i'm a dental student but with bad teeth

[toothfairy94]

I'm a 2nd year dental student and wearing braces. The thing is iIhave few amalgam and composite restorations on my molar which resulted from bad oral hygiene when I was younger. I even have one missing lower molar tooth due to excessive decay. I really regret for not taking good care of my teeth when I was younger. We havent had clinics yet but I'm really worried of embarassment of other dental students evaluating my teeth. I just want to know are all dentists have good teeth with no restoration? And is my case really bad that I should just forget of becoming a dentist?

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[irishmom]

I'm a dental hygienist who will be going to dental school next fall. In hygiene shool we had to evaluate each others teeth. I have 6 crowns, 1 RCT, no molars or premolars without fillings and cervical decalcification. I was a learning tool for everyone since most students had perfect teeth. Don't sweat it. As long as your gums are healthy it doesn't matter what your teeth look like. As a matter of fact you will probably be able to get al your amalgams replaced with composite as a learning tootl for your classmates. I personally need to get my diastema re-closed because I lost my retainer years ago.

 

[jda02624]

Don't worry about it. If you want to see some jacked up teeth, take a look at some of your dental school instructors. I'm not kidding, there were several that had horrible teeth.

 

[vellnueve]

I'm a 2nd year dental student and wearing braces. The thing is iIhave few amalgam and composite restorations on my molar which resulted from bad oral hygiene when I was younger. I even have one missing lower molar tooth due to excessive decay. I really regret for not taking good care of my teeth when I was younger. We havent had clinics yet but I'm really worried of embarassment of other dental students evaluating my teeth. I just want to know are all dentists have good teeth with no restoration? And is my case really bad that I should just forget of becoming a dentist?

Dude,

Dentists don't come with genetically altered perfect teeth.

 

[playa2652]

It's ok, I didn't learn proper oral hygiene until I was 18 years old. I have had Ortho twice, orthognathic surgery, gum grafts for my lower mandibular incisors and some premolars, and a couple of composite fillings. **** happens...it is what you are doing now that is important. irishmom's comment on periodontal health is probably the most important thing to take into account because without good periodontal health, no matter what restorative work you do, it will end up in dental hell without good periodontal support.

 

[FOX_ONE]

yeah you should drop out of dental school because you think you have bad teeth and didn't have good oral hygiene growing up...

seriously is this a joke?


you're fine

 

[Golfguy]

I'm a dental hygienist who will be going to dental school next fall. In hygiene shool we had to evaluate each others teeth. I have 6 crowns, 1 RCT, no molars or premolars without fillings and cervical decalcification. I was a learning tool for everyone since most students had perfect teeth. Don't sweat it. As long as your gums are healthy it doesn't matter what your teeth look like. As a matter of fact you will probably be able to get al your amalgams replaced with composite as a learning tootl for your classmates. I personally need to get my diastema re-closed because I lost my retainer years ago.

Please don't do this.

 

[Sublimazing]

i wouldn't worry bout your teeth...your second set of finals as a first year will lead to this:

 

[Screwtape]

Please don't do this.

Oh brother... if I had several amalgam fillings going into dental school I would want them replaced by composites as well. Mercury smercury...

 

[sgv]

I'm sure there're other students with worse teeth than yours. As long as you have no gross calculus, no active caries and a PSR of 0 or 1, you're good.

Oh brother... if I had several amalgam fillings going into dental school I would want them replaced by composites as well. Mercury smercury...

Why? There's no evidence that stable amalgam with no vaporization will lead to adverse effects. The WHO's recommendation is based on little evidence but they decided to sway towards phasing out amalgam because of political pressure and as a just in case type of deal. Studies looked at CNS and nephrotoxicity and there's little evidence to suggest a causation let alone correlation. Posterior amalgam can withstand occlusal forces much better than composites. Plus, cutting out the amalgam release mercury vapors which is the real hazard.

 

[Screwtape]

Why? There's no evidence that stable amalgam with no vaporization will lead to adverse effects. The WHO's recommendation is based on little evidence but they decided to sway towards phasing out amalgam because of political pressure and as a just in case type of deal. Studies looked at CNS and nephrotoxicity and there's little evidence to suggest a causation let alone correlation. Posterior amalgam can withstand occlusal forces much better than composites. Plus, cutting out the amalgam release mercury vapors which is the real hazard.

I am not worried about the mercury. It would be a purely esthetic concern-- I am vain I suppose. (not saying amalgams look bad per se, just that composites look better)

Also, I agree with everything you said above.

 

[irishmom]

I just want my lower amalgams redone with composite...you reall can't see the upper ones.