Following is email exchange between my dentist and me regarding the wear on my upper crowns. I have not been able to have any dental work since 2002, not even cleaning.  My dentist will verify that I kept regular hygiene appointments every 6 months up until this point.  It is impossible for me to breathe in the position I must keep my head and neck for dental work.  In spite of my dentist and hygienist going out of their way to work around this problem, the hygienist practically had to stand on her head to clean my teeth in 2002.  I had a filling replaced at that time in a front lower tooth.  My dentist told me he hoped I didn't have any future problems with back teeth, because he did not know how he would be able to work on the back teeth with my inability to keep my head in position for this.

I have had a serious problem which my inability to breathe makes it impossible to treat.  One of my back crowns broke off, or more correctly, the tooth beneath broke off with half the tooth still in the crown.  This tooth does not have a root canal.  I had to scrape the decay off the stump of tooth as well as I was able with my own dental instrument, and then cement the crown back with Demtemp.  This tool me an ENTIRE DAY to do, because I could only work inside my mouth for a minute at a time..   Photos of the decayed, broken tooth appear at the end of the email exchange.

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----- Original Message -----
From: Luciacovelli@aol.com
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 1:08 PM

Hi Dr. Orenstein:

Will you please take a look at the attached photo of my upper crowns and tell me if you would have made a note in my chart if this wear was present when you first saw me? 

 Would the hygienist have made a note if she noticed this?

This wear is due to the mandibular retraction from my facelift surgery in April 2001. I just want to know if you can confirm the absence or presence of this wear at any point during the years you have been my dentist, and if this is something you would have noted in the chart.

The crown that  is not worn  remained normal because the opposing lower tooth is the acrylic prosthetic.  I am certain the wearing began AFTER April 2001..  I  did not note the exposed posts until sometime after my last hygiene appointment, and cannot recall if the hygienist mentioned anything about it, but suspect that she would have made a note of this if she had.

I hope you are well, Dr. O.  Thankfully, I have not had any dental problems, because I do not know how I would manage treatment at this point.  I have to twist and bend my neck every minute or so to maintain an open airway ... much worse than the last time I was in the office. I would appreciate any information you have about the crowns.  I am trying to document the fact that this was NOT present before my operation in April 2001.

Many thanks!  Love your website!

Lucille

 

Date:8/12/2005 8:40:46 PM Eastern Standard Time
To:Luciacovelli@aol.com

Hi Lucille,

Nice photo!  I will be happy to check the record to see if there was any notation of the wear on these teeth. Despite the fact that it is difficult to diagnose from the picture, had we noticed this, however, I am sure we would have mentioned something since there would be motivation for us to do something to seal one of these up.
 
I am sorry you are still having such difficulty with movement and breathing.  I will attempt to evaluate your record when I get back to the office next week and will let you know.
 
Regards,
 
Dr. Orenstein .
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 Date:8/24/2005 10:03:42 PM Eastern Standard Time
Dear Lucille,
 
No, the record has no notations of wear on the crowns.  There was  indication of a filing on one of the front teeth which would have been from the root canal entry but no wear was noted. 
 
Hope that helps.
Regards,
Bob Orenstein
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In other words, wear on these crowns, which I have had for over 25 years, occurred since my surgery, which permanently retracted my jaw.

Left:  Crown with broken tooth inside 

                        

            Right:  Decayed tooth  under crown caused by inability to have professional cleaning.  I cannot breathe with head in position to allow for dental work.

This is especially appalling , as I was one of those weird people who actually LIKED going to the dentist.  I looked forward to having my teeth cleaned, and found it a relaxing experience.