I faced my doomsday....and I survived the extraction!

[Belle511]

Hi all, I'm new here in that I haven't posted before but I have been reading the forums and website for weeks. Honestly, I credit the website with making it possible for me to reach out for help. I have had some bad experiences in the past, and have neglected my teeth horribly. I got to a point where I didn't even brush them because I was so scared that I would brush them and break them all off. Sounds silly, I know, but of course that only made things worse.

After reading some advice from the great people here, I finally opened up and admitted my fears to my husband. Yes, I hid it even from him! He was so understanding, and asked me if I was in any pain or discomfort from my teeth and I broke down and sobbed because yes, I had one that was hurting me very badly but I had been hiding it for weeks because I was so ashamed. Well, my dear husband called a dentist for me based on the recommendation of a friend, when I said i wanted to go but was too scared to call.

Based on advice from this forum I was honest with the dental assistant when she called me back - I told her I was panicking, and she was super understanding. She explained that they were going to do x-rays, and took me for that. When the dentist came in I was already crying, the assistant brought me tissue, and sat next to me with her hand on my shoulder. Doesn't seem like much, but that simple, non-threatening contact meant a lot.

After the exam and x-ray it was determined my tooth had a deep abscess under it, and while we could attempt to save it, he felt we could spend a lot of money and there was still a good chance it would eventually have to be extracted. We decided to go ahead and do the extraction right then as it had the best chance to offer me the most pain relief the fastest. it's a smaller tooth in the back, not a molar, and the dentist said I would probably function okay without it, but we could discuss implants or bridges later if need be. My husband was allowed to stay with me, and the dentist was really calm and took his time. I told him I had trouble getting numb and had a really bad incident with a wisdom tooth extractoin years before. He said that was probably one reason why I was so nervous now, and I agreed. He promised to do everything possible to make sure I was numb and comfortable.

Well, one of my worst fears materialized - I did not get numb easily. The dentist had no trouble giving me additional local anesthetic. He took his time and checked to make sure. I was still tense and nervous and having trouble, so he suggested nitrous oxide. That made a lot of difference. He let me breathe deeply and get calm before continuing with the extraction. This time I felt the pressure, but no pain. The extraction itself took probably 2-3 minutes at most. I was shocked it was over so quickly. He prescribed me some 800mg Motrin for pain and some antibiotics to help clear up the infection. I made an appointment for a cleaning two weeks away, and at that time we'll discuss additional work that needs to be done.

I'm in some pain from the extraction, probably because of the abscess, but it's manageable. The thing I feel most right now is relief. I have been struggling with this painful tooth for so long and every day I woke in fear that it would flare and be bad that day. I was obsessed over this tooth...I don't think I went longer than about five minutes or so without thinking "Will it hurt today? Will it fall out today?" To know it's gone is such a fantastic feeling.

I still have plenty of anxiety and definitely don't think I'm "cured" but I am on the road. Thanks to everyone here for being part of my success.

 

[tabatha7]

Congrats, Belle !! So happy for you that you took care of this and had a nice dentist to take care of you. So happy for you that you have this behind you now. Kudos.

 

[chickenjen]

Congrats, Belle!!
As to being cured, I'm not sure if we're ever cured................but a patient, caring, understanding dentist is a close second to a cure.
Great job, !!!!

 

[carole]

Hi Belle511 and welcome to the forum. I enjoyed reading your thread and it helps even us that have been on here a while to read about such a positive thread. Thank you for taking the time to do this, it will help many others.

Congratulations and you did really well, and on the first visit too, what a lovely dentist you have keep him

Happy healing

 

[Jacky32]

I'm very happy to hear everything worked out for you, and I understand your situation completely. I also hid my problems from everyone and tried the "ignore it and it will go away" approach, but as we all know that's a very bad idea. Now I have to go this Monday to have my first extraction and I'm absolutely terrified. It feels like the end of the world doesn't it. Thank you for sharing your story, it helps to know that others have gotten through this ok and that I will too if I can just stop panicking and worrying until then.

 

[Belle511]

Jacky, you can do it! Please come back and let me know how you do after your extraction!

I thought I would update everyone here instead of starting a new thread. I had my follow-up and my cleaning appointment yesterday. It was a bit uncomfortable, just because I had not had my teeth cleaned in over ten years!!! There was a bit of scraping, and while it wasn't all that painful, it was a bit uncomfortable.

Not once did I feel like I was being judged. Not once did anyone make me feel like I was a bad person for not taking care of my teeth. In fact, the hygienist complimented me on the fact that the build up was not nearly as much as she would expect.

I was very nervous to hear a verdict on my gums - they bleed when I brush and I was terrified I would need periodontal treatment. Turns out, I don't! In fact, she said with all the tartar gone now, I will probably find they bleed a lot less right away, and she was right! For the rest of the tenderness and minor inflammation, the dentist wants me to rinse every night with Listerine or with hydrogen peroxide. He says it should clear up quickly.

I was scared to death to hear the final count of how many fillings I would need. Guess what? The answer was TWO!! Only TWO!! AND.....he did one of them right then and there! It was a very small one and it was literally a 3 minute procedure and the filling was done. Didn't even need anything for it - not even a shot or any gas! He promised me it wouldn't hurt and after the extraction last time went so well I trusted him. The drill or whatever he used was so quiet...it was weird how it wasn't nearly as anxiety producing as procedures I had in the past. I was shocked!

I have to go back for another filling that will require a shot. It will be on February 12th. After that, I'm done except for my semi-annual checkups. My teeth feel so much better already, just from the cleaning.

As I was leaving the lady at the front desk said I had done so well today. I said, yes, I only cried a little this time instead of sobbing! (I cried in anticipation before they even got started). She said "It's all in the environment. You needed to learn to trust us and know that we care about you and no one here wants you to be in pain or to be frightened of anything." I was so happy that they got it. They understood and they didn't make fun of me or make me feel like less of a person. I found the right place!

You can find the right place too! If you're struggling I want you to know I feel your pain and anxiety, I put this off for years and years. In the end I needed one extraction, two fillings, and a cleaning. I thought I'd have to have thousands and thousands of dollars of work done. I feared I would need gum surgery, or maybe dentures. It may not be as bad as you fear. Go find out. Anything is better than the fear and pain and the not knowing. You can do it!