Nothing to See Here...

[Sherry E]

I think that it is better to be safe than to be sorry. And well, it would be worse if you didn't spend the money on the dentist it could ne worse and more expensive.

Michele - True. I think I already should have gone to have it checked out when it started bothering me a year or year and a half ago (and then stopped bothering me shortly after that). I assumed that because the pain was not too bad and just seemed to be intermittent that it probably was just another sensitive tooth issue. And maybe at the time it was just that, but since I didn't get it checked out at that time, now it's had time to develop into something else.

When we went to Arizona last year on a girls trip with my mom & sister I ended up having to go to a dentist I had never seen before (he was my Uncles dentist so not out of the phone book) as an occasional pain that was only bothersome became infected and I was practically crying in pain...messed up 2 days of my trip...so get it taken care of (mine turned out to be minor and if I had gone in earlier wouldn't have gotten to the really painful part) now before you save all those $ for disney and it decides to be a true pain on a DLR trip! Hope yours turns out to be minor too! We don't have insurance either so it also ate up trip money.

Sherri - Yes, that's exactly what I don't want to happen! It started out as mildly bothersome last year or 1-1/2 years ago. Then it stopped. I thought, "Okay, no big deal. I just need to start using Sensodyne or something!!" But in those times when it was not hurting or bothering me, I think it was silently growing into a bigger problem. Something must have triggered it to start acting up more in the last few days. So far, I am not in enough pain to be crying (thankfully). But it was when I started feeling generally sick and headachy that I realized it could be an infection.

It is rough without insurance, isn't it?

Sherry, I hope it turns out to be a small thing and not something major. Good to get it checked out now to be sure it doesn't get worse Have you made an appointment yet? I hope and pray that it isn't serious and it is something that can be quickly resolved. Wishing you the best possible outcome and care.

Liza - Thanks. I hope so too! I just made an appointment today - but I can't get in until Monday. This is a dentist who is only in the office 3 days a week, apparently.

The funny thing is - I've had several dentists in the past who have all been in the same building. My area is very dentist and doctor-filled. But all of my previous dentists either closed their practices, retired, moved away, etc. So I had to start from scratch. I don't like picking dentists at random, but I had to. And this new one is in the same building too! What I hate is that all of the dentists end up on these high floors, and they seat me in a chair that looks out a window - 17 stories in the air. I don't like heights so I hate that!

So I picked one who offered a low price for a consultation, cleaning and some x-rays. The x-rays will at least get it narrowed down to what the problem is or is not.

What I didn't particularly like is that I kept trying to get the office manager and receptionist to discuss pricing options with me, such as if they will accept payments, assuming I can't pay for the whole procedure at once. Every time I brought up financing or payments, they would change the subject and dodge my question. Both of them did this. I kept saying, "I don't have much money so I don't want to get there and find out I have to get X, Y and Z done and that you don't accept installments."

I also didn't like the fact that, as soon as I said I had pain when I drank hot or cold stuff or when I ate certain things, the office manager said, "Oh, sounds like you need a root canal!"

How would they know that? There are different reasons why people could have pain and it might NOT be that! It could just be a cavity or an issue of needing more bonding. I felt like they were saying that to scare me into booking an appointment with them. Like if they just said, "Oh, hopefully it's nothing serious but we'll take a look," then I might not book right away. If they tell me that it's something big, then I will rush right over.

I wish I had more time to 'shop around' for a better dentist and try to get referrals for other ones in my area, but I can't wait much longer. I have to sit out the whole weekend, cutting up my apples into tiny pieces, and not see the dentist until Monday. That's a long enough wait!

Nothing worse than a toothache. I hope you get to a dentist soon and it is nothing to major. Here goes my Aussie sense of humor at least you are saving money on food. Sending hugs

areweindisneyyet - Thank you! Funny you said that about saving money on food! I was just thinking, "Oh drat, I have to order some groceries from Vons because I'm out of quite a few things, but I don't want to do that until after I see the dentist, because I might not be able to eat much for a few days!!"

My main thing is, if there is an infection brewing and that's the reason why I have been feeling sick, I need to get that taken care of ASAP!

to you.

Thank you, Tania!

