This got really long way too fast, and I did not even get to tell about my new Cycnoches chlorchilon! Oops! I did! It has just got a nubbins of a spike, and I think my rather confused Rhynchostylis gigantea is putting up a spike too. Very exciting times here in the north! I did a little bit more reading too on line and much of the text espousing the wonders of H2O2 is from the hydroponic and aeroponic growers. I have given this some additional thought and have hit upon a theory of sorts. And more questions. A funny side note, many of the indoor growers that are using some very hi-tech and sophisticated systems and nutrient solutions are not growing Orchids, or fruits or veggies for consumption, but in fact are growing vegetable matter for combustion. It strikes me as funny that in my youth the persons most likely to indulge in this recreation were that last ones you might suspect as having the mental horsepower to put together these kinds of growing systems. Do not even ask about the plant genetics discussed in some forums, and one site had what looked to be a doctoral dissertation on the molecular biology of a very particular part of the plant, more specifically on the plants production of the compound that makes this plant an item of interest in the first place. I was fascinated and humbled, but will continue to grow orchids. As a final humorous note, several of my sons friends (college age) have seen my grow lights and set up and suggested that the orchids are just a cover for growing this particular "other" indoor crop. I digress. Howard, the resources I saw suggest using only the 35% food grade H2O2, and diluting it to around 1%, and then using this 1% solution anywhere from 1 to several tsp per gallon of water. A ratio of 1 part 35% H2O2 to 11 parts water is alleged to yield about a 1% solution, but I have not checked the math on that. The reason for using the 35% food grade is that the typical 3% stuff from the market of pharmacy has several compounds added as stabilizers to prevent degradation of the H2O2 during storage that may theoretically reduce the availability of the H2O2 and may be outright bad for the plants. Modest quantities of food grade H2O2 are cheap, but make no mistake undiluted 35% H2O2 is a liquid to be treated with reverence. Since this amount of a 1% solution added to a gallon of water makes a pretty thin soup it is not hard to see how undiluted 3% might be very hard (or deadly) on plant roots. I am betting the cuticle on leaves offers some margin of safety when 3% or less is applied to a crown or diseased plant tissue topside. My speculation(s): The growing conditions the roots of hydroponically grown plants are in very different conditions than plants in soil, bark or other media. Semi hydro as it is often called is not really the same situation either as I see it. The hydro people are also using higher concentrations of H2O2 as washes to keep tanks hygienic, and some sites suggested that having low concentrations in the re-circulating solution might prolong its safe use by reducing the rate of growth of plant pathogens. The roots of plants grown in soil or soil-less media have the potential for exposure to both helpful and harmful microorganisms. One bit of sand in the Vaseline for me is that H2O2 is as noted previously just a dumb bomb, killing in general as opposed to killing only the harmful organisms. In this light it could be helping on one hand but disturbing the balance of important microflora in the immediate root environment. So, if the benefit is in cleaning up the bad stuff (plant pathogens = bad stuff) at the root, it may give not a net gain if it is also killing off the good stuff too. Now bear with me here, I am not being argumentative, that would be my 16 year old daughter, I am just thinking out loud and asking some questions. The secondary hypothesis is that the release of oxygen near the root is itself helpful to the plant directly. What I am wondering is how the oxygen near the root is helpful to the plant? Roots are not primarily respiratory organs in most plants. Roots are important for absorption and transport of water and micronutrients, anchoring of the stem to the substrate, in some cases the storage of "food", and in more specialized cases active energy production through photosynthesis. We are for the time ignoring the "Ghost" orchid. In a non-photosynthetic root one could wonder what need it might have for oxygen at all. Why then do we consider oxygen to be good to have around the roots? Also the role oxygen plays in plant physiology and "respiration" is quite different than how we think of oxygen and our breathing. In truth on a quantum level it could be argued that there is little difference in its function, but you would really be splitting hairs there. Plants both use oxygen and generate it as a byproduct. We think of them as "making" oxygen because at the end of the day the plant has made more oxygen than they have used while living. Food for thought is all, just food for thought. PS: Urea has a little nitrogen in it too, though it may not be the most available form to the plants.

I have a full top plate that drove me crazy! My dentist suggested trying a thing that was new several years ago. It is Titain Post. I have six posts in my gums and 6 matching holes in my plate and I can bite into anything now and he was able to use the false teeth I all ready had. Got it all done in one setting and not much pain afterwards either. If I have have to have a bottom plate this is what I will do again.

I havn't read all these post but here is my experience. I had all my teeth extracted after the birth of my 3rd son in 1963.They were pulled at a navy base in New Hampshire.After the gums healed i was sent to a dentist in town to have impressions and dentures made.I had never seen that dentist before,nor he me.He asked me to bring a picture of me smiling,he also asked me to try and remember any imperfections in my teeth ,which i did. So he got all that info,took impressions and made me the dentures.I swear they looked exactly like my original teeth.He didn't make them a snow white either as he said no one has them that way.He put in all the little imperfections i told him about etc.To say i was blown away is an understatement. He told me to try and keep them in all night and to put a lifesaver in my mouth when i went to bed the first couple nights til i got used to them,he said if i woke up in the morning and found them on the floor,to just rinse them off and put them back in.Said the trick is to keep them in so you get used to them,i did. I went back one time to get a rough place sanded down.That was the one and only time i had to go back.Those dentures lasted me for over 30 years and probably would have lasted longer had i left the ice,hard candy etc alone,but i didn;t. People always complimented me on my beautiful teeth and asked if they were mine.I always told them yes they were mine and thanked them.I didn't lie,they were mine,i paid for them.LOL Then several years ago i had a new set made,and the new dentist used the old set ,and new impressions.When i got them the top ones were like bugs bunny and had an overbite,so back i went.He only had to redo them once and they were fine. So i say no your DH shouldn't have to go thru all that,time for a new dentist,i'd say. I must also say,no one ever sees me without them.I keep them in all the time,and only take them out while i shower,and as soon as i'm out they are back in. Kathi

Actually there was an option for tomorrow - a narrow window that I couldn't do since I have to take my Grandson 45 miles away for his infusion appointment - no way to cancel that kind of appointment, they are made a month ahead of time. As for discomfort, hey, I went for many years with missing teeth and was able to eat OK, I'll just take these out when I eat, no biggie there. I just wish these young "professionals" wouldn't treat us like idiots, personally I think as a non-professional senior I have a lot more common sense then most of them do. I also think that their only goal is to get the patient in and out of the chair as quick as possible, dare not suggest that you'd want to take 3 seconds to stick a piece of gum in your mouth and chew 5 or 6 times for heaven's sake!!! Oh, and yes, when we no longer have dental insurance I will be switching to a dentist that takes the simple plan that my Medicare Advantage plan pays for. It won't pay for crowns, bridges, etc. but it does pay for simple exams and cleanings, simple fillings and extractions, etc. I've already asked and this dentist won't work with that kind of insurance - in fact when I asked at the front desk the receptionist kind of wrinkled up her nose in disgust at me even asking about it.