posted
Hello, I have a nasty looking wisdom tooth that most likely needs to be pulled.
I just don't know how I can stand a dentist with my neuro issues. I get tremors and anxiety from the buzzer during a haircut.
I assume with the wisdom tooth they will knock me out, but with cleaning and if I need fillings, can they knock me out as well, or can water infiltrate lungs?
I haven't seen the dentist since being sick, and I have a few problems that I am aware of. I know it needs to be done, and my doctors have mentioned it as well.
Any ideas on how to survive the dentist?
I guess you could call me immunodeficient so it's important to me that they take precautions (antiseptics, etc).
I've also wondered if a diseased wisdom tooth can act as a reservoir for my infections.
Thanks a lot. My mom got real sick for 2 years from a root canal infection, and I want to minimize any risks.
[ 11-01-2010, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: kday ]
Posts: 967 | From A deserted island without internet access | Registered: Sep 2009
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quote:Originally posted by JOLA: I know dental hygiene is important but honestly I will never go again.
I can trace all my problems to a bridge over 2 years ago.
Then 1 month ago I decided to have my one merc. filling removed. My head has been a nightmare since.
I don't know what the options are. I detox and yet every dental appt. sets me back years.
I was on ABX during the last procedure and yet if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't do it.
Sorry to be so negative. I know you gotta take care of your teeth. All the best.
Thanks. I totally understand. I don't want setbacks, but I know I need to see the dentist for sure. I have a large chip in my molar and terrible looking wisdom tooth full of cavities. It almost looks dead. My dentist warned me years ago that this would happen, and I think it would be a good idea to get it removed before it does harm.
I just want to know how to survive the dentist. True or not, I honestly feel that a large enough setback could kill me or my brain.
Posts: 967 | From A deserted island without internet access | Registered: Sep 2009
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posted
I've also wondered if a diseased wisdom tooth can act as a reservoir for my infections.
absolutely
-- and not getting teeth professionally cleaned at LEAST once a year can also lead to infections and gum disease which would affect your overall health.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
You really should go to the dentist at least once a year, every 6mo is even better. Poor dental health can affect your whole body, increases inflammation, can contribute to heart disease.
I never had cavities before I got sick with Lyme. My dentist said that stress and being sick can make you more susceptible. I've had 4 or 5 cavities filled over the past couple years. I would rather get them taken care of now so that I can keep the tooth as healthy as possible.
My dentist uses the "Waterlase" laser system. It's pretty awesome, no loud painful drilling, no numbing needed. You should check it out, call around and find a waterlase dentist in your area. Here's a website that explains it: http://www.laserdentistry.com/benefits.html
About the wisdom teeth. That was not a fun experience. I had my bottom two extracted (uppers haven't shown up on xray yet). They were growing in sideways pushing against the other teeth so they had to come out. My dentist doesn't use full anesthesia only locals for procedures. For some reason Lidocaine wears off really quickly for me, they had to keep giving me more and more injections. The injections were the worst part.
So if you get your wisdom teeth pulled or extracted have some ibuprofen and ice packs ready at home. Rotate the ice 20min on 20min off for at least a day. That will greatly reduce your inflammation and prevent pain.
One more thought, if you have an MP3 player or something similar bring that with you to the appt. Then you can close your eyes and listen to your favorite relaxing music while the dentist works on your teeth.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- "Waterlase" sounds nice. I've called about it and most do not use laser for general cleaning though.
Yes, cleaning at least every 6 months can help to prevent heart disease.
As for any anesthetics: ask for EPI-free (as epinephrine is in some shots and that can zoom someone with adrenal dysfunction to the moon).
My dentist wrote in large letters on the inside of my chart: NO EPI
I have arranged to go for the last appointment of the a day and when no one else is in the office, the day the hygienist is off. It's a one dentist office. I could no do otherwise.
Even the receptionist knows to be very, very quiet while I'm there as any sound can trigger a seizure for me and the fluorescent lights can really set me up from neuro irritation.
