Patriot Mobile

Dental phobia

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Texas

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • Mowingmaniac 24/7

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Nov 7, 2015
    9,387
    96
    Except for the inconvenience of traveling (my dentist's office is far away) I don't mind having my teeth cleaned or what have you.

    Plus, it's an all women practice, the dentist, the hygienists, the clerical staff all terrific women.
    Lynx Defense
     

    majormadmax

    Úlfhéðnar
    Rating - 100%
    9   0   0
    Aug 27, 2009
    15,837
    96
    San Antonio!
    Don't be a wussie, go the CIA route of no anesthesia so you don't talk sensitive or classified information while you're under!

    Seriously, after our excellent dentist in Helotes retired a few years back, I had a tough time finding a replacement. Many dentistry have become more like 'Super Cuts' when I am looking for a "good, old-fashioned barber." I have found a doctor close to where we live that is more old school than franchise, but his hours are limited (he opens early and is closed on Fridays).

    As for actually undergoing dental procedures, 25 years of the USAF's "dental hobby shop" has made everything since that seem much more competent and up-to-date. Whereas sometimes that little rubber mask and squirt gun feels like waterboarding, for the most part I can relax and even fall asleep while being worked on, and that with only using a local anesthetic.

    The USAF yanked my wisdom teeth during my first assignment, despite my not having any problem with them. It's SOP for the Air Force, whereas the Army doesn't do anything until it absolutely has to. If you want to keep your wisdom teeth in the USAF, they will let you; but in a little plastic treasure chest. Those babies are coming out whether you want them to or not! I too had to have someone take me back to the barracks, and I felt miserable for several days afterward (and couldn't eat popcorn for months!). Granted, this was in 1982 so things may have gotten better, but for some reasons I doubt it!
     

    ZX9RCAM

    Over the Rainbow bridge...
    TGT Supporter
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    May 14, 2008
    59,732
    96
    The Woodlands, Tx.
    Yikes. Mine were relatively uneventful, I did my wisdom teeth under a local too. Lowers were impacted, that was neat experiencing how much force it took to break them. Pretty darned loud in your head when they snap. My g/f at the time was a dental assistant, she's the one who clued me in that a tea bag will help clot a wound. I had a bleeder that just didn't want to stop on its own.

    Ditto.
    Except for the GF part.
     

    Mowingmaniac 24/7

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Nov 7, 2015
    9,387
    96
    MMM,

    I had my wisdom teeth removed with a hammer and chisel while awake. They had to be removed as all but one was impacted.

    However, if they're not impacted, what's the AF's reasoning that ALL wisdom teeth be yanked?

    Do you know?

    Thanks!
     

    FireInTheWire

    Caprock Crusader
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Me before leaving to the dentist office

    tenor.gif
     

    Attachments

    • tenor.gif
      tenor.gif
      677.5 KB · Views: 319

    toddnjoyce

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Sep 27, 2017
    19,285
    96
    Boerne
    ...
    However, if they're not impacted, what's the AF's reasoning that ALL wisdom teeth be yanked?

    Do you know?

    Thanks!

    I’m not MMM, but I did, until recently, have an AF career.

    Generally speaking, the AF unilaterally believes wisdom teeth are predicted to cause problems and prefers to remove wisdom teeth in an environment that can be controlled as opposed to waiting until a problem occurs either at altitude (exceedingly rare) or while TDY/deployed (more likely).

    When I went on Active Duty as a flyer in 1996, the dentist highly encouraged me to have them removed. I asked if it was medically necessary at this time. He said no, but it could impact my deployability. I deferred.

    At every single dental appointment from that point forward, it was either recommended (or twice) threatened to be ordered removal, which isn’t a lawful order; they can recommend someone be classified as non-deployable though. At that point, a commander can either accept or reject the recommendation. Usually, a commander will accept the recommendation, but that doesn’t result in an order to have the procedure done. I had one commander who point blank told the Dental Squadron commander that any downgrades for wisdom teeth would be rejected unless proven immediately medically necessary.

