Decay Below gumline

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Maria M - 30 Jul 2005 01:59 GMT

Hello,
I visited a new dentist last month. She did whole mouth digital x-rays.
Although I floss and brush every day, and have visited a dentist every 6
months for check-ups and cleanings for the past 20+ years, according to her,
my mouth is falling apart. I have fillings in almost every one of my molars
and bicuspids. She says there is decay below the gumline on one of my
bicuspids and I need to have the tooth extracted and a 3 part bridge made. I
also still have a baby canine on top. The permanent tooth is lodged sideways
in my palate. She recommends that I get orthodontia treatment to have that
tooth brought into its proper position. She also says that most of my molars
need to be crowned because they have too many fillings in them. I do not
have any pain, although I do have slight sensitivity to heat on the bicuspid.
The work she is recommending will cost several thousand dollars, although she
told me she will do it over a period of several years to get the most out of
my insurance. How concerned should I be? Why can't a tooth with decay below
the gumline be fixed? Any help answering these questions would be greatly
appreciated.

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Steven Bornfeld - 30 Jul 2005 03:29 GMT

> Hello,
> I visited a new dentist last month. She did whole mouth digital x-rays.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> the gumline be fixed? Any help answering these questions would be greatly
> appreciated.

A complicated treatment plan such as this presented by a new dentist
suggests you should get a second opinion.

Steve

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Cut the nonsense to reply

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Jacob - 30 Jul 2005 03:41 GMT

This sounds very fishy to me! Decay below the gum line can often be filled,
but it depends on the situation. It's impossible to give you much help
without examining your mouth. However, I would get another opinion, and
don't mention anything about what this dentist said when you get your second
opinion. Ask your friends for a recommendation for a dentist. Why did you
leave your former dentist? Good luck!

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Maria M - 30 Jul 2005 04:32 GMT

Hi,
I left my former dentist, who I really liked and had been seeing for years,
because of his office staff. They changed from third party billing to doing
their own billing. They sent me a letter stating that I should make payment
directly to them, so I did. Then their third party billing company started
threatening to send me to collections. When I spoke with them on the phone
and told them the dentist asked that I send payment directly to them the
third party billing company said they knew nothing about a change and asked
*me* to read the dentist's letter to them over the phone. I called my
dentist's office, and they confirmed that they had not notified the third
party billing company of the change. Then the office staff said I hadn't
paid a bill, so I sent them a copy of the credit card slip and my statement.
They then acknowledged that I did pay, but they never offered an apology to
either situation.

I went today to get a second opinion. The dentist today told me to see an
endodontist, and the endodontist would decide whether a root canal is
feasible or not. If the endodontist is unable to do the root canal, I will
have to have the tooth extracted, and the new dentist says a two part bridge
will be sufficient. She advises against an implant because there is a hole
in the jaw right under this tooth where a bundle of nerves goes through, and
an implant could impact those nerves.

>This sounds very fishy to me! Decay below the gum line can often be filled,
>but it depends on the situation. It's impossible to give you much help
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>> the gumline be fixed? Any help answering these questions would be greatly
>> appreciated.

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