15+ years, had a check up

[Mojocrunch]

Hi All

Lurked these forums what feels like 100 years hoping it would summon the courage up to go for a dentist visit in over 15 years.

I cant say that it did directly, but it certainly helped temporarily each time I would go into a panic attack it would calm me down a bit.

I had a full mental breakdown last year and anybody who has experienced that knows that with mental breakdowns comes complete health breakdowns.

In any case I booked an appointment after my tongue was getting cut up from a new piece of tooth that fell off. Had to wait 2 weeks as I a bit sick at the time.

So having gone yesterday, struggling to fill in the forms from shaking, I have my results from full xrays and examination. I need 2 periodontal treatments bookings, 9 fillings and 1 root canal/extraction.

She is starting with the periodontal treatments and then most of the fillings before deciding on the root canal or extraction as it is not causing any pain so long as I dont chew on that side (which I havent done for nearly 2 years anyway) i will also point out that 8 of the fillings are on the side i use, and only 1 on the other side which is right next to the main problem tooth).

Even though I now dont have to face the unknown of how bad it is, I am still a mess. I am hoping after each time it becomes a bit easier. I feel like I would be a lot more confident if that root canal/extraction wasnt needed.

Goes to show it's better to face your fear earlier rather than later, but as with most people here, speaking from this very example, the fear is what controls you. And even though I have taken the first step, it is still controlling me. Dictacting how stressed and anxious I feel on a daily basis.

Will update as I have things performed so I can read back for myself and also just for one more experience that people can read.

 

[krlovesherkids777]

Mojocrunch,

to the forum! So glad you are here with us and not only lurking but sharing your story!
What a whole lot of courage you summoned up to go to the dentist after so many years ! That is so strong and awesome!

Glad that now you know what you are facing and seems you can do it at a rate you feel comfortable with. Doesn't seem like she is pushing you too fast to do everything from what it reads so that is great, doing one step at a time.

Its a process , and as you gain momentum and trust with your dentist you will see that even though you may still have a bit of anxiety it may become less intense or last for shorter amount of time and maybe some things you were nervous of before you may overcome little by little!

It helps to have a nice,kind gentle dentist who goes at your pace and listens!

It really is encouraging too to post and have a journal , I know I read back mine when i want to encourage myself sometimes.

again Welcome!!

 

[Mojocrunch]

Thank you. I am not quite sure about her yet. I used her based on positive reviews in my area. In my country a lot of dentists are chain based. And while some have good reviews, there are some stores in the chain that have horrible reviews and it's hard to figure out which ones they are. This lady has over 30 years experience (I would like to think that's a good thing, but it also worries me that she is stuck in the past where my fear of pain and humiliation started).

She seemed fine and during the check up she was extremely gentle, applying no pressure with her pick of doom. (Im sure you remember the days where they would jam the pick in your holes and have to pry it out, also like my last visit 15 years ago)

If anybody reads this and has an opinion, is it better to get an extraction than a root canal? I am not that fussed about having a missing molar as nobody I know has any issues like what most dentists that offer implants say you will have even at the later stages of life. But obviously the thought of either is what has stopped me from sleeping for many years. I know extractions can take 5 to 20 minutes on average compared to multiple hour long visits for a root canal and crown with chances of failing. My problem is that I dont have severe tooth ache (although I havent eaten on that side for 2 years) and everybody I know got extraction due to severe pain and infection.

She hasnt given me her opinion. She just said it was up to me, if I want to keep the tooth or not or if i have enough money (fortunately i do. Unfortunately it's because my wife got made redundant due to covid but got a generous package... life is full of ups and downs)

 

[krlovesherkids777]

Mojocrunch

Glad she was gentle and didn't jab you! yeah that is no fun at all with those jabs. I do remember those from growing teen and early twenties years mostly! Haven't had a pick of doom for years thankfully!

Did she give you a reason as to why the tooth should go? and how saveable it was? I'm suprised she didn't give a little more information or her professional opinion would be nice . Can you email and ask just a little more?

I am one who is benefiting from implants after years of a few molars missing and a partial bottom so implants can work wonders, however if they think they can save it via root canal and you are up for it.. ( they are usually pain-free, just time in the chair) typically I think crowns and root canals are a faster and cheaper option that implants down the road and you will have better function in the meantime possibly.. also help save bone from what I understand. though not a dentist. might be worth a double ask. like "hey I came in for the first time and had so much going on I wanted to clarify what treatment she was recommending and why" They should be happy to help!

Hope you get some clarity!

 

[Mojocrunch]

She only had me booked in for a half hour check up so had a patient waiting. She did ask if i had quetions but I dont even fully remember even going I was that anxious. I will ask her these questions when I go in on monday.

