G
GettingBetter
Junior member
- Joined
- May 1, 2019
- Messages
- 6
- Location
- Virginia
Hey everyone, I think I’m finally ready to tell my story so far and ask for some support and suggestions from people who have been through similar situations.
I know it’s really long but I need to vent this somewhere, and wow are you guys REALLY supportive
I’m a couple weeks shy of 21 and hadn’t seen a dentist since I was 16 when I had a bad headache from my wisdom teeth being severely impacted into bone. They referred me to a surgeon - he was great and had them out through an emergency surgery (for wisdom teeth of all things) but my body wasn’t so kind. My wisdom teeth surgery went horribly wrong and resulted in a bone infection - I had two tubes inserted and stitched in to drain the infection and on so many antibiotics I lived with nausea. My diet was jello for three months. The surgery itself went as expected, but I was a “one in a million” chance the surgeon explained to me. He cleaned everything out and after three months we high-fived when I got the tubes removed and could eat thanksgiving dinner. It was the worst 3 months of my life, though. Thank God my surgeon was so helpful, without his hard work I could have lost my life. At least twice a week for three months he fixed my bone, for free, and changed my mind about dentists as people, after a very negative experience with a dentist as a young teenager who belittled me about my teeth and told me I had 12 cavities and needed a 7-session deep cleaning which was determined by shoving her prove as far into my gum as possible and then flossing the same gum telling me “it should hurt” (my mom was now very suspicious, took me to another dentist, and I had no cavities and one small pocket at 3mm). I overcame the “dentists are all bad people” philosophy, but now the pain was the scarring portion. I did the worst thing possible and stopped caring about my teeth, as a smoker (ugh, can’t change it now I guess). For years I neglected them (brush twice a day, floss once, and use mouthwash twice a day now in a poor attempt to make up for it). I have a chip in my front tooth from grinding my teeth when I sleep, from generalized anxiety disorder. And I had a black spot I was sure was a cavity on my front tooth (turns out it was just tartar). My teeth are probably going to fall out early, because I have a hormonal issue that makes it quite likely, and my dad had dentures at 40 due to genetics despite his perfect oral hygiene. I accept this, but the fear overtook me and the anxiety of going became less than the anxiety of not going and I decided I’d do something if I could.
I reluctantly dragged myself to the dentist, held my mom’s hand, and cried at the office while on this website browsing the “embarrassment” and “panic attack” categories. If you’re at the “planning” stage let me tell you that dentists really are there to help you. The only thing I was met with was tissues hugs and smiles when I told them my story bawling like a baby - they really do get your fear and want to help you overcome it if they’re any good. The dentist took x rays and peeked in my mouths the first day, then she scheduled again for a cleaning and real exam. I felt confident. I had made it - to the dentist! But the next appointment brought some dread. After my totally painless and easy cleaning with the dental hygienist, she asked if I wanted the “not the best but completely fixable” news, I was ready. I agreed and she told me that I have two small cavities that need fillings, 3 sealants, and that we might have to do a deep cleaning in the future. I’ve never had any dental work done other than basic cleanings and wisdom teeth removal (and y’all know how this went) and my anxiety about it is awful. I feel like I’m back to square one and I feel like everything on the internet is telling me with my gums receding slightly (not exposing the root) and maybe needing a deep cleaning I’m bound to lose my teeth sooner rather than later. I should be worrying about what my first sip of alcohol will taste like, not if I’m going to lose all my teeth and need dentures by next year.
Any support or advice or anything is really useful. I can’t sleep and I’ve been avoiding eating and it’s all I ever think about these days. I have a couple of weeks to wait so if you know what fillings, sealants, or deep cleaning feel like, I could really use your knowledge.
It’s so nice to have found a place to talk about this
I know it’s really long but I need to vent this somewhere, and wow are you guys REALLY supportive
I’m a couple weeks shy of 21 and hadn’t seen a dentist since I was 16 when I had a bad headache from my wisdom teeth being severely impacted into bone. They referred me to a surgeon - he was great and had them out through an emergency surgery (for wisdom teeth of all things) but my body wasn’t so kind. My wisdom teeth surgery went horribly wrong and resulted in a bone infection - I had two tubes inserted and stitched in to drain the infection and on so many antibiotics I lived with nausea. My diet was jello for three months. The surgery itself went as expected, but I was a “one in a million” chance the surgeon explained to me. He cleaned everything out and after three months we high-fived when I got the tubes removed and could eat thanksgiving dinner. It was the worst 3 months of my life, though. Thank God my surgeon was so helpful, without his hard work I could have lost my life. At least twice a week for three months he fixed my bone, for free, and changed my mind about dentists as people, after a very negative experience with a dentist as a young teenager who belittled me about my teeth and told me I had 12 cavities and needed a 7-session deep cleaning which was determined by shoving her prove as far into my gum as possible and then flossing the same gum telling me “it should hurt” (my mom was now very suspicious, took me to another dentist, and I had no cavities and one small pocket at 3mm). I overcame the “dentists are all bad people” philosophy, but now the pain was the scarring portion. I did the worst thing possible and stopped caring about my teeth, as a smoker (ugh, can’t change it now I guess). For years I neglected them (brush twice a day, floss once, and use mouthwash twice a day now in a poor attempt to make up for it). I have a chip in my front tooth from grinding my teeth when I sleep, from generalized anxiety disorder. And I had a black spot I was sure was a cavity on my front tooth (turns out it was just tartar). My teeth are probably going to fall out early, because I have a hormonal issue that makes it quite likely, and my dad had dentures at 40 due to genetics despite his perfect oral hygiene. I accept this, but the fear overtook me and the anxiety of going became less than the anxiety of not going and I decided I’d do something if I could.
I reluctantly dragged myself to the dentist, held my mom’s hand, and cried at the office while on this website browsing the “embarrassment” and “panic attack” categories. If you’re at the “planning” stage let me tell you that dentists really are there to help you. The only thing I was met with was tissues hugs and smiles when I told them my story bawling like a baby - they really do get your fear and want to help you overcome it if they’re any good. The dentist took x rays and peeked in my mouths the first day, then she scheduled again for a cleaning and real exam. I felt confident. I had made it - to the dentist! But the next appointment brought some dread. After my totally painless and easy cleaning with the dental hygienist, she asked if I wanted the “not the best but completely fixable” news, I was ready. I agreed and she told me that I have two small cavities that need fillings, 3 sealants, and that we might have to do a deep cleaning in the future. I’ve never had any dental work done other than basic cleanings and wisdom teeth removal (and y’all know how this went) and my anxiety about it is awful. I feel like I’m back to square one and I feel like everything on the internet is telling me with my gums receding slightly (not exposing the root) and maybe needing a deep cleaning I’m bound to lose my teeth sooner rather than later. I should be worrying about what my first sip of alcohol will taste like, not if I’m going to lose all my teeth and need dentures by next year.
Any support or advice or anything is really useful. I can’t sleep and I’ve been avoiding eating and it’s all I ever think about these days. I have a couple of weeks to wait so if you know what fillings, sealants, or deep cleaning feel like, I could really use your knowledge.
It’s so nice to have found a place to talk about this