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

[FrightenedJerk]

I decided just to do it and went in today for the first set of fillings - three teeth worked on. What I'm finding through the cleanings I've done and these fillings is that the actual procedure doesn't cause me much stress at all. I've been able just to lay back and take it. It's the psychological stress related to my OCD plus the fear that something could either go wrong or be worse than anticipated that haunts me. I'm just going to need to try to deal psychologically with the fact that I have the resin/colored fillings. This dentist moves very fast and did not explain how things would go, just dove right in. That's fine, I guess. I was anticipating it to be a much slower procedure because I had read that's the case, but it went very fast. They drilled and filled. He said that one tooth had a cavity that was down close to the nerve, so he's glad they got to it. I don't know what that means for the teeth on the other side, where I have at least four fillings remaining.

However . . . it's currently about three hours since I received the novocaine injection, and the right side of my face, including part of my tongue, and even some of my ear, are still numb. Apparently that's a possibility, but it's unnerving. I had novocaine for the gum therapy I had, but that wore off in like a half hour. I'm unable to tell if my bite is good. Concerned.

 

[night_natter]

@FrightenedJerk Hi there,
These are all familiar concerns to me. I just wanted to share that I too have recently had multiple fillings. All composite. In fact, I’m having all my old amalgam fillings replaced with composite.
Every time I have a filling (lower jaw at least) I need to have extra numbing, so I also experience 3-4 hours of numbness afterwards. My last session saw me rather embarrassingly fail to consume my lunch properly at work afterwards.
I also find that my bite needs to be adjusted on my following visit. This has happened because I can’t properly feel it when I’m so numb. So my last two visits, for fillings and a crown have needed further bite adjustment. Not a big deal at all and no need for further numbing - just a polish that doesn’t hurt.
If you have any concerns or sensitivity in your bite, make sure you go back to get it checked, is my strong advice.

 

[FrightenedJerk]

@night_natter Thanks for your feedback! Four hours later, and it still hasn't totally worn off. It's starting to, but when I try to clench down, my teeth still feel stiff and like they won't fit together. He said that he only put a filling in the biting surface of one tooth; the others were on the sides. So I'll find out I guess when it wears off if the bite is correct. I'm a teeth clencher; I clench when tense and probably during sleep. So if the bite is off, that's not good.

I would have preferred amalgam fillings for my stated, ridiculous OCD reasons, but I did not do proper research before choosing this dentist; they aren't offered.

 

[FrightenedJerk]

Each time I have gone to the dentist over the last five months (three cleanings, one dentist consult/one oral surgeon consult, 3 of at least 7 fillings done), I've gotten a little "high" of having accomplished something, but before long that comes crashing down when I realize that I have even worse things to do that are hypothetically coming up. I had wanted next to get the second round of fillings (I'm concerned that one could turn into a root canal), then get the wisdom tooth out, then perhaps try to decide on what to do with the two cracked molars (3 and 19) that need removed in terms of doing them consecutively which would be my preference, whether to get bone grafts and whether to try for implants (though my concern is that I would not be able to get implants due to the structure of my sinus cavity).

Tooth 3 is the one that cracked in October and started all of this. What currently sucks is that it is cracking even more. Somehow during or after the filling process of the tooth behind it, some more of the tooth material seems to have cracked off. I suspect that my uneven bite while I had novocaine in caused some more to chip off. Then I was just eating tortilla chips today (those damned things; a different brand caused the crack in October), and even though I didn't feel it and I wasn't even eating on that side, even more has cracked off out of the middle of the tooth, leaving a very precarious shard on the cheek side. I haven't eaten on that side probably since November due to some pain I had when food got up inside the tooth. So unless it's something totally soft, I can't eat on it lest I crack off even more of the tooth. This moves up my timeline, meaning I'd hypothetically need to get that tooth out first. If I got both molars out at the same time, I'd not be able to eat, basically.

 

[FrightenedJerk]

I guess this is virtually a journal at this point. Just thought I'd update it. I had the first set of fillings on the right side over two months ago. I still haven't scheduled the second set on the left side. On the right side, a small pink bump has developed on the gums right up against one of the molars that was filled. I'm kind of concerned about it, of course.

My whole deal is extreme procrastination. I had gone to an oral surgeon and got ideas for treatment, before the fillings. I was wanting to get the wisdom tooth out, then the right cracked molar (3), and deal with the whole potential for a bone graft and implant with that first before number 19 which is also cracked, as taking them both out at the same time would not allow me to eat anywhere near properly. However, number 3 has cracked even further. Currently its middle seems like it is basically cracked out, leaving kind of a C formation from the bottom. I haven't eaten on that side probably all year, but even when something like water touches that, I get a twinge of pain which goes away soon, but it's still a twinge. Obviously the nerve is totally exposed. So even though I wanted to wait, obviously that might not be possible.

I have a cleaning scheduled in a few weeks, and I'm concerned about it because I don't want to be yelled at for not getting the fillings or getting this molar removed. So I either need to do one or both, or reschedule the cleaning.

