Ashamed that I’ll be judged

[honeybee91]

Hi, I’m really depressed about my teeth and gums. I need braces and I have inflamed gums. I see tarter on the crooked bottom teeth that I think are contributing to the bad taste in my mouth. Sorta a metal taste. My toothbrush head smells so I’m going to put a new one on today, I’m wondering if that’s some of the bad taste issue.

I’m trying to get to a dental school and I’m scared I’m a lost cause and they’ll refer me to a regular dentist as they can’t help me, and or say my gingivitis advanced so bad that I need teeth removed.

I was homeless for 2 years so my dental care became neglected for survival. I still brushed but probably not as well as I should. I just got back on my feet and can afford an exam and cleaning. I’m just scared of the judgment and costs.

Will a dental school be qualified and will it be affordable?

 

[dentalnelly]

Dental schools are cheaper from my understanding and each thing they do must be signed off by a trained dentist as it is part of their training. It may just take longer as a process as they're learning.

Good luck, you've survived a lot and you deserve to have a healthy happy mouth.

 

[honeybee91]

Dental schools are cheaper from my understanding and each thing they do must be signed off by a trained dentist as it is part of their training. It may just take longer as a process as they're learning.

Good luck, you've survived a lot and you deserve to have a healthy happy mouth.

Thank you for the support. I guess it wouldn’t matter if I went to a dental school or regular dentist, guess I’m just scared! I know logically there are worse cases than mine and if I can get my gingivitis treated I’ll feel so much more confident.

 

[dentalnelly]

@honeybee91 Oh I absolutely get it. I have non reversible gum disease due to bad mental health (two terminally parents) so I know the struggle. Thing is, you're there to help yourself. A good dentist/good training dentist will always appreciate you trying.

You'll find that there are excellent dentists on here who would say exactly that. You can't get better until you try, no shame in that.

 

[honeybee91]

@dentalnelly I’m so sorry, do you get regular deep cleanings? You seem so kind thank you for making me feel better!

 

[dentalnelly]

@honeybee91 I'm supposed to but I had an issue with a nerve in my arm (couldn't sit in the chair, couldn't sit anywhere tbh) and I missed one and her backlog is always insane -- 4 months! And then when I do have an appointment I get myself so worked up that I give myself cold sores (have to wait 2 weeks to be seen after it starts because of the contagiousness).

But when I last saw my hygienist on the 16th and while she didn't do a deep clean as I've got a number of tooth issues to be resolved (Oct 4th), she said she saw improvement even though I hadn't seen her for too many months so that's good.

Thank you for asking! I just want you to know that it's all liveable. Like, I have alopecia so I wear fake hair. I don't like hard and crunchy foods so if I had to have fake teeth it's not stopping me from eating anything I love to eat. XD I promise, you'll be okay. It will suck for a bit maybe if it's especially rowdy but you get back up because you're a fighter and that's how you got to where you are today. Remember that. You can do it all.

 

[honeybee91]

@dentalnellyi wanted to tell someone lol, but I scheduled an appointment! It’s actually a dentist office that has stellar reviews so I’m excited and scared. They let me book online which helps my anxiety so I’m not crying in the phone (past experience lol) it’s in November but it gives me plenty of time to prepare!

 

[dentalnelly]

@honeybee91 Congratulations!!! See, you did it.

Booking is really 60% of the battle. Good job, I'm proud of you.

 

[Gordon]

This comes up so often...

Embarrassed? What dentists really think

Do you avoid the dentist because you're too embarrassed about the state of your teeth and what a dentist might say or think? You're not alone!

www.dentalfearcentral.org

Dentists don't really care what you come in with, we're just excited to get on and fix stuff.