Tackling decay in 13 teeth

How bad is this? What can I do to protect my teeth in the future? Will the work hurt?

Honestly, it sounds rough, but you’re not alone. I had a bunch of cavities after skipping checkups for years too. Root canals freaked me out at first, but the pain relief after was worth it. The work itself didn’t really hurt - numbing works wonders. But I’d double check before agreeing to all those root canals. Sometimes dentists are quick to jump to that, and a second opinion never hurts.

But I’d double check before agreeing to all those root canals. Sometimes dentists are quick to jump to that, and a second opinion never hurts.

I get where you’re coming from, but in my case, waiting for a second opinion actually made things worse - one tooth that could’ve been saved ended up needing to come out. Sometimes if decay is deep, root canals really are the only way to stop the pain and keep your teeth. It’s a tough call, honestly. I do agree, though, numbing is a lifesaver... barely felt a thing during the work.

That’s honestly what I’m worried about… how do you even know when waiting for a second opinion is worth it? I’ve got a few teeth my ortho flagged as “watch closely” and now I’m kind of anxious that waiting could make things worse. Has anyone ever had a dentist say a tooth was borderline, and it ended up being okay? Or is it usually safer just to go ahead with what they recommend?

I’ve actually had a dentist say a tooth was “borderline” and we decided to just keep an eye on it. That was about two years ago - still hasn’t needed any work, but I’m super diligent with brushing and flossing now. I get the anxiety, though. It’s hard not to second-guess, especially after a big diagnosis like mine. Sometimes I wonder if waiting made things worse for me, but honestly, pain was what finally pushed me in. If you’re not having symptoms, maybe it’s okay to watch, but I’d probably ask for x-rays or photos so you can see what’s going on for yourself.

That “borderline” call is so tricky. I’m in the same boat - my dentist flagged a molar as “iffy” and it’s been two checkups with no change, but every twinge makes me wonder if I should’ve just fixed it right away. Does anyone else constantly poke at their teeth with their tongue, or is that just me being paranoid? I totally get wanting to see x-rays. Sometimes I feel like I need proof it’s not secretly getting worse while I sleep...

Haha, you’re definitely not the only one poking at your teeth - I do it all the time when something feels “off.” I’ve had a couple of those borderline calls too and honestly, sometimes I think waiting is fine if there’s no change. Have you ever had a spot that stayed “iffy” for years without turning into a cavity?

I’ve totally had those “iffy” spots that just linger for ages. One of my back molars has looked kinda suspicious on x-rays for at least three years, but every time my dentist checks it, they’re like, “Let’s just watch it.” I’d be lying if I said I didn’t worry about it turning into a full-blown cavity eventually, but honestly, I’m not eager to fork out hundreds for a filling if it’s not actually getting worse. I feel like sometimes dentists are quick to suggest work “just in case,” but if you’re on a budget, every little thing adds up.

Do you ever ask your dentist for a second opinion or push back when they recommend treating borderline spots? I’ve started asking more questions, like how likely it is to progress, what they’re basing it on, etc. Sometimes I get the sense they’re a little surprised I’m not just agreeing to everything. Have you noticed any difference in how different dentists approach these gray-area situations? I switched providers once and the new one was way less aggressive about “watch” areas - almost made me wonder if it’s partly just their style.

Also, have you tried any of those remineralizing toothpastes or fluoride treatments? I’ve been told they can help slow down early decay, but I’m never sure if it’s worth the extra cost or just hype. I’m always looking for ways to avoid more drilling, especially when the insurance only covers so much.

Yeah, I’ve had a dentist push for a filling on a “maybe” spot, then switched and the new one just kept an eye on it. Wild how much it varies. I tried those fancy pastes too - honestly, didn’t notice much difference, but maybe I’m just unlucky.

That’s been my experience too - seems like some dentists are quick to fill anything that looks questionable, while others take a more “wait and see” approach. I’ve also tried those pricey remineralizing pastes, but honestly, didn’t notice much change either. Maybe they work better for folks with early-stage spots? I do think keeping up with regular brushing and flossing makes a bigger difference than any of the fancy stuff. Dental bills add up fast, so I try to avoid unnecessary work if I can... but it’s always a bit of a gamble.

I’ve also tried those pricey remineralizing pastes, but honestly, didn’t notice much change either.

