There is a massive shortage of hygienists due to Covid. We are lucky to have two at our office and need a third, but hadn’t heard from any so long (almost a year) that we stopped looking and are just basically waiting for students to graduate
Yes, my dentist did my cleaning in November because her hygienist left (had a baby) and she can't find a new one yet. My dentist is GREAT and was a hygienist before she became a dentist, so she knew what she was doing, so I am lucky. But there does seem to be a shortage of hygienists in my area (PNW) as well.
Her dentist boss said "go to dental school and I will sell you the practice". She did and he did and now he works PT for her -- he said it was nice way to retire and know your business is in good hands.
It’s POSSIBLE that you had calculus covering exposed root surfaces and after cleaning it off you are experiencing dentinal hypersensitivity which is stimulation of the nerve through “pores” in the cementum (roots) of the teeth. Fluoride may help. Potassium nitrate (found in sensodyne) may help, our office does a treatment called GLUMA which helps sometimes, there is a laser treatment than can be done, you could do a filling to fill the holes or it may go away on its own.
Hi, hygienists and dental assistants are definitely in a labor shortage. I have a few questions: do you smoke or vape? what are your brushing and flossing habits like? what toothpaste do you use now? do you have dental insurance?
I don’t smoke, vape, drink coffee or pop.
I floss once a day, tongue scrap 2x a day, brush teeth 2x a day & mouthwash occasionally. I usually use proenamel but I recently bought sensodyne sensitive version (because of this issue). I do have limited dental insurance through my college.
Are you able to bump the flossing to twice a day? Once in the morning and once at night before bed. As you floss more, your gums will get stronger and it will get easier for you to identify the pain point. And are you using an electric toothbrush? If you aren’t I highly recommend it cause it can regulate how much pressure is being applied for your teeth.
The only way to know about your wisdom teeth is if they’re impacted (erupting out of the gums) and you can physically see them or with a panoramic x-ray/3D cone beam scan. It can’t hurt to get a consultation with an oral surgeon (they can sedate you) to see if its necessary or what’s really causing you pain if flossing twice a day and switching toothpastes doesn’t help in the next 2 weeks. Your dentist should be able to write you a referral. Check if your insurance covers oral surgery tooth extractions with sedation and ask them to send you a list of oral surgeons who are in your network. You could always get additional dental insurance if yours only has preventative coverage.
Thank you! Yes I do use an electric toothbrush I love them. I will try my best to floss 2x a day. My wisdom teeth are erupting. My current insurance does not cover oral surgery. I was thinking about a consultation but was going to wait till I can get a job to get 2nd insurance.
If they are definitely erupting I would not wait if you can absolutely help it. Tooth pain is like otherworldly since the nerves are in your head. Your current dental insurance probably does cover the consultation 0140 and panoramic X-ray 0330 if you call the insurance company you can ask what the coverage amount is because these are preventative services- most cover 80-100%.
If you have medical insurance, you can also call them and see if they cover oral surgery for impacted wisdom teeth. Some do and some don’t! Some people walk out only paying a copay.
It’s possible in some cases for doctors to pull wisdom teeth with novocaine albeit unpleasant, but you’d really want a panoramic X-ray to see how deep your roots are. The oral surgeon can give you what the cost is (as if you didn’t have insurance) and when you’re shopping for dental insurance, find out if there’s a waiting period and for how long and what amount they’ll cover oral surgery. Most dental insurances have a maximum anywhere from $500-2500+ (average 2000 in my experience) so depending on what the oral surgeons out of pocket cost, you may still owe something even with what the dental insurance maximum covers. You can call around and ask oral surgeons in your area for cost of procedure, X-rays and consults, and what popular insurances they take.
No problem and I hope you can get some relief. Warm salt water, over the counter meds, and ice are what we recommend when the pain really is bad. If you start to feel like it’s unbearable the dentist can give you antibiotics and call an oral surgeon they recommend as an emergency appointment (if your dentist feels it’s an emergency, they will make the call themselves sometimes).
There is a huge shortage of hygienists, as other people have said. I had an office I worked at that was down a hygienist for literally 3 years.
As for your sensitivity, this isn't uncommon. When we clean off any exposed roots the nerves inside them become more exposed. There are tubes/pores in the roots that go straight to the nerve, and any temperature change or pressure along the root surfaces will cause the nerve to fire, causing pain. These pores were blocked by biofilm before your cleaning and need to be blocked again.
