I am overdue for a dental check-up and professional clean and I am embarrassed about the ghastly dark stains on my teeth from all the tea and coffee I drink. Dentists are who I normally go to for a check-up but because the stains are so bad I need whitening so people don’t cringe when I smile. Not sure whether to go to a tooth whitener or dentist. They say the teeth whitener people are professional hygenists and also clean teeth.

How does anesthetic drugs used by dentists, which block the Na+ channels in neurons prevent a patient from feeling pain during a tooth extraction?

P.S.: Could you give like a chronology of events that are taking place in the channels?
Thanks alot BP-LO.
I also couldn’t find any information relating to the action of mechanism when I googled.

I have a small swollen point in my gum. It’s on my lower jaw, where my wisdom tooth use to be (they were removed 2 years ago). It’s painful and I think it’s a gum infection. What are the symptoms of a gum infection? What are the treatments? How can I have healthier teeth? I brush and floss and use floride rinse but I still always have problems with cavaties and i’m afraid of dentists. I have made an appointment with a dentist for my gum pain but i’m just wondering what the problem is and what he’ll most likely do for it. Thanks!

The gumline on my front teeth is receding despite me brushing twice a day with antibacterial mouthwash. The gum has dropped low across a tooth that i worry will fall out in the near future due to this. I don’t have a dentist at the moment because A. I can’t afford dental care B. i hate going to dentists… What do I do if this tooth falls out?

Or is this yet another unnecessary medical procedure being recommended? Several dentists think I should, my friend an ER doc says, "why? you have no pain, your teeth have stopped growing." I also have a 5% risk of permanent nerve damage if I have them removed. The risk of molar damage from leaving them in is "highly likely" according to the doc.

I lost my two front teeth in a bicycle accident when I was 13 years old. Dentists tried to recreate them by using bonding agent but it was only temporary. I’m 19 years old now and my front teeth have been exposed to corrosion over the years, making them look terrible. I refuse to smile and I cover my mouth when I laugh. I’m thinking that since I’m an adult and my mouth should stop growing, dental implants are a good idea. If I am to do this, what would the cost be and how quickly can I smile again?

Thank you.

I was told nearly a year ago by my emergency dentist that i have signs of some kind of gum disease, what can I do to help it stop as i really am scared of dentists?

I have had pain in several teeth in my mouth that no one could give me a straight answer on. The last dentist I went to found a deep cavity in one of my teeth (I have no idea why the other two dentists I went to didn’t see this, because you can clearly see it on my tooth)

As long as the objects they put in it are not sharp then.
Oh no, that sounded pervy..
Sassy Brat: It’s not a personal problem. And you’d be surprised how many dentists still reel at the thought of a terrible mouth, especially recently qualified ones.

To any dentists, I have sensitive teeth which hurt when cold, hot, or pressure is applied.

Is this reversible or what can I do to have it fixed? How much might it cost?
To any dentists, I have sensitive teeth which hurt when cold, hot, or pressure is applied.

For example, It hurts to eat pretzels.

Is this reversible or what can I do to have it fixed? How much might it cost?

EDIT: I brush daily with Colgate or Crest Sensitive protection. But they are still sensitive.

Im just starting to get in my widom teeth and the pain is really starting to suck, whats the best way to make the pain go away? Im nursing so I can only take ibuprofen and its not cutting it, also must I see a dentist if I have room for them. Im terrified off dentists and will faint if I have to go to the office

I did not have dental insurance for the past 3 years, and missed dental visits. Prior to that, dentists had assured me that I had teeth in fairly decent health.

I have insurance now and I visited a dentist recently. They seemed to jump on my case the moment I said I’d missed appointments for 3 years. The staff took x-ray records at first and when the doctor walked in, the first thing he said without even looking into my mouth was that I have gum disease, and referred me to a periodontist. I was trying to understand what he was trying to say but before I understood anything, the doctor walked out of the room.

Today, I went to the periodontist who spent 10 mins looking at my teeth measuring gaps, and said that I will need to knock off two wisdom teeth and go through gum surgery. I was more aggressive in asking pointed questions and he at least answered them. He says my gums have moderate level of infection and will need to be opened up for cleaning and then stitched back.
He also prescribed a thorough dental clean-up process, which will cost me 0(my copay). The extractions and surgery are likely to run into a few thousands, not to mention the pain.
While the dentists may be right, I somehow felt that they are more focussed on business development for themselves than actually attending to my needs. E.g. my wisdom teeth are perfectly fine and healthy, and have never given me any trouble. When I asked why the extraction was needed, I was told that the teeth are deep inside & difficult to clean, so I would find it easier to maintain the health of my mouth without them. They were just keen to get me to sign up for the extraction appointment. I had to be my assertive best to say that I needed to think about it.
I’m considering seeing a couple more dentists. While I’m surely concerned about my oral health, I don’t want to be pushed into urgent and immediate procedures, which are painful & costly.
Am I being pushed into unneccessary procedures? Please help.

im 18 and i have the thinnest/most receded hair you’ll ever see an 18 year old have. But the doctors say im fine i’m just balding like everybody else. My teeth are almost entirely displayed in my mouth with the roots nearing exposure due to gumline recession, yet the dentists say i keep remarkably good care of my teeth. Lastly i went from not wearing glasses at 15 to having some really strong perscription eyeglasses/contacts in just 3 years, i cant see the title of a text book 3 feet from my face without glasses on.

I’m starting to have a hard time thinking none of this is connected. i had a general blood test done recently that held no results.

anyone have any idea if there is a source problem to all these issues or am i just a coincidentally messed up cat?
oh yah and my scalp is extremely dry and scaly/flaky all the time.

one more on the moan parade