Tooth question?!
Question: I DO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT JAN 15TH. But it is bugging me so bad now. I have an upper back molar that is completely white. Last appointment- dentist did not see a cavity in that tooth. I noticed- that it feels like there is plaque a bit, because it is not 100% smooth. So i touched with my finger and it hurts only when i touch it. But when I look in the mirror I don't see any chips or visible spots. Could this be a fracture I can't see? Worried cause I grind my teeth at night.
Answers: I DO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT JAN 15TH. But it is bugging me so bad now. I have an upper back molar that is completely white. Last appointment- dentist did not see a cavity in that tooth. I noticed- that it feels like there is plaque a bit, because it is not 100% smooth. So i touched with my finger and it hurts only when i touch it. But when I look in the mirror I don't see any chips or visible spots. Could this be a fracture I can't see? Worried cause I grind my teeth at night.
If you have invisalign you don't need a nite guard...sheesh.
If you are in great pain call the DDS and see if he/she can get you in sooner. If they can't find another DDS.
Being "not smooth" could mean decay or tarter.
make sure you use a power brush, floss and use Listerine 2x a day.
good luck
you should invest in a bite guard to wear while you sleep. I used to grind my teeth and that really helped. my teeth arent as sore and i dont wake up with headaches anymore
Are you brushing properly? Plaque left at the roots of your teeth will cause sensitivity. Check by scraping your nail along the root and gum line. If theire is white stuff then you need to brush again. Of course it could be your wisdom teeth coming in. The molars being pushed out of the way will cause pain and sensitivity.
If you grind your teeth at night, you need bruxism appliance (mouthguard).
If you are in significant pain and your dentist will not see you until January 15, you need a new dentist!!!
You stated that the molar is completely white. My question to you would be "Are there similar white features to the same tooth on the other side of the upper arch?" If so, the whiteness could be enamel hyperplasia which means that there was a disturbance to the formation of the enamel in that tooth when you were forming that molar (you still had your baby teeth). The severity of the hyperplasia will determine the structural integrity (strength) of the tooth. Sometimes it is nothing more than a blemish. Other times the tooth is soft as chalk and needs a porcelain crown before it decays or fractures.
Another reason the tooth can appear completely white is if it is buried in calculus (tartar). If this is the case, you need your hygienist to scale it off and teach you how to prevent it from building up again.
Another cause for a whiter than white tooth is a huge cavity. You may not see a hole in the tooth. Decay can enter a tooth through a tiny pin hole in the enamel. Left undetected by your dentist or hygienist, the dentin inside of the tooth can be literally eaten away by the bacteria entering through the hole. When this happens, the tooth appears particularly white. A tooth like that will likely need a root canal with a porcelain crown placed later, OR, it will have to be removed. If you have been going for regular checkups and decay was never diagnosed and this happens to be the correct diagnosis, your dentist has been negligent. This means he should be financially responsible for providing you with any treatment that is required to properly resolve your issue even if you elect to get the work done elsewhere.
I agree...if your dentist will not see you right away, you need to try elsewhere. I went and was told I needed my wisdom teeth out. I called the oral surgeon Wednesday and told them my face was swelled up and my teeth needed to come out, they took me in the next day (yesterday) and took out my last 3 wisdom teeth. Get there as soon as possible....you will feel better instantly!!!!