Cleaning Teeth Without Pain?

[JR Texas]

Hi......my teeth are sensitive (too many micro-abrasions from using a hard toothbrush), so I do not like getting them cleaned. In short, it hurts!

Is there a new, painless technique for cleaning teeth?

I heard about a drill that basically cleans by blasting some type of abrasive material on the teeth........never touches the teeth. Dental abrasion? Not sure what it is called. If you know about this, is it painless?

Any solutions?

[Etrigan]

Try Sensodyne toothpaste, it covers the teeth with a protective film.

[Mighty Mouse]

Tooth enamel is only so thick and hard toothbrushes will soon wear it out. Hard toothbrushes could also push your gums lower, exposing sensitive areas.

There is no need to scrub your teeth after every meal. Brush them once per day with a soft tuft brush and floss them once per day. This should be enough.

You can rinse them after each meal if you wish, using warm water and maybe a little bit of salt disolved therein.

Plaque is quite easy to remove.

As AjarnRuss said, Sensodyne will take care of those sensitive teeth.

[tangoll]

Last week's trip to BKK, I stumbled onto a lady dentist at Ladda Dental Clinic on 2nd floor of Nana Square, corner of Sukhumvit and Soi 3, who did a super cleaning job on my teeth. There was pain and some blood, due to some deep cleaning. I'm sure if you call her, and ask her about painless cleaning, she can tell you what's available and/or what she can do for you. The tel # is 02-2535871. She speaks good English - Khun Laddashaya. I'm not plugging her; I'm just a satisfied customer.

[ProThaiExpat]

Most modern dentists clean teeth with ultra-sound which is painless.

[lopburi3]

They can always inject the normal ....cane used for fillings. If you need root plan-ing it is probably a good idea. But they will probably want to use two visits if that is required.

There is a lot of difference between those that do fill time and a general dentist in my experience. Those that do all the time are very good at not cutting gums with hand slips and in general it should be painless or not more than a tickle. I advise using a large clinic/outpatient hospital facility where you get a specialist.

[JR Texas]

Most modern dentists clean teeth with ultra-sound which is painless.

JR Texas to all posters: Thanks.......one question: Is the point about "ultra-sound" above a joke or serious? Painless is a word I like. I am going to look it up on the net.....I only know that it shows images...like of a baby in the womb. Ultra-sound for teeth? Oh.....how I would love to find a painless dentist. It is 2007......you would think that by now they would have something they could just rub on your teeth to make them all numb as hel_l and then no pain........huummmmmmmm.........I have an idea: Cocaine-dyne.......the toothpaste for those that do not like pain. Maybe make it in Columbia. :D

[backflip]

The latest tooth cleaning technique uses an ultrasonic device, JR. Welcome to the 21st century.

[JR Texas]

The latest tooth cleaning technique uses an ultrasonic device, JR. Welcome to the 21st century.

JR Texas: Two questions:

1) Is the ultrasonic method painless?

2) Where can you find a dentist in Thailand that uses the method?

Thanks.

[lopburi3]

Believe most all use ultrasonic cleaning. It is not something new. Same principle as table top ultrasonic cleaners of 30-40 years ago where you put water/detergent together and ultrasonic waves did the work. In the case of these units they often cleaned too good (parts requiring lube) that they caused more failures than they prevented. Don't believe that is a problem with your teeth however.

You may know it as a water drill rather than ultrasonic. There will be a stream of water when in use.

[taxexile]

the enamel that covers the exposed part of a tooth above the gum line contains no nerve endings and so insulates the tooth from most stimuli that could cause pain.

where the enamel is thin or absent , such as down near the gum line , or has been worn away by years of using an incorrect brushing technique then the substance that lies beneath the enamel , called dentine , will be exposed or very nearly exposed.

dentine can be very sensitive to temperature change , acidity , brushing etc. to the extent that scaling and polishing by a dentist will be intolerable , especially with ultrasonic scaling devices. the abrasion cleaning method is useful on a very light plaque build up.

if your teeth are hypersensitive then your options are ...

1. ask the dentist to use hand instruments rather than the ultrasonic device , because when the ultrasonic cleaning tip touches a sensitive spot you might wish you were having haemmorrhoid surgery with a blunt knife instead.

2. ask the dentist to anaesthetize the teeth with local anaesthetic prior to the procedure , or find a dentist that can provide a nitrous oxide / oxygen mix inhaler for you to use whilst your teeth are being scaled.

3. you could use sensodyne toothpaste for a week or so before the scaling , but rub a pea sized amount of it on and in around the gum line as you would a cream and leave it on overnight , dont forget the side of the teeth facing the tongue and the palate. this may reduce the sensitivity levels a bit.

4. a week prior to the scaling ask a dentist to paint/apply a specific fluoride gel to the teeth that have reduced enamel coverage or receeding gums that have some exposed dentine. this really works on sensitive teeth , but has to be done every 6 months or so.

