Do they clean your plaque off your teeth after you get your braces off?
I have a little plaque build-up behind my two front lower teeth in the center, and there's some "cement" on my lower molars, and my teeth aren't yellow but they aren't freakishly white either, so I guess my brightness is on a average level, but when they do take your braces off, do they clean up your teeth from all the plaque and whiten them? I'm asking this because my friend had braces since sixth grade (is in eight now) and he had terrible, terrible cement all around his brackets from not brushing his teeth, and when he got them off, they were squeaky clean!!! My dentist hasn't said anything about my plaque yet, but they just said to continue brushing my teeth better, and I have, but the plaque doesn't go away like that. So, will they really clean up my teeth??
Finding help for gum disease/dental problems on a college student's budget? (Or insurance options)?
Growing up, my family never had dental or health insurance. My mother took me to the dentist when I was two or so for a check up, but after that I wasn't able to go again until the sixth grade when I had a cavity the size of a crater in one of my back teeth. It had been hurting my ear more than my mouth, so we thought it had been an ear infection. I ended up getting a root canal and practically rebuilding the tooth, as well as two other small fillings. I didn't feel thing! I was lucky my grandmother was still alive then to foot the bill.
I went again at the end of my senior year in high school for a cleaning, filling two cavities, and seeing what could be done about my wonky back (wisdom?) teeth and TMD. (As an aside: I was punched in the jaw accidentally when I was younger, and the doctor told us to see a dentist. The sixth grade dentist told us we'd have to see a doctor about it. The next doctor told us to see a dentist. The senior year dentist said to see a doctor. Can anyone give me some advice on this matter while you're here?)
Long story long, I haven't seen a dentist since then. I had a really bad vitamin B12 deficiency last year that no one could figure out, and despite flossing and brushing to an almost obsessive extent and trying to maintain good oral health, my gums kept recessing. I've always had a tooth on my bottom row that was pushed forward when those (still) wonky back teeth grew in. That's where it's the worst.
I've been begging my mother to send me to a dentist since then. I even asked for a dentist appointment for Christmas. I'm currently attending school at Western Washington University and have no real income. I do get a refunded check from my financial aid every quarter, but it's all I get for three or so months, and I by the time my books are bought I hardly have enough for groceries. My mother wants to help out, but she's in worse shape than I am.
Basically, I need a lot of dental work down, possibly some orthodontics, too, and I need to find a place that will give good service for a low price. Also, any information on dental insurance plans that would be good for my situation is appreciated. I've looked around, but I'm really hopeless when it comes to all of this. I have no idea what I'm doing.
If you happen to live in Bellingham and have a good, kind dentist (or if you happen to be one), I'd be thrilled if you'd provide the contact information. Even if the services are not cheap, I'd still like to discuss possible payment methods with a reputable dentist. (I'd really prefer a dentist that is highly skilled. As much as I'm desperate right now, the really cheap dentists that do quick fixes or, worse, end up progressng the problems I already have are something I'd rather avoid.)
If you don't live in the area, but you know of some good insurance companies that take pity on currently unemployed, poor college gals, that's great, too!
To be honest, I'm actually really embarassed by the state of my teeth. I'd really like it if anyone who answers refrained from ridiculing me or telling me I brought in upon myself or something like that... Believe me when I tell you I would have gone sooner if I had the chance.
Thank you, and sorry the details of this question have gone for so long!!
I forgot to mention: The receeding of my gums has extended beyond the one tooth, is generally uncomfortable (sometimes painful, but usually just ... uncomfortable), and now some of my teeth are loose. I still brush and floss everyday, and it doesn't seem to be helping. I stay away from sugar, take a multi-vitamin and calcium supplement, and have greatly reduced my coffee and caffeine intake. I'm starting to panic a little bit because it just keeps getting worse, even though I've improved my routine. I'm scared I'll lose a tooth before I actually get to see a dentist.
Do I need my tooth pulled?
My molar on my left & right side had horrible cavities when I was younger. So my Grandmother & aunt had them filled. But for some reason they weren't good enough and I remember when I was in 3rd grade I ate a piece of that really hard, store bought popcorn and it pushed up my filling on my left side and I couldn't eat on it for years (I still won't eat on that side because of the pain). Now a few years ago, I guess it just deteriorated on my right side because there is a big black cavity on my right & left side. Also about in the middle of sixth grade (about 2 years ago.) some of my adult started growing in my my left side on the bottom. Now my baby teeth are stuck and literally falling apart. (there is two.) Anyways, the new teeth are pushing them away, but they just won't fall out. I've tried wiggling them but they hurt to much when I touch them. I would say a few months ago, a part of one of those teeth fell apart and fell out. They don't have cavities but I think they have acid erosion. Anyways, recently about a week ago, my left side of my mouth had been causing me major pain. It's sometimes like I can feel my heart throbbing in my tooth it hurts. I would say I think Tuesday, I was crying my eyes out and I fell down on the floor and I was spitting in the sink it hurt so bad. My aunt has been giving me percocets for the pain. She's afraid to give them to me, but I absolutely need them. The pain inturrupts my life and causes me to not be able to do things I need or want to do. Like when it hurts to much, I can't and won't even talk it hurts so much. And I spent the night at a friends house last night, but I had to leave early the pain was too much. I went to the dentist a few years ago and they said I would need a root canal. But thing is, A root canal isn't going to do anything. I WANT THAT BITCH PULLED OUT. It hurts way too much. And also I would probably need my right molar pulled out and also those two bottom teeth that won't come out. But I don't have insurance what so ever, so I'm not sure if I can keep living on percocets until I do because I don't have the money. Which would be cheaper, and less painful, and better for me in the longrun? A root canal or just get it pulled? Or is there something I might be able to do? Help!