What do you guys think?? Dentist question

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

First off please don't flame as i know there are people who don't believe in lawsuits and such and also don't flame thinking this is petty or self-centered because I am 18 years old and my teeth are very important to me with the rest of my life to live.


When I went to the dentist for my 6 month checkup in December they found 2 cavities neither of which were incredibly bad but of course I knew I had them going in there.
They said that the cavities would NOT get bigger in the 3 months until i come home again in March.
Well it is 2 weeks before spring break and the two cavities are HUGE!!
To the point where I am worried there may be serious damage.
Now my bottom 4 teeth are in constant throbbing pain and cold liquid hurts the cavity in my front tooth.

I am pretty pissed about this to the point where if there is serious damage or something wrong with these teeth that will cost me in the future, I am contemplating a lawsuit.
I was told nothing worse would happen with them knowing full well i have very sensitive teeth...so my first question is should I worry about this pain in my front teeth which has now become unbearable and anyone know what it could be AND my second question is...if there is something seriously wrong with the two cavities they found in december what can i do in terms of the dentist saying nothing would change?

 

[amid chaos]

NORAH! They couldnt get you in before you went back to school...only option was to wait till you came back.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Originally posted by amid chaos
NORAH! They couldnt get you in before you went back to school...only option was to wait till you came back.

MOTHER!!!
You havent seen the cavities!!!!!

 

[helenabear]

I don't know what to tell you... I can only say I had something similar happen... the two cavities were very tiny when I first had them looked at and a month or two later they were enormous!!!!!! So much so I had to go in two different times to get them filled because they were so bad! I guess it never occured to me to have something done legally since they had *no* clue that this could happen that quickly. It was really freaky and I knew they felt bad for making me wait so long and have to go back a 2nd time to get the other one filled. I would guess that your dentist thought the same since most cavities don't seem to get that bad that quickly. Is there anyway you can go get them filled asap? Sorry you are dealing with pain

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

No i don't fly home until the 19th.

I mean the cavities havent caused pain until this upper one but the bottom fourth teeth have been hurting for about 3 days now.
It feels like i am having growing pains in my teeth lol

 

[Mskanga]

Norah, there's nothing you can do. The only thing you can do is fill the cavities and hope and pray that this is the only thing you need.

 

[Disney's Deluxe Princess]

I once went to the dentist with horrible tooth pain. I thought for sure something had happened to my teeth since my last checkup. It turned out to be my sinuses. I know that doesn't explain your big cavaties though. I sure hope you feel better and get it taken care of soon.

 

[Kallison]

You guys are cracking me up, yelling at each other over the thread! I had a problem with a dentist screwing up a root canal. It took about 4 different specialists, 6 years and $1,000's to get it fixed correctly. All I can tell you is that doctors cover for each other. I finally had one dentist go as far as to say - I wish you had come to me first, but nobody else would admit the first guy had screwed up. Anyway I'm not big on litigation, I just want the problem fixed. I read an article once where it said it was easy to find lousy dentists or have them screw up your mouth because their field is so subjective about what needs to be fixed or they can fix stuff that doesn't really need to be done. Good luck with your problem, I hope it isn't serious.

 

[KristaTX]

I am sorry about your cavities and pain. I do have to say, though, that I think thoughts of legal action are very premature. They told you that you had the cavities. Maybe they should have encouraged you to get them filled. But if you knew you were extra sensitive to dental pain, then maybe you should have asked them to go ahead and fill them. When you go in, just express your concerns to the dentist. If the dentist assured you that the cavities would not worsen, then he/she made a mistake. I don't think it is something to sue over, though.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Originally posted by skporter
I am sorry about your cavities and pain. I do have to say, though, that I think thoughts of legal action are very premature. They told you that you had the cavities. Maybe they should have encouraged you to get them filled. But if you knew you were extra sensitive to dental pain, then maybe you should have asked them to go ahead and fill them. When you go in, just express your concerns to the dentist. If the dentist assured you that the cavities would not worsen, then he/she made a mistake. I don't think it is something to sue over, though.

I did ask them to fill them before i had to return to school but like my mom said they were unable to. When i asked them at my appt if waiting 3 months would cause them to get bigger or any other problems vthey said no they would not because it was only 3 months.
And i have absolutely no problem with the fact that they got bigger and I would sue over that BUT if there is long term problems or serious damage to the teetn then I would be really upset.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I actually cannot believe they told you they would not get worse! You poor thing. I have had tiny pinhead size cavities and they insist I get them filled ASAP or they tell me they WILL get worse. I have a fear of cavities and painful teeth-remember the movie Castaway? I don't want to be stranded somewhere and have tooth pain!
They SHOULD have filled them in Dec. before you returned to school. Isn't there some over the counter cavity filler putty stuff that works temporarily? I should have some if there is!
Good luck!

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

it isnt the cavities that are hurting...it is my front four bottom teeth however my cavity in my upper front tooth is hurting with some liquids.

The worst one isnt hurting but man are these bottom teeth in pain.

 

[KristaTX]

All I am saying is that if they made an honest error in judgement, then they probably don't deserve to have a malpractice lawsuit filed against them. Maybe the first step should be to talk to them about how the cavities were handled and ask them to do any necessary work to correct the problem at a discounted rate or even free of charge.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

So the teeth that hurt the most do not have cavities? Do you grind or clinch your teeth? I used to go running to the dentist ALL the time with throbbing teeth (thinking root canal!) and it was determined that I was grinding/clinching my teeth. A nightguard (or is it a biteguard?) has solved that problem and I don't crack my teeth anymore either.
Take some Motrin for now, and try to get to a dentist!

 

[amid chaos]

I agree with skporter.

 

[annemariec]

Sorry to hear what you are going through.

My friend's daughter used to get a liquid treatment to prevent cavities. It's some sort of clear material that hardens over the teeth that acts as a shield. I have often wondered why the procedure isn't used more widely. It sounds like you could've benefitted from it. (Me too over the years...)

I understand your worry. I'd be worried too. Especially with so many teeth involved.

Good luck! I hope it gets resolved soon.
Annemarie

 

[helenabear]

Norah, sorry that you are stuck for another couple of weeks. I do hope the pain goes down. I agree with what Karen said as well... I know with my fillings, they had no perm damage, I juste have *huge* silver fillings in them now and nothing perm wrong... hopefully that can help put your mind at ease.

Oh also if other teeth are hurting, you might have sinus pressure/infection... my front teeth hurt when I have really bad sinus trouble.

Originally posted by annemariec
My friend's daughter used to get a liquid treatment to prevent cavities. It's some sort of clear material that hardens over the teeth that acts as a shield. I have often wondered why the procedure isn't used more widely. It sounds like you could've benefitted from it. (Me too over the years...)

I've had that done as well... it was recommended after I had my molars come in with cavities. My enamel isn't what it should be... and those treatments are supposedly good for 15 years

 

[Serena]

Those treatments are called Sealants. I forget how much they cost, but they work great at preventing cavities.

Norah, good luck. And I hope if it gets too bad, you'd visit a local dentist to get it taken care of.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Originally posted by amid chaos
I agree with skporter.

You would

Btw John says hi.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Okay mom, you're next.

Just hoping you feel better, Norah, home in a few days. And don't piss on those teeth, I hear it stains.