I am just soooo annoyed at the timing of this! I was soooo ready to just set aside some of my money for a Disney gift card or for something DLR trip-related. I could have gotten a nice gift card that would have gone a long way for my food expenses in December (or October, or whenever I am there next). I don't always have 'extra' money on hand, and I may not again any time soon. So this is bad timing! Stupid teeth!

 

[tksbaskets]

I'll be keeping fingers and toes crossed that your dental issues are small and inexpensive....

 

[deejdigsdis]

I'm so sorry to hear about this, Sherry. Dental stuff is no fun. I wish you had time to shop around. I hate the blind picking-out-of-a-phone book route. I wish I could send you to my dentist -- but that would require you getting on a plane -- probably worse for you than sitting in the dental chair on the 17th floor! I finally have one that I like for the first time in my life. I had horrible experiences when I was a kid. We didn't go as often as we should have because of lack of insurance, so when we did go it was always a big production with the work that needed to be done. Ugh. That also worries me with how they've responded to you so far. Potential patients do not need to hear that kind of stuff. They need their questions answered clearly and they don't need to be judged. (I once had a dentist YELL at me for not getting a crown after a root canal. One dentist did the root canal...I moved away...that particular tooth broke 5 years later while I was eating rice...went to a different dentist who yelled at me for not getting a crown. I was never told I needed a crown. The tooth ended up needing to be pulled. So annoying...) OK, I don't think I'm helping matters any. I'm glad you're getting it checked out. Keep us posted.

 

[Sherry E]

I'll be keeping fingers and toes crossed that your dental issues are small and inexpensive....

Thank you, TK! This stupid problem is already interfering with my DLR plans!

I'm so sorry to hear about this, Sherry. Dental stuff is no fun. I wish you had time to shop around. I hate the blind picking-out-of-a-phone book route. I wish I could send you to my dentist -- but that would require you getting on a plane -- probably worse for you than sitting in the dental chair on the 17th floor! I finally have one that I like for the first time in my life. I had horrible experiences when I was a kid. We didn't go as often as we should have because of lack of insurance, so when we did go it was always a big production with the work that needed to be done. Ugh. That also worries me with how they've responded to you so far. Potential patients do not need to hear that kind of stuff. They need their questions answered clearly and they don't need to be judged. (I once had a dentist YELL at me for not getting a crown after a root canal. One dentist did the root canal...I moved away...that particular tooth broke 5 years later while I was eating rice...went to a different dentist who yelled at me for not getting a crown. I was never told I needed a crown. The tooth ended up needing to be pulled. So annoying...) OK, I don't think I'm helping matters any. I'm glad you're getting it checked out. Keep us posted.

deej - Thank you.

The tooth broke while eating rice? I'm sorry - I know that's not funny! And yet, oddly funny at the same time. It must have hurt intensely! I'm thinking rice seems like a safe food to eat! It's not like you were chomping on a lollipop or a jawbreaker! If teeth can break on rice, that's pretty scary!

Eek - it sounds like you have had a run of bad dentists! I liked the ones I previously had, although the most I've ever had done outside of cleaning was having some small cavities filled and having all 4 wisdom teeth yanked about 22-23 years ago. Since then, I've been largely problem-free, despite all the coffee I drink!

Yeah, I just didn't like how both ladies on the phone at this dentist's office today were dodging the issue of payment. You would think they wouldn't want me to waste their time if I was not going to be able to pay in full up front. But they would not discuss payment. And then that one with her, "Oh, it sounds like you need a root canal," without having any evidence to really suggest that! I didn't even mention to them that I had a hunch I might have an infection, or they might have scheduled me for surgery right away!

Let's hope the actual dentist is not that way - where as soon as I sit down, she decides I have to have all of my teeth removed or something crazy!


Stupid teeth. Stupid teeth preventing me from hoarding my DLR trip money! (You can see where my priorities are!)

 

[deejdigsdis]

deej - Thank you.

The tooth broke while eating rice? I'm sorry - I know that's not funny! And yet, oddly funny at the same time. It must have hurt intensely! I'm thinking rice seems like a safe food to eat! It's not like you were chomping on a lollipop or a jawbreaker! If teeth can break on rice, that's pretty scary!

