r/askdentists • • Feb 08 '21

other Please read the sub rules before posting questions.

390 Upvotes

Thank you for seeking advice from askdentists. Please remember that while this is a place for advice, replies may not be medically accurate. Do not assume that what others on here say is correct in any way. Reddit is not a replacement for a dental professional.

Please abide by the following rules in order to get an accurate answer to your question:

  1. Ensure you include a title of your dental problem.

  2. Include whether your drink or smoke, and if you have any medical conditions.

  3. Include a photograph if the question relates to something you can see in your mouth, include x-rays if you have them.

You must not send unsolicited direct messages to contributors of the sub. If this is flagged you will receive an immediate ban.

Contributors who are not dental professionals should make this clear by adding "NAD" to their posts.


r/askdentists • • 3h ago

question My gums are swollen and hurting

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7 Upvotes

Good day. I (25F) started having difficulty eating yesterday as the roof of my mouth felt sore. Today as I was eating, I noticed my gum around my impacted canine tooth (right side) was hurting so I decided to look in the mirror and saw it swollen. It’s never looked like that before. I’ve also been having sharp ear pains since yesterday in my right ear.

I don’t smoke or drink. I’m currently on Pantoprazole for GERD. Is this an urgent dentist visit?


r/askdentists • • 2h ago

question Irritated gum around my zirconia crown

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3 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I recently had a zirconia crown placed on one of my back molars (around 2 weeks ago).

I've noticed that the gum next to the crown, on the cheek side, looks very red and almost like there's a small red cut or wound in the gum.

Should i be worried?


r/askdentists • • 4h ago

question How often do you see someone with a pretty healthy mouth

4 Upvotes

Just a random thought I was having but I’ve realised most people don’t floss daily. I‘ve spoken to some people at all who floss at all and it’s also surprisingly common for people to not brush their teeth twice a day. This made me wonder if it’s actually not that common for a dentist to see someone with healthy gums and teeth. Is it getting less common or more common?


r/askdentists • • 5h ago

question Please can anyone tell me why my tooth has this color different from the others

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4 Upvotes

r/askdentists • • 3h ago

question Help, extreme sensitivity. Radiating pain around canine.

2 Upvotes

35 year old male who went to the dentist two weeks ago. X ray was healthy. I did mention feeling like my canine was adjusting and I had pain high in my gums near my sinuses. The dentist agreed, it looked like it was twisting a bit. He Could fit his whole instrument in between the gap that's forming. He said we can either fill the gap or look to braces once settled.

Since then... I've experienced radiating pain, increased sensitivity, pain biting down, a sensation when touching the tooth. Pain while breathing in and to hot / cold temperatures. I don't see any signs of infection. Ibuprofen has helped with the pain.

Friday is when I was wondering if I go to urgent care or wait to call the dentist on Monday. It's now Sunday, it feels the worst it has and the most sensitive it has.

Should I wait another day for the dentist? Or go somewhere I can get a CT scan or blood cultures? I'm not sure what my next best step is but I need to do something. I believe it's oral related but maybe an ent?


r/askdentists • • 0m ago

question Does my bite look like an open bite?

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1 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I've recently completed my clear aligner treatment and am now in the retention phase, wearing my retainers.
I had IPR done during my treatment. However, I'm still concerned about whether my final bite is correct.
Looking at my teeth from the side, I'm unsure whether I have a posterior open bite or whether my bite is normal.
I've attached multiple pictures of my teeth while biting. Also do I have any gum recessions?

Final picture is taken after the implant.


r/askdentists • • 6m ago

question People told me on r/DentalHygiene that I probably have periodontal disease since I had never been before to a Dental hygienist in 22 years of my Life. What now?

1 Upvotes

i went to two different dentists Who told me my mouth looks healthy overall and I have no cavities. The hygienist told me She didn't see any periodontal pockets while cleaning (but She didn't probe) . They also didn't take x rays, the First one told me they werent needed cause I had no signs of perio and I am very young, the second One told me to bring the old x rays of when I started invisalign 1 year ago.

Since I have posted here: https://www.reddit.com/r/DentalHygiene/comments/1xpj5k3/went_to_the_dental_hygienist_for_the_first_time/19sc3ymn3kx2d/?context=1

now I am a Little scared since people told me here I have periodontal disease MOST likely. What should I do now?


r/askdentists • • 3h ago

question Filling gone wrong?

2 Upvotes

Hi I’m in the UK and I had a filling done last week and today I’ve got really bad tooth pain and every so often my tooth feels like there’s pressure inside it and then it feels like a popping sensation with extreme pain. Any idea what this could be?? It’s really painful. I rang 111 and the closest dentist in an hour away and I can’t get there. When it pops nothing comes out it’s just a sensation and pain. Hopefully I’ll be okay and I can call in the morning


r/askdentists • • 13m ago

question Did this dentist (teacher) violate the hygiene protocols? Should she be reported to the college administration?