Over the ear muffs are better to help mitigate the sounds as ear plugs can make the sounds worse inside the head/ear due to the way bone conducts the sound of any drill or cleaning equipment.
My dentist graciously agreed to not use the ultrasonic high speed water drill but do manual cleaning. The water drill/cleaner is very hard for those with tinnitus and hyperacusis. So, ask about manual cleaning. The scraping is still very hard but not as bad as the high pressured equipment. Perhaps they could do only the harder places with the drill.
Taking some things that help protect the ears can help to a degree but avoid any sedatives that are ototoxic (as many are).
What can help ears: NAD, B-6, Vinpocetine, other liver support. Salvia m. can be calming and also supportive.
I also avoid the fluoride rinse as fluoride is a neurotoxin. There are other ways to help support tooth enamel. -
[ 11-01-2010, 01:02 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i have an appt for a cleaning on thursday.
any tips?? or should just a cleaning be ok?
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Depends on if you have tinnitus or hyperacusis.
I also tell them to avoid the fluoride in cleanings as it makes me feel horrible for days later, it's very toxic to nerves.
You also have to be sure they avoid aspartame and other artificial sweeteners and dyes in the tooth polishing gel. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i have tinnitus big time.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
you can try to get into a dental clinic in a hospital, they can make you as comfortable as you need. They can give you sedatives, my daughter was put under.
-------------------- I am not a doctor. I have no clue. Posts: 606 | From somewhere out there | Registered: Sep 2009
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posted
I went for ten years without seeing a dentist; it was so unpleasant for me. Then I read an article about oral hygeine and heart disease, and then, one about poor oral hygeine and inflammation that starts there but locates in other parts of the body. That's what got me back to the dentist.
Epinepherine is one of the things I didn't like about dental visits; it always made my heart race and gave me the shakes. Now it's not used on me for routine things. But, it does help stem blood flow so when I had gum surgery we opted for low epi (after first trying it with none and having extensive bleeding) and it worked fine and didn't bother me.
In my view, it is crucial to have a dentist you trust. I'm a difficult dental patient and it took me a long time to find a dentist, hygienist, and periodontist I liked. I am no longer anxious before dental visits because I know the professionals with whom I am working will take good care of me, and they know my limitations. They use the ultrasonic tool minimally (it gives me headaches), doing mostly hand scraping during cleanings. And they give me lots of breaks for TMJ.
When I go to the dentist I always take an ipod, and headphones. If I am getting a filling, I bring a hot water bottle with me because it calms me to have something warm to hold onto. I use a natural mouthwash before any dental work, and afterward. No fluoride. I make sure my neck is adequately supported.
If you have a good dentist, they will listen to you when you tell them of your concerns and needs. Have your doctors expressed any opinions about how this should be done? When I had gum surgery my doctor and dentist conferred several times to determine how to get me through it with the least amount of risk.
Good luck with your dental visit.
Posts: 212 | From San Francisco Bay Area, California | Registered: Aug 2010
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quote:Originally posted by sammy: You really should go to the dentist at least once a year, every 6mo is even better. Poor dental health can affect your whole body, increases inflammation, can contribute to heart disease.
I never had cavities before I got sick with Lyme. My dentist said that stress and being sick can make you more susceptible. I've had 4 or 5 cavities filled over the past couple years. I would rather get them taken care of now so that I can keep the tooth as healthy as possible.
My dentist uses the "Waterlase" laser system. It's pretty awesome, no loud painful drilling, no numbing needed. You should check it out, call around and find a waterlase dentist in your area. Here's a website that explains it: http://www.laserdentistry.com/benefits.html
About the wisdom teeth. That was not a fun experience. I had my bottom two extracted (uppers haven't shown up on xray yet). They were growing in sideways pushing against the other teeth so they had to come out. My dentist doesn't use full anesthesia only locals for procedures. For some reason Lidocaine wears off really quickly for me, they had to keep giving me more and more injections. The injections were the worst part.