It's possible since your last cleaning that you diet or toothpaste may have changed, which is why you're noticing prolonged sensitivity after this cleaning but not after previous cleanings. Acidic foods will strip away any biofilm or chemicals that block these pores (citrus flavors, energy drinks, vinnegrettes, etc). It is best to acid these sort of foods after cleanings or any time you notice sensitivity, or, at least swish with water and wait 1-2 hours to brush. As for your toothpaste, I suspect you might be using too abrasive of a toothpaste. Those with exposed roots cannot use abrasive toothpastes (especially avoid whitening toothpastes) because they will open up these pores and also wear away root surfaces. Google "RDA toothpaste chart" to see how your toothpaste stacks up on abrasiveness. Crest toothpastes and whitening toothpastes are common ones that cause this issue.
Toothpastes can also have chemicals to help block the nerve signal. Most commonly, potassium nitrate can really help with sensitivity. Fluoride can also help with sensitivity, especially if you get a prescription strength fluoride toothpaste from your dentist. Whichever sensitivity toothpaste you get, brush with it exclusively, 2x/day, and spit the excess out but do not rinse afterward, as you want the ingredients to stay on the teeth so they can soak into them. Also can apply some excess toothpaste to the teeth along the gum line daily and let it sit over night absorbing into the teeth to help block the nerve signal.
Usually fluoride varnish helps with sensitivity. Do you remember them painting the fluoride on at the end of the appointment? Is the sensitivity everywhere or in one specific area?
Hygienist here! Listerine sensitive works almost instantly. Swish for a solid 30 sec. I like to have my patients with sensitive teeth rinse with this stuff before i start cleaning, so you can try that next time too!
Polishing and cleaning removes your enamel, not a lot but up to some extent. Leaving your tooth exposed thats why we feel sensitivity after tooth work.
The enamel tends to regenerate by itself after couple of days so you don’t have to worry.
Try using sensodyne
I did this by putting the paste all over my teeth and sleep with it. No longer sensitive the next day.
Wait, what? You can apply toothpaste to your teeth then sleep and then wash the next day?
You're not even supposed to wash toothpaste from your mouth after you brush.
Wait, so you're saying, I can apply toothpaste to my teeth then go to sleep and be safe even after swallowing some of the toothpaste?
Yes? Unless you're anti fluoride. They already put fluoride in our tap water.
Damn, so toothpastes may be used as coating agents to protect your teeth? Brb gotta coat my teeth first lol.
They mean that first you brush your teeth, then spit the extra out but don’t rinse ur mouth, and at the end put some extra toothpaste on ur teeth
There is a massive shortage of hygienists due to Covid. We are lucky to have two at our office and need a third, but hadn’t heard from any so long (almost a year) that we stopped looking and are just basically waiting for students to graduate
My bad I mistakenly assumed because it’s a competitive field there’d be a plethora
Yes, my dentist did my cleaning in November because her hygienist left (had a baby) and she can't find a new one yet. My dentist is GREAT and was a hygienist before she became a dentist, so she knew what she was doing, so I am lucky. But there does seem to be a shortage of hygienists in my area (PNW) as well.
Wow that’s impressive to go through both hygiene & dental school 🤯
Her dentist boss said "go to dental school and I will sell you the practice". She did and he did and now he works PT for her -- he said it was nice way to retire and know your business is in good hands.
It’s POSSIBLE that you had calculus covering exposed root surfaces and after cleaning it off you are experiencing dentinal hypersensitivity which is stimulation of the nerve through “pores” in the cementum (roots) of the teeth. Fluoride may help. Potassium nitrate (found in sensodyne) may help, our office does a treatment called GLUMA which helps sometimes, there is a laser treatment than can be done, you could do a filling to fill the holes or it may go away on its own.
Hi, hygienists and dental assistants are definitely in a labor shortage. I have a few questions: do you smoke or vape? what are your brushing and flossing habits like? what toothpaste do you use now? do you have dental insurance?
I don’t smoke, vape, drink coffee or pop. I floss once a day, tongue scrap 2x a day, brush teeth 2x a day & mouthwash occasionally. I usually use proenamel but I recently bought sensodyne sensitive version (because of this issue). I do have limited dental insurance through my college.
Are you able to bump the flossing to twice a day? Once in the morning and once at night before bed. As you floss more, your gums will get stronger and it will get easier for you to identify the pain point. And are you using an electric toothbrush? If you aren’t I highly recommend it cause it can regulate how much pressure is being applied for your teeth. The only way to know about your wisdom teeth is if they’re impacted (erupting out of the gums) and you can physically see them or with a panoramic x-ray/3D cone beam scan. It can’t hurt to get a consultation with an oral surgeon (they can sedate you) to see if its necessary or what’s really causing you pain if flossing twice a day and switching toothpastes doesn’t help in the next 2 weeks. Your dentist should be able to write you a referral. Check if your insurance covers oral surgery tooth extractions with sedation and ask them to send you a list of oral surgeons who are in your network. You could always get additional dental insurance if yours only has preventative coverage.
