Keith (KS1905) -- RE your dentist's advice

I see in another thread that he seems to be recommending you have quadrant planing. I had it done a couple yrs after Prednisone treatment of UC. They'll give you an analgesic shot beforehand. Mine was done with Carbocaine & I didn't feel any discomfort during the procedures. After 1 session the Carbocaine did start to wear off on my way home; there was slight aching for a while, but no big deal. I had 6 sessions in all because the dentist decided to repeat planing of 2 quadrants about 3-4 months after they were 1st cleaned. It made a HUGE difference in the condition of my gums, got rid of pockets, bleeding, + instability of 1 premolar. This procedure replaces an earlier surgical technique whereby they actually cut into the gums to scrape the base of one's teeth & then had to stitch them back together! Good luck with your treatment if you decide to go for it. Please keep us posted. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])

The dentist told me way back that people with chronic intestinal disorders tend to grind their teeth during sleep; that's one reason for bone loss. His own 5-year-old had ground her baby teeth to nibs due to celiac disease! I used a plexiglass guard for several months in an attempt to mitigate the damage, but one of the prongs caused inflammation! It can be very frustrating to deal with chipped molars & cracked fillings that result from grinding. Apart from medicating the gut I do believe that use of interdental brush + fanatic flossing after meals + the right type of mouthwash helps over time-- so try your best to keep on top of it. Avoiding sugary foods/snacks starves at least some of the oral bacteria attacking our gums, too. When I think of all the bubble gum I chewed as a schoolchild-- eeeeekkk! / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])