bone loss in teeth

[windycity8]

ive had toothache for about 3 weeks now in one of my lower teeth, the last one you see when i smile that is then next to a gap further back. ive just started going to a new nhs dentist who im not keen on.im terrified of dentists at the best of times. he has told me that there is a black line around the tooth on the xray which means it is infected but its not down to decay, its due to bone loss. im wondering how this has happened. i tend not to bite on the other side as i have a false tooth on a post and it slowly becomes loose over a period of time. so i eat on the other side where this problem tooth is on the bottom. the dentist said it is slightly loose which scares me as i dont want to lose it, when i smile i would have a gap there. he has given me 2 lots of antibiotics now but pain is still there. he has said i can have root canal treatment or an extraction, he doesnt seen keen on saving my tooth, i could just sob and sob over this as i have lost total faith in him already. my husband says to find someone private but i dont know who and also who says i will trust them. has anyone else had this problem any your tooth was saved. im wondering if ive just used that tooth too much to bite as there is a gap there exposing it more. the dentist gave me a small filling on the side when i first went to see him and it didnt solve things. please advise me what is best. im dreading going to anyone again.

[Prudie]

I sympathise with you so much as i share your fears of the dentist. Last year i was in agony with toothache to the point i had to have an emergency NHS dentist appt - I cried the whole time in there, he treated me like I was one of a herd and didn't sort out the pain. In desperation I rang a private dentist and it was the best experience i've ever had at a dentists, like being a guest in a 5 star hotel. Sorted the problem BUT was horrendously expensive - £650 for a crown on 1 tooth.

[askyourgran]

If it's bone loss there isn't much for your tooth to hang on to, they eventually get looser, and if you;re not careful infection will set in with abcesses, I have lost three teeth that way, and I now have a denture plate. It was my first inkling of having osteopena (the onset of osteoporosis) My doctor confirmed it when he sent me for bone scans. Now I try to eat more cheese, yoghurts, drink milk, and if you can,take calcium and vitamin D tablets, (I'm allergic to them). I was OK until I got to 60. I don;t think there is anything that can be done to save loosened teeth. I hate dentists too but they would save the tooth if it was possible.

[windycity8]

in addition to this, if i have to have the tooth taken out then there will be a gap where 2 teeth would fit. how would i fill this gap? with a bridge? thought you had to use an adjacent tooth to attach to with a bridge, is this true?

[juliecarlstan]

Poor Nutrition leads to bone, and teeth loss. And for sure, get a second opinion! You can have your x-rays sent to new dentist which will save some cash, and you can be upfront telling dentists you are there for a second opinion. If ya really wanna save a tooth there is really no end to what can be done. A Root Canal and then a crown. Having an extraction and same day implant. I was told by my dentist that if you loose many lower teeth your jaw bone will naturally errode, naturally get less bone in your jaw bone. So was encouraged to have at least two lower implants, the screw that goes into the jaw bone helps retain more bone. and you have an excellent anchor for a bridge, with an implant.