|
Post by Kimby on Jun 18, 2023 20:21:25 GMT
I just went to the dentist because a tooth was a bit sensitive. It turns out there is a cyst underneath, not much bone to hold the tooth. Ah, the joys of aging. Anyway, I have to get a conebeam x-ray, then probably get an implant since the tooth is in front. I am not going to re-read Kimby's posts about her implants because I understand that implants in the upper jaw are more painful than in the lower one. I did not find any part of the implant process painful except sticking a needle in my vein to draw out platelets to mix with the bone graft. Well, also writing the huge checks to the oral surgeon and the dentist!
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Jun 19, 2023 5:11:35 GMT
Thanks, Kimby. That is encouraging. I have to call today for an appointment to have the tooth extracted and replaced temporarily until the implant is done.
Social security here doesn't cover all dental work, and they are going to decrease it even more because of high costs, but I'm sure it will cost less than yours.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Jun 19, 2023 6:09:39 GMT
My implant appointment is set for July 20. Of course, it is a long process with at least a month between each appointment (inserting the screw, examining its solidity, making a new tooth...).
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Jun 19, 2023 19:58:50 GMT
It is good to see this talked about here. I was amazed, when I finally told some of my friends of a similar age about my dental problems,to find that they all came out of the closet with their own issues. Not quite sure why that is ...because we have talked at length about other aging probs ; menopause related , drooping appendages, aching body parts and even stress incontinence etc etc but not our tooth problems before.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Jun 19, 2023 22:13:28 GMT
Old people used to accept becoming toothless.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Jun 20, 2023 1:43:33 GMT
My Mom said that a woman will lose one tooth for each child she gives birth to. An old wives tale maybe, but Mom lost three teeth and had three daughters.
How to explain my tooth loss, me with no kids?
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Jun 20, 2023 6:33:38 GMT
Old people used to accept becoming toothless. I have. Or rather my bank balance has.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Jun 20, 2023 6:40:18 GMT
There must be a happy medium between acceptance and Joe Biden's or Berlusconi's visibly fake teeth.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Jun 20, 2023 8:30:53 GMT
My grandmother lost one tooth during her entire life. No cavities. Age 92. She had one child.
My mother died toothless but that was because of dental phobia that went back to childhood.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Jun 29, 2023 14:36:32 GMT
So, I got my teeth cleaned today in preparation for my implant next month.
I chose a Russian woman dentist on purpose to make sure she would show no mercy. Ouch!
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Jul 29, 2023 17:24:51 GMT
I discovered a big hole in back of my mouth where a big piece of tooth clearly bailed on me. I am rather amazed (and of course appalled) because this has never happened before. When there was any incident in my mouth in the past -- crown falling out, or a piece of tooth coming loose -- I was always aware of it immediately and it came out of my mouth with the help of my tongue. So how did this happen? Did I swallow it?
My next appointment for the implant is on August 31st, so I suppose that I will take care of the new problem then. Luckily there is no discomfort of any kind, but that could change. But in any case, they are closed during the month of August due to their own school holidays.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Sept 24, 2023 20:48:49 GMT
I had my last dental episode on Friday, and it was pretty amazing. I signed a release form to permit a group of dental students to witness what was being done. I was covered by sterile blue sheets, including my eyes, so I saw nothing. But i heard all of the commentary from the students and all of the explanations from the professor (even though I didn't understand most of it) and it appeared that everything was done perfectly. That's exactly what I want at the dental school.
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Oct 19, 2023 19:50:24 GMT
How did your implant work out K2 ?
Tomorrow I look forward to 1.5 hrs "surgery" ( and yes apparently there will be stitches) packing a gap in my gum -- apparently I will never been able to clean this particular tooth properly despite all the various aids available. Part of me wants to save the tooth ...part of me just wants to say que sera .
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 19, 2023 20:42:22 GMT
My next appointment to check the base of the implant is December 21st.
And then the nasty stuff will get done in 2024. My only concern is that both dentists I have been seeing will be gone. One of them just left for Germany at the end of September and the other one is going somewhere starting January 1st, so I am going to be turned over to a new team.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Oct 20, 2023 5:58:42 GMT
Since early June when I went to have my teeth cleaned and mentioned a bit of occasional discomfort, I have been going to seeing the dentist as well as a specialist. There is a cyst above one of my front canines. Various options have been: removing the tooth, cleaning out the cyst and putting an implant at a later date; removing the tooth and putting a fake one attached to the teeth on either side after cleaning out the cyst. I was sent to a stomatologist who said there was not enough bone remaining to put an implant so he suggested a root canal plus treatment on the rest of my mouth.
Meanwhile my dentist (a young woman) contacted a specialist in St Jean de Luz where I went yesterday. She claims that my tooth can be saved but the cyst has to be removed. She actually explained what had happened -- a filling at some point that was not especially well done and bacteria had gotten in over the course of time. She will clean all that out, do a root canal and then slice into the gum above to remove the cyst. I have that to look forward to on November 10. Then stitches for 5 to 7 days.
On a positive side, she said my immune system was working really well because I don't have any pain despite the cyst. And I get to keep my tooth.
Adding that I just saw that I had mentioned this back in June, so I am adding the cost which will not be covered by social security but some will be by the extra insurance: 500€.
|
|
|
Post by whatagain on Oct 20, 2023 9:18:15 GMT
Reminds me I have to find a new dentist. My usual one left the association she was and I didn’t like the new one - no secretary - so when I came too early I was left waiting for one hour, then I left as nobody even acknowledged I was there.
