Another Countdown

[freakout]

She works for another dentist now and has her teeth cleaned there. I thought of calling to see if they could put my on a list to call if there are cancellations for another hygentist to call. I teased my sister, that I would call and tell them she said I should not see that hygentist. She freaked out. She said I would be fine, as long as the dentist checked her work, and she is sure he will want to take a look after the cleaning, but I am concerned that he will be busy.

I have a question though from another post you answer, which I may pose to Gordon. You spoke of cracked tooth syndrome.....Well I noticed something a couple weeks ago, that I just didn't think twice about. The tooth that is hurting had a composite filling many years ago. I have noticed a horizontal crack that starts at the edge of the filling, which is only noticable in certain light. Could this possibly be what is causing the pain. The tooth hurts at night, and first thing in the morning, and when I bite down a certain way, but not every time I bite down. Will the crack be more noticeable after the cleaning.

I know I should probably ask Gordon these thing, but I was just trying to get my thoughts clear. As I said, it didn't even occur to me until I looked up Cracked Tooth syndrome

Thanks for listening Lets

 

[letsconnect]

Actually, if your sister is working for another dentist and the hygienist there comes recommended, I'd really pursue that option (why wait for ages to see someone who comes with a "to be avoided" warning?). Or would going there cause conflict between yourself and your sister?

Not sure about your other question, most adults have what looks like "cracks" (which are harmless craze lines), I'd say if you've spotted something, it's more than likely that your dentist has seen it as well (I presume he didn't comment on it). The distinguishing feature of cracked tooth syndrome tends to be that there's pain upon biting only. Is the pain related to you lying down, or does it start before you go to bed?

 

[freakout]

Actually, it hurts when I lay down and start to dose off clenching my teeth, it hurts when I wake up from teeth being clenched. Also, the tooth on in question is a bottom front tooth, which I rarely bite down directly on, only every once in a while. I'm not sure, but according to the internet a craze is a vertical crack and I have a horizontal crack, only visible in certain light.

I can not go to the office my sister works for as they are far too expensive. And the hours are impossible to get to.

 

[letsconnect]

I didn't realize the cost for a cleaning would vary so greatly (then again, I suppose you'd have to be under the care of a dentist in the other office, so it probably wouldn't be a runner anyway)... how many hygienist do they have at your dentist's office? It might still be possible to change to someone else...

With regards to the "crack" or "craze line" or whatever it might be - one would think that your dentist would have mentioned it (if he thought it might be related to the pain)

 

[freakout]

Yes, I suppose if he noticed it. The office has 2 or 3 hygentists, only problem is explaining why I want someone different without bringing my sister into it, or delaying the appointment much longer. I though if I requested being called if any cancellations, would give me a shot at a different hygentist. Plus I would not have to worry about the appointment so long.

I am more worried about panicing and cancelling the appointment altogether. Just saying bag it I have had enough, I'm tired of being in pain, I don't want anymore TMJ problems (the pain is excrutiating today from the neck up, pain, pressure, burning. My muscles are spasming like crazy. Maybe rescue remedy would help to relax them, even a little bit) This morning I was so ready to cancel, but they weren't open yet, and by the time they did, I realized cancelling was probably not the right thing to do So I will just try not to be by a phone when I get that panicky.

T

 

[krystal]

Actually, it hurts when I lay down and start to dose off clenching my teeth, it hurts when I wake up from teeth being clenched.   Also, the tooth on in question is a bottom front tooth, which I rarely bite down directly on, only every once in a while.  I'm not sure, but according to the internet a craze is a vertical crack and I have a horizontal crack, only visible in certain light.

hey freakout! i hope you're doing better. i can sympathize with the symptoms your feeling because they seem very similar than mine. i was just wondering something, do you usually sleep laying on the same side as where you're having your problem.

i was talking to someone (the whole "...i have a friend") who said they also had a really ache tooth that got better -- but not totally -- when he stopped sleeping on that side of his mouth. he figured that maybe the pressure of his tight jaw and the pressure from having all the weight concentrated on one side of your face (your head does kinda weight a lot) was amplifying the sentisitivity he was feeling cuz it wear bearing down in roughyl the same place as where his tooth hurt.

does that make any sense?

