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I needed today's dental appointment to adjust the flapper, and may need another after this:
When I tried using the thing Wednesday, Ifound one spot on my right gum that hurt when I put the thing on, and kept hurting if I left it on. I tried once more, with the same result, and decided to wait a day. Thursday afternoon wasn't as bad, but it wasn't good, and when I touched my gum with my fingertip, it felt tender and a little swollen.
I had an appointment for them to adjust the thing this morning. As instructed, I put it on before leaving the house, and left it there, even though it was uncomfortable.
The dental assistant asked me several questions about whether my gums hurt just wearing the thing (yes) abd which areas hurt, by which she meant which side of the gum, which was difficult to answer. (Interestingly, she referred to the side begubd the teeth as "lingual," and didn't call the other side anything, but when I took a guess at terminology and said "labial" she knew what I meant.)
Based on what I said, she removed a little more material from the base of the flapper, and had me try again. That felt like an improvement, but the thing was still uncomfortable. By then she could see the inflammation, so she just polished the bit she'd modified, and put the flapper back in my mouth, with the instruction to wear it until I got home, then remove it, and try again in a day or two.
I have an appointment Monday at 1:30, and will decide Monday morning whether (a) all is well, and I can cancel the appointment, (b) I want to keep the appointment as scheduled, or (c) it's too soon to tell, because the tender bits are still inflamed, in which case I'll call to reschedule. I asked for Monday rather than Tuesday because I'd rather not do this the day before I fly to Montreal.
On my way out, I asked a couple of questions about how to use the flapper once it fits properly. So, clean with a soft manual toothbrush and toothpaste after meals, and yes wear it at night. Since part of why I want the thing is that I hope it will reduce dry mouth, I do want to have it in at night.
When I tried using the thing Wednesday, Ifound one spot on my right gum that hurt when I put the thing on, and kept hurting if I left it on. I tried once more, with the same result, and decided to wait a day. Thursday afternoon wasn't as bad, but it wasn't good, and when I touched my gum with my fingertip, it felt tender and a little swollen.
I had an appointment for them to adjust the thing this morning. As instructed, I put it on before leaving the house, and left it there, even though it was uncomfortable.
The dental assistant asked me several questions about whether my gums hurt just wearing the thing (yes) abd which areas hurt, by which she meant which side of the gum, which was difficult to answer. (Interestingly, she referred to the side begubd the teeth as "lingual," and didn't call the other side anything, but when I took a guess at terminology and said "labial" she knew what I meant.)
Based on what I said, she removed a little more material from the base of the flapper, and had me try again. That felt like an improvement, but the thing was still uncomfortable. By then she could see the inflammation, so she just polished the bit she'd modified, and put the flapper back in my mouth, with the instruction to wear it until I got home, then remove it, and try again in a day or two.
I have an appointment Monday at 1:30, and will decide Monday morning whether (a) all is well, and I can cancel the appointment, (b) I want to keep the appointment as scheduled, or (c) it's too soon to tell, because the tender bits are still inflamed, in which case I'll call to reschedule. I asked for Monday rather than Tuesday because I'd rather not do this the day before I fly to Montreal.
On my way out, I asked a couple of questions about how to use the flapper once it fits properly. So, clean with a soft manual toothbrush and toothpaste after meals, and yes wear it at night. Since part of why I want the thing is that I hope it will reduce dry mouth, I do want to have it in at night.
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