if there was only a bit of inflammation or a lot. I am supposed to go back for a deep cleaning this morning and he will demonstrate how to use interdental brushes and string floss because I have dexterity problems and dont know how to use them and he said I should be using one of those as well as the waterpik flosser and my electric toothbrush. I have been really upset and anxious about all of this and I have been blaming myself because sometimes I fall asleep at night without cleaning my teeth but I was supposed to have a check up three months ago but they werent taking appointments then. Can anyone help?. I think about it when I am eating, drinking, brushing and flossing and when I look in the mirror.

 

[anonfemale]

@Dr. Daniel Do you also have any advice?. I have been feeling very distressed and have been in tears. If any other dentists or other members of the forum can give any advice as well, I would really appreciate it.

 

[Gordon]

Bone loss is a very vague term, it could be a few tens of mm or less than one mm... however, in general it's a very slow process and can take decades before it becomes a big problem. It sounds like your dentist is on top of this and will get it under control with you.

Don't panic!

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Thank you for your reply. Should I ask the dentist that I saw how many mm it is and how much inflammation there is?. I have a fear of losing my teeth but I am hoping I wont lose them even in decades. Different dentists have said different things for years too. One said that I had bone loss in my back gums years ago and two other dentists said I only had gingivitis after that and now this dentist has mentioned the bone loss. I'm also worried because I know that younger people can get severe gum disease as well ( I will be 40 next month).

 

[anonfemale]

@letsconnect I wondered what you think about this as well?

 

[letsconnect]

I think that your dentist’s plan to show you how to use interdental brushes and string floss is a good one - how did that go? That will be the most important part in keeping the gum disease at bay.

 

[Gordon]

Should I ask the dentist that I saw how many mm it is and how much inflammation there is?

Well, that would at least let you know what you're dealing with. The devil is in the detail as usual

 

[anonfemale]

I think that your dentist’s plan to show you how to use interdental brushes and string floss is a good one - how did that go? That will be the most important part in keeping the gum disease at bay.

@letsconnect I think it's a good plan as well. I had to rearrange the appointment for the deep cleaning and the demonstration because I get too anxious to go to see the dentist on my own and I didn't have anyone to go there with but my mum will be going with me next time.

 

[anonfemale]

Well, that would at least let you know what you're dealing with. The devil is in the detail as usual

@Gordon It's difficult because in a way I would like to know what I am dealing with but in another way I would rather not know. I have written down the questions about how much inflammation and bone loss there is just in case I do want to ask him and I have written down that I feel anxious every time I go to the dentist in case I get told something that will worry me and this worries me.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon @letsconnect I have just made my next appointment with the dentist for the deep clean and the demonstration. It's next Monday afternoon.

 

[letsconnect]

Great, let us know how it goes !

 

[Gordon]

Good idea writing down your questions. See if you can e-mail them to the dentist in advance to give them time to give you a better answer?

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon @letsconnect I had to rearrange the appointment for the deep cleaning last week because my mum wasnt well and there was no one else who could have gone to the appointment with me and I have had a blocked ear for a few days so I missed my appointment yesterday but haven't been able to rearrange again yet. I hope I haven't been taken off the books at the surgery. I was in tears this morning thinking about the deep cleaning and thinking about how my gums are now.

 

[Gordon]

I was in tears this morning thinking about the deep cleaning and thinking about how my gums are now.

The same as they were a month ago Gum disease is an extremely slow process. You're talking decades not weeks.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Sorry. I meant how my gums have been all the time because I am worried because I don't know how much bone loss there is and how much inflammation there is.

 

[anonfemale]

Can gums get worse if you ever miss brushing and flossing or if you miss a cleaning at the dentists?

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon @letsconnect Different dentists at the same surgery have said different things about the water pik flosser. One dentist said it's ok to use them but the last dentist I saw said I need to be using the interdental brushes aswell. I have heard though that water pik flossers are more effective that string floss and interdental brushes so I don't know which is right. Also, two other dentists at the same surgery didn't mention any bone loss and they said there was only a bit of inflammation but the last dentist I saw said there is bone loss. Should I take a stress ball or a cuddly toy or some music with me to try to help to keep me calm during the deep cleaning appointment?. I'm not sure if I could be put to sleep during it.

 

[Gordon]

I have heard though that water pik flossers are more effective that string floss and interdental brushes so I don't know which is right.

They're not as effective as either and certainly aren't a substitute. Personally I don't recommend them at all, but some dentists disagree.

One dentist said it's ok to use them but the last dentist I saw said I need to be using the interdental brushes aswell.

It's OK to use them but not instead of floss or TePe brushes.

Should I take a stress ball or a cuddly toy or some music with me to try to help to keep me calm during the deep cleaning appointment?. I'm not sure if I could be put to sleep during it.

Sure, if you think it'd be helpful. I don't think you'll find the cleaning appointment as bad as you fear, since I just had one last week I've got recent experience

Putting you to sleep is not justifiable for cleaning, if anything went wrong the dentist would be in deep trouble.

Can gums get worse if you ever miss brushing and flossing

Yeah for a few weeks... not a day or three. Potentially missing a cleaning for a year or so could cause a few issues, but not significant ones.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon I have missed brushing and water pik flossing at night sometimes this week because I was really tired but I am going to try to brush and use my water pik flosser twice a day from today. I'm not sure if I should start using the tepe brushes yet because I'm not sure which size of tepe brush to use and I'm not sure how to use them. I am hoping that the dentist will show me how to use them and let me know which size tepe brush to buy at my next appointment. There might be some helpful youtube videos of it as well. I hope your deep cleaning went well. I missed one check up and cleaning in January this year. It wasn't my fault though. The receptionist at the surgery said that they weren't doing any check ups or cleanings at that time.

 

[gentledental]

Water flossers don't seem to work anywhere near as well as a good brush. It's like trying to wash your car with a jet wash only vs a good bucket and soap.