Metal Mouth Message Board

Lidocaine with some nitrous should do the trick if you are nervous about it.

Very common to reposition brackets for 'fine tuning'
Other doctors may do some wire bending for final detailing.

Upper fixed rets are FAR more rare than lowers for the exact reason you mentioned -- the lower teeth hitting them and breaking them off. You may be a bit upset now but would likely be more upset if it continually breaks and your teeth shift.

It is tartar or calculus.
Lower front teeth is the most common area for that.
It is essentially hardened plaque.
This is one of the main things that is removed from your teeth when you get a 'cleaning'

If they are truly decayed you are beyond MI paste (which is hit or miss anyway in my experience)
Probably need them filled.

No increase in sensitivity, caries (decay), or periodontal disease.

Small cracks are not a big deal. Most are caused by nightime clenching (which many poepl do not know they are doing) That couopled with the flex that occurs when you remove them and the fact that overall they just arent that durable can lead to cracks. this is one of the disadvantages of essix over ...

I made a lengthy post about root resorption a little while back. If you do a search for it you will find it.

You need new impressions.

It looks like a retainer.

There is a pic on page 3 here:
http://www.ormco.com/index/cms-filesyst ... rkbook.pdf

Could be that the silver filling (amalgam) stained the tooth. There isnt decay but there is a stain. Or might need a quick repolish. The bonding agent used before the filling material is colorless and very thin and sometimes there is extra that can then stain. Isnt harmful to have it there and often...

I usually watch food network on the overhead TV. Oh you meant what should the pt do :) Yuo can listen to your ipod if you want just good idea to keep at reasonable volume so you can follow any directions. We have some pts do that. Others watch our TV. Others just close their eyes and rest. Whatever ...

Yep, it is calculus or tartar. Hardened plaque. The most common place to see it is on the back of the lower front teeth and for many on the outside of the upper first/second molar. That is where the salivary glads tend to release their mineral rich contents. It is normal. That is what the dentist or...

You didnt hear this from me but in a jam you can chew some sugarless gum and then stick it on there.

It really depends on how short the roots are.

You would be amazed at how long teeth with even short roots can last.