    Except the two threats, I declined. For the two threats, I simply offered for their commander to call my commander to resolve the issue. Magically, the motivation to ‘direct’ removal went away.

    My understanding is that in today’s AF, once you get to about 25 years old, if you haven’t had a problem, they’ll quit worrying about it unless a real problem shows up.
     

    TX OMFS

    TGT Addict
    Industry Partner
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Nov 3, 2014
    4,755
    96
    San Antonio
    I would agree that wisdom teeth are a problem for troops in the field. Even a seemingly "normal" tooth can go bad with little notice and cause pain, swelling, and progressively worse and worse infection. Given the minimal risk of removal it's a good thing to do for troops, or anyone, that will have limited access to care and cannot tolerate unexpected downtime.
     

    Mowingmaniac 24/7

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Nov 7, 2015
    9,387
    96
    TX OMFS,

    Couldn't that reasoning extend to tonsils and appendix and heck one's gall bladder.

    Probably more stuff we could offload cuz it might go sour...whaddaya think?

    Hey, yank ALL our teeth, then no potential tooth-el problems.

    What else should we consider jettisoning...?

    Yeah, I'm being a smart aleck...just for fun.
     

    rotor

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Nov 1, 2015
    4,239
    96
    Texas
    TX OMFS,

    Couldn't that reasoning extend to tonsils and appendix and heck one's gall bladder.

    Probably more stuff we could offload cuz it might go sour...whaddaya think?

    Hey, yank ALL our teeth, then no potential tooth-el problems.

    What else should we consider jettisoning...?

    Yeah, I'm being a smart aleck...just for fun.
    If you live long enough and don't die of something else prostate cancer (for the men of course) will get you. The equivalent of the prostate in women is the uterus, much easier to remove and most women are glad to not have it after childbearing is over.
     

    pronstar

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Jul 2, 2017
    10,540
    96
    Dallas
    My wife goes berserk at the dentist, even for cleanings.

    The moment she gets into the chair, she gets gassed. Much better that way.

    I had so much work done as a kid, it’s a relief to go in and just get cleanings. I enjoy it.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
     

    Mohawk600

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Mar 31, 2018
    2,658
    96
    Austin
    I had 6 years of head-gear and braces as a kid......at least 4 teeth pulled just to make room for everything to move around.

    At my initial appointment, the orthodontist proposed surgically breaking my upper jaw and moving it back to correct the over-bite......at 9 or 10 years old....I started crying about that.

    At 16 I had all four wisdom teeth removed under local....with two impacted....having to be sectioned out. At the time, my mom was opposed to drugs (she was a part of the PTA and active in the anti drug campaign) so she wouldn't even let them give me nitrous oxide. That is where my phobia comes from.....it wasn't a pleasant experience.

    4 years in the military.....I had a few fillings done which weren't too ba
     

    Mohawk600

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Mar 31, 2018
    2,658
    96
    Austin
    I'm a specialist so I don't offer cleanings, root canals, fillings, etc. We do surgery, most with deep IV sedation or general anesthesia.

    Been meaning to make a video about sedation. Sedation is just like alcohol. You drink 1 beer or 24 beers and the effects will be different. Most dentists are only allowed to give up to moderate sedation which is a nice drunk but you're still arousable & mostly coherent.

    The OP will have moderate sedation with Versed & fentanyl. It's not common to put someone very deep with only Versed & fentanyl. It's also difficult to keep someone very deep, meaning unarousable & without reflexes, for hours with only Versed & fentanyl. You can have light to moderate sedation with pills as well.

    If you to truly be "knocked out" with no memory or awareness now you're talking deep sedation & general anesthesia. The best way to keep someone that deep for long periods, hours, is with anesthetic gasses in an OR.

    Just like drunks, some people fight & some people cry under moderate sedation. You either have to put people deeper or let them wake up a little if that starts happening.

