2nd opinion [get 2-4 names] and see a periodontist...That is a GUM GUY! Does nothing but.. Even if you've an abcess which your dentist treats. Gum infections especially among the immune compromised are very dangerous. This is not meant to scare you, just to be aware that things could get worse. Therefore you have to be your own advocate and search for the specialists who deal with that corner of your multiple problem world. Having had 'scaling' done by my dentist's ofc and a periodontal office-well- the perio office really does THE JOB hands down.

I've learned from my dentist that many of their patients on anti-epileptic drugs develop rapid tooth decay and gum problems.. I've been using and use diligently the Oral-B rotating tooth brush and have now been told to use the Water-Pik as I don't brush well [can't floss-due to no finger feeling], To keep as much evil bacteria as possible at bay. I just wish I had enuf room on the bathroom sink for all the 'rechargable' things! At this point What's one more?

Melody- Yes!!! The topical number stuff is great! - I marvel that I get a different flavor each time! Sure beats the gag/splutter into the tech's face. -j

Thank you for the spur in the right direction. Luckily my dentist made an appointment for a consult with a periodontist, and I was so happy to hear that a consult is free.

I am sure that what you wrote must be true about gum infections. I just had no idea there was something wrong under my gums. (It weirds me out to think about it.)

I know I'm a bit of a drone on the B12, but I did have a lot less plaque after I had a higher B12 level, after I began having B12 replacement. Do you take much Methylcobalamin? (that's the active form)

I didn't see any plaque... I just never guessed it was totally under my gums where they grew over my implants. Weirds me out. (I'm assuming that's what's caused the bone loss aroung the implants.)

Thank you so much for writing... I need to stop feeling so weirded out over this. Thank you!

Thanks so much for all the support and yes this is a different hosp., I would not let my dogs go to the other one! When I was suffering it was because I was alone there (I told my dh who is terminal with heart disease to stay home since I just knew the nurses would take care of me...bad mistake) and as I was told I had to lie flat and be still for 5 days my mouth quickly was glued shut by ack of water and they brought me 3 trays of reg food a day and left it out of my reach and when poor dh finally got enough water in me so I could talk he was livid and made sure he was there at every meal....never have I saw such lazy nurses...plus I got 2 baths in 9 days and one was from my CNA sis! The NS was out of town therefore could not use the locaL hosp.....but it was the worst exerience of my life and when I was able to talk I raised holy hell with them and when they tried to withold my pain meds i simply showed them my cell phone and let them know my docs number was in it! I guess it just did something to me and now I am somewhat paranoid and my back hurts worse then ever since the fusuion and I am still on heavy meds but no Xanax! I called the doc today and explained I am going through way too much right now and asked for test to be post poned...they agreed. Just after my last post I was having lunch with my 18 y/o ds and suddenly began to choke and I panicked and was waving my arms wildly, and for a minute he just looked confused and then shoved a bottle of water at me....and I knew I was going to die since he never had CPR and the craziest things went through my mind when he had this look that he finally understood I was in real trouble and just as I was blacking out he got behind me and place his arms around my ribcage and began to squeeze upward, each time ( maybe 5 or 6) a bit harder when the food came out...and it was deeply lodged in my wind pipe. I then asked him if he took CPR in high school and he said know so I guess he picked it up in movies???? I am so proud of him..he actually saved my life as I was helpless and once he knew..he did it perfect. I was so shook up that I cried all afternoon and then slept until 9pm.
Anyway, sorry for the book. Thanks again for all the help!

Now as soon as he is able, tell him to take a CPR class!!!!!

That is one less thing you have to worry about. And he will have a valuable gift that will stay with him the rest of his life. My Alan took a CPR class. Showed me every single thing when he came home. I practiced on him LOL

You postponed the test!!! That's just fine. Now go and do something just for you.

Love,
Melody

Awwwww sweetie! How absolutely SCAREY for you and your son! How proud of him you must be!!

I hope this helps honey! Hang in there and know we care!
Hugs,
Jan

I just had to jump in and share what I have learned from going on the dental message boards. Those boards are exactly like these except everybody is dental phobic and if we hear some new gadget (like the Wand, which my dentist uses), or something about how to stop the spread of decay, well we like to share it with others.

A dentist on those boards explained to us about what sugar and foods with sugar (for example candy bars) does to teeth.

You can brush your teeth ten times a day and floss, but if you eat candy, drink soda pop or eat raisins, etc. etc, you will get decay and have cavities, and need route canals etc. etc.

Also, because many people are chocoholics, the timing of eating treats is very important (bet you never knew that right?).

If you have to eat anything with sugar, eat it with a meal. Not two hours after or two hours before. That's when the stuff sticks to your teeth and causes cavities. It's all about saliva production (and I really don't remember what the heck the dentist wrote on the boards ) but he was emphatic on the timing of snacks. Eat them with a meal and not after or before.

Also, brush with an electric toothbrush, not a manual one or a battery operated one. They do a better job.

If a person has good saliva production and never eats sugar laden candies or soda pop, his teeth should last a lifetime. And get your teeth cleaned twice a year.

So now that I found my phobia dentist, you'd better believe that I maintain my mouth.

I never ate any bad stuff because I'm diabetic so thank god I never cheated. Can you imagine? I'd probably be toothless by now.

And thank god for an invention called The Wand. NO more needles, syringes, whatever. It's absolutely amazing.

So I wish all of you good dental health.

And how on earth can gums grow over implants. I know many people with implants. All of them (and I mean all of them) had to have them done a second time. I have no idea what went wrong.
They paid a pretty penny for them too.

I'll always be afraid of going to the dentist, even though I really like my guy.
Thank god for xanax, that's all I can say.

love ya
Melody

P.S. Oh, here's a funny story. Alan goes out to make a wash today. I didn't see what he was wearing. I go to the laundromat and there he is in a muscle-man T-shirt with the sleeves rolled all the way up to reveal his newly muscular arms. He now wears a baseball cap backwards. Big change from a man who used to weigh 300 lbs.
As I said, he thinks he's Rocky. I told him if a blond dares to approach him, I'll scratch her eyes out!!! HE LOVES THIS!!!!!