R
Rachel28
Junior member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2007
- Messages
- 7
Hi everyone. OK, so I have a lot of bad teeth but I haven't had pain in quite a long time, thank goodness. Unfortunately this grace period can't last forever, no matter what I do. I can't afford to even see a dentist, let alone have any kind of work done. The University of Toronto here runs a dental school that offers services that still cost, but cost less (though in my opinion they have a funny idea of what 'less' ought to be - they want $50 just to take a look at you at all after you wait forever on their lists! But I digress).
Anyway, a big part of the basis for my dental phobia (and subsequent avoidance of any dentists for years now) is the concern that if I am awake during any dental work, that I will be so terrified and in such pain that I will likely jerk my head involuntarily, causing a drill or scalpel or goodness knows what else to hit other parts of my teeth or mouth or even face. Possibly even causing serious damage! I honestly don't believe I would be physically capable of remaining still for the dentist. Previous experience has shown that I likely have crooked nerves, as up to five injections of whatever it is they use to 'freeze' the nerve & gum - five injections for just one molar! - did not work and I sharply, involuntarily jerked when the guy even barely touched the area. It was extremely sensitive.
So here's the thing. Just today I noticed what I am presuming is a gum boil under my lower right molar...and sure enough, later this evening it oozed some pus. It doesn't hurt at all now. Hasn't hurt at all, in fact, at any time (which struck me as odd, since I read that they're supposed to hurt before they drain, and mine hasn't had any pain). Anyway, I'm concerned that despite avoiding sugar & soda for years now, sticking to plenty of fruit juices, vegetables, milk and good stuff like that (including taking antibiotics several times over the last couple of years whenever I noticed a funny smell along the gumline, which worked like a charm each time)...that this gum boil may signal a turning point. I read that when these appear, if left untreated at the source, the source can possibly - possibly - lead to blood poisoning.
I'm not ready to die. However:
1) I can't afford a dentist, or endodontist, etc. I live on just over $3000 a year after rent.
2) The last dentist I consulted (in 2007) said he wouldn't feel comfortable working on my teeth unless it were in a hospital, because in his professional opinion he said the chances of my dying as a result of work being done on my teeth were significant. He said that he personally would not be comfortable treating me at all, even *if* I had the money, because he was *that* sure that I would probably choke to death on broken tooth and blood, on the table. [Thinking "um, what??" I asked him "wouldn't you folks just suction that out and stop long enough to do that, before proceeding with the surgery?" He said it's not that simple and doesn't work that way. Then he told me to beat it.] *It should be noted that "in my professional opinion, you'll probably die if you get dental work done" has been a remarkably strong incentive to not have any work done, lol.
3) Above all else, I am concerned that even if I could afford to get treated and could find a dentist willing to do so, that I would be unable to afford to be put to sleep. In which case I am *deeply concerned* that the pain & mental anguish would be so significant that as soon as the drill or whatever touches the nerve, my head would involuntarily jerk so far that it would send the drill shooting up into my head or something. You understand what I mean...sensitive work is being done and then the patient's head suddenly jerks violently, sending the damn tool skidding to goodness knows where.
I'm really freaked out, and I need guidance. I try to do what I can to buy time and slow if not stop the problems with my teeth (getting rid of sugar and soda for a few years now has had a tremendously positive effect, as has a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, etc). But this recent gum boil has me imagining a sudden trip to the emergency room (where they don't know much about dentistry), and a damned young death by blood poisoning. I want to live!!!!!!!!!!!! Long!!!!
P.S. Despite the above, I should note that as early as 2007 the dentist who wouldn't treat me (even if I paid) said "you have advanced periodontal disease", and I am a pack a day smoker. I'm probably not going to be quitting smoking any time soon, though I do feel the effects are somewhat mitigated by my otherwise healthy diet and various other little tricks I have. I also keep my tongue extremely clean.
