I
IZZYBELLY2
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2021
- Messages
- 136
- Location
- USA
Decided to write a journal here as writing stuff down usually makes me feel better. I am having my first full exam in one week, on Monday November 15. This is with a new dentist. I haven't been to a dentist for full x rays in about 9 years. I already had a root canal done on a premolar a couple weeks ago by an endodontist, and I have a wisdom teeth extraction and extraction of molar that previously had a root canal that failed on December 17. I do have some paranoia that my new root canal is going to fail since one already did (this was done in 2013) but hopefully not!
Anyway, my teeth look okay at quick glance, but when I really get in the mirror and look at them, I get super worried. There's about 6 teeth I am really worried about. Two of which already have big fillings in them from childhood. I actually think my childhood dentist was not a good dentist, so I'm worried about what the new dentist will say about these teeth. I definitely think the fillings need redone at minimum. That would be best case scenario for me. Root canal seems more likely but I'm hoping that isn't needed for years to come. Total of 4 teeth I am concerned about possible root canal. I'm really hoping this isn't the case, but I will do whatever I have to to keep my teeth as long as possible. And who even knows what is going on with the rest of my teeth that the x ray will show! Could be way worse than I even know.
I also have some old invisalign buttons that need removing due to not finishing treatment ten years ago. I was 19 when I was on my last tray and had moved away... and just never went back. My teeth have since shifted back to my front tooth gap returning. I don't really care about that at this point as the most important thing to me is keeping my teeth! But I know I need to get the buttons removed and a thorough cleaning. I will want to get an implant for my molar that is being removed if the rest of my mouth isn't in too bad of shape. I took out a 15k loan to cover any needed dental work so it will all depend on how far that goes. Otherwise implant will have to wait a year or so to start that process so I don't have to dip into savings.
I'm not really nervous about the extractions. I will be asleep for that so the only thing I am worried about is the healing process. I am also not nervous if I need fillings! Just nervous for the healing process and root canals. Not the root canals themselves, but the paranoia that they could fail like the one I had before did. My biggest source of anxiety is not knowing just how bad it is. Some moments I look at my mouth and think "it isn't that bad" and other times I think "all of these teeth have to be root canaled or extracted" I'm only 28, so hoping to keep my teeth for as long as I can...
Always had good hygiene but had a sugary drink and candy habit that contributed the most to my issues, I'm sure. I have been so stressed out that I've lost those cravings entirely. I've always been thin so never worried about my diet much, but I wish I had thought more about sugar intake. I'm willing to cut this stuff out completely except a few times a year if it means I keep my teeth.
I am really mad at myself for not keeping up on cleanings. For a while after college I didn't have money to spend on my teeth. Even when I was on my parents insurance, I was too worried to go to the dentist. I should have just gone and figured out the payment after! I'm sure family would've helped me out had I asked. Ugh. Now I am at the point where I will have a lot of work to get done that could have been less had I gone sooner.
Anyway, will update on Monday after my consultation and exam. I took the day off of work so that I can go home and be sad if I need to be. I know I will feel some level of relief just to know how bad it is, but until then I will been worried.
Anyway, my teeth look okay at quick glance, but when I really get in the mirror and look at them, I get super worried. There's about 6 teeth I am really worried about. Two of which already have big fillings in them from childhood. I actually think my childhood dentist was not a good dentist, so I'm worried about what the new dentist will say about these teeth. I definitely think the fillings need redone at minimum. That would be best case scenario for me. Root canal seems more likely but I'm hoping that isn't needed for years to come. Total of 4 teeth I am concerned about possible root canal. I'm really hoping this isn't the case, but I will do whatever I have to to keep my teeth as long as possible. And who even knows what is going on with the rest of my teeth that the x ray will show! Could be way worse than I even know.
I also have some old invisalign buttons that need removing due to not finishing treatment ten years ago. I was 19 when I was on my last tray and had moved away... and just never went back. My teeth have since shifted back to my front tooth gap returning. I don't really care about that at this point as the most important thing to me is keeping my teeth! But I know I need to get the buttons removed and a thorough cleaning. I will want to get an implant for my molar that is being removed if the rest of my mouth isn't in too bad of shape. I took out a 15k loan to cover any needed dental work so it will all depend on how far that goes. Otherwise implant will have to wait a year or so to start that process so I don't have to dip into savings.
I'm not really nervous about the extractions. I will be asleep for that so the only thing I am worried about is the healing process. I am also not nervous if I need fillings! Just nervous for the healing process and root canals. Not the root canals themselves, but the paranoia that they could fail like the one I had before did. My biggest source of anxiety is not knowing just how bad it is. Some moments I look at my mouth and think "it isn't that bad" and other times I think "all of these teeth have to be root canaled or extracted" I'm only 28, so hoping to keep my teeth for as long as I can...
Always had good hygiene but had a sugary drink and candy habit that contributed the most to my issues, I'm sure. I have been so stressed out that I've lost those cravings entirely. I've always been thin so never worried about my diet much, but I wish I had thought more about sugar intake. I'm willing to cut this stuff out completely except a few times a year if it means I keep my teeth.
I am really mad at myself for not keeping up on cleanings. For a while after college I didn't have money to spend on my teeth. Even when I was on my parents insurance, I was too worried to go to the dentist. I should have just gone and figured out the payment after! I'm sure family would've helped me out had I asked. Ugh. Now I am at the point where I will have a lot of work to get done that could have been less had I gone sooner.
Anyway, will update on Monday after my consultation and exam. I took the day off of work so that I can go home and be sad if I need to be. I know I will feel some level of relief just to know how bad it is, but until then I will been worried.