Cracked my main eating molar; haven't been to dentist since I was a kid.

[Nette]

@FrightenedJerk sad to hear about your broken tooth but there is help out there! I was in similar situation only got to stage where front tooth cracked! Now no option but to find an understanding dentist. I did research online for dentists who specialise in nervous patients. Best thing I have done! Just do some research. Dentists are so used to nervous patients and mine has literally changed my life! Good luck

 

[FrightenedJerk]

@Nette Thanks for your message! Has it also been a long time since you've been to the dentist? I went a couple months ago and had a consult and need two molars removed which are cracked and cannot be fixed by crowns or whatever. Unfortunately they are main "eating" molars on both sides - 3 and 19, so I'd be looking at implants. I also need at least seven fillings. So far I have gone in for deep cleanings/gum therapy on both sides of my mouth, but that was in late October/early November. Of course they wanted to get me in for the fillings and other stuff as soon as possible, but I've been procrastinating and canceled an appointment I had last month for the fillings.

As far as being understanding, they were not too bad. On the phone I prepped them that I had not been to the dentist in quite a while and in my information I filled out, I put something to the effect of the approximate year. However, when I was getting my x-rays, the assistant asked how long it had been, and I said 30 years. She seemed taken aback but did not chastise me, and neither did the doctor, yet. Hope you're having a good experience.

 

[Nette]

@FrightenedJerk you are braver than me! Yes hadn't been for years. Dental phobia and gag reflex and claustrophobia! You name it I had it. No option but dental implants 6 weeks ago. I blame no one but myself! You don't seem quite as phobic as me! I wrote all my issues down and they were so understanding and kind and I didn't feel judged. I said to dentist have you read about me? He had and was very kind and gentle. I know it's easy to say don't put it off any longer but I left it too long! Good luck.

 

[FrightenedJerk]

@Nette Did you get full implants? How has it been going for you?

 

[Nette]

@FrightenedJerk yes I got full implants. Truly the best decision I have ever made. Transformed my life. Given me back my personality. I've only got temporary ones at moment. 6 weeks on. Going in May for permanent ones. My fear of the dentist has been replaced with excitement for final ones although I still have gag reflex to overcome. The best thing I did was research dentists who specialise in nervous patients. They are out there. I wish I had done that years ago. Good luck!

 

[FrightenedJerk]

@Nette Good to hear you're doing well! Is it the kind that has a removable denture on top and bottom that is set on four implants spaced around? Do you wear a denture currently over the temporary?

I have a follow-up cleaning scheduled for next week. I had my last one on 11/1, and the hygienist requested that I come back to do additional maintenance to find out how my teeth are doing because it has been so long since I've been to the dentist. I'm sure that she is not going to be pleased that I haven't had my fillings done or even had a consult with an oral surgeon about the extractions. It's just so difficult to get this done, especially with my OCD issues. In good faith I should try to schedule the fillings before going in so I can at least display that I'm trying. I had a fillings appointment scheduled just before Christmas, but couldn't do it, and haven't rescheduled.

My wisdom tooth on the side where I didn't normally eat (due to the cracked molar) has been a bit irritated over the last week. It grew in crooked and cracked off years ago. Since I'm eating on that side because of the upper cracked molar on the other side, I must have irritated it.

 

[Nette]

@FrightenedJerk oh well done just visiting the hygienist. That was beyond me too. You have to go at your own pace and you will know when you can face it. Just don't do what I did and got to stage where I had no option as lost front tooth. You just need to get in the right frame of mind. I've been listening to relaxation things on you tube. Mine are fixed on 4 implants but will need replacing in May. Hopefully not so invasive. But mentally the relief is incredible. I know I'm in better position but when you can face it you will be so relieved. Good luck

 

[FrightenedJerk]

I have a very bad feeling about things. I had my second appointment with the hygienist on November 1st, and she was really good. She reiterated that I needed to get the multiple fillings done and get going with the meeting with the oral surgeon about the two molar extractions. Since then I have done neither of those things. I have a follow-up with the hygienist tomorrow, and I'm sure that she isn't going to be too pleased that I haven't done them. I had what I thought was an appointment for the fillings in late November, but it was never recorded properly and I wanted to reschedule it anyway (to before Christmas). When the time came, I couldn't do it, and canceled it without rescheduling. It's been difficult getting going this year, and willfully subjecting myself to this is hard.

