General Medical issues thread

[wandering_fred]

Gee my thirty year old crowns seem to have been worth the money?

Happy wandering (to a good dentist)

Fred

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The problem is who do you choose to do it?

As a prosthodontist (who cost a small fortune) told me, they work to 30 thou (thousandths of an inch) tolerance, whereas normal dentists work to 120 thou tolerance. Which results in prosthodontist crowns having an average life span of 15 years (longer if kept clean with flossing or interdental cleaning) versus seven years from normal dentists.

Not one bonded amalgam filling the prosthodontist put in my mouth has ever come out or needed replacement (though it took him two hours to do it, versus 20 or 30 minutes for a regular dentist - who's fillings didn't last anywhere near as long).
Regards,
Renato

I did a lot of research before my crown recently. The stats aren't good... crowns without a root canal are generally going to require a root canal some time in the next 5-7 years. Other crowns can need replacing after 10 years. Sure there might be dentists that can extend that to 15, but at what cost? Do you get a crown in Thailand for $250 that lasts 10 years, or get one in Australia for $8000 that lasts 15? Dentistry advances each year and the procedures get better (for example digital impressions now for crowns instead of using that putty stuff). Until my recent crown I was a bit averse to going to the dentist, even with anaesthetic sometimes you'd get nerve paid... my (new) dentist just put so much anaesthetic in I felt absolutely nothing!

 

[JohnK]

The problem is who do you choose to do it?

As a prosthodontist (who cost a small fortune) told me, they work to 30 thou (thousandths of an inch) tolerance, whereas normal dentists work to 120 thou tolerance. Which results in prosthodontist crowns having an average life span of 15 years (longer if kept clean with flossing or interdental cleaning) versus seven years from normal dentists.

Not one bonded amalgam filling the prosthodontist put in my mouth has ever come out or needed replacement (though it took him two hours to do it, versus 20 or 30 minutes for a regular dentist - who's fillings didn't last anywhere near as long).
Regards,
Renato

Good question. For $6500 I would hope that I get lifetime warranty on the implant and crown. I would not want to go through this again.

It takes me a long time to get the courage to do these things. And it is not about the money.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Good question. For $6500 I would hope that I get lifetime warranty on the implant and crown. I would not want to go through this again.

It takes me a long time to get the courage to do these things. And it is not about the money.

Ohhh... no no no! I had this issue several times for my parents, they would get crowns which some time down the track might split or crack, and I'd get upset with the dentist/ When researching my own crown I came across this really good site which comprehensively examined everything from root canal v no root canal, crown life (expectancy based on thousands of cases) etc etc.

Crowns can last forever... but it's all about the patient... is the tooth at the front or back, made from gold, porcelain on metal, or porcelain only; how much of the tooth was left before the crown went on; how does the person eat on the crown, and how they care for the crown.

Crowns can have a life of as little as 5-10 years.

I can't locate the website now, but I have it bookmarked at home. I'll post it when I get back (or if I forget and you're still interested, just remind me).

 

[Renato1]

I did a lot of research before my crown recently. The stats aren't good... crowns without a root canal are generally going to require a root canal some time in the next 5-7 years. Other crowns can need replacing after 10 years. Sure there might be dentists that can extend that to 15, but at what cost? Do you get a crown in Thailand for $250 that lasts 10 years, or get one in Australia for $8000 that lasts 15? Dentistry advances each year and the procedures get better (for example digital impressions now for crowns instead of using that putty stuff). Until my recent crown I was a bit averse to going to the dentist, even with anaesthetic sometimes you'd get nerve paid... my (new) dentist just put so much anaesthetic in I felt absolutely nothing!

Thanks, but there is one other factor, namely whether the crowns are well maintained. My then prosthodontist insisted that if I wanted them to last well beyond the average time, I had to floss daily with unwaxed floss. And he charged me $150 (20 years ago) to show me the correct method of flossing. Unfortunately, unwaxed floss became hard to get, and he had to start recommending interdental brushes like Tee- Pee and Picksters be used every day. Normal tooth brushing, be it manual or electric, isn't sufficient and results in reduced crown life.

My oldest crown is 20 years old.
Regards,
Renato

Good question. For $6500 I would hope that I get lifetime warranty on the implant and crown. I would not want to go through this again.

It takes me a long time to get the courage to do these things. And it is not about the money.

Dentists never bothered me much, I'd often refuse to take a needle for drilling during a filling or cleaning up a tooth prior to inserting crowns.
It was usually quite relaxing.
Regards,
Renato

 

[wandering_fred]

My last discussion with my dentist regarding implants indicated that a lot had changed in 4 years. Current tech would require a full mouth xray and the impressions send off to the (computer) lab. Returned would be a template to precisely drill the hole in which the implant (titanium screw) is inserted. Eventually an appliance (not really a crown) would be glued on to the top of a pin inserted/screwed into the implant. Bridges worj the same except with two holes/implanted. We didn't talk price. Though I am losing a tooth next to the implant bridge.

I wonder what the current procedure (and price) is in Sri Lanka (that being where I got mine done). Basically low tech at the time, but it worked. And the local dentists have not commented on it.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Quickstatus]

I don't floss.

