He found nothing wrong, but he started tapping on my teeth. What does that do to them?
2006-09-14 11:33:56 · 9 answers · asked by purple_rose131 2 in Health ➔ Dental
The tapping allows the doctor to diagnose a possible fracture or even possible abcess (gases form and push tooth - (extrude)- up). This tapping can alert the doctor should the patient feel extreme pain while tapping and on which side of the tooth, this is usually accompanied by the question, "Do you have senstitivity to heat?? There are times that an xray just isn't enough for diagnosis........your bite could be high or even recession of the gum tissue. This is very common, I have seen it done for 14 years as a Registered/Certified dental asst.
good luck
2006-09-14 11:43:52 · answer #1 · answered by toni l 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
When I had an abcess and the denist tapped on my teeth to know which one needed a root canal because really they all hurt from the abcess in my gums.
2006-09-14 11:42:52 · answer #2 · answered by Afinity 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As crude as it seems, tapping on your teeth is about the most accurate diagnostic test we have. We call it "percussion" and HuskyMom and Toni gave good explanations.
2006-09-14 12:58:37 · answer #3 · answered by Picture Taker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hollow spots? That is a good one!!
He is checking your response to the precusion on the tooth. A tooth that was painful to precusion would indicate possible nerve damage, possible fracture, or abcess.
2006-09-14 11:52:43 · answer #4 · answered by LittleMermaid 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First answer is a good one. Plus, if you have a tooth going bad and he taps on it, you'll hit the ceiling which is a great diagnostic tool. Doesn't do much for the ceiling though.
2006-09-14 11:42:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
Just making sure teeth are nice and healthy with no hollow spots. Wants to make sure you are getting enough calcim also.
2006-09-14 11:44:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Sensitivity.
2006-09-14 11:41:30 · answer #7 · answered by Vero 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
este perro no toma.
2006-09-14 11:42:40 · answer #8 · answered by Marc O 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
nothing.
2006-09-14 11:36:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