In all my years, no professional, dental or medical, ever told me about the connection between the health of my mouth and my heart health, or full body health.

Not one dentist ever explained to me that effects of bacterial, or dental decay, or possible negative effects of novocaine injections, nerve damage, TMJ,... no one ever explained the connection between my top teeth, my sinuses and my brain, and how all of this stuff is connected!

They leave us in the dark, they invade our bodies and they never explain the long term ramifications or connections!

Hi Merrida http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

I'm used to seeing your posts on the back problems board! You are so right about this dental thing, no one ever told me. In fact, I'm not sure a dentist has mentioned it to me yet! I learned about the connections between dental problems and other health problems on my own.

But I must say, in some slight defense of dentists, that I think the connection between dental problems and other health problems is something they have discovered only fairly recently (last 10 or 15 years maybe). So older dentists may not have been taught about this.

Still I think they (the dental profession) needs to do a better job of informing the public about these issues http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bang.gif

And I think we need a system in this country that allows everyone access to affordable medical, dental and eye care and treatment http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bang.gif

God bless http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif
Kim

Of course a lot of people know how I feel about dental amalgams also, as it affected me so deeply. Very few dentists tell us that 50% of these dental amalgams contain mercury and that they constantly leak and accumulate in our bodies either. Calling them "safe" and "silver fillings" further hides us from the truth. I believe in California, a law has changed that somewhat, but I don't remember the details.

Other issues such as root canals, seem to affect severely the health of others. I'm glad to have read about this here, and other places so that I now know....

Why the silence from the dental community (speaking so in general) of the poisons like mercury that we receive? What warnings are we given about possible infections or problems that can develop from some dental work, so that we can make informed choices? Have any of you been warned from your dentist of some of these consequences? I've only learned this on my own (outside the dental community), by reading books, the internet, and from personal experience.

I think warning means admitting, and admitting can lead to law suits.

I have a facial nerve disorder called trigeminal neuralgia. It started after my last batch of dental work, about when the novocaine wore off. Many people I know with this disorder had it start either the day of or within a few weeks of dental treatment. Yet doctors and dentists say there is no connection. I believe it is due to potential law suits.

Merrida, this has always bothered me to. And if you ask questions, you often receive a condescending attitude. Another thing that bothers me is that they never tell you that teeth with big fillings would need crowns in the future. Not only would this information probably have made me take better care of my teeth when I was younger, it would have left me better prepared for the situation I am in now. And it would have allowed me to make an informed decision when a tooth needed a second or third filling, or needed a broken filling replaced, to get a crown instead of shelling out $300 for a temporary fix.

Ugh!

No dentist of mine mentioned dental sealants as a way of protecting teeth against bacteria and teeth decay. But they are really big on putting crowns which cost the patient big $$$.


Piper

Exactly. While I understand we have a responsibility to be informed and take care of ourselves, I feel it's also part of the responsibility of our health care professionals who are treating us, who we hire to take care of our health, who we pay, -- to inform us of the effects of our treatment.

((btw: my last dentist which I wish I still had, would have done a temporary bridge for me for $400, and my "new dentist" wants $600 to do a "temporary veneer!!!" on ONE ONE ONE tooth!!!!))

Anyway, that is precisely why I am so angry, -- not being able to make an informed decision. I would have done things differently, and at least would have an understanding of what I would need to do in the future, especially financially.

This extends so far down the line. My entire mouth is negatively affected because they did not tell me honest information or prepare me, and my whole health is affected. I feel so angry, I feel so sad, I feel deceived, unprepared, lost...

So here I am now, I've lost most of my teeth, (I also had a few bad experiences, one in particular when I was very young where after a dental appointment I had some facial paralysis, and I remember when telling my subsequent dentists about it, I felt quite judged and qualified, and I think it affected my care because they viewed me as a liability),... all my back teeth are gone, a few of which did not need to get pulled... they tell you they need to come out without telling you that what they really mean by that is that it is cheaper and easier and less complicated.

Like they're making my choice for me assuming I'd agree and assuming that is my first priority?

I had all my upper right teeth root canalled at once a year ago and they let me walk out, with no posts, just huge holes in my teeth, (which I still have).

I also don't understand even now what all these root canals that I've had done (all my upper right and 3 on my upper left and my front right tooth) -- what they'll do to my health...

I am so not happy about this.

Thanks all for letting me vent my frustration!!

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