On top of this, what is causing me some serious concern is that I might have a gum infection. I have an upper wisdom tooth that grew in crooked and cracked off years ago. The dentist recommended that be removed as well. This is on the left side where I did not eat since 2008. I have started eating on that side because the upper molar that is cracked is on the right, and I had an issue that caused a toothache late last year when I crunched food into it. In the past two weeks I have felt the gums around the wisdom tooth felt inflamed somewhat when I would eat back that way, and when I brushed. I kept brushing that area because I want to hit the tooth in front of it. I finally took a flashlight and got a good look today, and the upper part of the gums in that area are a bit red in one spot and purple going forward over two adjacent teeth (though lower down they are pink). It doesn't look good, and I need the hygienist to check it. All of this is my fault, from 30 years ago to today. Even with the prospect of all this work that needs done, I still can't do the right thing.

 

[Whatififly]

@FrightenedJerk hey!

I hope you are ok. I broke one of the little
Molars at the front, not sure how but woke up with a bit of it in my mouth. Didn’t hurt but I was petrified by it and knowing I needed to do something.

I hadn’t been to dentist for 10 years due to extreme fear. Anyway, long story short I managed to get seen by an nhs dentist as an emergency, and referred to an nhs sedation dentist. Had it fixed today under IV sedation and honestly it was fine. I never ever thought I would say that about going to dentist.

But I’m hoping saying that is helpful - like remeber you have options about how you manage going. I was worried about sedation but still felt 100% in control of what was happening, just a lot more relaxed.

Good luck, and you got this

 

[FrightenedJerk]

Thanks @Veebs84 ! What work was done on the molar? It's actually been over 30 years for me, and I have multiple issues - fillings plus two molars that are cracked - 3 and 19 - and currently potentially some serious gum disease in one area. Quite concerned.

 

[Whatififly]

Hey!

I feel for you, I get so anxious too. Had a big/deep filling put in - covers a lot of the top and one side of the tooth. I paid to have it in composite as I’m so self conscious - and that was a big barrier for me - but the rest was NHS sedation service. Can hardly see the filling, and feels good at the mo

I had my teeth cleaned at the same time, and have little memory at all of either process from the sedation. I just thought that it might help you to know that helped me cope

 

[FrightenedJerk]

I had the follow-up cleaning session today, and mentioned my concern about the inflamed area around the cracked wisdom tooth where part of the gum is growing into the tooth. She brought the dentist back to look at it, and he was a bit more stern than he was in October about me needing to get this work (two extractions and fillings at the very least) done, and specifically get this wisdom tooth out ASAP. He said I "have a lot going on" which of course I already knew, but it's not nice to hear it. The wisdom tooth could be the beginning of an infection, but neither he nor the hygienist declared that it's an infection that needs an antibiotic. He also said it's not something that I did, but that the tooth is decaying. I beg to differ because this tooth has been this way for a couple decades, and for the last 15 years I haven't eaten on that side. Only since November have I started eating on that side, so I think that's what has irritated it.

 

[Nette]

Somehow speaking sternly to someone with a fear or phobia really not helpful. Shame they didn't speak to your more kindly. We all know there is a problem but need some gentle handling rather than telling off. Its the last thing you need when you are stressed out. But well done visiting the hygienist. You are making great steps forward.

 

[FrightenedJerk]

Somehow speaking sternly to someone with a fear or phobia really not helpful. Shame they didn't speak to your more kindly. We all know there is a problem but need some gentle handling rather than telling off. Its the last thing you need when you are stressed out. But well done visiting the hygienist. You are making great steps forward.

He wasn't mean or anything, just trying to be a bit more forceful than he was originally and impress on me that this needs done. In fact when he originally examined me in October, he said something to the effect of "It's up to you; you don't need to do any of this" even though he told me I need to get it done (which is obvious; two molars are cracked). I wasn't originally going to meet with him, was just going for a cleaning, but the hygienist took an x-ray and called him back. It seems like in general they can only do things in a regimented way, possibly for insurance purposes, and she didn't seem thrilled to be needing to call the dentist over, and he was quick about taking a look. I am wondering whether I have a great dentist, but I liked his treatment plan even though I doubt very much that all it's going to be are the extractions and fillings; I suspect that some of the cavities are too deep to be dealt with by fillings.

So I need to work up the gumption to call hopefully today an oral surgeon that I'm looking at, and find out what their procedure is as far as doing a consult first or going right into taking out at least that infected wisdom.

 

[Nette]

Well you sound more determined to get this done now. So good luck and we'll done

 

[FrightenedJerk]

I got an appointment for a consult with an oral surgeon for Wednesday. My dentist/hygienist made it seem like any oral surgeon would be booked for months, but this one seems pretty open. All I can do is go and get an exam and some ideas about a way forward, with the immediate concern getting this wisdom tooth which might be the start of an infection out. I'm concerned about what anesthesia would be used, whether it's just novocaine or if something else is needed. In addition to neglecting going to the dentist, I also don't go for regular check-ups or "physicals" from a doctor. I haven't had blood drawn since 2011. So I don't know whether I have any underlying conditions that might be a counterindication to any specific anesthetic, which worries me. I'd need to bring this up with this oral surgeon.