My SIL abandoned dentistry and will open a B&B.
So I am left alone !
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Oct 20, 2023 9:37:26 GMT
Speaking of B&Bs, the neighbour of the friends we were at in the Aude a couple of weeks ago had opened a B&B a few years ago. After some years of dealing with all sorts of people, being on call all the time to make sure everything was perfect she closed and has gone to work as a salaried employee in a nearby tourist office.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Oct 21, 2023 15:06:06 GMT
A typical dental cleaning/checkup interval is every 6 months. I inherited a tendency to periodontal issues from my mother, and have had to go more often than that. Until recently. Usually my gums would get “itchy” after 4 or 5 months and I would know it was time to go for a cleaning better than I can do at home.
I lost track of time between cleanings, what with all the appointments for extractions and implants and crowns in recent years, and my latest two professional cleanings have been 9-12 months apart! With no bad consequences. My gums are happier than ever and very little accumulation of calculus (tartar, the stuff that causes the gum inflammation that leads to bone loss and “periodontal pockets”). It seems the bad bacteria may have finally moved on!
In the “when it rains it pours” category, by the time I remember to schedule an appointment, they usually put me on a waitlist for cancellations because they are booking 6 months out, and I need to be seen now. With Mr. Kimby retired, our schedule is always up in the air so it’s hard for me to nail down a date that far ahead of time. I occasionally go back to the periodontist for a more critical review of my gum and jawbone health, so I got put on two waitlists. And both called the same day to say a cancellation had opened up! I went to the regular dentist since they called first — and are lots less expensive — and made an appointment with the Perio for April. They have new 3-D X-ray equipment, so that will be interesting. And expensive, I’m sure.
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Oct 21, 2023 18:54:47 GMT
Well I had my dental work with the periodontist yesterday . On the negative side - one half of me looks like a hamster , on the plus side my sister told me that I looked as if I had half a face lift ! . Anyway he gave me a freebie during my treatment and removed a skin tag on my lip - for that alone I think it will be worth it.
I am now only allowed slop for a few days so wont be posting about any dinners !
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Oct 22, 2023 15:19:39 GMT
Lugg, did you have gum surgery? Did they pack your gumline with a greenish clay like protective dressing?
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Oct 22, 2023 16:35:22 GMT
I’m sure it’s good to have that ordeal over and done with, Lugg.
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Oct 22, 2023 18:58:55 GMT
Lugg, did you have gum surgery? Yes I did ... not sure if it was green but the gums were packed . The verdict ( but will have to wait and see) One tooth is saved for life , the other, may or may not see me through. I’m sure it’s good to have that ordeal over and done with, Lugg It sure does htmb x
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 22, 2023 20:14:25 GMT
Waiting for the next stage is a big part of modern dental work.
In the old days, they just did things and acted as though it was finished.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Nov 10, 2023 14:55:57 GMT
I had a few things to do in Bayonne before this morning's dentist visit which I why I haven't been participating. I'm back home after an adventurous morning. The dentist is in St Jean de Luz, and I had a train ticket for 7:45. Got a text message yesterday that the train was cancelled because of "social movement". I found that there is a city bus that goes all along the coast to Hendaye (at the Spanish border) and the trip was 50 minutes. There was also a 15-minute walk to the bus stop to get the 7:15 bus, in pouring rain and darkness.
Then the dentist did the root canal and removed the cyst (size of a chickpea she said) and I have 5 stitches in my gum. She put lots of anesthetic so it wouldn't hurt, which it didn't during the operation, but the more it wears off, the more sore it all feels. I am having the stitches removed next Wednesday. I hope that it is the end of this for now.
None of this was covered by social security or our private insurance. At least I hope I get the money back for my train ticket.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Nov 10, 2023 17:18:14 GMT
I'm very surprised that none of it is covered. A root canal is not optional.
On the other hand, the 600 euros of my implant were not covered, since we have the option of going toothless. But at least part of the expense of the new tooth will be covered. I don't know how much yet because I just changed insurance.
|
|
|
Post by fumobici on Nov 10, 2023 17:39:07 GMT
It always struck me as cruelly bizarre that one "special" part of the body is so frequently omitted from otherwise comprehensive health plans. Makes no sense at all, there has got to be a story of corruption behind it.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Nov 10, 2023 18:15:34 GMT
It seems to be the eyes and the teeth just about everywhere. The teeth I sort of understand since there are so many optional procedures that you can do, but I don't understand about the eyes.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Nov 10, 2023 19:08:25 GMT
Both teeth and eyes were less covered than other medical things in France for a long time. There have been increases in the coverage of both. I don't see where the corruption would come in.
I suspect one of the reasons nothing was covered today was that the dentist (endologist) was not part of the social security system. She is "non conventionné", meaning she can set her own fees. Actually when I went for the consultation, it was 30€, which is less than a visit to a specialist and barely more than the price of a visit to a GP.
And a couple of hours after my previous post, I'm happy to say that nothing hurts and I ate supper with no problem. Okay, I had soup, but still.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Nov 10, 2023 19:21:28 GMT
Off the topic of dentists, but I went to the GP this week for a routine visit. The cost of a visit just went from 25 euros to 26.50€ on the 1st of November, but my doctor said "I'm not doing centimes, so the price is 27 euros."
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Nov 11, 2023 6:48:11 GMT
"I'm not doing centimes, so the price is 27 euros." Why? Did he expect you to pay in one centime coins rather than with plastic or a chèque?
|
|