I am so depressed after my year of dental hell

[Gordon]

It's certainly worth giving it a try to see if things improve. You tend to get a sort of vicious circle setup in this kind of circumstance, with the bite being so far off, it actually tends to promote clenching, which causes pain which promotes further clenching and so on.

So if it's now comfortable with your occlusion, I'd wait a wee bit and see what happens.

 

[swampiesue]

Thanks Gordon... I will see the dentist in two weeks, and see what he has to say... He does not seem over worried over the hot and cold sensitivity or the pain when I bite at this present time as I am not in constant pain..It is very annoying especially when drinking tea and cold drinks.... Oh for a glass of chilled white white ( and I have had a few of those over the past few weeks) without the ouch factor, and to be able to eat everything again on both sides of my mouth. I am sure if he does not think it is too much of an issue at this point I should just wait and see.....At least the teeth feel more like they are more my own size wise.

I think what worried me so much was when all started last year and I had the cracked root after the posted crown fell out and was cemented back in the only pain I had was when I bit on that side hard on the tooth, if I tapped it so I ignored it.....it was only when I large gum boil erupted and I went to the dentist I found out nothing could be done to save the tooth. This time I have been scared that by ignoring the pain the same thing would happen......

Thanks your help and all the other helpful comments and support, it has been much appreciated..I will up date you and let you know what happens in a month or two.

 

[Gordon]

Nae bother, in the meantime, switch to red wine

Keep us updated too if you can be bothered.

 

[swampiesue]

Thanks Gordon... yes I will try the red of course I can be bothered...This is a fantastic site and so many people are helped by it....what a brilliant Idea xx

 

[Poppy1234]

Thanks Gordon... yes I will try the red of course I can be bothered...This is a fantastic site and so many people are helped by it....what a brilliant Idea xx

Good luck!
You sound a lot happier now!
xx

 

[swampiesue]

Hi Poppy, well to be honest with you I am still having panic attacks and don't think I will ever be 100% happy with the bridge..... sometimes if feels like that now that I have had it ground down the balance has gone the other way..

BUT... I know I have to try and at least give it a try and pray that the sensitivity & biting pain goes and the bite starts to feel normal... The teeth are all now very flat but I feel there is little point in getting a new bridge until the pain settles down... plus I am a little worried removing this bridge and going through this all again might just upset the nerve so much I might end up losing the teeth altogether....as long as the bite being a little out won't cause me any problems I am willing to give it a couple of months and see what happens.....

 

[swampiesue]

Hi and so the saga goes on, re my other posting about going to a new dentist I went last week, she did in fact agree that my teeth had been ground so much that the bite was now higher on my left side I also have a bridge on three of the upper teeth on this side..I have had this bridge years and it has never given me any bother and was in fact renewed about 13 years ago it was a fantastic fit but since the grinding down on the right hand bridge the tooth on the lower left kept hitting it and making the bridge left bridge rock. Are you still with me complicated I know.

She offered to take a bit off the left hand bridge to try and even up the bite, this felt a little better and I left making an appointment in 6 months time. I did ask her if it became unbearable would she be willing to make me a new bridge, she agreed.

My problem is, now a week on my bite when eating feels totally uneven my teeth on the upper left now feel like all the weight when eating is all on that side. Every now and again my back lower molar ( a gold crown) hits or grinds against what I think is my very back upper tooth that has grown longer than usual due to having nothing to bite against. l I find it almost impossible to eat on the other side and I am worried sick my old bridge is going to be compromised too and those teeth are going to be damaged....I just wish the dentist could feel what I am going though. It is as though my lower jaw has slid inward towards the right as there is nothing to stop it sliding across, the old dentist has totally mucked up my bite, I sort of told him what I wanted but I think he was a bit cross with me and just went a bit mad...Will a new bridge even up my bite again....or would I be better just having the two teeth put back as they were and leave the gap in the middle.