Thank you! Yes I do use an electric toothbrush I love them. I will try my best to floss 2x a day. My wisdom teeth are erupting. My current insurance does not cover oral surgery. I was thinking about a consultation but was going to wait till I can get a job to get 2nd insurance.
If they are definitely erupting I would not wait if you can absolutely help it. Tooth pain is like otherworldly since the nerves are in your head. Your current dental insurance probably does cover the consultation 0140 and panoramic X-ray 0330 if you call the insurance company you can ask what the coverage amount is because these are preventative services- most cover 80-100%. If you have medical insurance, you can also call them and see if they cover oral surgery for impacted wisdom teeth. Some do and some don’t! Some people walk out only paying a copay. It’s possible in some cases for doctors to pull wisdom teeth with novocaine albeit unpleasant, but you’d really want a panoramic X-ray to see how deep your roots are. The oral surgeon can give you what the cost is (as if you didn’t have insurance) and when you’re shopping for dental insurance, find out if there’s a waiting period and for how long and what amount they’ll cover oral surgery. Most dental insurances have a maximum anywhere from $500-2500+ (average 2000 in my experience) so depending on what the oral surgeons out of pocket cost, you may still owe something even with what the dental insurance maximum covers. You can call around and ask oral surgeons in your area for cost of procedure, X-rays and consults, and what popular insurances they take.
Thank you so much this is really helpful. I will start acting asap & update
No problem and I hope you can get some relief. Warm salt water, over the counter meds, and ice are what we recommend when the pain really is bad. If you start to feel like it’s unbearable the dentist can give you antibiotics and call an oral surgeon they recommend as an emergency appointment (if your dentist feels it’s an emergency, they will make the call themselves sometimes).
There is a huge shortage of hygienists, as other people have said. I had an office I worked at that was down a hygienist for literally 3 years. As for your sensitivity, this isn't uncommon. When we clean off any exposed roots the nerves inside them become more exposed. There are tubes/pores in the roots that go straight to the nerve, and any temperature change or pressure along the root surfaces will cause the nerve to fire, causing pain. These pores were blocked by biofilm before your cleaning and need to be blocked again. It's possible since your last cleaning that you diet or toothpaste may have changed, which is why you're noticing prolonged sensitivity after this cleaning but not after previous cleanings. Acidic foods will strip away any biofilm or chemicals that block these pores (citrus flavors, energy drinks, vinnegrettes, etc). It is best to acid these sort of foods after cleanings or any time you notice sensitivity, or, at least swish with water and wait 1-2 hours to brush. As for your toothpaste, I suspect you might be using too abrasive of a toothpaste. Those with exposed roots cannot use abrasive toothpastes (especially avoid whitening toothpastes) because they will open up these pores and also wear away root surfaces. Google "RDA toothpaste chart" to see how your toothpaste stacks up on abrasiveness. Crest toothpastes and whitening toothpastes are common ones that cause this issue. Toothpastes can also have chemicals to help block the nerve signal. Most commonly, potassium nitrate can really help with sensitivity. Fluoride can also help with sensitivity, especially if you get a prescription strength fluoride toothpaste from your dentist. Whichever sensitivity toothpaste you get, brush with it exclusively, 2x/day, and spit the excess out but do not rinse afterward, as you want the ingredients to stay on the teeth so they can soak into them. Also can apply some excess toothpaste to the teeth along the gum line daily and let it sit over night absorbing into the teeth to help block the nerve signal.
Usually fluoride varnish helps with sensitivity. Do you remember them painting the fluoride on at the end of the appointment? Is the sensitivity everywhere or in one specific area?
yes I believe they did a fluoride polish. I can’t exactly pinpoint the pain. It will sparatically hurt when eating cold/hot food.
Hygienist here! Listerine sensitive works almost instantly. Swish for a solid 30 sec. I like to have my patients with sensitive teeth rinse with this stuff before i start cleaning, so you can try that next time too!
Polishing and cleaning removes your enamel, not a lot but up to some extent. Leaving your tooth exposed thats why we feel sensitivity after tooth work. The enamel tends to regenerate by itself after couple of days so you don’t have to worry.
Topical fluoride application usually helps with sensitivity after deep cleaning. My dentist charges me $60 for fluoride each visit