Totally relate to the “gamble” part. I’ve noticed the same - some dentists want to fill every tiny shadow on an x-ray, others just monitor. Makes it hard to know what’s actually necessary. I tried MI Paste for a few months and honestly, didn’t see much difference either. Maybe it helps if you catch things super early? Regular brushing and flossing feels like the only thing I can control... but with 13 spots flagged at my last checkup, I’m anxious about missing something important. The cost is definitely stressful.

I get the frustration with those pastes - tried one after a dentist flagged “incipient lesions” and honestly, couldn’t tell if it did anything. Sometimes I wonder if the x-ray shadows would’ve changed either way. I switched to high-fluoride toothpaste and focused on brushing technique, and my last checkup was actually a bit better. Still, 13 spots would make anyone anxious... The cost of constant monitoring adds up fast, and it’s tough to balance what’s truly necessary.

I totally get the anxiety over seeing so many spots on your chart. But honestly, I wouldn’t write off those pastes just yet - my ortho had me try one when my brackets were causing white spots, and I did notice some improvement after a few months. Maybe it just depends on the person? Switching to high-fluoride helped too, but I think combining stuff sometimes makes a difference. Monitoring costs are the worst, though... I’ve started spacing out checkups a bit more (with my dentist’s okay), and that’s helped my wallet and stress levels.

I’m honestly relieved to hear someone else mention the cost stress - sometimes it feels like I’m the only one freaking out about that. Did your dentist have any concerns when you started spacing out checkups? I keep worrying I’ll miss something important if I don’t go every three months, but the bills just pile up. Also, how long did it take before you noticed the white spots fading? I’ve been using MI Paste for a couple weeks and can’t tell if it’s working or not...

I keep worrying I’ll miss something important if I don’t go every three months, but the bills just pile up.

That’s a super common worry and honestly, most people don’t do three-month checkups unless they’re high risk. My dentist was fine with six months once things stabilized. As for MI Paste, two weeks is pretty early - sometimes it takes a couple months to see real changes with white spots, and even then, it’s subtle. Consistency is key, though. I totally get the stress about costs... dental stuff adds up fast.

I used to stress about missing appointments too, especially after a big round of fillings. My dentist actually reassured me that six months is standard unless there’s something active going on. The MI Paste thing - yeah, it’s a slow burn. I barely noticed changes for weeks, but after a couple months, those white spots did start to fade. Hang in there... and don’t beat yourself up if you can’t make it every three months. The bills really do sneak up fast.

I totally get what you mean about the slow results with MI Paste. I remember using it after my braces came off, hoping those weird white patches would just... vanish overnight. Nope. It took a lot longer than I expected, but the gradual fading was worth it. It can be tough to stay patient, especially when you’re dealing with so many teeth at once.

The money side is rough too - I’ve definitely had to space out my cleanings more than my orthodontist originally wanted because, yeah, those bills do add up fast. For me, focusing on daily stuff made a bigger difference than running back to the dentist every few months. I started using a soft brush and switched to a fluoride rinse twice a day, which seemed to help keep things stable between visits.

Did your dentist suggest any other products besides MI Paste? I’ve always wondered if there’s something out there that works faster or at least makes the routine less of a hassle.

Funny you mention other products - I've had a few patients ask about those whitening pens or remineralizing gels, but honestly, nothing seems to work overnight. Sometimes I’ll suggest Prevident toothpaste for extra fluoride, especially if someone's dealing with a bunch of spots at once. Have you ever tried switching up your toothpaste or even using prescription-strength stuff? I’ve seen it help in stubborn cases, but it’s definitely not a magic fix either... just another piece of the puzzle.

I actually just started using Prevident after my dentist spotted a bunch of white spots and early decay. I was kinda skeptical at first, honestly - like, how much can a toothpaste really do? But after a few weeks, my teeth feel less sensitive, which is something. It’s not a miracle worker, but I guess every little bit helps when you’re dealing with so many problem teeth at once... Still feels like a slow process though. Anyone else notice it takes forever to see any real changes?

It really does feel slow, yeah. I started Prevident last year after my hygienist flagged a bunch of early spots too. I was frustrated at first since nothing seemed to change overnight. For me, it took a couple months before my dentist noticed improvement. Honestly, the sensitivity going down is a good sign, even if it’s subtle. I guess it’s more about stopping things from getting worse than seeing dramatic changes right away... That part took me a while to accept.