Hello Dr. Manhart – So after jumping through a lot of hoops I was finally able to get my dentist to test my teeth #8 & 9 with Endo Ice, and sure enough the one on the right was not sensitive whatsoever to the cold test even after a several seconds. He didn’t hold it on for the full 9 seconds that you recommended. The one on the left was mildly sensitive after about two seconds.
I am completely amazed that it turned out the tooth is dead! I really thought this might be a total waste of time when I was heading to the dentist’s office yesterday, but something kept urging me to go forward. I think in part because even though I don’ t have any localized pain I feel like there is something in that area where the infection is located and I believe that that would explain why my periodontitis has gotten progressively worse over a relatively short period of time. Of course the hygienist and dentist think it’s all down to a lack of flossing and it’s been really difficult to not floss knowing that my gums are getting so bad so quickly.
I am eagerly awaiting my calcium strips that I ordered. I’m hoping they will arrive shortly! Thanks so much for taking the time to help me (besides the unbelievably affordable calcium materials I have been purchasing). I honestly am somewhat in shock and I think my dentist was too. He seemed to think I was a bit crazy at first insisting on having the teeth tested but when I had no reaction to the Endo Ice he couldn’t argue with my concern that it’s really more of a generalized discomfort. He also kept insisting on asking me if I’d had trauma before he’d administer the Endo Ice test, and also kept asking if I’d been properly flossing.
An endodontist that I went to recently for another reason downright refused to test my two teeth with the Endo Ice because he saw “no evidence of infection” and he pointed on my X-ray at the root of the tooth, of course! Unfortunately, many doctors in this country have a tendency to disregard the concerns of the layperson and write us off as hypochondriacs, or just ignorant. The surprise from yesterday of no response to the cold seems to have left me and the dentist feeling validated and hopeful that once this infection is healed I will have a better quality of life. – Sincere regards, AW in AZ
Dear AW in AZ
Your response is so factual and honest we want to put it on the web site. I would like to do a podcast about that one case experience as well. No names or places need be mentioned. Patients know when the correct diagnosis is our goal. It’s important to give your dentist credit for his ability to listen to you. Remember it is you and you dentist who revealed the facts, while we help to solve the problem.
Mark DDS