Eek - it sounds like you have had a run of bad dentists! I liked the ones I previously had, although the most I've ever had done outside of cleaning was having some small cavities filled and having all 4 wisdom teeth yanked about 22-23 years ago. Since then, I've been largely problem-free, despite all the coffee I drink!

Yeah, I just didn't like how both ladies on the phone at this dentist's office today were dodging the issue of payment. You would think they wouldn't want me to waste their time if I was not going to be able to pay in full up front. But they would not discuss payment. And then that one with her, "Oh, it sounds like you need a root canal," without having any evidence to really suggest that! I didn't even mention to them that I had a hunch I might have an infection, or they might have scheduled me for surgery right away!

Let's hope the actual dentist is not that way - where as soon as I sit down, she decides I have to have all of my teeth removed or something crazy!


Stupid teeth. Stupid teeth preventing me from hoarding my DLR trip money! (You can see where my priorities are!)

No... it is funny! Then 2 years ago I was eating a very soft pumpkin chocolate chip cookie and another tooth broke! What is it with soft foods and my teeth??? It was that incident that brought me to my current dentist. Of course, a root canal was in order. I was a bit surprised, given that I had no pain whatsoever. It turned out that the nerve ending or something had died, thus no pain. Then, the week after that root canal, I was eating chicken and pasta and soft bread. When I ate the bread, a different tooth hurt. I was fine with the chicken and pasta...it was just the bread that caused pain. Lo and behold...I needed another root canal! Yes, I am quite the root canal expert! I spent 5 Fridays in a row in "THE CHAIR" with root canal/crown/etc. stuff going on. (I am painting myself as quite the winner, huh? ) The dental hygienist and I joked that I was coming in for my weekly spa treatments. She would turn on the massage-things in the chair and bring me a steaming hot cloth for my face when the appointment was over. But the good news is that I came away from that with an excellent dentist who helped me overcome my lifelong fear of anything dental-related. Something I thought would NEVER happen! But wow, was that ever an expensive month! Almost kept us from taking the kids to Disneyland for the first time later that year.

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Sherri - Yes, that's exactly what I don't want to happen! It started out as mildly bothersome last year or 1-1/2 years ago. Then it stopped. I thought, "Okay, no big deal. I just need to start using Sensodyne or something!!" But in those times when it was not hurting or bothering me, I think it was silently growing into a bigger problem. Something must have triggered it to start acting up more in the last few days. So far, I am not in enough pain to be crying (thankfully). But it was when I started feeling generally sick and headachy that I realized it could be an infection.

It is rough without insurance, isn't it?

No insurance is totally a pain and it makes life hard.


What I didn't particularly like is that I kept trying to get the office manager and receptionist to discuss pricing options with me, such as if they will accept payments, assuming I can't pay for the whole procedure at once. Every time I brought up financing or payments, they would change the subject and dodge my question. Both of them did this. I kept saying, "I don't have much money so I don't want to get there and find out I have to get X, Y and Z done and that you don't accept installments."

I also didn't like the fact that, as soon as I said I had pain when I drank hot or cold stuff or when I ate certain things, the office manager said, "Oh, sounds like you need a root canal!"

How utterly annoying!


I am just soooo annoyed at the timing of this! I was soooo ready to just set aside some of my money for a Disney gift card or for something DLR trip-related. I could have gotten a nice gift card that would have gone a long way for my food expenses in December (or October, or whenever I am there next). I don't always have 'extra' money on hand, and I may not again any time soon. So this is bad timing! Stupid teeth!

I know you had other things you wanted to use the money for but on the other hand if you had this happen when you had no money to take care of it you might have put it off longer (I know I have done it)

I don't know which tooth it is but I once had a far rear tooth that needed a root canal and I ended up choosing to have it pulled (I already had 2 root canals under my belt) It was much cheaper, much less pain/recovery time and those both factored into the decision. But if you have that option depends on which tooth is the culprit

 

[TheColtonsMom]

BTW I too had a soft food experience...I broke a tooth on a regular Krispy Kreme donut...believe it or not

 

[tksbaskets]

No... it is funny! Then 2 years ago I was eating a very soft pumpkin chocolate chip cookie and another tooth broke! What is it with soft foods and my teeth???