The reason she said the tooth COULD if I didnt want to spend so much money. She just said it was an option but as per the treatment plan it is the root canal. She said all my teeth are savable and there is nothing complicated. After that I pretty much wanted out of there and just said 'thank you bye' hahaha. Reason I need it is just a deep cavity. The xray showed darkness from the top all the way to the root. She didnt even mention a crown or even price a crown into the treatment plan estimate which makes me think it's either dodgy business despite her good reviews or for some reason the tooth doesnt need one. Might get a second opinion before getting that tooth sorted.

Obviously I need to talk to her more. But as per my first post she wants to do the cleaning and a few fillings to lift my confidence in dentistry. I am not going to argue with that. Even then she said she will probably give me oral sedation if my phobia doesnt improve. Worst case scenario is there is dentist that specialise in phobia patients 30 minutes drive away that do IV sedation. But I want to conquer the fear, not hide from it. That is last resort.

Thank you so much for your insight.

 

[Mojocrunch]

Ok so im going to make my posts long filling all the details for my own reference.


I have had my 2 perio appointments. Cant say it has been a pleasant experience but so far nothing that has warranted 15 years of not going to the dentist.

The first time I was in full fight or flight mode. But the dentist and assistant were both supportive. My heart was pounding so much I could see the light shake every time it pounded. She gave me 2 vials of anesthetic. All up about 8 or 9 different shots between the top and bottom right side. The front teeth shots as expected were the most uncomfortable but i would say it's the sensation and mental stress of the expectation of pain that is the worst part.

She obviously numbed me up that much due to her not wanting me flailing around in a panic everytime I felt a sensation (more on that later). The downside to that is her assistant had to hold my mouth open half the time because what I thought was a wide open mouth was only my non numbed side. I could feel a few prick feelings in the deep pockets when she had to break up some very stubborn tartar, but only once did I actually have to tell her that it hurt to which she went more gentle and it was fine.

I asked how long the numbing lasts so that i can prepare pain killers when it had less effect. they said 2 hours. But 4 hours later I was still numb and drooling everywhere. I guess that's due to them using more anesthetic than usual.

The second visit for my left side was quite different. She took the route of giving me less anesthetic but asked if I needed more regularly. I was about to ask for more 2 or 3 times as one spot in particular was pretty sore but she passed on to other teeth. She would occasionally go back to the sore area where I would nearly ask for more again but then she would go to another area. In hindsight I should of just asked for more but it's pretty hard when your last dentist would of told you that you're just a sissy. You know this dentist isnt like that, but those feelings are still cemented in your mind or else none of us would need this forum.

There has been NO and I mean ZERO post treatment pain in or around the gums. The tooth sensitivity I would call extreme, but she warned me about that at my initial check up. Parts of my teeth and gums havent seen the light of day in 10 years so with careful drinking, eating and breathing there is not even discomfort. To put into perspective what I thought were 4 or 5 unsavable teeth due to numerous chips at the gum line were in fact little pieces of tartar splitting off from the rest of the tartar. The difference after treatment is night and day. It's almost like she put dentures in my mouth it is that different. I the gum at my two front bottom teeth at the front has pretty much been a flap, able to move it with my tongue. I thought the gum had nearly receded 100% at that point, but it was actually tartar that was partially forming over my gum. How unhealthy is that right?

The other difference was breath and taste. For the 3 days I only had 1 side done, I could lick the top of my gum on one side and it wouldnt taste like anything. But on the other side it left a disgusting and nasty taste on my tongue. It's something a heavy smoker and long time dentist avoided dont even notice.

So there you have it. My first official post treatment experience. Was it easy? Hell no. It is probably the hardest thing I've had to force myself to do in my life. My whole body was sore for 2 days after the first side was done due to tension in my body and constant state fight or flight. But like all here who have taken the first step, I feel proud of myself and it wasnt as bad as I thought. I still have 9 fillings and a root canal to get through, but I know if I can get through the first filling I can get through all 9. And then I can face the root canal. My next appointment is in 1 month for a couple of fillings. I'm already scared and stressed about it but I also know after it's done I will be even more proud. I am also ticking things off on the treatment plan as I go, and saving the receipts to show how much money I wasted from putting dentists off for years. If I can get to the preventative stage by my birthday in October, I know year 33 will be a less stressful one.

Thanks. And until next time.

 

[letsconnect]

Congratulations Mojocrunch ?!! Thank you so much for the update - really helpful for anyone going through something similar!

