M
Marsbars
Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2018
- Messages
- 23
I am 47 years old. I have a loving partner, a home, and an okay job. Not sure why I have neglected my dental health for so long. Fear? Embarrassment? Denial? I have avoided the dentist for years. I did have traumatic experience when I was younger, a very painful filling - my doctor told me to let him know if I felt pain and when I did, he ignored me and I had dry socket when I had a wisdom tooth pulled in my mid 20’s. My last visit was 8 years ago. My hygiene has been so so as I threw myself into my work for the last two years. I experienced tremendous waves of pain last Sunday when I ate or drank anything hot and when I got anxious thinking about it. With a short out of country business trip scheduled on Wed, I rushed to the dentist feeling desperate. They squeezed me in and only looked at the specific area. They found a vertical cracked molar. I broke out in a cold, sweat. I thought I was going to faint as they talked about treatment and costs.
The dentist said that he will not know until he gets in there if it will be a root canal or an extraction. My procedure is set for July 9. I can be sedated or laughing gas.
I am now on antibiotics and over the counter pain killers (1 every 6 hours) The pain has subsided but my anxiety levels are through the roof.
I have scoured the internet; I am now obsessed with other issues I have been avoiding - gum recession on my bottom two front teeth, visible plaque and cavities. I am also constantly worried about the risk of Surgery because I am overweight or that I might negatively react to sedation. I am also terrified thinking about what the dentist will find wrong.
Should I get sedation? Should I visit my family doctor before surgery? Should I have a regular dentist check up to find out the extent of damage in the rest of my mouth or focus on my cracked molar first?
I am spinning...
The dentist said that he will not know until he gets in there if it will be a root canal or an extraction. My procedure is set for July 9. I can be sedated or laughing gas.
I am now on antibiotics and over the counter pain killers (1 every 6 hours) The pain has subsided but my anxiety levels are through the roof.
I have scoured the internet; I am now obsessed with other issues I have been avoiding - gum recession on my bottom two front teeth, visible plaque and cavities. I am also constantly worried about the risk of Surgery because I am overweight or that I might negatively react to sedation. I am also terrified thinking about what the dentist will find wrong.
Should I get sedation? Should I visit my family doctor before surgery? Should I have a regular dentist check up to find out the extent of damage in the rest of my mouth or focus on my cracked molar first?
I am spinning...