    Last thing is safety. You want doctors that practice emergency drills & staff that have a clue. The general public isn't going to know how to tell if someone is safe. If a dentist brings in an anesthesia doctor to sedate people I would want it to be an MD. Another option is a surgery center with a real OR. A few dentists have privileges to work in an OR.

    Greg Baber in Uvalde is a general dentist with full hospital privileges. He can treat you in a hospital OR while you are totally out. No twilight sleep, we're talking the real deal.

    I have a feeling that the molar in question can't be saved as it is about 50% decayed on radiograph. If that is the case, I will have L-PRF with bone graft done in order to have an implant placed. I could probably do without it (the implant) but that would reduce my chewing surface quite a bit. Why so long on the healing time before implant? I see places advertising full implants in a day......is that not possible? If it is.....what is the diff between full and single implants?
     

    Mohawk600

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Mar 31, 2018
    2,658
    96
    Austin
    Don't be a wussie, go the CIA route of no anesthesia so you don't talk sensitive or classified information while you're under!

    Seriously, after our excellent dentist in Helotes retired a few years back, I had a tough time finding a replacement. Many dentistry have become more like 'Super Cuts' when I am looking for a "good, old-fashioned barber." I have found a doctor close to where we live that is more old school than franchise, but his hours are limited (he opens early and is closed on Fridays).

    As for actually undergoing dental procedures, 25 years of the USAF's "dental hobby shop" has made everything since that seem much more competent and up-to-date. Whereas sometimes that little rubber mask and squirt gun feels like waterboarding, for the most part I can relax and even fall asleep while being worked on, and that with only using a local anesthetic.

    The USAF yanked my wisdom teeth during my first assignment, despite my not having any problem with them. It's SOP for the Air Force, whereas the Army doesn't do anything until it absolutely has to. If you want to keep your wisdom teeth in the USAF, they will let you; but in a little plastic treasure chest. Those babies are coming out whether you want them to or not! I too had to have someone take me back to the barracks, and I felt miserable for several days afterward (and couldn't eat popcorn for months!). Granted, this was in 1982 so things may have gotten better, but for some reasons I doubt it!

    I did go CIA once....and had a minor filling done without anesthesia......never again.
     

    pronstar

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Jul 2, 2017
    10,540
    96
    Dallas
    I had 6 years of head-gear and braces as a kid......at least 4 teeth pulled just to make room for everything to move around.

    At my initial appointment, the orthodontist proposed surgically breaking my upper jaw and moving it back to correct the over-bite......at 9 or 10 years old....I started crying about that.

    At 16 I had all four wisdom teeth removed under local....with two impacted....having to be sectioned out. At the time, my mom was opposed to drugs (she was a part of the PTA and active in the anti drug campaign) so she wouldn't even let them give me nitrous oxide. That is where my phobia comes from.....it wasn't a pleasant experience.

    4 years in the military.....I had a few fillings done which weren't too ba

    Sounds like my childhood.
    Teeth were way too big for my mouth...yes I see the irony

    Braces and a neck gear from grade 4 thru the summer just before I entered high school.

    One set of molars removed when I got the braces.

    Wisdom teeth removed when I was in 5tb grade, they were just tiny little things in the x-rays at the time, not close to coming out but no room for ‘em anyway.

    Orthodontist with firearms like Popeye, the pain from getting braces tightened was unreal and I do still remember it.




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
     

    Mohawk600

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Mar 31, 2018
    2,658
    96
    Austin
    Sounds like my childhood.
    Teeth were way too big for my mouth...yes I see the irony

    Braces and a neck gear from grade 4 thru the summer just before I entered high school.

    One set of molars removed when I got the braces.

    Wisdom teeth removed when I was in 5tb grade, they were just tiny little things in the x-rays at the time, not close to coming out but no room for ‘em anyway.

    Orthodontist with firearms like Popeye, the pain from getting braces tightened was unreal and I do still remember it.




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

    I understood what you meant.......but......."firearms like Popeye" made me laugh.

    I have had my share of heavy handed dentists with their meat-hooks in my mouth.......I don't like it.
     
    Top Bottom