Check up and the probe.

sudzs

Just wondering if using the probe during a check up is a thing of the past. The last few check ups I've had, the probe was lightly used around one filling that I had mentioned I might have chipped. Everything else seemed to be assessed by sight and x Ray.

Is this the norm now because years ago my other dentist used to methodically go over each tooth and filling with the probe, tugging and scraping to check for problems. Or does it just depend on the dentist?

Fishorsealant

Yes routinely.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Sudz, its all depends. Most dentists mostly look, and probe the gums a bit or any suspicious looking teeth of fillings. X-rays help a lot too.

I have to say I am not big into spending ages rooting around. Patients dont like it and its unnecessary, but everyone has their own way of working.

sudzs

Yosef Curved Script wrote: »

Sudz, its all depends. Most dentists mostly look, and probe the gums a bit or any suspicious looking teeth of fillings. X-rays help a lot too.

I have to say I am not big into spending ages rooting around. Patients dont like it and its unnecessary, but everyone has their own way of working.

The poking around was always very stressful for me years ago, I'd hold my breath waiting for the probe to snag on something that would need treatment!

Nowadays I'm older and slightly wiser with tons of old fillings and would like my dentist to be extra thorough. On my last visit I mentioned about floss and food getting stuck in a crown at the gumline/margin but there was no probing around the area. I thought that was a bit odd.

Anyhoo, thanks for the replies,.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

sudzs wrote: »

The poking around was always very stressful for me years ago, I'd hold my breath waiting for the probe to snag on something that would need treatment!

Nowadays I'm older and slightly wiser with tons of old fillings and would like my dentist to be extra thorough. On my last visit I mentioned about floss and food getting stuck in a crown at the gumline/margin but there was no probing around the area. I thought that was a bit odd.

Anyhoo, thanks for the replies,.

Is that the crwon that was not fully seated on cementation and caused bite issues for a while and now has a gap at the margin? Needs replacing. I know you mouth so well at this stage:D

sudzs

Yosef Curved Script wrote: »

Is that the crwon that was not fully seated on cementation and caused bite issues for a while and now has a gap at the margin? Needs replacing. I know you mouth so well at this stage:D

Oh the shame......:o !!!

And yes it might well be that crown. Or probably a different one if you're going back 6 or 7 years. :eek:

Actually, not sure I posted about this one... This I had done on the NHS, (I live in the north now) it also was too big so they reduced the tooth below to accommodate it. It was a replacement for a badly fitting one, big margins, food getting stuck, gum inflammation.... This replacement wasn't much better, worse in fact but the NHS wouldn't replace it a second time. I've been nursing it ever since and am fed up shredding floss and stripping bristles off tepes! I went private 18 months ago but x-ray said it was ok. Went back recently with a view to getting it replaced but the dentist still doesn't seem keen even after me making several visits to the higeinist to have to ultrasonically clean it.

Hence my query about the probe as I'm sure if she had a poke there is bound to be decay to be felt in there at this stage.

I'm beginning to wonder if I'm on some UK dental database with a note saying do not touch her crowns, it never works out. !! Joking! I'm not that paranoid....yet!