It seems since I was GI my jaw got hard. Does anyone have a similar feeling? I'm getting(for the third time), tired of having the DOC filling my cracked teeth. Othr than getting the mouth grinder the jocks have what choice do I have?

-- nine (nine_fingers@hotmail.com), February 15, 1999

Answers

I haven't cracked any teeth yet, but I have discovered recently that my jaw is clenched all of the time and I have a stiff neck and tension headaches. Ain't this fun??

-- Taz Richardson (Tassie@aol.com), February 15, 1999.

Nine,

The night guard is a GOOD idea. If the cracked fillings or teeth are in fact coming from bruxism (clenching) due to stress, this will go a long way toward stopping the problem.

This brings up a topic that I have been thinking of addressing here, namely making sure that all your dental work is new and the best quality you can afford. It is my opinion that the most common medical emergency that the average healthy person is likely to suffer during a y2k induced crisis is in fact dental. Abscesses can and have killed and even relatively minor injuries such as your cracked tooth can quickly become incapacitating. I have wrestled with this and what can be done when a dentist isn't around ( I am one ) and unfortunately, that is really very little.

Compound that with the fact that dentistry uses hundreds of suppliers and your are not likely to find one with even basic supplies after a relatively short outage. Most dentists order weekly... .

So, spending the money now to redo old work and upgrade is your best insurance. Silver fillings last longer than tooth colored ones, by and large, and gold lasts practically forever. The reason is the materials themselves fail over time, regardless of your home care. Stock up on dental floss and toothbrushes AND USE THEM DAILY. I have considered a home y2k kit for things like lost caps and fillings, but I am not sure that there would really be much of a demand, and anyway, time is short.

Also, ask your dentist to bond the silver fillings in. This will add a little more strength and won't hurt. All dentists bond tooth colored fillings, but not all bond the silver. There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that I would unhesitatingly replace back fillings with gold, NOW.

If you got 'em, floss 'em.

Regards,

Will

-- Will Huett (willhuett@usa.net), February 15, 1999.

I was moving rice from 20 lb. bags into 2 litre bottles for storage, & found several tiny bits of gravel scattered throughout the rice. I sifted the bag VERY carefully after that. One more thing to worry about, biting down on little rocks in your food.

-- ouch (what@was.that), February 15, 1999.

Stress will exacerbate the night time teeth grinding. The best way to solve this problem is to find a dentist that can correct your bite. You are cracking your teeth because your bite is off. A good dentist can correct this in a couple of sessions. When I had this done, the TMJ dissappeared. Also, the best thing to do about silver fillings is to have them replace with a non toxic material. "Silver" fillings have mercury in them and are EXTREMELY toxic.

-- mostly lurking (mostly lurking @ podunk.texas), February 15, 1999.

thanks to all for the information. I'll talk to the dentist about my options.I am also as the stiff jaw state BTW.

-- nine (nine_fingers@hotmail.com), February 15, 1999.

Nine,

You are NOT cracking your teeth because your bite is off. Be very wary of occlusal equilibration. It can do more harm than good. If your clenching is episodic and obviously stress and y2k related, the night guard will be sufficient. Only chronic sufferers need consider more extensive treatment.

Also, research release this month showed NO correlation between silver fillings and Alzheimer's. These fillings have been used for 150 years now, do not let New Age psuedoscience or a dentist that wants to make a fast buck by scaring his patients talk you out of them if they are your best choice financially. I personally would not have posterior composites ( tooth colored fillings) placed prior to 1-1-00. They do not last as long, and that may be more important than ever just now.

Regards,

Will

-- Will Huett (willhuett@usa.net), February 15, 1999.

Stop chewing ice and use a soft tooth brush.

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), February 17, 1999.