On Wed, 24 Jan 2007, Steven Bornfeld wrote:

Eva--

I might have top-posted too, but decided not to. Dartos (the
other Steve) should answer the bulk of your questions, since he's
laser-guy.
An onlay is generally an indirect filling (IOW, it isn't formed
like amalgam or resin just placed in the prepared tooth--an impression
is taken or the tooth is scanned in a machine like a CEREC) that
covers the chewing prominences (cusps) of the back teeth.
This vibrator thing I know nothing about--sounds intriguing! Back
in dental school we had an instructor who would grab the patient's
cheek, retract and shake the living daylights out of the cheek. I
figure it's some kind of distraction technique.


This is the technique used by the dentist I went to before -- when they
do the cheek pinch, it does work. I don't know if they're pinching a
nerve or what, but I can't feel the shot when the dentist does the
pinch. It makes me wonder why all dentists don't use this technique.
It works well.


As far as metal syringes, for some reason as local anesthesia
developed in dentistry we use reusable (sterilizable) metal syringes
and disposable single-dose cartridges of anesthetic, and a disposable
needle. This is probably just tradition, but it's convenient. When I
was a resident if I had to use anesthetic in the emergency room we
generally used disposable syringes and a multidose vial of anesthetic.

Steve


Oh, thanks for the info on that. I felt like I was in the dark ages
when I saw the metal syringe. I wanted to get up and run away. It
seems to me that dentists need to work on the environment they set up
for a patient to endure. Scary things like metal syringes should be
updated. I know there are lots of people like me who are scared of
dentists. But it also seems that dentists are fairly unaware of this.
Why is that? How can they not know how scary they are? I'm sure you
don't mean to scare people, but there it is. OK, now I'm just venting I
guess.

Eva

So -- on a scale of 1-10, how much pain is involved with the laser? In
your experience, does a person's fear factor increase the amount of pain
they perceive?

There are definitely patients who need little (and even no) anesthesia
for dental treatment.

I have no idea where I fall into these categories. I don't know if I
could take this treatment without being numb. My biggest problem is
fear. When I went to the oral surgeon -- just to talk -- they took my
blood pressure, and it was 144/71. I have never, ever registered that
high in my life. The highest reading I've ever seen, when I was rushing
to get to an appointment on time, was 120/70. My normal is 100/70 --
right where it should be. I wonder if my fear will make me think I'm
feeling more pain.

Advantages of the laser:

It does not induce cracks into the enamel as it cuts.

Patients like not feeling vibration and pressure.


I would like that part. Does this laser make a loud noise? Since I
have Meniere's Disease, one of the most distressing things for my
hyperacusis is hearing the drill sound. I have to wear an ear plug if
they work on my left side.

That's exactly what I've got -- decay along the gum line on anterior
teeth. I can see these little red spots along the bottom edge of my teeth
where they meet the gum. The laser wouldn't apply to my posterior teeth
because they are the ones with old metal to be taken out and replaced.
You lose me with the technical terms occlusal and interproximal, tho.

Egad. How do I gain an advantage then in making this decision?

I remember you posting a photo of you in your telescopes, but I
don't remember them being the long ones. I'm still using my 2.5s, Mark
is using about what you're using (he's so competitive--"mine's longer
than yours).
I use Pentron "Bond-1--I haven't worried much about what happens to
the smear layer. Of course you're the resin-king.

Steve

Oh, thanks for the info on that. I felt like I was in the dark ages when I
saw the metal syringe. I wanted to get up and run away. It seems to me that
dentists need to work on the environment they set up for a patient to endure.
Scary things like metal syringes should be updated. I know there are lots of
people like me who are scared of dentists. But it also seems that dentists
are fairly unaware of this. Why is that? How can they not know how scary
they are? I'm sure you don't mean to scare people, but there it is. OK, now
I'm just venting I guess.

Eva


Steve wrote:

I know I'M scary. But is a plastic syringe really less scary than
steel? After all, the needle is still steel. Steel is real!!

updated.
Eva

I know I'M scary. But is a plastic syringe really less scary than
steel? After all, the needle is still steel. Steel is real!!

Steve

Within the last year, I have had the 'opportunity' to use plastic
syringes. It is much more difficult to control the plunger to
give a *slow*, steady injection (an extremely important aspect
of a comfortable 'shot').

I think there are some new designs on the market with composite
types of materials, but they were pretty expensive IIRC.

Just keep the syringes mainly out of sight.

One reason I have equipment that swings under the counter instead
of over the top of the patient. Who wants to sit in the chair
staring at all of the equipment and instruments right in front of
them?

D

Scary things like metal syringes should be
updated.
Eva

I know I'M scary. But is a plastic syringe really less scary than
steel? After all, the needle is still steel. Steel is real!!

Steve

Back in
dental school we had an instructor who would grab the patient's cheek,
retract and shake the living daylights out of the cheek. I figure it's
some kind of distraction technique.

I stayed away from dentists for three years, and now I'm losing
three teeth that could've been saved had that dentist not destroyed my
trust in him.

Eva

On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 00:31:36 GMT, Steven Bornfeld <dentaltwinmung@earthlink.net> wrote:


Back in
dental school we had an instructor who would grab the patient's cheek,
retract and shake the living daylights out of the cheek. I figure it's
some kind of distraction technique.



I use this technic, though gentle is good enough.

This is based on the gate-controlled theory of pain perception.
Closes the a-delta, and c fibers from propagating.
...so they say

On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 16:38:59 -0700, Eva Quesnell <equesnel@unm.edu> wrote:

I stayed away from dentists for three years, and now I'm losing
three teeth that could've been saved had that dentist not destroyed my
trust in him.

Eva


Blaming the dentist, eh ?

I think they call that projection.

On Thu, 25 Jan 2007, Newbie wrote:

On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 16:38:59 -0700, Eva Quesnell <equesnel@unm.edu> wrote:

I stayed away from dentists for three years, and now I'm losing
three teeth that could've been saved had that dentist not destroyed my
trust in him.

Eva


Blaming the dentist, eh ?

I think they call that projection.

Ummm, yes, I do blame him somewhat. I also know that the majority of the
blame is mine. It's not like he tied me up and locked me in a room
somewhere to keep me from going to the dentist. But he did take an
already scared person and make the fear worse.

I don't think I'm projecting at all.

You seem to have read only the part

That's not really fair, is it?

Eva

Just responded to the part that I wanted to.
My perogative.