O
ohnobruno
Junior member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2009
- Messages
- 5
It has been seven or eight years since I have been to the dentist, but after a few days of reading this website I finally made an appointment, and I am scheduled to go on May 15th. I would like to thank everyone who has written their story on this forum for giving me the courage to make the appointment, I know I never would have without you.
But I am still scared out of my wits to go. I had various personal problems the last few years and oral health was not at the top of my to do list. But then I quit drinking, smoking, and began exercising and eating healthy. I started feeling better but I could never get my teeth out of my mind and now I know the next step is to finally go see the dentist. I am so afraid of what the results will be, as if this will be the final judgment on the last few years of my life.
As for the actual state of my teeth? Well, nothing hurts and as far as I can tell, nothing is broken. They seem straight and all in place but they're yellow and stained - of course, years and smoking and coffee will do that. I can see some black along the gum line of a few molars, and I am pretty sure these are cavities, and to be honest, the black has been there for a long time. The gums are more problematic. They bleed sometimes and I can see some recession on my lower front teeth. I'm sure I have some stage of periodontal disease. Would anyone mind if I put up a few pictures so I could elicit a few opinions? The wait for the appointment is killing me and I would like to hear someones opinion.
I am twenty-nine years old and feel like it is only now that I am starting to gain control of my life. I feel so far behind everyone else I know. I am so afraid that my years of dental neglect will be an unconquerable hurdle. I find it funny that I have less of a problem telling my friends and family (who are incredibly supportive) about my alcoholism and depression , but my concerns about my teeth, which have kept me up long nights these last few months, are something I don't know if I will ever bring up. At least not until after that first appointment.
But I am still scared out of my wits to go. I had various personal problems the last few years and oral health was not at the top of my to do list. But then I quit drinking, smoking, and began exercising and eating healthy. I started feeling better but I could never get my teeth out of my mind and now I know the next step is to finally go see the dentist. I am so afraid of what the results will be, as if this will be the final judgment on the last few years of my life.
As for the actual state of my teeth? Well, nothing hurts and as far as I can tell, nothing is broken. They seem straight and all in place but they're yellow and stained - of course, years and smoking and coffee will do that. I can see some black along the gum line of a few molars, and I am pretty sure these are cavities, and to be honest, the black has been there for a long time. The gums are more problematic. They bleed sometimes and I can see some recession on my lower front teeth. I'm sure I have some stage of periodontal disease. Would anyone mind if I put up a few pictures so I could elicit a few opinions? The wait for the appointment is killing me and I would like to hear someones opinion.
I am twenty-nine years old and feel like it is only now that I am starting to gain control of my life. I feel so far behind everyone else I know. I am so afraid that my years of dental neglect will be an unconquerable hurdle. I find it funny that I have less of a problem telling my friends and family (who are incredibly supportive) about my alcoholism and depression , but my concerns about my teeth, which have kept me up long nights these last few months, are something I don't know if I will ever bring up. At least not until after that first appointment.