For whatever reason newsgroups are erratically unreliable for me, so I can't
maintain threading and I've pasted your replies:
Anth ([email hidden]):
Quoted message said:a friend of mine (who has never had a
filling in his life and regularly sees a dentist every 6th months)
recently was told by his dentist that he has a cavity that needed filled.
This struck me as being odd as friend had always looked after his teeth -
he's one of those 30 year old 'regimental types.'
So assuming that his dentist was correct, it took 6th months for his
cavity
Quoted message said:to manifest itself.
The dentist said that he would treat it now before it started causing
problems.
This sounds reasonable if the cavity is still small after 6 months. And
reasonable to fill it while small. My cavities obviously are being "caught"
while small. I wonder how a patient is supposed to see these.
Joel M. Eichen
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:How likely is it to form 3 (small) cavities during about 2 or 2.5 years
at
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:middle age, when I have never had any since preteen? (and that preteen
cavity was only one small cavity).New dentist or old dentist?
About 3 years
Total of 3 cavities found since early 2001. (Or maybe late 2000.)
Stephen Mancuso, D.D.S.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:How likely is it to form 3
Not as likelly as with a steady history of problems, but indeed probable.
Especially if there has been a change in health status, habits, or
life-style.
Not much change in habits other than much better at removing tartar
(preventing much calculus). Normally my teeth rapidly cover with tartar,
calculus. Over decades. my gums have become very receded near salivary
glands (lower front). I think the gum in other areas aren't much receded.
My diet hasn't changed too much during the last 15 plus years. Far lower
quantity of starchy things, because I'm far less physically active. And due
to laziness or whatever, most recently I'm eating less veggies. I've always
eaten some sweet things, often fruit. But even with processed sweet stuff, I
think I eat less than the average American does. I drink only a few soft
drinks per year so my teeth aren't soaking in sugar solution all day (the
apple juice in the baby bottle problem). Otoh, milk naturally contains
sugar. 🙂
I've never drunk alcohol, coffee. Never smoked. I've never had good regular
sleep. So not good, but not a change.
The biggest and most abrupt difference in last 4 or 5 years is that I've
gradually become better at keeping calculus down. I've reduced much of the
calculus buildup between cleanings. Better brushing, ribbon floss that
doesn't break and snag, better floss holder, and more frequent cleaning at
dental offices.
I also have a "dull" retail version of the metal "picks" that the hygienists
use. Sliding it between the teeth easily knocks off flakes. But the flakes
aren't very big these days. And I can't do this until a few months after a
cleaning. Previously, the calculus built up within weeks.
I can't prevent a thin line of calculus at the base of each tooth. Lightly
dragging the pick along the edge of the gum is the best way to get at that
narrow deposit. I've noticed this thin region still feels rough after the
hygienists have performed final polishing of the teeth. So I wonder if all
of this is reducing gum recession.
Does calculus cause receding gums?
Does the calculus protect the enamel from cavities?
Does toothpaste and polishing destroy enamel?
Do visits to dental offices encourage cavity finding? 🙁 🙁
I can't see my own teeth. And I really can't see anything in x-rays, but I
don't get a chance to really look at them.
The first of the recent 3 cavities was on the inner surface of a tooth, but
perhaps the opening was just a tiny pinhole, too small for my tongue to
feel??
I'm going to try for an "advisory" appointment at the dental dept of a
University. But I don't think they'll be able to detect what's happened in
the recently filled cavities.
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Is it possible to "train" the average patient to verify the existence of
cavities among relatives, friends, etc.?
Thanks for the responses.