So if you get your wisdom teeth pulled or extracted have some ibuprofen and ice packs ready at home. Rotate the ice 20min on 20min off for at least a day. That will greatly reduce your inflammation and prevent pain.
One more thought, if you have an MP3 player or something similar bring that with you to the appt. Then you can close your eyes and listen to your favorite relaxing music while the dentist works on your teeth.
Awesome. There is a Waterlase practitioner in my town. They also do IV sedation dentistry! I honestly need that.
There is 741 reviews too, and most are 5 stars.
Hopefully it's possible to make an appointment.
Posts: 967 | From A deserted island without internet access | Registered: Sep 2009
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quote:Originally posted by onbam: Water scalers are listed in that articles as the worst offenders in aerosol production. A high-volume evacuator, a rubber dam, and a mask are an absolute must for dentists using these with Lyme patients.
According to Barbour in The Biology of Borrelia species, this thing get into mammalian saliva.
Are you suggesting that the dentist needs to protect himself from the aerosols?
If I told them to take more precautions while working on me, they'd probably look at me like I am just nuts.
Posts: 967 | From A deserted island without internet access | Registered: Sep 2009
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stymielymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10044
posted
premed 2 days prior and 3 days after appointment clindamycin 150mg tid 3 times day. clindamycin is one of the few drugs that target areas of bone and gums in the mouth. wisdom teeth must be removed as they are a major source of infection that can go down the lymph space into the heart.
docdave
Posts: 1820 | From Boone and Southport, NC | Registered: Sep 2006
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lymeboy
Unregistered
posted
I just qualified for an implant at a dental school. Should I forgo the implant? Are there alternatives? I would like to do it since I know that the bone wears away after a tooth is pulled, and an implant keeps that from happening.
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posted
They wanted me to go in for a consultation tomorrow to discuss my condition and concerns before doing any dental work.
I put of the dentist for so long because I just didn't think I could handle it, but I think I could tolerate it with IV sedation.
Certain sounds cause anxiety and tremors, and it is honestly the sound of the drill that I am most concerned about.
Coincidentally, I just developed some type of gum infection on the roof of my mouth.
Thanks everyone and I'll try to remember to ask if I can premed.
Posts: 967 | From A deserted island without internet access | Registered: Sep 2009
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posted
So I had my consultation. I need lots of work done. Fillings, pulling wisdom teeth, and apparently a root canal.
They want to remove 3 wisdom teeth, but I am only going to get one removed. I thought I was missing my other wisdom teeth, but I guess they are impacted under the gums. I will hold off on getting those pulled.
Dentist wasn't mean, but didn't seem to have any concern about infection from these procedures. He told me root canals can't cause a systemic infection and that's a myth.
My mom had a heart infection that started literally a day after her root canal and had a severe heart infection (CICU hospitalized for weeks) and inflammation for 2 years.
He told me it was just a coincidence my mom had an infection. I don't think he liked when I chuckled at that response.
Ya, they told me it was just a coincidence when I started getting systemic symptoms from an infection in my groin that was from a tick I never saw. I just don't trust people anymore.
I talked to my doctor, and he thought the root canal was a big deal and wants me to consult with a holistic MD/DDS that understands Lyme and chronic disease. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like he takes insurance.
I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. I need some fillings and crowns, and I think I may go to the dentist that takes my insurance to do those. The good news is they only use composite fillings and porcelain crowns. They don't use metals.
I think I will consult with the other dentist about the wisdom tooth extraction and that tooth they want to do a root canal on.
He found it surprising that I wanted my tooth pulled rather than having a root canal at my age (24). He says there is no scientific evidence that there is any significant danger (in terms of infection) in getting a root canal. All I heard was bla bla bla.
I don't care so much anymore whether I am missing a tooth or not. I just want my health back without further complications.
Posts: 967 | From A deserted island without internet access | Registered: Sep 2009
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