 

[freakout]

Hi Krystal...actually I sleep on my side, but not that side. If I do roll over on that side, I wake up immediately in pain. I just hope that the cleaning they do will help, well sort of. I am totally freaked out about it. I don't think I can deal with the pain until May 2. Mind you I can take alot of mouth pain. For ten years I suffered from severe TMJ (jaw joint disorder) & I was in pain 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I hate thinking about going to sleep, because I know I will awaken in pain, sometimes several time a night.

I just keep hoping they will get a cancellation and move my appointment up. I will panic if that happens, I know, but at least I wouldn't have to worry about it for a month. I can't believe I am so nervous about a cleaning I keep telling myself it's just a cleaning, but it is totally freaking me out. I am trying to figure out why

T

I read one of your posts in the dental question area re: cracked tooth. I did some investigating on the internet. No cracks usually do not show up on x-rays, and it is usually very difficult to see with the naked eye, that's why it's very difficult to diagnose.

 

[freakout]

I have had a breakthrough ...well sort of I have been racking my brain try to figure out why I am so freaked out about the cleaning and I suddenly remembered something. When I was in elementary school, they offered cleanings & flouride treatments to be done at the school. Since it was cheaper than the dentist (I am the youngest of six kids) my parents always signed me up. I remeber hearing my name called to the room that they were doing them in. Walking down the long hallway to the "Chair". I think they came from the health department and were not gentle at all. They made us eat this red dye tablet to find cavities and if the dye stained your teeth, they would get even rougher, lecturing us of now our parents would be angry, because we must not be brushing and would need to see the dentist to have the cavity drilled out No kidding they were that blunt. They had me so freaked out at my very first appointment, a friend of the family worked for the dentist, she told me to bite him so I did!! Needless to say he told me to listen to him, not her.

I must have blocked the experience completely out of my mind, but all of this worrying about the cleaning brought flashbacks to my mind. I am not sure what to do with this revelation, but at least I know now what was freaking me out so much about having my teeth cleaned. I guess I fear the hygentist will be nasty and hurt me

T

 

[melodyl]

Hi, don't worry about cleaning.
I had it and the hygienist numbs the mouth with a gel and she gets to work and you don't feel anything. I took a xanax before (it did nothing for my anxiety, that's how phobic I am). I laughed when, in the middle of the cleaning, i looked up at her and said "how am I doing"? and she said "you're doing great, you are really doing beautifully". I was shaking like a leaf, she knew it, but never made fun of me. And I burst out with "And I'm on xanax, imagine if I didn't take it". We both burst out laughing. I was amazed at how nothing at all it was.

I believe that with us phobics, it's all about the anticipation of what is to come, not the actual stuff. We remember stuff from when we were kids, all the bad experiences, I remember having to have dental notes in school and running away and not going to the dentist all because of an experience my mother made me go through when I was five years old.
I honestly believe that parents have no clue what they do to their children (sensitive ones like we must have been).
My mom was around 40 and I was 5 and she had to have all her teeth pulled in one day. I remember sitting on a bench in the waiting room and she came out. They had to cauterize her teeth because she was a bleeder. She said nothing. She never cried, she never said a word, she just came off ot the dentist's chair and started banging the walls in the waiting room. My aunt was there and tried to talk to her but my mother just banged the walls. Now you have to understand, this was over 50 years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday, that's how traumatized I was. They don't do stuff like that anymore. They have stuff to give you so you don't come out banging the walls. My mind knows this, understands this and accepts this, but I was only 5 and the image of my mom banging the walls had such an effect on me, I never would willingly go to a dentist again.

the next time I went was years later when I had to go because I had a dental note for school. Imagine being 8 or 9 and sitting in a dentist's chair and he opens his mouth to smile at you and he has GREEN teeth???? I'll never forget that and that was around 47 years ago. I remember saying out loud. "Oh no, you have green teeth, you're not touching my mouth" and I ran out like the wind.
We all have stories, I believe that come from our childhood. Stuff stays with us.
It doesn't affect a lot of people, but sensitive ones like us, well it does.

