front tooth has broken!

[koshka]

I woke up this morning to find a piece of my front tooth in my mouth. It did have a filling or is it a veneer - i really don't know what work it was. I had it done when i was a teenager and i'm now 34! i must have been grinding my teeth in my sleep again!


Anyways thats just one of the problems with my teeth! This is the final straw. I really will have to take action on my badly decaying teeth. If only it were that simple. I'm so scared, i'm displaying all the classic symptoms of anxiety. I just want to scream and cry.

I've had a dental phobia for as long as i can remember. My dental care has been sporadic at best. I go when there is no more options or when i'm in pain. Well the pain part isn't entirely true. I've had a wisdom tooth causing pain since it starting poking through. It's jutting out as the side of my gum and feels like it's pushing the rest of my teeth along. Probably isn't but that's what it feels like. It's been causing me major discomfort and on and of pain over the past year. however the tooth is breaking away and i have hole in it and food keeps getting stuck in it. It needs removed!

So what is it that scares me - pain? injections? close proximity of the dentist?


All of the above but most importantly the shame of having such awful teeth and showing the dentist how i've neglected to cae for myself. I don't want him or her tutting and shaking their head and treating me like an imbecile because i've failed to take care of them like i should.

I feel so awful and if it wans't a Sunday i'd be on the phone right now making an appointment somewhere.

Also i'm scared they won't be able to do anything with my teeth. What if i need them all pulled out and get dentures! I'd pay the earth for that not to happen but then again i've only myself to blame.

Sorry for the rant just feeling anxious and afraid. i'll have to spend the rest of today finding a sympathetic dentist in the Glasgow/lanarkshire area.

Woe is me!!

 

[brit]

We have lots of sympathetic recommended dentists in Scotland. You may want to try Mike Gow, he does such wonderfully helpful posts on here, I am sure you would be in very good hands.. www.whatfear.com If you are only interested in NHS dentistry then given your phobia, you could ask your GP for a referral to the Community Dental Service maybe. You are a bit spoilt for choice in Scotland really!
I'm in a bit of a rush so I can't really write much more but others will be along to say more I'm sure. By the way..there is no need to be afraid of needles, pain etc because with the right dentist it can all be done comfortably even with just local anaesthetic...the injections do not have to hurt if done with the correct technique.

Finding a competent dentist you like and trust is the key to overcoming this lifelong fear.

 

[scaredstiff]

You are feeling just like so many of us have felt before you - me for one. It was only just over a year ago that after decades and decades and even more decades of avoiding the dentist due to extreme phobia that a front tooth fell out and vanity made me go. If I hadn't I would have become a recluse I think. Anyhow, finding this site is the very best thing you could have done. There are loads and loads of us who, as I say, felt just like you but being able to voice our fears here and knowing we are not peculiar, not the only ones in the world who feel like that, but in fact thousands of us with the same phobia, really does help and by posting your fears, concerns, questions, and getting replies in support, really will help you get through what you have to.

At 34, despite your not having gone to the dentist since your teens, I am sure that you are nowhere near the stage of getting dentures, so put that thought out of your mind. A lot of us who have stayed away from the dentist for a number of years also have the extra worry of thinking that our teeth are the absolute worst that the dentist will have seen, that they are beyond repair and we have the shame and embarrassment factor to deal with also.

In all cases, the dentist will have seen much worse, and certainly I'm sure in your case you will find that perhaps, ok, you've got to get that front tooth sorted out, but perhaps after that, a simple cleaning, perhaps a filling or two but whatever needs doing, with modern dentistry and the right, caring dentist, it can all be done completely painlessly.

So the first thing to do is to find the right dentist for you, and there will be one out there just waiting for you. Do you have one in mind? If not, have a look at our dentist finder section and see if there are any recommendations in your area, or if you give us your general location, perhaps someone on the forum can give you a name. YOu don't have to accept the first dentist you go to if you are not completely happy. The first appointment will be probably consultation only so if you have any misgivings about the dentist at all, you don't have to go with him/her and continue treatment.

The thing to do is post here, however trivial you may think it is, just voice your concerns and fears, and any questions and you will get loads of support from like minded people. I know without the support of this forum I would never have been able to go through my dental journey but I have nearly finished but even after my very first appointment May last year I was able to post "I did it". You too will be in that position sooner than you think. So good luck in your dental journey - you have made an excellent start by coming here.

 

[koshka]

Thanks for the suggestions and support. I emailed Mike today. I was too scred to call the clinic where he worked i was afraid i would cry! Anyways i sent an email and hopefully he will get back to me. His website whatfear.com provides a wealth of information. It's ressuring to think that dentists aren't as scary as i think and do want to help patients. I just hope i can get an apointment and he's not overworked and unable to take new patients!

