L
lilawaugh
Junior member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2012
- Messages
- 10
I’m new here and have been reading through the threads while suffering the worst toothache of my life! Last week while brushing my teeth out came the side of my back molar. It’s just the side of it and the rest of it still standing and feels strong. Last week, my gum/jaw got so sore and tender that I knew I had to make a dreaded dentist appointment. Oddly enough, as soon as I stopped trying to find ways to deal with the pain –extra brushing, too many painkillers, no solid foods etc- and accepted the idea of actually having to go to the dentist the pain definitely eased off somewhat. Psychological mumbo-jumbo? Anyway, I think there was an infection which has since died down a lot.
The pain is pretty much no longer there and if I hadn’t already booked the appointment I’d definitely be crapping out of going by now. I do need to go to the dentist anyway. I’ve been avoiding it for about 5 years! The last time I was there was in May 2009 for an emergency appointment for another molar which was temporarily re-filled and has since fallen out due to not going back. Stupid, I know. When it fell out I was on holiday in France and it caused me no pain so I decided that there was no need for the dentist. It’s since crumbled to the gum line and although it doesn’t look pretty, no one else can see it and it’s sort of been my secret shame. It does hurt occasionally from too much pressure from eating hard food but I can work around it so it doesn’t bother me too much.
The dentist has always made me nervous from as long as I can remember. My NHS/school dentist was not the best. A nice lady for sure, although a bit too timid and jittery for a dentist I think. We think she had some sort of personal breakdown while we (my brother and I) were patients. I never really felt safe with her and voiced my fears to my dad who did his best to reassure me that she was “a professional”; “she wouldn’t be doing this job if she couldn’t” which I guess is fair but I’ve always been very aware of my instinct and trusting of it. After a few awful experiences –fillings done under no local anaesthetic, various attempts at numbing me that failed but she had already started and tried to continue despite my protests before giving up and sending me home with a half open tooth only to come back a week or two later and having it botched again etc- as soon as I was 16 (I’m 22 now) and no longer required to go the dentist I tried my best to give it a wide berth.
I’m really nervous about going and I guess looking for some encouragement. I really hope I like the dentist. He’s the practice principal and looks like a nice chap. I’m not really worried about any of the actual procedures actually- I can handle pain quite well, have no fear of needles and as long as I feel I’m in safe hands I should be generally OK. I suppose come Friday I’ll have to remind myself of this... !
Embarrassment is my main problem really. When my tooth broke in France (in February 2011) I convinced myself there was no way I could go to the dentist because I’d be the only 20 year old with a broken tooth. I am nervous and embarrassed but posting this here in the hope that someone else in my position won’t wait so long to make an appointment and can make visiting the dentist as normal as going to the doctor when you’re feeling sick.
I’ll post back after the appointment on Friday. I’m expecting to have to have some other fillings too so wish me luck...
The pain is pretty much no longer there and if I hadn’t already booked the appointment I’d definitely be crapping out of going by now. I do need to go to the dentist anyway. I’ve been avoiding it for about 5 years! The last time I was there was in May 2009 for an emergency appointment for another molar which was temporarily re-filled and has since fallen out due to not going back. Stupid, I know. When it fell out I was on holiday in France and it caused me no pain so I decided that there was no need for the dentist. It’s since crumbled to the gum line and although it doesn’t look pretty, no one else can see it and it’s sort of been my secret shame. It does hurt occasionally from too much pressure from eating hard food but I can work around it so it doesn’t bother me too much.
The dentist has always made me nervous from as long as I can remember. My NHS/school dentist was not the best. A nice lady for sure, although a bit too timid and jittery for a dentist I think. We think she had some sort of personal breakdown while we (my brother and I) were patients. I never really felt safe with her and voiced my fears to my dad who did his best to reassure me that she was “a professional”; “she wouldn’t be doing this job if she couldn’t” which I guess is fair but I’ve always been very aware of my instinct and trusting of it. After a few awful experiences –fillings done under no local anaesthetic, various attempts at numbing me that failed but she had already started and tried to continue despite my protests before giving up and sending me home with a half open tooth only to come back a week or two later and having it botched again etc- as soon as I was 16 (I’m 22 now) and no longer required to go the dentist I tried my best to give it a wide berth.
I’m really nervous about going and I guess looking for some encouragement. I really hope I like the dentist. He’s the practice principal and looks like a nice chap. I’m not really worried about any of the actual procedures actually- I can handle pain quite well, have no fear of needles and as long as I feel I’m in safe hands I should be generally OK. I suppose come Friday I’ll have to remind myself of this... !
Embarrassment is my main problem really. When my tooth broke in France (in February 2011) I convinced myself there was no way I could go to the dentist because I’d be the only 20 year old with a broken tooth. I am nervous and embarrassed but posting this here in the hope that someone else in my position won’t wait so long to make an appointment and can make visiting the dentist as normal as going to the doctor when you’re feeling sick.
I’ll post back after the appointment on Friday. I’m expecting to have to have some other fillings too so wish me luck...