Dental care discussions and local services.
hiking_rocky
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Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: How much do you budget each year for periodontal maintenance?
For a comparable estimate, tell the office whether you’ve ever been diagnosed with periodontitis or had scaling and root planing, then ask what records they need to classify the visit. A recent periodontal chart, includi...
RE: Quick fixes that helped me survive dry socket pain
Quick Fixes That Helped Me Survive Dry Socket Pain Reading this brings back some pretty vivid memories - dry socket is honestly brutal, and I totally get what you mean about feeling desperate for anything to dull the pa...
RE: What Did You Have To Take Before Your Oral Surgery?
Interesting, I actually had a different experience with my meds. My surgeon said it was fine to take my blood pressure pill with a sip of water, even though I was fasting for IV sedation. I guess it really depends on the...
RE: Keeping old bridges in shape - what actually works?
I totally relate to the superfloss struggle - it’s like threading a needle in your mouth. I actually switched to those little interdental brushes for my bridge, and they’re way less hassle for me. As for brushing too har...
RE: Brightening My Smile Without The Ouch - Is It Possible?
I’ve been down the whitening rabbit hole myself - strips, gels, even those “natural” charcoal powders (which, honestly, just made a mess and didn’t do much). Sensitivity was always the dealbreaker for me too. The LED kit...
RE: When your breath turns evil: a story of mysterious mouth odors
That’s a really good point about underlying causes. I had a similar situation - kept getting cleanings, but my breath still wasn’t great. Turned out acid reflux was playing a bigger role than I realized. Has anyone else ...
RE: Worried about 6 root canals
I get where you’re coming from, but I actually found one of those pain management apps kind of helpful after my last root canal. Maybe it’s just me, but tracking my meds and symptoms made me feel a bit more in control - ...
RE: Which is easier: healing from a simple extraction or a surgical one?
When my youngest went through a surgical extraction, the pain complaints were actually less obvious than the swelling and how she just didn’t want to eat. That was the real giveaway for us - she’s usually a bottomless pi...
RE: Retainer snapped in half - what now?
I get what you mean about the Hawley not exactly being a fashion statement, but honestly, mine’s survived drops, a dog chewing incident, and more than a few accidental “sits.” The clear ones always felt like handling gla...
RE: That first week after wisdom teeth removal… did anyone else swear by ice packs?
I totally relate to the swelling peaking later than expected - it really threw me off too. I stuck to the ice packs religiously for those first few days, and honestly, I think it made a difference. Tried heat a bit early...
RE: Would you freak out if your stitches took longer to dissolve?
Yeah, I’ve definitely been there - those stitches can feel way more noticeable than you’d expect. After my wisdom teeth came out, mine stuck around for nearly three weeks, even though the dentist said they’d be gone in t...
RE: Electric Toothbrushes vs. Manual for Kids: Which Actually Works Better?
That battery stress is real, especially when you realize mid-brush it’s dead and suddenly you’re scrambling for a backup. I’ve noticed with my nieces, the electric ones keep them more interested - almost like a game. But...
RE: Weirdest pain after getting braces tightened - normal or not?
That jaw pain by the ear is so familiar - mine kicked in a few weeks after I started clenching at night too, which I’d never done before braces. Warm compresses helped me more than cold packs as well. I do wish someone h...
RE: Worth it to get custom whitening trays from the dentist?
I had a similar experience - my teeth are super sensitive too, and those store-bought strips just made things worse. The custom trays from my dentist felt way more comfortable and I actually stuck with the routine becaus...
RE: How Do You Deal With Wisdom Tooth Pain - DIY Tricks or Straight to the Dentist?
I get wanting to wait it out, especially with how expensive dental visits can get, but honestly, that weird taste you mentioned was a big red flag for me. When I ignored it, things got worse fast - ended up with a nasty ...