Out of Pod Experience

I need some advice.

I have a nerve condition that makes me move when I don't want. Dr. says it's called a myoclonic twtich.
Everyone else calls it a hiccup.

Awake or asleep, It can't be stopped.


Here's the deal.
I've been grinding my teeth pretty visciously, I need to get a mouthguard obviously.
In the meantime, it appears I've pulverized a tooth.

The last one on the bottom right.
I can "feel' it, but it doesn't hurt. However, it is doing what you expect something that's pulverized to do. I'm literally grinding the damn thing down to sand.

I can't have sharp objects put in my mouth, and I can't have my head strapped in place; It's possible for me to break my neck doing that.


Am I ok as long as long as it doesn't get infected?
Will it simply fall out, barring any serious complication?
I know I should see the dentist, but should I be concerned enough to actually go?
If there's something to grab onto, could the dentist just pull it out.


Obviously I don't want to go to the dentist. I'm obsessed with my teeth and they're in great shape, other than this one tooth, and I'm that way for no other reason than I don't want to have to go to the dentist. Ya know I mean? I don't want to go to the dentist.

Should I though?
I really do not want to go to the dentist. Is this serious enough that I probably should?

There is NO pain.


I feel silly asking this here, but I really do not want to have to go to the dentist if I don't have to.
Any advice?

Would you even accept any other advice than "Yeah, Natsett, you're probably right, better don't go to the dentist"?

About the the missing pain: have you had a root canal treatment in this thooth? If the nerve had been destroyed long ago, it would explain why you don't feel anything.
Sometimes those nerves even die on their own- an infection could have killed the nerve in the past, but usually this is extremely painful.

edit: reading the OP again, now I can see you problem. Having a dental treatment with all those myoclonias must be indeed horrible. Not sure if the raw muscle power would ever be enough to actually break your neck, but I can see why you are concerned.

Others have stated already that an infection could become dangerous or even lethal- usually via streptococcus viridans, which is part of the normal oral flora and may cause endocarditis if enough of it gets into your bloodstream.
Don't panic, this does not mean that you could drop dead any minute because of toothache, usually a sepsis would begin with very high fever and sickness.

If I were you, I'd ask a dentist if it was possible to give you the dental treatment under general anaesthesia to minimize the chance of potential traumas because of the myoclonias.

i dont know where you live ...and to be honest it doesnt really matter ...all you need to do is to look on the web for a dental practice the specialises in general anesthetics ... theres one in my home town ....they are NOT cheap ! but if your phobia /malady prevents you from putting up with the (quite considerably trauma IMO ) you will find its well worth the expense ...

ps you do feel a bit crap for a few hours ...but then again i loathe the dentist so I go for general anesthetic ..

Here in the Uk the NHS offers wisdom teeth removals under general anasthetic ..or they used to

General anasthetic won't work. You can't put my brain to sleep. As long as it's running, I'll twitch. Doctors have video taped me doing this stuff to show to other doctors.


I'll got to the dentist IF it's absessed, that's not a problem.


A dentist is useless to me if he can't pull it without cutting. I'm wondering if it's possible it could just come out on it's own. Can that happen?

...
Is cutting common? I don't know how to ask what I'm wondering.
What are the odds they'll have to cut. I know everyone's different, but is the tooth location a determining factor? There's still plenty there to grab onto.

When it gets down to it. It's the money.
I have TONS of medical bills. My ins. doesn't cover this, what a shock. I have to pay for the consult. I'm worried they'll be like, well we'd have to cut it out.

That is literally not an option.
No one is allowed to operate on me. My condition prevents.


I do hope you guys undrestand the dilema I'm in. I'm not afraid of the dentist. I'm afraid of the bill I would have to pay for a wasted trip.



PS; Bane kind of got it. It's that "chance" to get infected that I'm concerned with.

I know lots about the nervous system, I know nothing about teeth other than taking care of them.

How likely is an infection?

Ultimately you are not playing an odds based game here.

Your situation sounds extremely unpleasant. Must make PvP awkward Sorry.....

There has to be an answer to the issue but I doubt it would be found on the Eve-O forums. It sounds like you need a medical expert if your own dentist can't answer the question. If you don't have one try some dental forums?!

Let your own doctor do the running - or one of the guys involved with your condition.

Either way the issue is just a ticking time bomb, not a chance based issue. As for teeth just falling out? In my experience that only ever happens in dreams (quite a lot for me!)

--> see my edit.

The good thing about it is that those germs are, although quite agressive- very weak as far as antibioic resistances are concerned.
Even the good old penicillin will kill them.
If in doubt, just take some Penicillin V or Amoxicillin for about 5 days. Better safe than sorry.

It's probably best to ask a dentist about it before it starts hurting, so the dentist has time to come up with a good plan or to refer you to a specialist.

If you're afraid to go to a dentist, at least bring up the subject with the doctor treating your myoclonic twtich.

My last dentist always said that if it hurts, the dentist is doing it wrong.

Im not a dentist and can only speak from personal exsperiense.
Im terrefied of dentists. Poke me with needles or whatever and im fine,but put me in that chair and i freak out. This is a very bad combination with sinus infections http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxillary_sinus.
Because of the swelling and my..well small jaw (had theets removed previusly due to it simply not being enough space) my wisdom theets started to break.
One of them went two years ago,and now most of it is completely gone with just a small piece left, second one broke in half during this christmas. Exept when i have sinus infections there is no pain at all,so yes your thooth can simply just come out on its own.
I would not advice it tho (yea yea im the one too talk ),and would look for a dentist that spezialise in people who has exsperiense with people who are not..fond of dentists and is willing to sit down and talk to you about alternative ways to remove it in a safe way without making you uncomfterbale.

Good luck!

If the tooth is crumbling they may have to dig the roots out, but at stated left untreated it could lead to a very serious infection. You definitely need to see a dentist, if the first one can't treat you need to find one who can.

So, I'm not a doctor, but I played one on TV....and part of my job in the military was acting as a dental assistant! Myoclonic jerks can be nasty things, and if they're doing damage to your teeth, you really need to get it checked. Once you break the enamel, and get to the dentin, it's really easy to abscess out and get infections. Infections in the jaw have a bad tendency to migrate, and some can actually erode their way into your cranium. The last place you want a nasty infection is in your brainmeat.

Short term fix, you can try getting one of those mold-able football mouth-guards. Trim it down so it's comfortable, and wear it while asleep.

Long term, you need to find a specialist dentist that deals with general anesthesia. I assisted for damn near the exact same thing a few times, and all we do is have the anesthesiologist pump you so full of paralytics you can't move. Brain can send all the signals it wants, but your musculature is shut down for the duration. It extends post-op care, but it sounds like you need that.

Either way, good luck, and get well fast.