Piksters are much better - sort of like mini bottle brushes for the between the teeth stuff. Can do with one hand. Various sizes from places like Woolies. I use the blue ones

 

[Renato1]

My last discussion with my dentist regarding implants indicated that a lot had changed in 4 years. Current tech would require a full mouth xray and the impressions send off to the (computer) lab. Returned would be a template to precisely drill the hole in which the implant (titanium screw) is inserted. Eventually an appliance (not really a crown) would be glued on to the top of a pin inserted/screwed into the implant. Bridges worj the same except with two holes/implanted. We didn't talk price. Though I am losing a tooth next to the implant bridge.

I wonder what the current procedure (and price) is in Sri Lanka (that being where I got mine done). Basically low tech at the time, but it worked. And the local dentists have not commented on it.

Happy wandering

Fred

Even more advanced, in the last few years, my prosthodontist spent $50,000 or so on a gadget that does away with taking impressions. Instead he just goes in with a sensor, moves it around the gap with the missing tooth, and a complete 3D picture builds up inside a computer in front of us till he is happy. And that is used for making the crown with exact precision to fit onto the implant post and between the teeth.

Done the old way with impressions could be troublesome, where running blood would muck up the impression and he'd have to start over again, and again, and he'd get very frustrated till he finally got it right.

Xrays are still needed to see how well the implant has joined to the bone.
Regards,
Renato

I don't floss.

Piksters are much better - sort of like mini bottle brushes for the between the teeth stuff. Can do with one hand. Various sizes from places like Woolies. I use the blue ones

About six years ago, my local Woolies decided to get rid of Picksters and put them all on the clearance table for a dollar a packet.
I walked by, saw them, and bought them all. I still have heaps of them left.
Regards,
Renato

 

[JohnK]

Dentists never bothered me much, I'd often refuse to take a needle for drilling during a filling or cleaning up a tooth prior to inserting crowns.
It was usually quite relaxing.
Regards,
Renato

I get quite stressed thinking about going to the dentist. It's not the dentist that bothers me. I can handle the drilling quite easily. The dentist chair feels claustrophobic. Not comfortable at all. And I cannot handle the anaesthetic. The adrenalin causes anxiety/panic attacks. Laughing gas on it's own is not enough. I prefer to be knocked out and not have any recollection of the visit. We have tried sedation by the GP but that can also be hit and miss. And is not cheap either.

 

[Renato1]

I get quite stressed thinking about going to the dentist. It's not the dentist that bothers me. I can handle the drilling quite easily. The dentist chair feels claustrophobic. Not comfortable at all. And I cannot handle the anaesthetic. The adrenalin causes anxiety/panic attacks. Laughing gas on it's own is not enough. I prefer to be knocked out and not have any recollection of the visit. We have tried sedation by the GP but that can also be hit and miss. And is not cheap either.

Hi John,
You aren't alone, I've met other people with very similar reactions to yours.

I've been fortunate. When in the dentist chair wearing the sunglasses they provide, I just stare at the light aimed at me - and sort of just focus on it, don't think of anything else - putting myself into sort of a half trance.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Hvr]

And now the ears are hurting! Right down to the jaw line. Fortunately I'm off on sick leave until at least next Thursday. Hopefully I'll be well before then.

 

[JohnK]

And now the ears are hurting! Right down to the jaw line. Fortunately I'm off on sick leave until at least next Thursday. Hopefully I'll be well before then.

A good old bout of the flu? You're not on a flu vaccine?

 

[Pushka]

A good old bout of the flu? You're not on a flu vaccine?

Do you mean - not have a flu jab?

 

[Hvr]

A good old bout of the flu? You're not on a flu vaccine?

I got it last month.

 

[love_the_life]

Daughter had flu shot through work. MrLtL had one too though I didn't get around to it this year. Unfortunately in daughter's case the injection seemed to be inserted too high in the arm and she got bursitis. It is much better now but not 100%. She didn't get the flu though.

 

[wandering_fred]

I nay have spoken too soon. At least one crown is "kaput". Probably two. :shock: Even so, it was a good run. :-|
I could blame the taffy piece, but the evidence says that only sped up the process a few days.

Just wandering

Fred

 

[love_the_life]

I nay have spoken too soon. At least one crown is "kaput". Probably two. :shock: Even so, it was a good run. :-|
I could blame the taffy piece, but the evidence says that only sped up the process a few days.

Just wandering

Fred

A bit like never saying the car is running well . Good luck.

 

[cove]

We are watching a bit of tv here in California and the drug advertisements are simply incredible. I don't think advertisements like this are allowed in Australia.....thank goodness.

 

[Flashback]

We are watching a bit of tv here in California and the drug advertisements are simply incredible. I don't think advertisements like this are allowed in Australia.....thank goodness.

They are a treat, that's for sure!

 

[cove]

They are hammering a new prostate shrinking drug today as well as heart failure fixing drugs. A lot more adverts and they have to tell you all the drawbacks and restrictions on who should or should not use them.