Great to hear that there hasn't been any post-treatment pain, and that you can see a huge difference . Hopefully you'll be able to work out a way of letting your new dentist know when you need more numbing. It can be really hard not to tough it out when you've been told off for being a sissy in the past. Maybe you could make your dentist aware of how difficult you find it to speak up as a result of your past experiences, and see if she can check in with you regularly to see how you're feeling?

Anyway, I hope you got a chance to celebrate your success! Wishing you all the best for your next appointment ?

 

[krlovesherkids777]

Mojocrunch

Really glad to read all this! You've been through alot of work recently. I'm really glad they were gentle and supportive and that she alway made sure you had enough local!! that is such a good thing!! and even when she initially gave you less the first time, knowing you could ask for more and wouldn't be shamed or blamed is huge

"it's pretty hard when your last dentist would of told you that you're just a sissy. You know this dentist isnt like that, but those feelings are still cemented in your mind or else none of us would need this forum. "

So have felt this myself.. agh. glad your current dentist is not like this. but really it does take a while to undo this. or really anything you've experienced in a bad way in the chair.

" I feel proud of myself and it wasnt as bad as I thought. I still have 9 fillings and a root canal to get through, but I know if I can get through the first filling I can get through all 9. And then I can face the root canal. "

Love this!!

So glad to hear this report !!

 

[Mojocrunch]

Thank you both for your support.

letsconnect I havent celebrated yet as I am consumed by the rest of the process. Even though the deep clean was a milestone, and I felt like I conquered something when I left the dentists office, my fear seems to be at the same level, and to some degree even more. Like the phobia is less due to me taking the first few steps which was inconceivable before 2 weeks ago as I always hoped I would die before I needed treatment (bit extreme but that's what fear does to a person I guess). But now I am in the acceptance phase, where I know I'm going to get it done, it's just a matter of time, but I'm petrified about it.

It's so hard to find what to expect because every google search about dental work invariably leads to dentist pages promoting their office. Even found one office that specializes in implants that said getting a root canal is a waste of time, money and painful.

krlovesherkids777 I hear that. I'm quite clued up on psychology, short of having a degree, and it's amazing how the mind can be SO stubborn yet also SO malleable.

Thank you both for your support.

 

[letsconnect]

It's so hard to find what to expect because every google search about dental work invariably leads to dentist pages promoting their office. Even found one office that specializes in implants that said getting a root canal is a waste of time, money and painful.

Don't believe everything Google says... If that implant website you came across belongs to a dentist office in NZ, you could email the NZ Dental Council about it - it sounds like a grossly irresponsible thing to say. In all fairness, root canal treatment especially for back teeth is not an easy thing to do well, so if you can afford it, it may be worth getting a specialist endodontist to do it. The success rates for root canal treatment when done to a good standard are very high (in the region of 90 to 95%), and while it takes longer than a filling, it's easier and cheaper than an implant. So perhaps a second opinion on the tooth from an endodontist, especially if you're not super trusting of your dentist, might be a good idea .

You've come a really long way and you should be very proud of yourself! Might be an idea to have another chat with your dentist about how petrified you feel? I know it's not an easy thing to do, but being treated with kids' gloves does make things a lot easier.

 

[JaySee19]

The first steps are always the most difficult. Like you I felt I would rather die than go to the dentist - but faced with the option, I decided dying of sepsis was probably not a nice way to go - for me or my family. And the calls to make appointments were suddenly very easy.
I hate the way the whole process dominates my life though. I’m terrified before every appointment, and think of what needs to be done every single day.
As to root canals I would personally prefer them over implants. I get to keep my own tooth which my body has lived with all the time. No chance of rejection! Some people say it’s bad because the tooth is dead, but an implant is not exactly a living object either and putting all that metal into your bone is not something that appeals to me. On the other hand, I would do it if I have to have an extraction.
Good luck with your journey!

 

[Mojocrunch]

Hi Jaysee19 thanks for your comment.

For me I don't really have any opinion on what is better in the long term. All my fear focuses on the then and there getting the procedure done. Getting a root canal logically sounds better in terms of having a tooth pulled out of your mouth and then having a new one drilled into your jaw. Thats the selling point. But then I know of people who are in and out after 20 minutes and didn't feel a thing. Of course that was all emergency extractions where saving the tooth wasn't possible so they were in incredible pain to begin with.

While my next booking is on the 17th I might ring up next week and ask if there is a free space up later on in the week as the longer i wait the more anxious I get. The only reason I can get myself to go is by forcing myself. I'm sure after my first filling i will just book to have the remainder 8 done over the course of 2 weeks or so so I never get to the laid back state having to psych myself up again. I was originally going to have an appointment every 2 weeks so have a relaxing week in between each, but it doesn't seem to work like that lol.