I bet us phobics, (in our personal lives), go out of our way to help other people, to be kind, non-judgemental, etc. etc. I also bet a lot of us are overweight because we self medicate with food to stop all the pain we have in our hearts and minds.

Phobia is a nasty thing but with the right dentist, well, it can be overcome.
I hope everybody finds their special "good guy". like I did.

sincerely,
Melody

 

[freakout]

Thanks Melody I know I shouldn't worry about the cleaning, but I do and at least now I've figured out why. It doesn't help matters that two of the teeth really hurt, so I am concerned about having her clean them. My sister did say the dentist numbs up many of his patients prior to cleanings and I could just ask the hygentist and he would numb me up too. Problem is, if I am anything (with her) like I am with the dentist, I won't be able to speak and will just suffer through it Hopefully she will notice how nervous I am and just recommend that he numbs me up. (Not that I am a fan of that either)

I wish I could just put it out of my mind now, but I can't. May 2 is so far away, yet so close. Between my teeth hurting, and my TMJ acting up, I am a basket case. Just want to cancel my appointment and never go back But I know I can't do that. This site is really great, when I think of giving up and just canceling, I visit the site and work through it. (I guess I will be on this site alot over the next few weeks )

 

[letsconnect]

I hope you'll find it easier with her to bring things up (not being able to speak up at all and making your wishes known must be a real dilemma, especially when you find the alternative - i. e. a written note - equally hard. I can only begin to imagine what it must be like, wanting to say something but being unable to do so).

Though who knows, you might actually find it easier with her to bring things up? These things can be pretty unpredictable, with some people we have an instant rapport, whereas with others (even if they're really nice etc.), it just doesn't happen.

 

[freakout]

Thanks "Lets" I am hoping that will happen. Actually the first time I met this dentist, my head was spinning, from hearing about the extractions, denture, & cost, that I was able to speak clearly. He asked if I had the time to have some extractions done. I replied I had the time, but no. Later, I was surprised that I was so blunt, I could have said I didn't have the time lol. Actually the first two times I saw him I was quite blunt. When D-Day arrived (my sister had warned me to get gas. She said he gives very good injections, however there are 3 that no matter how good the dentist, will be uncomfortable. Sometimes not a good thing to have someone close who can tell you what to expect) any way he asked if I was ready for some fun & I said NO!! not really, but I'm here. That's when he offered me gas.

Maybe I will luck out and the hygentist will see how nervous I am, and offer to have the dentist numb me up (if I can't speak that is)

I have been trying to find something to look forward to, instead of just that dreaded appointment, so I have been searching the airlines for prices (I will be going to Key West on vacation soon. Haven't decided when yet, depends on the prices, but I am going for 9-10 days I figure if I can focus on something good, it will take the edge off of the bad (at least a little)

T

 

[melodyl]

Just wanted to add one more thing.

What made me make the appointment a few months ago was because I am diabetic. I am in a diabetic protocol at Cornell Medical Center in NYC. I am on one injection of Lantus in the a.m. and doing nicely. My sugar is under control, I have lost tons of weight and the last thing I had to overcome was my dental phobia.
I was being interviewed by an endocrinologist at Cornell after my monthly checkup. All went well. Then she hit me with "do you have regular dental checkups". I decided to be completely honest. I said "well, it's been about three years because I'm phobic, then all my guts spilled". She was very sympathetic but she said "melody, you don't want to neglect your teeth and gums, you are diabetic, this is very important".

