fixing my teeth myself...!?!?!?!

[knightsofnii]

I had a molar pulled a few years back, and could never afford a bridge for the gap. My teeth are now starting to shift, and the lower molar is growing up into the gap.

Since we build all our own shyt here, how possible do you think it is that I could design, construct, and insert my own dental bridge between these 2 teeth? With insurance, I'd have to pay 2000 dollars for the job. It cant be THAT hard to do!!! thoughts?

[MontuckyMadman]

I worked grinding miniature bronzes in a foundry for several years. Many of the pneumatic tools I used where dental tools. i could do fillings with the aid of xrays, no prob.

Dentistry is a scam, but a bridge looks a little complicated.

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/dental-health-bridges

May of he tools used in casting crowns and molding caps are propitiatory to the dental industry.

You could invest 2K in equipment but you want to be able to do more than one bridge.
You might be able to do the molding but he casting would have to be done at a crown place and you would have to have someone install.
It would be like car parts on ebay and having your local mechanic put it in.
They don't do that very often.
You can't work on your self anyway even if you wanted to.

[skidesmond]

argh! Teeth can be bitch. I've had my own issues but to do you own bridge work my guess is you really need to know what you're doing. I wish it was that easy. Are we going to start a new forum of bridge work? Anway good luck. I've been fighting w/ insurance to pay for dental implants. They're expensive, so of course insurance doesn't want to pay for it even though they cover it. Big scam.

[skidesmond]

I don't know about you, but where I live dentist commercials are on tv all the time now claiming to fix anything.... and I'm sure they can, however insurance companies are the catch. They have there own doctors/dentists/specialist that work for the insurance company. If they think you don't "need it" they won't pay for it or they'll opt for option B, the wooden tooth. But they will pay 80% of the reasonable/customary charges... They just don't say that the costs they go by are from the 1950's. yeah... gotta love it.

[MontuckyMadman]

oh yeah I forgot to mention that I believe in most parts of the US, practicing dentistry with out a license, even on yourself, is illegal.
lame.

All the mags on tgr are dentists surely they can hook you up in exchange for weed, hookers and blow.

[chrismp]

damn, sucks to be in the US. thank god i'm in europe.
i'm lying in hospital right now after oral surgery, that would've cost about 20,000 USD, but was completely free for me.
my face has swollen to the size of a balloon and i won't be able to chew properly for another 6 weeks, but i think it's all worth it.

still, i wouldn't try doing stuff like that on myself...even if its only a bridge.
too much that could go wrong imho.

[RoboGeek]

I lost a filling and cracked a tooth a few years ago, and couldn't get into the dentist for several days. After a few hours I decided to at least try to fix the pain by covering the nerve ending..

Dunno if you knew it or not, but super glue was developed for open heart surgery to replace using stitches deep in the chest cavity. That way they wouldn't have to open the chest up again, and it eliminated any chances of infection from leaving ones like cat gut inside.
So I washed the tooth real good and since super glue is anaerobic didn't worry about getting it dry and put a drop in it. The pain stopped instantly. I put another drop on a few minutes later and to my surprise it was built up to the level of the tooth enamel.

3 yrs later and its still working! Its on a back molar you can't see, and one thats subject to massive amounts of my very hot beef jerky

[skidesmond]

And you never saw a dentist?! That's ballsy. I knew dentists use a form of super glue but I wouldn't try it myself.... I had hernia surgery 13 yrs ago and they used a form of super glue on the outside instead of stitches. Thankfully it holds because the last thing I'd want to see were my bowels on the bathroom floor when I was on the can.

[LewDog]

I'm new to the Forum but I'm a dentist. First, most insurance companies will ask if you lost the tooth while you were on their plan so it doesn't really work to go get insurance for the bridge. You might be able to cast the bridge but it is difficult. In terms of preparing the teeth for the bridge it would probably require anesthetic which is really no fun to receive from someone else who has been doing it for many years but is probably nasty from yourself on your first try. Also, the work to prepare the teeth is rather technical as we deal in tenths of mm and percent of draw. Doing it on yourself would require two mirrors which, unless you are used to it, can be a challenge to figure out which is left/right. Also, the equipment is kindof expensive. You could use your compressor as we run our drills at about 60-90psi but the drills cost about $800 and the bits are about $10 each. Along with my private practice, I have taught at the Dental School for 25 years and it takes us about 6 months to teach the students the skills to make a bridge and about 4 months to teach them how to prepare the teeth. Probably not worth your time. Do consider a titanium implant, however. If the adjacent teeth are good you won't have to drill them down to receive the bridge.[/u]

[julia.sadie]

If your other teeth have already shifted, how are you planning to move them so you can fit in your "homemade bridge"? If you're afraid that insurance won't cover the bridge, maybe you can get a dental implant instead.

[OAC]

There was a guy "Lennart" who was around here at the forum a couple of years ago. I don't know if he checks in here anymore? He was in the dental composite bussiness. Could be a hit.

I fixed my teeth last year! A good investment.

[Lennart]

Hello OAC, I´m here lurking watching over you guys, but I have not been writing anything for a long time. Since I am a dental technician I have to point out that the dentist doesn´t actually make the crowns or bridges. They merely prepare and install and put most of the money in their pockets. The making of a bridge goes on in a dental laboratory, but I´m sure most of you know that. The thought of making your own bridge is so stupid that I´m not going to comment on that.
I am back from skiing for a week in Tarnaby/Hemavan. The home of Ingemar Stenmark ( if someone remembers him) and Anja Persson.
Up on the mountains it was real winter conditions -4 C and no wind and sun all day. Excellent skiing!
I´m still struggling on with the skibuilding. I have lost count of the production figures but it is over 20 pairs by now. Three years ago I also managed to break my leg on skis I had made my self, but thats water under the bridge now. By the way I have seen you arguing over who is the oldest skibuilder here. I think it can be me. I am 61 years old, so break that if you can.
OAC I have seen you over at Hififorum.nu. Nice TH horns. Loudspeaker building is another of my hobbies.

[OAC]

He's alive! Welcome back Lennart!
You're on top of the FOG list now!...

Any skis lately?

BTW..I'm not at the "Hififorum.nu"! That must be another OAC. Funny though I'm planning to build speakers, but for my guitar amp.

[baumannuli]

i'm 67 but i haven't built any yet which will change soon i hope..as for the teeth bridge problem you can get a dentist that works with " care credit payment plan" and fix your teeth.