Hi ripply,
I am so glad that you got a second opinion and he confirmed what I said about the cold test reaction being normal. If you had gone along with the first dentist you would have ruined your perfectly good tooth for no reason..... other than $$$ in her pocket!
The dentists who participate in NHS are similar to the dentists here in the US who operate their practice through the insurance networks. In the US these dentists rely on insurance money to pay their salaries which often requires them to prescribe and perform multiple and expensive procedures (even when not necessary) to make a decent living as the fees are less expensive than private dentistry. This is why I tell people to get an opinion from a "private" practicing dentist as he is more likely to give you more of his time and not sell you something you really don't need.
I also think you solved your own tooth problem....... tooth whitening toothpastes are very harsh on the enamel of the teeth. If you use them regularly, the enamel on your teeth will become damaged and you will develop sensitivity. In some cases the regular use of these products will cause irreversible nerve damage in the teeth. It is okay to use them on an infrequent basis but not more than that. At this stage, I think if you were to stop using it altogether, your tooth will be fine.
If you want to use something natural to brighten your teeth, than put a tiny bit of baking soda on your wet toothbrush when you brush your teeth. There are no harsh chemicals to worry about ingesting and it won't harm your teeth.
Thanks so much for checking back with us and giving us a great update!
Bryanna
Quote:
Originally Posted by ripply
The new dentist couldn't find any problem with the tooth. He took the xray's and did the cold test again. I could feel it but he said this is normal, and it was the same on the other teeth he tested. It's strange how the other dentist said that if I could feel it, I needed a root canal. The tooth feels fine today but he said if it becomes painful or has any problems to call back. I've been doing some thinking about when this began and it was just a few days after starting to use opalescense toothpaste. Maybe it's a coincidence but I didn't use it last night and the tooth feels better today. I'm just hoping it doesn't get worse but I'll have to wait and see.
The new dentist also did a full check up and I can't believe the difference in private and NHS. I'm used to a 30 second glance at my teeth. This one today took around 30 minutes and he went over everything from my teeth, to gums, even my lymph glands to check they aren't swollen. I can't believe how thorough it was and I've never had that before. I was pleased to hear that my gums are very healthy and he said my teeth are in good condition.
|