PLEASE PLEASE WHAT SHALL I DO , My life is a total misery at the moment...and I feel I can never see an end to it all..... can't afford to pay for specialist private treatment.

 

[Gordon]

You need a new bridge made. Getting the old one off can be a bit of a risk, but it's not likely to be worse than leaving things as they are.

 

[swampiesue]

Hi Gordon what sort of risks are we talking about please both ways

 

[Gordon]

Biggest risk is damaging the supporting teeth in the process of getting the bridge off, but usually not a problem if the dentist just cuts it off carefully. It takes ages to do though!

Biggest risk of leaving it is to develop a nasty TMJ dysfunction, also the contours of the bridge teeth must be ground away to hell by now, so there's a risk of food packing leading to chronic gum problems.

 

[swampiesue]

THanks Gordon, the TMJ symptoms have already started, my last dentist suggested a night guard, he tried to make out it was all my fault but It was not me imagining the sensitivity...that started long before all this, also despite all the grinding down has had no effect except to destroy my teeth and bite on BOTH sides of my mouth now. and it still hurts on that side...




Please can you tell me... because my lower teeth are a bit crooked at the bottom will it be harder to make a good fitting bridge at the top to match and would it be better to have the two teeth crowned again...I could not face going through all this again. should the new bridge not be correct.

ALSO Will my bite on the other side be easy to get back to normal again,

 

[swampiesue]

Hi I am due to visit dentist tomorrow but still not sure what to say....any advice please

 

[swampiesue]

Went back to dentist today, she advises that I wait a while to give my teeth chance to settle as they are already aggravated , have made another appointment for Jan 25th to review the situation. If I still feel unable to live with the bridge and bite as it it I can have another new bridge. Not without risks damaged teeth and a need for RCT plus I may have exactly the same problem again....


Please advise, I am willing to wait until January what are my all other options if any other than having a new bridge and taking the risks. Anything considered... sounds like an advert don't it

 

[Gordon]

Can't see how you'll have the same problem with the bite again? Anyway, a small night guard may help to just settle things down with your joints a bit, would your new dentist make one for you in the meantime?

 

[swampiesue]

Trouble is a night guard will cost 198,00 on the NHS but will be useless once I get the new bridge, I am afraid I just can't afford one.

Not sure how making a new bridge, will effect my bite, I assume she means the new one could be high ( too big) again and I cause the same problem again
MY other worry is that now the new dentist has lowered the bite on the other side how is that going to effect the new bridge when it is done ?....I keep feeling that the back teeth top and bottom are touching more than the other teeth...They are both crowns one gold one porcelain...I am scared to go back before Jan can I grind one down my self... it is only a TINY Bit in the middle and how do I do it ..............????


WILL THIS EVER FEEL NORMAL AGAIN

 

[Gordon]

198???? :O

Pay for a "suck down splint" to be made privately, can't cost as much as 50 quid.

 

[swampiesue]

Yes I am afraid because it is regarded as lab work it comes under price band 3
What is a suck down splint please?

 

[Gordon]

A suck down splint is a simple wee gumshield type device that a lab makes with a vacuum machine. Costs very little (relatively).

 

[swampiesue]

I guess I could ask about one, what will that do, is it just to stop the night grinding..I have noticed now that my jaw is making popping noises when I open and shut my jaw.

I just don't think these dentists realise how uncomfortable my bite feels now, my back tooth on other side reacted to cold the other day, another tooth feels strange. I JUST WISH I COULD BE REVERED TO SOMEONE ON THE NHS who could check my bite out and put it all right. Dentists can't see inside my mouth when my teeth are shut and I am SURE my lower jaw is just sliding to the right due the fact there are no inclusions any more.

 

[Gordon]

You could ask to be referred to a restorative specialist, the NHS does employ some but they've got huge waiting lists. It might be worth it just to get an independent second opinion though.

Back to your question, a wee soft splint would stop you from grinding the heck out of your teeth at night as your muscles try to find a comfortable resting point, not easy when your bite is messed up.