 

[FrightenedJerk]

Even after I have started back going to the dentist as described above, my unbelievable issues with procrastination look like they have dealt me a blow. Back in March I got the first set of fillings, and the dentist said tooth 31 was very deep, but he was able to fill it fine. I asked him about the tooth on the other side, 18, which also needs filled, what shape that was in. He said he would only know once he got in to look. I said then that I'd schedule my next set of fillings soon. It's been over four months and I haven't scheduled them.

Over the past month plus, I've sometimes woken up with a slight ache around tooth 18. Right in front of that is one of the two molars that is cracked (it's been cracked since 2008, but I've only started eating on it since October). Sometimes food gets stuck between those two teeth and I get discomfort. But with this I can't tell whether it's a gum issue in that area or something with the tooth, perhaps below the gumline. So it's most likely that that tooth is headed for a root canal when, if I had gone sooner, he might have been able to fill it just like the one on the other side. So it's my fault.

And of course this is not even mentioning the two cracked molar extractions I have kept putting off.

 

[FrightenedJerk]

Well, I've basically hit "emergency" status. I mentioned above that I have been having periodic pain on the left side, and have determined that the tooth affected is the cracked one which never gave me pain in the 16 years since it cracked. I had not eaten on it between 2008 and last year when I had the crack in tooth 3 on the other side. That tooth has progressively cracked more to the point that I cannot eat on it as I believe the nerve is exposed. So basically all this year I have eaten on the left side on 19 which has worked out well, until recently with the periodic pain which would come mainly in the morning and subside. Yesterday evening the pain came and is more significant and is not going away. Anytime I bite down on it, it is very painful, but only a throb when not biting/chewing. So I cannot eat on either side, properly.

I've already been to an oral surgeon, in March, who said he would "work on my timetable" for removing the molars and placing implants. Looks like 19 needs removed ASAP, and I'm sure he isn't going to be happy about my procrastination. I wouldn't be surprised if I have caused harm to the jaw. What I need to decide is whether I want to get both molars out at the same time, or stagger it. Given that I cannot eat on the other molar, 3, it almost doesn't matter except for the intensiveness of the operation. I definitely do not want to do general anesthetic which he said I might want to do if I choose to get both at the same time. If anybody has any feedback, I'd appreciate it.

 

[FrightenedJerk]

I guess I'll update this as a "journal". I went for an additional cleaning appointment later last year, but have not followed up for the second round of fillings, nor have I had either of the two hopeless molars removed. The procrastination on the fillings has cost me because yesterday when I was eating, the back portion of number 18 cracked off, and I guess I swallowed it. It's probably a third of the tooth extending from a bit of the top, around the corner, and down one side which already had a hole in it. A similar tooth was on the exact opposite side and was filled last year, with the filling material dropping down the side to cover that hole.

So I'm in a bad position. I have been eating only on that left side due to the upper cracked molar on the right, and this just makes it harder to eat. I got messages from my dentist a few months ago that they want me to come in for those fillings (not to mention the extractions which an oral surgeon would do), and I just kept procrastinating. I'm not sure what the prognosis would be for this new crack, whether it could be fixed using a filling that would be bonded to the rest of it, whether a crown would be needed, or if it would need to come out just like number 19 next to it.

I've been having a very bad year, and this just makes me more depressed . . . and it's all my own fault.

 

[ScaredyCat22]

@FrightenedJerk Hi, I have read most of your story. I have lost both my molars on the bottom left (or all 3 if you want to count having no wisdom teeth) and have one molar on the bottom of the other side. I understand your concerns about eating but it is easier to eat without teeth than it is to eat with teeth that are painful to chew on. I wish I had left well enough alone after I had tooth 19 extracted but trying to replace it with a bridge caused me to lose the second molar behind that extraction. I had the second molar on the opposite side extracted at the same time because I did not want to go through it twice. It was done years ago and I ate fine. I am now facing the possibility of losing the only molar I have left on the bottom as I am not sure it can be repaired and due to what I have been through, I am to the point that I might prefer an extraction over having to get it worked on. Anyway I am telling this in a roundabout way just to say you will still be able to eat if you get your extractions.

 

[FrightenedJerk]

@ScaredyCat22 Thanks for your feedback. I'm looking at getting implants for both of the molars - 3 and 19. I had a consult with the oral surgeon a year ago, but as I say, because of my procrastination, I haven't gone back. I would prefer not to have missing teeth, but I also am aware that someone may not be able to have an implant at least on the top due to the height of your sinus cavity (not sure what restrictions disallow a bottom implant). Did you consider implants, or could you today?

I'm concerned that if number 18 which is the one that newly broke (it already had a deep cavity) needs removed, and I can't get implants, that I won't be able to eat on my left side.

 

[ScaredyCat22]

@FrightenedJerk Even if it turns out for some reason you are not able to get implants you will still be able to eat on that side after the extraction site is healed. I have no molars on the left and still eat on that side, although there are times hard foods may give me a momentary pain. I know you like tortilla chips lol. I have not given up chips even without molars on that side. I still have my premolars to chew on.
I never considered implants, partly due to the thousands of dollars it would cost, but I do not think I would have done it even if money were no object. Just due to the sheer terror I have of dental procedures.