I know this one

Two months ago I broke a tooth eating a hamburger. When I asked the dentist he said when we chew soft items we chew in a circular motion. When we chew hard things we bite straight down. So....when you chew in a circle and there is a little crack it can force the tooth to break as the pressure comes from the middle to the outside. This is more apt to happen when you are chewing something you think is soft and hit a hard bit (popcorn is a prime example)

This knowledge only cost me $900 for my gold onlay.

 

[kaoden39]

Monday? That seems like so long to wait and I know it's not really. I hope that it all goes well, and I also would like to know how they know without checking you how they can decide you need a root canal.

 

[bumbershoot]

Michele - True. I think I already should have gone to have it checked out when it started bothering me a year or year and a half ago (and then stopped bothering me shortly after that). I assumed that because the pain was not too bad and just seemed to be intermittent that it probably was just another sensitive tooth issue.



What I hate is that all of the dentists end up on these high floors, and they seat me in a chair that looks out a window - 17 stories in the air. I don't like heights so I hate that!


What I didn't particularly like is that I kept trying to get the office manager and receptionist to discuss pricing options with me, such as if they will accept payments, assuming I can't pay for the whole procedure at once. Every time I brought up financing or payments, they would change the subject and dodge my question. Both of them did this.


I wish I had more time to 'shop around' for a better dentist and try to get referrals for other ones in my area, but I can't wait much longer.

Well, you have through tomorrow (I assume you could cancel tomorrow?) to see if there's anyone out there. Are there any dental schools in your area? They might take emergencies...

I had a dentist appt the other day, and I too have been having intermittent problems with molars for about 3 years. I tell him each time that I have been having pain, or had been and then it went away, he checks it out, and nothin'.

This time, he and the hygienist told me that it could just be that a nerve is slowly slowly slooooowwwwlllly dying, and that's what is causing the issues. I asked if it could be an infection, and they said that this funky panoramic xray can see into the tooth whatchamacallits to make SURE there's no infection... My insurance doesn't cover it until May and I'm not wlling to pay OOP for it when they've been telling me it's OK it's OK it's OK, so...here we are.

But I had a crown put in withOUT a root canal, b/c it was $600 each (ages ago when I too didn't have insurance) and I couldn't afford both, so I have a sad little nerve in there, wondering what happened to its tooth, LOL....

I don't think I could have made that appointment! I bet you a million dollars they are going to push that Credit Care, or whatever it's called, that's basically a credit card or line of credit with nasty interest...


Have them close the blinds!

I wish I could send you to my dentist -- but that would require you getting on a plane...

I wish you could come see my guy, too! He's really conservative with me, but I know he's not just lackadaisical b/c he's pretty aggressive with Robert (we just funded our flex plan for this year, to get ALL the awful work done on him, including deep cleaning under his gums, shudder...). But the biggest bonus is his gorgeous blue eyes...sigh. My good friend has been seeing him since we were in college, and I cannot believe she never told me about him then! (oh I would have been in soooo much trouble if I'd known him then) Beautiful eyes..

 

[funatdisney]

Sherry - it is going to be a long weekend! You just hang in there. When it gets bad (hopefully it won't get worst), you can get in touch with your DIS'ers friends. I am sure all of us will be willing to lend you their ear (or eyes) when you need it.


Hey what is it with DIS'ers and soft foods
I was gone all day (can you guess where I was?), and when catching up with this thread, I've had quite a few chuckles. I have been lucky to have inherited very strong teeth, and never knew one can break a tooth so easily. tksbaskets' dentist's explanation makes sense.

 

[deejdigsdis]

I know this one

Two months ago I broke a tooth eating a hamburger. When I asked the dentist he said when we chew soft items we chew in a circular motion. When we chew hard things we bite straight down. So....when you chew in a circle and there is a little crack it can force the tooth to break as the pressure comes from the middle to the outside. This is more apt to happen when you are chewing something you think is soft and hit a hard bit (popcorn is a prime example)

This knowledge only cost me $900 for my gold onlay.

Hmmm. Interesting, TK. I never thought about it, but that makes sense. I couldn't believe my tooth broke while eating rice. It was crazy.