I thought about what she said all the way home. Did I have any intention of going to a dentist??? Of course not!!! Scared the heck out of me to even think of it.
but I went online and typed in the words "phobia Dentist in NYC" and some names came up and I found Dr. Krochak. We corresponded initially by email (never did that with a doctor before, I loved it). I explained all about my fears. He listened). I made the appointment and the rest is history.
The main difference between Freakout and me is I could never and I mean never NOT TALK TO A HYGIENIST before she touches me. I am the kind of person who says emphatically. "I am a dental phobic, please don't hurt me, okay?" and she went "don't worry". I had temp crowns done before my cleaning. when they made the appointment for my cleaning I asked the girls in the office "now tell me straight, how does the hygienist do this, do I need the wand because the last dentist three years ago used the wand and I had to go 4 times to get all my quadrants cleaned" They replied "no, in your case, you have taken such excellent care of your teeth you just need a general cleaning". so I said "so what does she do?" and they replied. "she will rub gell over your mouth and you will hardly feel anything" I said "okay" and made the appointment for two weeks later. i would be getting my permanent crowns and then go into the hygienist room for the cleaning. I took a xanax (made no difference because my adrenalin was full throttle). Oh, by the way, when he took off the temps and put on the permanent crowns, he used the wand because as he put it (I don't want you to feel anything) and I didn't. So then we finish up and now I go into the other room for the cleaning. Now bear in mind I have never been in a chair with a hygienist doing the cleaning and I never have had a cleaning with just gel so imagine my nerves.
Well, she looked at my teeth and said "wow, you have done excellent job with flossing and brushing and we spoke and she put the gel on and waited. then she used the picky thing (that I hate) but I didn't feel anything. You just hear a little scraping but there was no pain. I was amazed. Nervous of course, but getting calmer by the minute. then she used this spinning thing and it made my teeth feel really good. by the time I was finished and I rinsed, I had a brand new clean mouth. All in all, it was NOT the experience I had anticipated.
If you get the right staff, and the right dentist, you can really go through with it. And I did something for myself. I walked out of there with no more cracked teeth and a clean smile. When you haven't smiled and now you can, well I drove my husband crazy smiling at him. I would go to my friends house and say "look look, I have new teeth". They laughed their heads off.
So for me, I had to have the assurance that the cleaning would not be this DREADFUJL thing. That is why it is so important for you to speak up. You must let them know what you are going through. They are not mind-readers. They have to know what is going through your head. This office that I went to, well they knew all about me before I set through the door. They greeted me like old friends. They were caring and compassionate. I could have never done it if they were cold and uncaring. I can be perfectly honest about that.
I will be forever grateful that I can smile and have good clean teeth and gums now.

I just wanted to share my story.

Melody

 

[krystal]

All in all, it was NOT the experience I had anticipated.
If you get the right staff, and the right dentist, you can really go through with it.

Melody

flowing from this comment if maybe i can help, i was wondering, concerning staff, is there any staff members (maybe you can focus on one person who you like the most) whom you could have as a point person.

i have this hygenist named Vanessa and it makes me feel a lot less scared when i walk up to the front desk and (i open my mouth and pray pray pray i won't throw up on their desk from nerves) ask right for her. i'm like "hi, is Vanessa in?" and the lady at the desk calls her for me. or Vanessa is sometimes be waiting for me already so i check in with a familiar face.

the first time i was prescribed anti-anxiety medication, i ended taking all ten of the little pills and i walked up to the counter NOT feeling any calmer, my body just felt all messed up and slow. i was asked by one of the nurses if i had taken my meds and i said "all ten," and she scoffed at me "well you shouldn't be standing!" with an ("oh my god, you crazy addict") tone to her voice. immediately, Vanessa jumped in to save me before i said someting rude back to the nurse 'cuz it was her stupid meds that didn't work. it was really nice to have an *advocate in her.

(*sorry, 'advocate' in French means lawyer, but i understand in English it means support-person).

 

[freakout]

Thank You all for the support. I guess I always get nervous about seeing someone new, be it doctor, dentist, or hygentist. My sister didn't help matters, by saying no not her, when I told her who I was going to see. She didn't mean to scare me, but she did.