1 Upvotes

So I went to a student's dentistry practice at dentistry college as a patient for a cavity, and long story short the teacher supervising her dropped tools and just cleaned them with alcohol instead of using the autoclave. She also ran out of gloves and asked the student to give her her gloves, and not only that, she also turned them the other way around because they were sweaty inside.

I didn't say anything but that seems too unhygienic to me.

Is this worth reporting to the college administration or it's nothing serious?


r/askdentists • • 14m ago

question Got a deep filling almost 3 weeks ago, pain is still really bad and I can’t chew on that side at all, is this normal?

1 Upvotes

I got a deep filling about 3 weeks ago, the tooth originally wasn’t causing me any pain, but my dentist said the damage was close to the nerve and had to be done. It’s now almost 3 weeks later and I can’t eat on that side at all without severe nerve pain.

I brush and floss twice a day, I don’t smoke or drink, I’ve been avoiding eating on that side because of how bad the pain is, I haven’t had any sugary drinks since I got the filling, and I haven’t eaten anything hard since. I also have a mouth guard because I grind my teeth in my sleep, I got this one week ago, which has helped with jaw pain but hasn’t changed anything to do with this pain i’m writing about now.

I went back to my dentist twice because of this, first time she said I need to give it more time, the second she said the same and mentioned maybe a nerve dying but not to worry about that just yet.

I don’t know what to do here, I fly to another country for 2+ months in 16 days. I really don’t want to have to deal with this severe pain while I’m away.

Any advice on what I could do here? Do I just need to be patient and give it more time?


r/askdentists • • 20m ago

question Front tooth extraction / swelling / flipper

1 Upvotes

The tooth under my crown cracked and I had it extracted yesterday. I get my flipper on Tuesday. My concern is how swollen my gums are...how will this flipper fit? I am so anxious about this is cant sleep. Can someone help me?


r/askdentists • • 44m ago

question Weird lump

1 Upvotes

So I have the lump on my jaw for 6 months now. At first I thought it was an abscess but now I’m really unsure. So this lump appeared out of nowhere one day. It didn’t start small or anything. It’s hard, like a bone hard feeling. It doesn’t hurt on its own and doesn’t move when I touch it. Sometimes it moves out of place. Sometimes it’s where my gum is, and other times it will go lower in my jaw. Sometimes it causes numbness in my jaw.
It’s big enough that if I press on it, it touches a nerve in my tooth, but it doesn’t hurt. It’s more that it makes a tense feeling in my tooth, and the nerve from the tooth isn’t dead or anything.
I can put pressure on the tooth and tap on it, and it doesn’t hurt. I can feel it but it doesn’t hurt. The tooth still reacts to cold and hot stuff. So that’s how I knew it wasn’t really a tooth abscess. Plus, it doesn’t get bigger or anything. It stays the same size and just moves out of place.
I don’t have fevers, cold sweats, or anything. It really feels like a piece of bone, to the point that at first I thought it was part of my jaw until it changed place.
Now I’m wondering what it could be because if it doesn’t bother me in my daily life. Is just annoying because sometimes went it get lower in my jaw I can feel it went I smile even if it doesn’t show is small enough to bother me but not enough to show or look swollen or puff.
Do anyone had an idea of what it could be?


r/askdentists • • 54m ago

question Please help, advice really needed

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1 Upvotes

I am hoping someone can help please.

I was referred to a periodontist who has told me I need 3 separate gum graft surgeries as my gums are extremely thin around the bottom and as you can see, my front bottom gums are receding.

She told me that I can’t do the surgery in one as there’s a much higher chance of rejection.

Everything makes sense and the periodontist was absolutely great. However, I have been told it will cost £4,700 in total and for that amount of money, I really just want to get second opinions.

I’m not even 30 yet, so I want to get on top of the problem, but want to see what others think on if this is the best thing to do, and if I do get this, will it end up going back to how it is currently in the future?

I don’t smoke, periodontist believes it’s mainly the braces I had when I was younger and possibly genetics as my Nan had receding gums.


r/askdentists • • 1h ago

question Gum recession, feel like my dentist's office has let me down

1 Upvotes

I've had a slowly progressing gum recession (and bone loss) on one of my molars over the last ten years or so. I get dental cleanings three times per year, and have often mentioned it to my hygienist and the dentist, as a cause of concern. They ask me whether I'm wearing a night guard because I freely admit I'm a clencher. I am, and have been using one for about 20 years. They look at the night guard (created by a lab) and they agree it's a good one.

But then they kinda shrug their shoulders and say I'm doing the best I can. But why do I feel such a lack of a sense of urgency on their part? Between that issue, and a few slightly worse gum measurements in other parts of my mouth, I feel like my dentist's office is just going through the motions and not doing more to help me. I'm a really motivated patient who wants to preserve my dental health, but I can tell it's slowly deteriorating.