5. finally , after having the teeth scaled , have, if possible , the sensitive areas covered with composite fillings , these are fillings that are "painted" on , i.e. no drilling , are tooth coloured and invisible , they will cover and protect the sensitive parts of the tooth down near the gumline from aggressive toothbrushing and thermal shock.

dentistry really is painless these days , you just have to find a sympathetic dentist who can be bothered to offer you all the options so as to make the treatment as pleasant and comfortable as possible.

Edited July 12, 2007 by taxexile

[coventry]

Last week's trip to BKK, I stumbled onto a lady dentist at Ladda Dental Clinic on 2nd floor of Nana Square, corner of Sukhumvit and Soi 3, who did a super cleaning job on my teeth. There was pain and some blood, due to some deep cleaning. I'm sure if you call her, and ask her about painless cleaning, she can tell you what's available and/or what she can do for you. The tel # is 02-2535871. She speaks good English - Khun Laddashaya. I'm not plugging her; I'm just a satisfied customer

The last sentence of the the above makes me think she not only cleans teeth !!!

Edited July 12, 2007 by coventry

[JR Texas]

the enamel that covers the exposed part of a tooth above the gum line contains no nerve endings and so insulates the tooth from most stimuli that could cause pain.

where the enamel is thin or absent , such as down near the gum line , or has been worn away by years of using an incorrect brushing technique then the substance that lies beneath the enamel , called dentine , will be exposed or very nearly exposed.

dentine can be very sensitive to temperature change , acidity , brushing etc. to the extent that scaling and polishing by a dentist will be intolerable , especially with ultrasonic scaling devices. the abrasion cleaning method is useful on a very light plaque build up.

if your teeth are hypersensitive then your options are ...

1. ask the dentist to use hand instruments rather than the ultrasonic device , because when the ultrasonic cleaning tip touches a sensitive spot you might wish you were having haemmorrhoid surgery with a blunt knife instead.

2. ask the dentist to anaesthetize the teeth with local anaesthetic prior to the procedure , or find a dentist that can provide a nitrous oxide / oxygen mix inhaler for you to use whilst your teeth are being scaled.

3. you could use sensodyne toothpaste for a week or so before the scaling , but rub a pea sized amount of it on and in around the gum line as you would a cream and leave it on overnight , dont forget the side of the teeth facing the tongue and the palate. this may reduce the sensitivity levels a bit.

4. a week prior to the scaling ask a dentist to paint/apply a specific fluoride gel to the teeth that have reduced enamel coverage or receeding gums that have some exposed dentine. this really works on sensitive teeth , but has to be done every 6 months or so.

5. finally , after having the teeth scaled , have, if possible , the sensitive areas covered with composite fillings , these are fillings that are "painted" on , i.e. no drilling , are tooth coloured and invisible , they will cover and protect the sensitive parts of the tooth down near the gumline from aggressive toothbrushing and thermal shock.

dentistry really is painless these days , you just have to find a sympathetic dentist who can be bothered to offer you all the options so as to make the treatment as pleasant and comfortable as possible.

JR Texas to all (especially Taxiexile): THANKS! Taxiexile has my problem down........I really appreciate the information. What I would really like is a sealant applied along the gum line........my understanding is that sealants can only be applied on the top and not along the gumline.......anyway.......thanks.

I actually went to my local dentist one time.....way out in the country near Petchaboon......thought it would be ok....at a small hospital. Well........they actually tried to fill a cavity WITHOUT ANY INJECTION.......and it hurt like hel_l. The dentist keep telling me......mai jeep or jeep nitnoy farang......and laughed and laughed......so funny!

Looking back it was a bit funny, but way too much pain.

[taxexile]

my understanding is that sealants can only be applied on the top and not along the gumline.......anyway.......thanks.

the sealant applied to the top of teeth is a hard substance that fills the fissures in the tooth biting surface , this makes it difficult for decay to start in the sealed fissures . it is usually done soon after the teeth have erupted , i.e. in childhood and early teens.

treatment of exposed dentine is a different procedure , a paste containg 5% sodium fluoride is applied to the dried sensitive areas and left to do its work. it seals the microscopic tubules that exist in the dentine and that transmit temperature , osmotic and ph changes down to the receptors and nerve endings that lie under the dentine , other dentine sealants are available. the stuff is just painted on and left.

exposed dentine ususally presents itself as shallow crescent shaped concavities around the gum margins , they get more extensive with age and with hard brushing. dentine is much softer than enamel and will wear away quicker. they should be "filled" with composite ..... a tooth coloured hard material ....... before they get too deep.

its a simple procedure and in bangkok would cost around 1000b per tooth.

regular scaling is one of the most important preventative measures there is for preserving dental health , and shouldnt be avoided because of sensitivity , get the sensitivity sorted if it is stopping you from having the scaling done..