I also scheduled another appointment for the first round of fillings for early next month, but I'm still not sure whether I want to do composite fillings even though from most of what I've read, they require less drilling than amalgam (some dentists disagree). I also very much doubt that at least one of these teeth that need fillings wouldn't need something more like a root canal or even extraction. Another concern is how fillings will change your bite.

 

[FrightenedJerk]

I went to the appointment with the oral surgeon which was just a consultation. He's an older guy, definitely has been at this quite a while. Generally nice guy, but had sort of a casual attitude. He was sort of asking me why I was coming; I think the dentist didn't transmit too much information about what needed done. I think that teeth extractions are something that a regular dentist could do, but my dentist I guess feels that the two molars (and the wisdom tooth) might shatter when they're removed, so he said I need to go to an oral surgeon.

At any rate, this surgeon seemed to be okay with proceeding at my pace in terms of how I want to get the work done. The immediate issue is the wisdom tooth, but he said that he doesn't feel the area is infected even though the gums are purple around it. (The gum tissue that was inflamed somehow came off while eating during the Super Bowl and I must have swallowed it, and the area is no longer feeling inflamed when I eat back that way.) As far as the molars that need removed, he gave me options of bone graft or no bone graft, as well as implant or no implant, and mentioned that during the process I'd go in for a high-tech imaging scan that would tell them where to put the implant and even if it's not possible to place an implant due to the placement of my sinus cavity and/or nerve.

On tooth 30, which wasn't one I had marked to remove, he assumed I'd have that removed because it has a patch of enamel which is gone on the side. I told him the dentist has that marked for a filling, but his attitude tells me that that molar might be beyond saving. So that's concerning.

 

[FrightenedJerk]

I have the first fillings appointment scheduled for 3/4, and am nervous about it, even more so than the prospect of getting the wisdom tooth out (but about the same level of nerves as the molar extractions). I just have a bad feeling about it, that it's likely that one or more teeth will need more than just fillings - root canals or extractions. The oral surgeon I went to seemed to assume that one tooth (a main molar) which hasn't been marked for extraction would need taken out, but when I told him the dentist and I will try to save it, he just kind of nodded.

I don't know how dentists work, whether they only go by x-ray in determining whether a cavity is too deep for a filling or if it's something they only realize when they're starting on the filling process. I've already had x-rays done (albeit four months ago), and the dentist made his treatment plan of fillings based on that, so I'm concerned of getting the "serious talk" attitude of not being able to do the fillings on some of these seven teeth. I have no way of knowing whether I have a "good" dentist or just some hack.

I'm also still unsure about getting composite resin fillings due to my OCD issues reacting to them having a coloring agent/dye in them. However, I'm leaning towards it because from what I've heard, it takes more drilling to place an amalgam filling than a composite, and if something goes wrong, the composite can more easily be removed and fixed. So I'm wishy washy on it.

 

[letsconnect]

I have the first fillings appointment scheduled for 3/4, and am nervous about it, even more so than the prospect of getting the wisdom tooth out (but about the same level of nerves as the molar extractions). I just have a bad feeling about it, that it's likely that one or more teeth will need more than just fillings - root canals or extractions. The oral surgeon I went to seemed to assume that one tooth (a main molar) which hasn't been marked for extraction would need taken out, but when I told him the dentist and I will try to save it, he just kind of nodded.

@FrightenedJerk That would have me worried, too. Have you thought about getting a second opinion? We’ve got some tips for finding a dentist here:

How to find a dentist for nervous patients

Discover how to find a dentist who is good with nervous, scared or phobic patients - and who to avoid!

www.dentalfearcentral.org

How to find a high-quality dentist

How do you know if a dentist really cares about the quality of their work? Here is what to look for and expect from a high-quality dentist.

www.dentalfearcentral.org

 

[FrightenedJerk]

I've got an appointment for the first round of fillings tomorrow, and I've rescheduled it a couple times. I'm suspecting that they don't like me much at this office. I don't have a good feeling about this at all. This dentist only does composite fillings, and for my own silly OCD reasons, I would prefer amalgam. I really should have researched this prior to choosing this dentist. I'm hesitant to go to another dentist and get a new treatment plan and x-rays that might not jibe with what this dentist currently has laid out - might be more extreme (not to mention that insurance probably wouldn't cover a totally new round of all this stuff). Though I'm sure that the "fillings" for some of these teeth will not be able to be placed and a root canal or worse will be recommended, his current treatment plan is not as awful on the filling front as I'd anticipated. Two cracked molars still need extracted, though.

So do I go in and get these fillings done and then have an OCD nag in the back of my mind, or just search for a place that does amalgam and essentially switch dentists (even though I like the hygienist's work)? I can't decide and don't have time to do it.