Havent seen dentist in 25yrs, have gum recession and im freaking out

[5981meg]

Hi. I've hidden from my dentist phobia and haven't seen a dentist in 25yrs. I've noticed 2 teeth have bad gum recession. I finally built up the courage to go to a dentist this coming Thursday. I'm spinning out of control at what they might find and if they will tell me that it's hopeless or ill have to have most teeth extracted. I can't stop looking on Google at gum recession and pocket sizes and I can't sleep or eat.

 

[MagicDuck12]

Hi. I've hidden from my dentist phobia and haven't seen a dentist in 25yrs. I've noticed 2 teeth have bad gum recession. I finally built up the courage to go to a dentist this coming Thursday. I'm spinning out of control at what they might find and if they will tell me that it's hopeless or ill have to have most teeth extracted. I can't stop looking on Google at gum recession and pocket sizes and I can't sleep or eat.

Hi Meg

I would suspect if there is an issue regarding the recession, that it can be addressed with deep cleaning. Ive had this for a similar issue but my pockets arent quite as bad as yours.

All they will do if this is the case, is do cleaning at the roots, and the cleaning hasnt ever been bad for me thankfully, i can say that will all honesty.

Its never been mentioned that i would need teeth extracted, so i think thats your imagination running away with you xx

Whilst i dont think the recession can be reversed, it can be managed to ensure it gets no worse.

Please update us on how it goes, its great that you made the appointment so you sound very committed and more confident than I and many others ever are, i think that youll be fine and surprised that theres more than likely not a lot wrong xx

 

[Tigerlily]

@5981meg you've taken a really brave step in booking your appointment ... please do not look at Google, it never helps (easier said than done!). No matter what they find, it'll be better than if you'd waited even longer. It likely won't be as bad as you think, but even if it is, you can now start to work on it and it'll improve x

 

[5981meg]

Thank you so much to those that replied. I was frozen with fear and unable to reply.

Update-just got back from my appointment and it was so much better than I imagined. I told the dentist I was really scared and she was so lovely, calm and gentle with me. She explained what she was doing at every stage and didn't judge me once. She was really sympathetic. I only need 3 fillings which I can absolutely handle and after that I am back on track. So so pleased I went. If you are worrying,please just go to a dentist. I worked myself up into such an almight state for absolutely no reason at all.

 

[Tigerlily]

Thank you so much to those that replied. I was frozen with fear and unable to reply.

Update-just got back from my appointment and it was so much better than I imagined. I told the dentist I was really scared and she was so lovely, calm and gentle with me. She explained what she was doing at every stage and didn't judge me once. She was really sympathetic. I only need 3 fillings which I can absolutely handle and after that I am back on track. So so pleased I went. If you are worrying,please just go to a dentist. I worked myself up into such an almight state for absolutely no reason at all.

That's amazing, so proud if you! I bet you feel so good for going and that's not a bad result at all!

 

[MagicDuck12]

Im trying so hard to get inspiration from your story Meg, i just cant cope with the needles and the sounds, im struggling so much, especially the needles

I dont know how i can get over it

Thank you so much to those that replied. I was frozen with fear and unable to reply.

Update-just got back from my appointment and it was so much better than I imagined. I told the dentist I was really scared and she was so lovely, calm and gentle with me. She explained what she was doing at every stage and didn't judge me once. She was really sympathetic. I only need 3 fillings which I can absolutely handle and after that I am back on track. So so pleased I went. If you are worrying,please just go to a dentist. I worked myself up into such an almight state for absolutely no reason at all.

 

[5981meg]

@MagicDuck12 I know that feeling, trust me I really do. I will be wearing noise cancelling headphones and playing music in them.to stop me hearing the noise. I don't like the needles but I close my eyes so I can't see them and you literally feel it for a few short seconds then it's over with. Could you ask for sedatives or something from your doctor to help you be calm? Or maybe just have a chat to your dentist first and explain your fear-they may have some suggestions as I'm sure it's a very common fear. Worth a try

 

[MagicDuck12]

@5981meg Can I ask you Meg if its ok, at what point do you "feel it" with your injections.

I know im boring the forum with my phobia now as its all about injections, but my real life experience just doesnt tally with what people seem to feel here.

Ive been lucky that ive not NEEDED to be injected in a good 5, maybe 6 years now, but i do have fillings coming up, and thus, injections.

To me, the pain in the injection seems to come LATE in the injection and its a VERY BAD pain in my experience.

My experience is this:

1) Needle goes in....you can feel it, but its not so bad. The look and feel of it totally freaks me out and ill be panicking, doing everything to stay still. Its not HURTING, but its uncomfortable and awkward

2) Theres a somewhat constant level of sting next, and its not a few seconds, it goes on quite a while. Usually at this point im moaning quite a bit and im thinking please, please just be over with

3) The sting INTENSIFIES and lasts what feels like maybe 10 seconds or slightly longer, and this to me is PAINFUL and seems to last an eternity. its usually at this point he takes the needle out my mouth and its over, ill be emotional and hurting and sat up holding my face, and need some calming down time. Heart will be racing thinking of the next tortuous part of the procedure.

This experience, which ive had many many times, never seems to tally with what everyone else tells me here, small prick, few seconds, feel nothing....thats the common line everyone says.

I never experience this, i experience what ive said above, and thats with several different dentists, private and NHS.

What is going wrong for me? Please help im distraught at the thought of my appointments coming

 

[letsconnect]

@MagicDuck12 That sounds horrendous. Did this happen just wit 2 or 3 dentists, or with lots of different ones? If it was only a small number of dentists, it might have just been a very unlucky coincidence, and your next dentist might be much better at it…