Today is not a good day, I awoke with the tooth hurting (probably due to clenching) and the bumps are back. I am trying the warm salt water rinses, and hoping it settles down again. I bit into something last night that irritated the tooth, add to that the clenching, and I get quite a bit of discomfort

Glad to have this forum to vent a little. I just want the nagging pain and pressure to go away.

Thanks T

 

[letsconnect]

I hope your tooth is feeling better today .
Hopefully there'll be a cancellation and you can get in there earlier.
I sort of half remember that there was some reason why you didn't want to or can't get a nightguard or anterior deprogrammer to help with the clenching, but I can't remember what it was (just thinking that maybe something like an NTI might really help with pain relief, but I don't even know how it works with an upper denture).

 

[freakout]

Hi "Lets"...I do not have any teeth on the bottom left side, and fitting it over the upper isn't an option right now. I need to finish the treatment on the bottom, so we can move on to the partial. Now you see why I am so anxious (SP?) to get on with my treatment?

My jaw is still spasming, but not as bad. The tooth is still bothering me. I have tried to be more aware of what causes it to act up. If I eat anything chewy that hits the tooth it hurts (which I try to avoid) Also when I brush my teeth and brush the back of the tooth, I get alot of pain and pressure for about a half hour afterwards. (I have tried sensodyne, but no effect) I guess I will just deal with it until I can get the teeth cleaned and see if they can see anything going on with the tooth.

 

[freakout]

Hi guys It's me again. My next appointment is Tuesday, for a cleaning. Not sure if it is a regular or a deep cleaning, but either way I am going into panic mode. Fear of meeting the hygentist, and having her look at my mouth I thought I was keep the fears at bay, but last night I was cleaning up some paperwork when my appointment card fell out. I have had two very sore spot appear on my gums this week, & I am so afraid they will still hurt when I go next week. It is taking every ounce of courage in me, not to just pick up the phone and cancel the appointment. I want to get it over with, but I am just so terrified about the thought of it Will she find cancer? Will she freak out when she sees I only have 9 teeth left? Will she hurt me? Will she find I need a ton more work done?

I know, I know its just a cleaning, but.....

 

[freakout]

Hi me again I can't believe how upset/nervous I am about my cleaning appointment. I am more upset at myself for getting so worked up about it. I know alot of it has to do with meeting the hygentist (which by the way, my sister knows, & said she heard shes not that good...real reassuring) How do you go about asking to have the dentist numb you up for a cleaning? Has anyone had to do this??? I am so afraid they will think I am a whimp I think that if they numb me up, though, it would be so much easier on my jaw. I am so fearful that my jaw is going to hurt so bad afterwards, never mind the pain I am fearing during the cleaning. Not sure if it is for a normal cleaning or a deep cleaning, but either way, holding my mouth open will cause severe jaw spasms afterwards.

I am so close to just picking up the phone and cancelling, which will make me feel like an even bigger whimp. Old fears keep cropping up. I keep hearing my last dentist saying "well anytime you have dental work, you have a 99.999% chance of destroying the jaw joint and will have to have more operations" Needless to say he caused me many years of avoiding the dentist. Especially since I had finally recovered from my TMJ and had already had 18 surgeries.

I am so emotional right now in tears and kicking myself for getting so paniced about a cleaning. Right now I just don't know if I can go through with it.

 

[letsconnect]

Anyone who has gone through that amount of TMJ surgeries cannot possibly be whimp !

The hygienist should be informed about your history; I would think that either your dentist will tell her, or that she at least sees your "case notes" (or whatever they might be called). It should be obvious that you do have special needs when it comes to keeping your mouth open.

As far as I'm aware, dental hygienists in the US get to spend a lot more time with their patients than dentists, so there should be time to talk to her about your history, and your fears. How long is the appointment scheduled for?

Anyone in your situation would feel anxious - don't beat yourself up over it . The important thing is that you have a plan of letting her know what your needs are. I highly doubt that anyone could regard someone who has lived through what you've lived through as a whimp - and that includes any dental hygienists out there . You deserve to be treated with the utmost care and compassion.