I think i have cavities, but am not sure what to do because i dont know how to get a dentist...or see if my insurance even covers it....will going this long without seeing on greatly effect my teeth?
2007-01-08 12:38:17 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Dental
Nah, at this point you probably don't have any teeth left for the dentist to look at, so I wouldn't worry about it.
2007-01-08 12:45:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes it's bad. I'm a dentist and do a lot of emergency dentistry. A lot of people wait until they have pain to see us. Most of the time the teeth are so badly decayed all you can do is extract the teeth. It's very important to catch a cavity when it is very small so it doesn't destroy the whole tooth. Financially, it's better to pay for a cleaning twice a year and place 1 or 2 fillings rather than a mouth full of root canals and crowns.
The dentist and dental hygenist will also be able to assess whether you are brushing and flossing properly to help prevent further decay. They will also remove the calculus (tartar) you can't remove with a toothbrush. Do your gums bleed when you brush or floss? That's a sign they are not healthy and you need to see a dentist.
Furthermore, a dentist will do a full soft tissue exam and find potentially destructive lesions such as cancer.
The best way to find a dentist is to ask your friends to recommend someone. The yellow pages are good too. If you live in a bigger city, dental schools are a great way to get excellent care and save a lot of money too.
Good Luck!
2007-01-08 21:39:31 · answer #2 · answered by Jamooche 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call your insurance company to ask for a list of dental providers. Don't pick a dentist out of the phone book!! Ask around your community, your friends, someone who has nice teeth and start to listen for the dentist who's name comes up often with a slurry of compliments. Word of mouth is the best dental referral you can get.
Once you have a dentist in mind, call the office and explain to the receptionist that you have not seen a dentist in ten years. You can request an interview with the dentist to make sure you're in the right place. You can ask for an appointment with the dentist to examine your mouth before setting up a cleaning visit. Most often, after ten years you're going to need some type of deeper cleaning (maybe multi visits with the hygienist) and also some dental work. Starting with an examination by the dentist can give you a "blueprint" of the needs in your mouth. Ask him to prioritize these needs to give you an idea of what needs to be taken care of right away. The good thing about dentistry is that even though it's been ten years, dental disease progresses slowly and there's still time to plan and budget.
Neglecting anything can be expensive, once you get your mouth healthy, try hard to keep a good maintenance program going. Good Luck!!
2007-01-08 21:23:03 · answer #3 · answered by whatsamatteryou 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No not at all. You might be pleasantly surprised when you go in. As long as you brush daily your teeth should be fine, maybe you might have a cavity too. Im sure you insurance will cover a checkup and cavity.I hate going to the dentist too! I didnt go for years once and when I finally went in I only needed a cavity.
Good Luck!! Be brave and ask for laughing Gas its amazing stuff!
2007-01-08 20:48:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dental schools take forever to get work finished. If you have the time, fine. Don't pick any name in phone book... like picking a pig in the poke. ask around about honesty, unnecessary work done , interview dentists as he/she would do to you. There have been people longer than 10 yrs not seeing a dentist for various reasons. D your homework first check with your insurance company as to the procedures they cover.
2007-01-08 21:48:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes Mam,
It is very Bad
Since not only cavities can harm you but you have to worry about Gum disease which can reach very advance situation called periodontitis and you may lose you teeth and your health because of that
Please visit a dentist
2007-01-08 21:16:04 · answer #6 · answered by Paulu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not the end of the world and it's not uncommon.
You should go to the dentist. Find out what your insurance coverage is. Don't delay and don't be afraid. I saw this all the time when I used to work in dental offices.
2007-01-08 21:04:21 · answer #7 · answered by funandsun20 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Look in the phone book and call some dentist and ask them if they accept your insurance. Whether or not your insurance covers it or not, you need to get your teeth checked.
2007-01-08 20:47:27 · answer #8 · answered by Dyan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call 1-800-Dentist. I did when I hadn't been in over 10 years cause part of a tooth brooke off, and they were very helpful. Found me one who saw me the next day, and while I've found out I had a lot of problems, I am slowly getting them fixed and back on track.
2007-01-08 23:22:19 · answer #9 · answered by Heidi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call your insurance company and if they cover dental work get them to send you a list of dentists in your area that accept that insurance.
2007-01-08 20:46:28 · answer #10 · answered by onelo150 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is bad ... you are supposed to see a dentist every 6 months at least...
go for a regular cleaning...
they will tell you if you have some cavities
2007-01-08 20:48:19 · answer #11 · answered by chey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