Sherry - it is going to be a long weekend! You just hang in there. When it gets bad (hopefully it won't get worst), you can get in touch with your DIS'ers friends. I am sure all of us will be willing to lend you their ear (or eyes) when you need it.


Hey what is it with DIS'ers and soft foods
I was gone all day (can you guess where I was?), and when catching up with this thread, I've had quite a few chuckles. I have been lucky to have inherited very strong teeth, and never knew one can break a tooth so easily. tksbaskets' dentist's explanation makes sense.

OK, I just read this wrong. I thought you said, "I have been lucky to have inherited very LONG teeth..." The immediate picture that came to mind wasn't pretty.

 

[funatdisney]

Another chuckle! Thank you, deejdigsdis. I'm hitting the jackpot tonight. A great way to end a great day!

 

[funatdisney]

It's having an effect on me, because I don't know how you got all the extra pictures off the sides and top, and put in those quotes! I obviously rushed too much and should have spent some time reading, b/c I have major calendar envy now.

Thank you, bumbershoot.

When making the free calendar on snapfish, I didn't care for the Disney Parks layouts. I started looking for other options and noticed the different backround designs at the bottom of the page. I noticed that I could fit more pictures in a page by using the other backrounds. I wanted to find the right backround (color or theme) for the month I was working on. That forced me to keep looking at all the backround options, which where quite a few. The pictures on the top and sides of the page were already apart of the backround I picked. No magic there. You also had the option to add a title or not. If you choose to add a title, a box would appear where the title would be for you type in the title. You also had about 6 or 7 fonts to choose from and different colors for the fonts. The quotes were my idea. I did a google search for Walt Disney quotes and found a quote that fit the theme of the month, and typed it into the title box. Again, no magic there. But it took me a long time to finish, and I had a deadline sooner than the 28th. I was leaving for Tenn on the 25th, so the calendar had to be finished by the 24th. I humbly thank you again for admiring my calendar.

 

[azdisneylover]

Sherry, I hope you can get in quickly and cheaply to the dentist. There are a few good homeopathic (spelling) sites online that have helpful ideas on how to relieve tooth pain using all natural items like www.healingteethnaturally.com. I hope you can get back to saving for your Disney trip too.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thank you, bumbershoot.

When making the free calendar on snapfish, I didn't care for the Disney Parks layouts. I started looking for other options....

I never even thought about looking at the other options. If I had thought of it I would have thought they wouldn't allow it...but I didn't even think of it.

Dangit, now I have to stop saying that the world should hire me to tell them what ideas are stupid or will work (why didn't the nearby town ask me how their library would look in the rain? because it looks hideous. exposed concrete being rained on absolutely destroys the gorgeous wood look they have in other places of the library, and it looks like a mess and it's brand new...I would have told them if only they'd asked!), because I didn't even think of that!

Well, I'm glad you did, because I love it.



(I love the others, too, including mine, but the more basic aesthetic suits my eyes better. )

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Sherry how are you feeling? You haven't mentioned it all weekend...hopefully better and even better after your appointment tomorrow...thinking of you!

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry how are you feeling? You haven't mentioned it all weekend...hopefully better and even better after your appointment tomorrow...thinking of you!

Thank you for asking, Sherri! I was going to reply to everyone who had last commented here (who I hadn't already replied to yet, such as Linda) and then I thought, "Maybe I'll just wait until I go to the dentist and see what happens, so then I'll have something to report."

Actually, I'm feeling much, much, much better as far as that 'weird, feel-like-something-is-not-right' feeling, and I have felt better for a couple of days. So that's a good thing!

As far as the actual pain in my tooth/teeth, it is very odd because it is still hard for me to tell exactly where it is is centered. It feels like it jumps around. I think it is mainly coming from the side - or gumline - and it gets hit when I drink hot or cold stuff. That seems to be the sharpest twinge of pain - and that is pretty much like what I had several years ago, when I just needed some bonding to cover up the exposed nerve. Sometimes I feel like there is a little bit of discomfort when I am eating and bite down, but not much. Nothing hurts when I am just sitting here, typing. Everything is aggravated by liquid...but that only lasts a minute and then it's over. So I think there is a fresh nerve exposed near the gumline, and it's being hit when I drink stuff. Whether or not the problem has expanded to underneath the tooth will have to be determined.

