Dentist Needed: Sensitive Teeth

activ8newbs on 13/03/2017 - 08:59
Last edited 13/03/2017 - 09:22 by 1 other user

Hi all,

I'm relatively healthy young bloke - exercise regularly etc.
Across the last 2 weeks, I've noticed taht my teeth have started getting very sensitive. In particualr, across the last 3-4 days, I've noticed excruciating pain (which only lasts 3-4 seconds), when I eat/drink anything warm or cold. It doesn't even need to be super cold for it to hurt. (Eating grapes from the fridge was painful).

My dental history: I've had braces as a teenager (never wore my retainers, and teeth are bad again … but that's another issue for another day). When getting the braces, I had a couple teeth extracted under surgery. If I recall correctly, I still have all my wisdom teeth in my mouth. I fear it has something to do with them.

My concern is: I've never actually been to a dentist, aside from the orthodontist for my braces. So I don't know any dentists. Further to this, I'm a uni student, and I know dentists can get expensive! I don't have any type of health cover. FWIW, I work at CBA and so have access to CBHS Health Fund.

Are there any dentists or anyone with any experience that's able to shed some light on the matter? Recommend a dentist in hills area of NSW (Norwest Sydney).

Any help would be greatly appreciated - I'm trying to do the right thing by looking into this sooner rather than later…it's just that I'm scared and intimidated by the cost of the treatment/consultations etc.

Thanks

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  pantsparty on 13/03/2017 - 09:03

  +1

  You have never been to a dentist? You probably have a cavity or something bad going on. Goto the dentist once a year to get plaque cleaned professionally other wise you will keep on getting issues - $200 a year is not much to look after your teeth.

  I goto Northmead dental on Windsor Road, I like them and recommend them - 15 minute drive from Norwest. Give them a call this morning to book in a checkup and let them know you need an appointment ASAP.

  Northmead Dental  

  Dental clinic in Northmead, New South Wales
  Address: 233 Windsor Rd, Northmead NSW 2152
  Phone: (02) 9639 6900
  Hours: Open today · 7:30am–6pm

  • 

    activ8newbs on 13/03/2017 - 09:24

    Thanks so much! Apprecaite the feedback. Will deifnitely consider

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  holdenmg on 13/03/2017 - 10:02

  Hi,

  I'm not familiar with CBHS although I understand the CBA eligibility aspects.

  Are you actualy a member of the Fund with Extras cover (or just eligible to join).

  If you have Prestige, LiveLife, Step-up, KickStart, Top Extras you are completely covered for selected preventative dental services, including check-ups, scales, cleans and fluoride treatments at any CBHS Dental Choice Network Provider.
  https://www.cbhs.com.au/members/member-information/choice-ne…

  (Also, check out the current offer of Join CBHS online on Hospital and Extras before March 31, and receive a $100 Gift Card for singles and $200 for couples, plus 2&6 month waits waived on Extras*!)

  Oh, and take your Medicare card along in case they want to do X-rays.

  • 

    activ8newbs on 13/03/2017 - 10:34

    Thanks for all that info! A lot to take in.

    I'm not covered unedr ANY health insurance.

    I'm just eligible to join.

    I don't really WANT to join, unless I have to (or unless it's economically better decision).

    thanks

    • 

      holdenmg on 13/03/2017 - 11:25

      You can also look at discounted Dental Memberships through Smile Dental or Dentacare and they offers discounts to Member Dentists if you pay an Annual Subscription, but there is no qualification period.

      Dentacare is $69 (Single) or $49 Union Members per year.
      https://www.dentacare.com.au

      Smile Dental is $77 per year.
      https://www.smile.com.au

      You can check out where their Dentists are on their sites.

      If you think it may be Wisdom Teeth related, try and find a Dentist that has a OPG (Orthopantomogram) X-Ray facility in rooms, otherwise you might have to go away for X-Rays and come back for another visit.

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  peterpeterpumpkin on 13/03/2017 - 11:08

  Ironically, I didn't have major sensitivity problems or pain until I went for a basic scaling at the dentist 5 months ago…now I have to go back to diagnose my problem. Perhaps by removing tartar they "uncovered" an existing problem but of course nothing was discovered on the day via X-rays or whatever else they do.

  Anyway, living in the Eastern Suburbs where dentists and tradespeople would take your arm if they could, I used a deal on Groupon (https://www.groupon.com.au/browse/sydney?address=Sydney&quer…), the $59 Manly one in particular (minus $10 for spending over $50 on new Groupon account) since it included a clean and X-rays. Make sure you get X-rays (and fluoride) included since it's an additional cost.

  The foreigner-targeting dentists in Asia would probably charge the same or more to have X-rays and fluoride included.

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  GregMonarch on 13/03/2017 - 11:36

  +1

  I forget the correct terms, but there are "blocked tubes" in your teeth that travel down to, or close to, the live nerve in each tooth. As we age the 'stuff' in them comes out, and there's no way to permanently replace it. Thus hot and cold now travels closer to the live nerve in the tooth than it used to, down those hollow tubes - and it hurts.

  It's why they sell toothpaste for sensitive teeth. They can charge more for it, and it (very temporarily) blocks those holes again. Problem with using it is, unless it's recently changed, it only makes it worse - because once you start using it, you have to keep using it.

  Your teeth were probably hurting more, but you didn't notice it as much until they removed the scale.

  Still get your teeth checked. But it's pretty easy to tell the difference between a toothache at a specific location/tooth (which hurts only that tooth or maybe one or two each side of it), rather than hurts only when you eat something like ice cream and most places in your mouth.

  It started in my 30s, got really bad for a few years, but seems to have reduced now. Probably because you get used to it more than anything else. And you learn not to eat certain things in particular ways, by using parts of your mouth that don't hurt as much. Like taking much smaller bites to not bathe your teeth in ice-cream so it melts quicker and doesn't hurt, sticking your finger in to wipe it off the tooth that's murdering you atm, swilling warm water from a tap, etc.

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  [Deactivated] on 18/03/2017 - 02:29

  Sensodyne toothpaste is great for sensitive teeth. The toothpaste can help with treating sensitive teeth.