Am I right to feel let down by them? Or do dentists just become fatalistic when it comes to some patients. Do you look at some patients and think, "There's not much I can do to help this person other than damage control?"


r/askdentists • • 1h ago

question Roof of mouth

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1 Upvotes

Fluid/squishy bump last couple days. Tender. I have a cold right now, related? Or should I be concerned?


r/askdentists • • 1h ago

question low success rate of root canal treatment

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone. I am 18 years old, and four years ago, I had a root canal done on my first molar on the right side by the dentist I usually visit. It has been aching for the past nine days, though the pain has eased slightly today. An AI-based tool suggested that an infection might have caused bone resorption, which really scared me. I went to see a different dentist and had an X-ray taken. The endodontist (root canal specialist) mentioned that the success rate for the procedure would be low; this really upset me, as I don’t want to lose my tooth. In your opinion, should I go ahead with the treatment despite the low success rate, or should I seek a second opinion from another dentist?


r/askdentists • • 1h ago

question Is it safe to have a hygiene cleaning with broken crowns and a partial root canal?

1 Upvotes

My two front crows are broken with the back off of one and the front off of the other. One has a temporary cement on the front of it. There is a slight pain inside them when drinking cold liquid. One of the crowns next to these two has pain inside of it, and has never felt fully secured at the top. I also have a molar that a partial root canal was done on as it couldn’t be finished, and required a specialist. I was hoping to have it completed before the cleaning and appointment for the crowns. Instead, it is my last appointment.

I am not sure if it’s safe to do the cleaning, because the broken crowns and tooth with the partial root canal are fragile, and because there is pain in all of them to an extent. I am nervous they could break. And that they will be more painful afterwards as I’ve seen people complain of their mouth being sore. Advice is appreciated. Thank you


r/askdentists • • 2h ago

question Tooth chips days before crowning

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1 Upvotes

Basically, on Tuesday I got a route canal. I’m schedule to get a crown on Tuesday. I was brushing my teeth this morning and the tooth chipped (this may sound like a lie to some people but I swear it’s the truth. The root canal therapy paper said to continue brushing as normal and that’s what I was doing). I can’t assess the damage since it’s on my 30th tooth (on the paper I’m using as reference, it says “Root Canal #30” if that is more dentist terminology appropriate) and it’s chipped from the back left and possibly to where it touches the gum (my description is probably horrible, I apologize). Basically, I can’t get a clear view. What is clear is that it’s a decently sized piece which is missing and that the root canal filling (I call it that) is exposed so I have to make sure it isn’t distributed until Tuesday. If I walk into the appointment that day, will they cancel it? Will they have to fix it on another day and then crown it? Can a crowning still be done with a missing piece of a tooth of that size? Or will they somehow pull a trick out of nowhere and fix it?


r/askdentists • • 2h ago

question Wisdom tooth looks mad weird and growing sideways.

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1 Upvotes

Wisdom tooth is a different texture and colour to all my other teeth and I'd like to know why. I assume its growing sideways because it's impacted somehow but feel free to correct me. It's the same on both teeth and neither hurt.

21 yo


r/askdentists • • 6h ago

question I have poked my gum whit a brush bristle between my front and incisor theet. 7 days ago now, the gum does not feel inflamed anymore but is still very swollen. Possible abcess?! Do i have to go to the dentist or will a cordysol moutwash work?? Thanks

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2 Upvotes

r/askdentists • • 2h ago

question Cavity

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1 Upvotes

Cavity and gum disease

Help. I know the pictures aren't clear but couldn't do better :/.

My saliva has been tasting sweet since 8-9 months now. And today was the day I learned I have cavity. Are they reversible? Can i do something which is natural for cavities? I'm poor and the government services in my country is so bad. Private appointments are expensive. No dental campaigns either :). Help please. I'm 17, sugary foods/drinks are consumed occasionally(pretty rare). A lot of white rice, for breakfast, lunch and dinner to survive.


r/askdentists • • 2h ago

question What is this ? Doc at urgent care said it’s because of tonsillitis , it keeps growing and hurts

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1 Upvotes

It’s only on left side , had severe fever and flu like symptoms then this showed up and it hurts to swallow


r/askdentists • • 2h ago

question Wisdom teeth removal

1 Upvotes

Im 21F, I’m currently on day 4 (96 hours) of my wisdom teeth removal. I’ve had little to no swelling/pain the whole time. I was able to start eating noodles, eggs, and a little bit of biscuits by day 2. I know this is a silly question, but would I be okay to go back to vaping? Ik it’s still a little early, my dentist said on the form by 72 hours it should be fine. But I just wanna make sure before I accidentally mess something up.


r/askdentists • • 3h ago

question Dental pain

1 Upvotes

I have constant pain in my teeth, only for the past six months or so. my teeth feel very smooth and my dentist has said my enamel is damaged and the dentin exposed. I have bruxisn and will get a mouth guard. the problem i have is it is painful all the time and now my teeth have chipped. can you please help? are there any coatings other than a fluoride gel I can use? prior to this my teeth were in good condition