The thing is, I think dentists do root canals much more freely these days than they used to. I recall people telling me in the old days that they only needed a root canal when they were in excruciating, mind-numbing pain. Nowadays, it seems like people are having them done left and right.

I hope I don't have a problem that requires anything major like that, though. It's not about being afraid - I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth extracted in one sitting back in the '80s, and that was noooo walk in the park, believe me! It's all about the money issue, and it's about the fact that they may not agree to do any procedures on me because my blood pressure is borderline high. That's what happened with my grandmother when she was alive - the dentist wouldn't do anything for her tooth issues because she had high blood pressure and all that. Even though the last couple of times I've seen doctors, the doctors didn't feel my BP was high enough to give me medicine, they agreed it was on the borderline. And it could be just high enough to where a dentist won't perform a root canal or an extraction. They may not even fill a cavity.

In which case, I will be back at square one!

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Thank you for asking, Sherri! I was going to reply to everyone who had last commented here (who I hadn't already replied to yet, such as Linda) and then I thought, "Maybe I'll just wait until I go to the dentist and see what happens, so then I'll have something to report."

Actually, I'm feeling much, much, much better as far as that 'weird, feel-like-something-is-not-right' feeling, and I have felt better for a couple of days. So that's a good thing!

As far as the actual pain in my tooth/teeth, it is very odd because it is still hard for me to tell exactly where it is is centered. It feels like it jumps around. I think it is mainly coming from the side - or gumline - and it gets hit when I drink hot or cold stuff. That seems to be the sharpest twinge of pain - and that is pretty much like what I had several years ago, when I just needed some bonding to cover up the exposed nerve. Sometimes I feel like there is a little bit of discomfort when I am eating and bite down, but not much. Nothing hurts when I am just sitting here, typing. Everything is aggravated by liquid...but that only lasts a minute and then it's over. So I think there is a fresh nerve exposed near the gumline, and it's being hit when I drink stuff. Whether or not the problem has expanded to underneath the tooth will have to be determined.

The thing is, I think dentists do root canals much more freely these days than they used to. I recall people telling me in the old days that they only needed a root canal when they were in excruciating, mind-numbing pain. Nowadays, it seems like people are having them done left and right.

I hope I don't have a problem that requires anything major like that, though. It's not about being afraid - I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth extracted in one sitting back in the '80s, and that was noooo walk in the park, believe me! It's all about the money issue, and it's about the fact that they may not agree to do any procedures on me because my blood pressure is borderline high. That's what happened with my grandmother when she was alive - the dentist wouldn't do anything for her tooth issues because she had high blood pressure and all that. Even though the last couple of times I've seen doctors, the doctors didn't feel my BP was high enough to give me medicine, they agreed it was on the borderline. And it could be just high enough to where a dentist won't perform a root canal or an extraction. They may not even fill a cavity.

In which case, I will be back at square one!

I was borderline HBP for years...Just after we got back from our trip they finally put me on meds (maybe it was all that junk food I ate on vacation?) Like $30 a month for the stupid things...and it will likely always list as a pre existing condition now even if I get insurance...BOO!

Glad you are feeling better at least a bit!

 

[Sherry E]

I was borderline HBP for years...Just after we got back from our trip they finally put me on meds (maybe it was all that junk food I ate on vacation?) Like $30 a month for the stupid things...and it will likely always list as a pre existing condition now even if I get insurance...BOO!

Glad you are feeling better at least a bit!

Oh, goodness, a trip to DLR will raise anyone's BP - if not because of the junk food, then because of the money that's spent on meals, merchandise, travel, lodging and all of that! And if you end up at a hotel where the accommodations are not exactly what you'd hoped and have to deal with the front desk about it, that will add to the BP issues! Let's not even get into having to deal with Photobucket when you get home!

You would think that a nice trip to a fun place would be relaxing and would lower one's BP...but I bet a lot of people have blood pressure that spikes while on trips, just because of all the 'stuff' it takes to make it happen!