I just want to pop back in and say thanks for all the ideas. Love the purse hook idea especially, because there is definitely space for that! The others...like TVs and fish tank...there's just no space. The waiting room is small -- basically a square about 10'x10' with 6-7 chairs and a bookcase. All windows on one side and a reception desk on the other, so no logical spot for a TV or fish tank. I like the idea of mobiles on the ceiling in the treatment area, will look into that! The dr. has a large collection of art/prints all by the same artist that he wants to use, so they will be hung throughout the space. There is one wall next to the open doorway to the treatment rooms -- it is about 3' wide and the wall perpendicular to it (to your right as you enter the treatment room) is about 4' wide. So it's a little corner spot that I need to use in a way to "stop the eye". (The dr said some patients like to peer down the hall to the treatment rooms -- from their vantage point in the waiting room -- and say hello.) I thought about a tall tree decal because that would be big and colorful and take up a lot of space. Other ideas? It can't be a coat rack or coffee machine because we don't want people congregating over there (it is just beyond the reception desk, maybe 9-10' from the waiting room seating. Depending on what's left in the budget, I could also see about getting an artist to actually paint a tree there. (This ties in with the dr's art collection, which are mostly landscapes.) What do you think?

There is a difference between "deep cleaning" and just a dental cleaning. Scaling is always part of a routine dental cleaning to remove as much tartar as possible. A deep cleaning is a periodontal cleaning known as "deep cleaning, scaling and root planning". This is done for periodontal disease, or in the early stages of periodontal disease when it is called gingivitis. A true deep cleaning involves cleaning and scaling well below the gum line and can be painful, therefore the patient is given novacaine for the area that is being done in the mouth. Usually only 1 or at most 2 quadrants of the mouth are done at a time. Also done is what is called root planning, where it is determined how deep the pockets are around each individual tooth and if there is any bone loss in the jaw from any periodontal disease. This kind of cleaning is done in a periodontist office and his hygienists are usually specially trained in doing this type of cleaning and he/she does the cleaning after the periodontist administers the novacaine. It will be the periodontist that does the root planning after the deep cleaning is done. Once this type of cleaning and root planning is done, then a course of treatment will be discussed which could include gum surgery or just continued watching of the gums and the pockets around the gums. You will no doubt be told to have your teeth cleaned every 3 months, at first with the periodontist so that you can be monitored and if the situation is stable then you can do the same thing both my hubby and I do. alternate between the regular dentist and the periodontist. One of the first signs of early stage periodontal disease is bleeding gums when you brush your teeth. If you have none of that, I would be looking for another regular dentist and get another opinion as to whether you really need this type of cleaning. Usually dental insurance will pay for deep cleaning, scaling and root planning if done at a periodontist office. The reason they won't pay for it with a regular dentist is they are not fully qualified to deal with these issues. Once the deep cleaning is done, it is not done again and the peridodontist will bill under the code for after perio treatment and it is covered by insurance. Again i would talk with your dental insurance company for information on why it isn't covered and I would see another dentist to determine if you really do have early stage periodontal disease and need this type of teeth cleaning which is not what you get from a regular dentist and if you do, then you should, without question, be referred to a periodontist for this kind of care and treatment for your periodontal disease. Fran

I'm not making fun of anyone - but nitrous for teeth cleaning? Natesgram's response made me thing - I know in our area we have a couple of dentists who advertise as being for those who have a fear of dentists. Maybe you could look and see if they have a dentist like that in your area - someone who really caters those with a dentist fear/phobia. I have heard really good things about one here in our area. I don't like the shots but as mentioned with the pre-deadening, I rarely feel them. I do tense a bit, but know after that I will feel no pain. Dental work today shouldn't hurt (unless you do not have a numbing agent - my dad will do a filling without novocaine). My dentist takes great care in keeping me comfortable - even has pillows for the neck, etc. So I would just be frank and discuss your concerns with the dentist and from there. Interview the dentists! LOL

When the nerve in a tooth dies and the blood flow is compromised, it becomes a site for infection. If the infection can be subdued, the tooth is a canidate for a root canal. However, the root canal can not be finished until the infection is gone. If the dentist should fill the hollowed out tooth, and the infection is still around, it will continue and create a big mess at the bone. I've had several sucessful root canals and each time, the tooth was cleaned out, a medicated packing inserted, and a temporary plug installed. Each week there after, the plug and packing was removed and when the dentist was satisfied that it was safe to continue, he filled the tooth. Apparently, your teeth were not canidates for a root canal. You mentioned 'shallow roots'. I suspect it was really a recession of supporting bone material and the remining material was not eoungh to stabalize the tooth even if the infection was beat down. Recently, I had to have a molar removed. Over the years, it tended to loosen and infect. It was yet alive, but the bone loss had become too great (partly an effect of diabetes). It became infected and was clearing up, but was removed anyway. The dentist judged that it should be removed to protect the adjacent tooth, else it also would be affected by infection and bone loss. Removal of this tooth did speed up the cure of infection and did aid the health of the adjacent tooth. It was a trouble maker that needed to go.