See i'm worried and trying to put things off already!

it's only a small step but least its in the right direction!

 

[brit]

That's fabulous progress - congratulations ....let us know when you get a reply...sometimes things go wrong with emails and we don't want to give you any excuses not to follow through .

 

[scaredstiff]

good for you, a small step you may think but in reality, one great big stride. I bet now you'll be like so many of us, wary of looking at your in box in case the reply has arrived already. I remember when I first emailed a dentist, I kept looking in the in box but through squinted eyes - how stupid is that - rather in the way you hide behind a cushion with squinted eyes watching a horror movie. But the first dentist I approached in that way, outfoxed me and rang.

Don't worry, he will reply by email quite soon I am sure and you'll be at that second step of getting to make the actual appointment. From there on it really will get easier.

 

[koshka]

i already got the reply! returned from work and in my inbox was the reply - i'm quite pleased. However it's dawning on me that i'll soon be off to the dentist. He has said that he will cal me sometime this week at one of my suggested times. i'm sure i'll be okay! I hope.

 

[brit]

Chatting to him on the phone is a great way to make yourself feel more confident about going along to meet him in person. He won't pressurise you though, so try not to worry too much.

 

[koshka]

hello

i got a phone call the next day after i emailed What a wonderful reassuring gentleman. He seemed passionate about his work so much so i made an appintment for Monday 23rd.


Yes i've already been to the apointment! woohoo

I can't say it was not anxiety provoking; i was so nervous the night before i barely slept. I woke early and was a nevous wreck until i attended to appointment. I was pleased i didn't have to wait long in the waiting room and i was very relived to finally meet Mike.

The appointment took it's time and we discussed my concerns and fears at length and he looked at my teeth. I have to add i didn't feel comfortable enough to sit on the chair and i didnt feel at ease for a full examination. I did allow x-rays to be taken as it wasn't invasive. Although i was very fidgety and sweating a lot he did not once make me feel as if i was stupid for having a fear of the dentist.

I've made another appointment for next week where we will do a thorough examination and discuss a plan for treatment. I've never felt so good after the dentist. It was such a relief to have a dentist go at my pace and not be patronising.

I must add his people skills are first class and he certainly knows how to make a person feel at ease.

Fingers crossed my next visit is as easy as this.

Thanks for recommending Mike Gow!

So far so good.

 

[hdf2]

Hi koshka,
Congrats on making that first appointment............. wtgggggg
Glad you have started your dental journey and found a good guy!

Wish i lived near enough to have mike as my dentist. he has been such a godsend to me in the past....giving advice , allaying my fears etc.

Good luck for next week

 

[brit]

Glad it went well ...we'd certainly have a dilemma if you didn't like him seeing as he often pops in and answers questions in the Dentistry Section. Best wishes for the rest of your visits.

 

[takingflight]

Congratulations on getting through your first visit! Having the right dentist can make all the difference and I must say I'm a bit jealous that you live close enough to have Mike Gow as yours! When I read through our dentistry questions section I always think to myself how much I would like to have one of our fabulous dentists as my own!

You accomplished a lot this first visit and I'm sure that the next one will go just as smoothly. Sending best wishes your way.....



Pam

 

[koshka]

Re: front tooth has broken! UPDATE

hello everyone!

Well i've been to the denist and had my proper examination and also had my wisdom tooth out and root treatment!

I'm so chuffed with myself. Mike is the best dentist ever. I've been busy with work and holidays so not updated all you lovely people who have given me advice and support.

Well i went back and had a proper examination done on my teeth. It was scary (well at least for me). I needed the wisdom toth removed and i need loads of fillings mainly replacing old ones. And i'll need two crown at the front. Not as bad as i first thought but not good either.

Anyways i got rid of the awful wisdom tooth that was causing me agony. It was extracted under sedation and it was painless. No pain during or after. I don't think i'd have tolerated it without the sedation. It was a weird experience but i don't recall much of it but i was awake. ALso got root treatment on one of my front teeth and that wasa weird experience and totally pain free too.

However i'm about to go tomorrow for filings i think and hve to say i'm a wee bit scared about it all because it will be done without sedation. I don't want sedation each time i go as i want to overcome my fears to a certain extent, don't want to rely on meds to keep my calm.

So folks, so far so good with my appointments this far. It's fair to say through this site i've found a wonderfully compassionate, understanding and reassuring dentist. I'd recommend Mike Gow to anyone. I@ll keep you ll posted about my treatments. Although i'll robably bore yous all!