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Describe your dental health

Sun, 2007-08-05 01:46 - Kerry
My teeth and mouth are very healthy and in great shape
27% (3 votes)
I have one or two fillings, but who doesn't?
45% (5 votes)
My teeth are a mess (due to neglect) and in need of repair
9% (1 vote)
I'm in the process of having professional dental work done due to years of neglect
18% (2 votes)
Total votes: 11

Comments

Sat, 2007-08-11 01:31 — neophyte

"say cheese"

My adoptive mother always made it a big deal that we took really good care of our teeth.  I never thought about it before, not until I read this question.  It was always important to her that we smile for the camera.  It made no difference that our lives at home sucked, just as long as the photos captured a different story, that's all that mattered.  My teeth are straight, clean and in good shape, but they are not perfect, much to her chagrin.

Tue, 2007-08-14 10:48 — neophyte

Dreams about teeth

When I was younger, (before meeting my buddies at the bar), I used to have frequent dreams about my teeth falling apart in my mouth and spitting the pieces out.  OR, I would dream that I would find a loose tooth in my mouth, pull it out, and realize that was a permanant one.  Read teeth dreams

Damn!

Needless to say, I would always be happy to wake-up and find all my teeth in my mouth!

Oddly enough, since I made close friends and quit that crack-pot therapist., (I tell my roomate I still go, but go to the bar, instead:  shhhhh!)    , those weird tooth dreams have stopped.

Now I can't remember what I dream, but I found this really cool dream interpretation website for those into dream-themes:  http://www.dreammoods.com/commondreams/

Wed, 2007-08-15 02:11 — blanche

weird tooth dreams

i always had weird tooth and mouth dreams too.  i would be gagging on something, like gum, and try to pull it out, but it would keep coming out, like an endless piece of gum or something.  gross!!!

Mon, 2007-08-27 15:05 — Kerry

"Chew on this"

As a nurse, we had to know about the virtues of preventative care for cardiac patients, especially as it related to dental work and those with TMJ.  After all, teeth ARE bones, and bones and blood are related, right?

Health-care is health care and preventing infection and complication through education is the nurse's job.

I found some information that explains a little about the difference between tooth decay and health care, and why some parents don't seem to care if a child's teeth are beautiful or not.

It's all about money.

It always is, isn't it?

Sad how health-care seems to revolve around the have's and have-not's.

 

INFORMATION TO CHEW ON

  • Roughly 55 percent of Americans under age 65 have dental insurance compared with 85 percent for medical insurance
  • During the past 10 years, the number of adults age 60 or older missing all their natural teeth has declined from 31 percent to 25 percent and from 9 percent to 5 percent for adults between ages 40 and 59.
  • 1 out of 20 middle-aged adults are missing all their teeth.
  • Toothaches are the most common pain of the mouth or face reported by adults.
  • Almost 1 of every 4 adults reported some form of facial pain in the past six months.
  • Most adults show signs of gum disease. Severe gum disease affects about 14 percent of adults aged 45 to 54 years.
  • Every year more than 400,000 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy suffer from oral problems such as painful mouth ulcers, impaired taste and dry mouth.
  • Patients with weakened immune systems, such as those infected with HIV or organ transplant recipients and who use some medications (e.g., steroids), are at higher risk for some oral problems
  • Working adults lose more than 164 million hours of work each year due to oral health problems or dental visits visits.

 

ORAL HEALTH AND OTHER HEALTH CONDITIONS
THAT MIGHT BE LINKED

Cardiovascular disease Research shows that several types of cardiovascular disease may be linked to oral health. Some researchers believe that bacteria from gum disease can enter your bloodstream and travel through your arteries to your heart, affecting your cardiovascular system.

Premature birth Research has shown that disease-causing organisms in a pregnant woman's mouth can wind up in the placenta or amniotic fluid, possibly causing premature birth.

Diabetes Increased risk of gum disease, cavities, tooth loss, dry mouth, and a variety of oral infections may cause your blood sugar to rise and require more insulin to keep it under control.

Osteoporosis The first stages of bone loss may appear in the teeth. Your dentist may be able to spot this on routine dental X-rays.

HOW STATES HANDLE THE MEDICAL VS. DENTAL
PARAMETER COVERAGE DILEMMA

At least 29 states have insurance mandates that require healthcare plans to cover hospitalization, anesthesia and medically related expenses for some dental care patients, and some states include medical expenses incurred for treatment performed in a dental office.

Nineteen states mandate that healthcare policies issued within the state to cover the diagnosis and treatment of certain dental conditions, typically involving jaw disorders and craniofacial anomalies.

In the 2007-08 legislative session House Bill 718 was introduced that would require all health, sickness and accident insurance policies provide medical coverage for treatment of congenital orofacial anomalies. The bill has not been assigned to a committee yet.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Association of Dental Plans. Mayo Clinic.com,  American Dental Association.

Sat, 2007-11-03 00:58 — Robin

none of those

I spend more each year on dentistry than I do anything else except keeping a car on the road

Having met up with so many siblings, one thing our mother gave most of us was the gene for bad teeth or did we catch dental caries in the womb

The only one with naturally good had the same father as me, so they say, so it must be mother's fault some way or other

Wed, 2007-11-07 16:58 — Niels

Am i a faker?

Having very much neglected my dental health for years, most of my molars broke off and two of my teeth. Last couple of months I've been seeing the dentists office several times and since today I am the proud owner of two frames that contain the missing teeth and molars. It will need some getting used to, but at least I look a little less scary now.

Wed, 2007-11-07 19:42 — neophyte

You're "it's about

You're "it's about time-taker!"

Congratulations on finally taking good care of yourself!

Good lord, I can't imagine going without teeth, even if most of my meals are liquid ones!

Bottoms-up to you, big-boy! 

Does that mean we can nick-name you "All-smiles Niles"?

Wed, 2007-11-07 21:51 — Kerry

Big Toothy Grin!

Congratulations on your new additions!

So.... which was the hardest part:  making the first appointment or following through with the process?

 

Wed, 2007-11-07 21:58 — Niels

Surrender

Making the first appointment was by far the most difficult one, procrastination being my middle name in this. In fact it took years to make that appointment, which was also the cause of all the work needed to fix it to all. Once that appointment I surrendered to the dentists schedule and it worked out fine. Well two weeks ago, when fitting the frame they had to call in the dental technician to remove the frame he made from my mouth, it being a bit too well fitting. That got me in a bit of a panick, but other than that I just had to put my trust in them knowing what they were doing.

Thanks for the , my dentsist will certainly approve of it.

Sat, 2007-11-10 10:52 — Kerry

The root of the problem

Having "near perfect" teeth, I myself can't understand having teeth-problems, but after my trip to the Netherlands (having eaten all the sweets and yummy treats I discovered there.... ...) it's easy to see how cavities can form, QUICKLY if proper mouth-care isn't followed each day.

In your case, Niels, was neglect a major issue with your mouth?

If so, why?

Mon, 2008-09-22 13:13 — Teddy

Since it all went down...

I think my problem started five years ago when I had a nervous breakdown.  I just didn't care.  I still have all my teeth
but need to have one pulled and several re-filled since the fillings fell out last year.  Caring about my children's teeth
has not been a problem and I am faithful to push the brushing and check-ups.  With me, I just didn't care...  I think
it was a self-hurting thing.

"I can be changed by what happens to me, I refuse to be reduced by it." M.A.
One Step Up From Bottom
Teddy