A rant about dentists

Did you actually ask them if they could just pull the wisdom teeth? Or did you just let them do what they originally suggested? Did you say, "I don't want fillings in those teeth, because we are pulling them?"

Dental treatment is not normally involuntary. You don't have to let them put fillings in that you don't want. You just have to be more assertive about what you want.

If they aren't sure that they are going to pull the teeth, they are going to want to put fillings in, because otherwise the cavities will get worse. But you can refuse, surely.

And if you don't like the new dentist, get a different one.

The dentist works for you. If your dentist is doing stuff you don't like, don't let her and get a different dentist.

 

I hear you!
But maybe you just have a crappy dentist. I actually just went in yesterday to get two cavities filled and I was in and out in less than an hour.
They asked me questions too. And I would just sit there and wonder if I was actually expected to give them a well thought out response. My mouth was numb and I had like three different things in my mouth.

Rants are good though.

 

My dentist talks to me too. The reason they do that is too calm anxious patients down. A lot of people have issues with going to the dentist, so they try and be casual to make things less tense.

 

That's why I LOVE my Chinese doctor and dentist. There's no small talk and no bullshit. I go in with a problem and it's fixed as soon as possible, if not immediately. If there's a bigger problem that I have to deal with, I'm given the best and most realistic solution as opposed to being referred to a multitude of different specialists.

 

My dad is a dentist so I can tell you a little bit about it but I know health insurance is different in Canada. The reason they didn't get all your dental work done in one day may vary. One reason they split it up is because you have to recover from fillings and they don't want to cause you a lot of pain. If your cavities are on different sides of your mouth they can't do it in the same day. They will typically try to numb one side of your face so that you can eat with one side of your mouth. If they numbed both sides of your mouth you'd be screwed.

Also are you completely sure they are filling cavities in your wisdom teeth?Wisdom teeth are typically teeth that grow underneath your gums and are hidden. You probably meant your molars (the teeth at the very back) If your wisdom teeth are exposed and they are filling them instead of making an appointment for you to get them pulled you SERIOUSLY need a new dentist. Your wisdom teeth should not be exposed. If they tear through your gums you could develop serious problems like infections.

Also I doubt your dentist will pull out the wisdom teeth herself. A different type of dentist does this type of work usually. This is a precedure that usually requires a surgeon. Because wisdom teeth are under the gums they have to essentially do some cutting to get to them and then they have to stitch you. It is a surgical precedure that you will need to be medicated or put to sleep during. It also requires some recovery time because it is surgery.

Once again wisdom teeth grow under the gums past your molars. You probably need to get these removed since your dentist mentioned them but if they are cutting through your gums you will know (it is insanely painful) and if this happens you NEED to get them removed.

 

I think dentists have great jobs (where I am at least). They sit there, make six figures, and the hygienist does all the work. Anyway sorry about you teeth. That really-bad pun coming-bites.

 

You don't need to remove your wisdom teeth if your jaw is large enough to accommodate them (or you had molars pulled out so there's enough space) and if they are growing right. However, they often grow at an angle so they push against molars, which can cause problems, so then they need to be removed.

I generally believe that nothing should be removed from the body if not necessary (and I'm talking about tonsils, appendix and similar, not excess body fat ). So, if your dentist didn't want to remove it, that's probably because it's not necessary. I, for example, am very happy to have my two wisdom teeth in the lower jaw because they came out nicely and normally and I use them.. probably too much

But anyway.. when it comes to dentists, I hate their "conversations" as well. I mean, it's ok if he asks yes/no question, I can respond. But sometimes I get the feeling he's just being a jerk (in a good way) But he does good job, so..

Oh, and also, I prefer enduring the pain to having my face paralyzed for hours. That is, if the tooth is not inflamed, because this one time when it was I almost fainted twice. That was some pain.... yeah.

 

Agreed (my dad is a dentist too and I asked him about it; he told me pretty much the exact same thing you've written here)

 

Asari, maybe you should talk to your dad. You are talking about impacted wisdom teeth, and not all wisdom teeth are impacted. Why would we have teeth that are impacted in all cases? "Wisdom teeth" are called that because they are just the last teeth to come in--they come in when you are older, and therefore supposedly wiser.

For some people, wisdom teeth come in normally.

I am surprised that there were cavities in the wisdom teeth, though. They are the most recent teeth, and therefore usually the least decayed.

 

Dentists can be so annoying.... My old one always asked me about school, and expected me to answer with my mouth full of crazy metal devices. The one I have now says to never ask a patient a question that can't be answered with "Mmph".

 

ok. I didn't ask him recently cause I don't live with him so don't take me word for word. I'm definitely not a pro lol

 

They might have great jobs, but it's extremely difficult to go through (schooling, that is.) A close family friend is a dentist. She put in a shit ton of effort and work. If she's smart enough to do this job, then I think she should make all the money she can.

---------- Post added 19th Feb 2013 at 04:35 PM ----------

I am laughing because I like the complete opposite of what you're saying - it's all about preference. I WANT my dentist to talk to me. I don't care if I sound like I'm from Planet Crazy pants. usually, they stop and let me talk. However, you obviously can't speak with a mouth full of tools and numbing medicine!

My old dentist was very sociable. He was a friend of my grandfather's, so we always had things to talk about. My new dentist is such an awkward little duck! It's boring! I want some chatter - I want to enjoy my time there.

However, I must add a few comments. If your wisdom teeth need to be pulled...how did they come in? Usually (unless I'm all full of crap) they don't come in or shit would hit the fan. If they can come in, it's usually something that is left alone. My mom has her wisdom teeth. I don't, because they were causing many issues.

 

Dentists are annoying. I had three tools holding my mouth open, her fingers stretching my cheek and working on my teeth, and another tool scraping something off of my tooth. She STILL tried to hold a conversationg asking stuff like. "How is school?"

Are you serious? I can barely even moan with my mouth full of tools, and she expects me to answer a question like that?

I hear you, friend. DENTISTS ARE A PAIN!

 

i'm sorry. accept my hug (*hug*)

 

I actually fell asleep during my dentist appointment today. Two fillings in adjacent teeth and I don't remember any of it.

 

I wish I could fall asleep with 30 tools in my mouth. LOL