Anyway....yeah, sorry for going on so much. Basically my main concern is whether being awake would mean risking significant jerking & consequent trauma/injury. Oh, one more thing - I'm not convinced that 'laughing gas' would be an acceptable alternative to the 'freezing' that doesn't work. People's minds react in different ways to things, and I'm convinced that the mental trauma would still be beyond scarring were I awake in any capacity. (Also, if I could *afford* laughing gas, I'd be opting to pay to be put to sleep anyway).
Rachel
Anyway, a big part of the basis for my dental phobia (and subsequent avoidance of any dentists for years now) is the concern that if I am awake during any dental work, that I will be so terrified and in such pain that I will likely jerk my head involuntarily, causing a drill or scalpel or goodness knows what else to hit other parts of my teeth or mouth or even face. Possibly even causing serious damage! I honestly don't believe I would be physically capable of remaining still for the dentist. Previous experience has shown that I likely have crooked nerves, as up to five injections of whatever it is they use to 'freeze' the nerve & gum - five injections for just one molar! - did not work and I sharply, involuntarily jerked when the guy even barely touched the area. It was extremely sensitive.
So here's the thing. Just today I noticed what I am presuming is a gum boil under my lower right molar...and sure enough, later this evening it oozed some pus. It doesn't hurt at all now. Hasn't hurt at all, in fact, at any time (which struck me as odd, since I read that they're supposed to hurt before they drain, and mine hasn't had any pain). Anyway, I'm concerned that despite avoiding sugar & soda for years now, sticking to plenty of fruit juices, vegetables, milk and good stuff like that (including taking antibiotics several times over the last couple of years whenever I noticed a funny smell along the gumline, which worked like a charm each time)...that this gum boil may signal a turning point. I read that when these appear, if left untreated at the source, the source can possibly - possibly - lead to blood poisoning.
I'm not ready to die. However:
1) I can't afford a dentist, or endodontist, etc. I live on just over $3000 a year after rent.
2) The last dentist I consulted (in 2007) said he wouldn't feel comfortable working on my teeth unless it were in a hospital, because in his professional opinion he said the chances of my dying as a result of work being done on my teeth were significant. He said that he personally would not be comfortable treating me at all, even *if* I had the money, because he was *that* sure that I would probably choke to death on broken tooth and blood, on the table. [Thinking "um, what??" I asked him "wouldn't you folks just suction that out and stop long enough to do that, before proceeding with the surgery?" He said it's not that simple and doesn't work that way. Then he told me to beat it.] *It should be noted that "in my professional opinion, you'll probably die if you get dental work done" has been a remarkably strong incentive to not have any work done, lol.
3) Above all else, I am concerned that even if I could afford to get treated and could find a dentist willing to do so, that I would be unable to afford to be put to sleep. In which case I am *deeply concerned* that the pain & mental anguish would be so significant that as soon as the drill or whatever touches the nerve, my head would involuntarily jerk so far that it would send the drill shooting up into my head or something. You understand what I mean...sensitive work is being done and then the patient's head suddenly jerks violently, sending the damn tool skidding to goodness knows where.
I'm really freaked out, and I need guidance. I try to do what I can to buy time and slow if not stop the problems with my teeth (getting rid of sugar and soda for a few years now has had a tremendously positive effect, as has a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, etc). But this recent gum boil has me imagining a sudden trip to the emergency room (where they don't know much about dentistry), and a damned young death by blood poisoning. I want to live!!!!!!!!!!!! Long!!!!
P.S. Despite the above, I should note that as early as 2007 the dentist who wouldn't treat me (even if I paid) said "you have advanced periodontal disease", and I am a pack a day smoker. I'm probably not going to be quitting smoking any time soon, though I do feel the effects are somewhat mitigated by my otherwise healthy diet and various other little tricks I have. I also keep my tongue extremely clean.
Anyway....yeah, sorry for going on so much. Basically my main concern is whether being awake would mean risking significant jerking & consequent trauma/injury. Oh, one more thing - I'm not convinced that 'laughing gas' would be an acceptable alternative to the 'freezing' that doesn't work. People's minds react in different ways to things, and I'm convinced that the mental trauma would still be beyond scarring were I awake in any capacity. (Also, if I could *afford* laughing gas, I'd be opting to pay to be put to sleep anyway).
Rachel
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