pinyonjay2
Member
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2013
- Messages
- 28
- Location
- United States
Hi everyone,
I've posted a few times before in 2013, so it's been a few years since my last posts. My life has been relatively free of dental woes until a few months ago, when I cracked a filling on my lower back molar (#19). It was a *very* small crack, so at first I wasn't worried about it. Due to my phobia I avoided going to the dentist for it, and the cracked part became more and more loose until it came out when I was flossing.
(Bit of a long story ahead...)
Finally I went to the dentist today for my regular cleaning and x-rays. That experience was fine, I don't have much anxiety with cleanings or x-rays. I figured the news was bad, but it was worse than I thought- not only does the entire amalgam filling need to be drilled out and replaced, but I also have a small cavity in the tooth next to it. I suspected I was going to get one there sooner or later, since they have been watching it for further decay for several years now.
The news I was hoping for was that I'd need only two really small fillings at the most- a repair on the amalgam and then a small one in the tooth beside it. But no, this is pretty bad news to me...
Over the years my dental phobia has gotten worse, especially since my last filling in 2009 or so, and then my bad experience at the ortho getting my top retainer removed...(If you search my posts you can find that one).
I've always had extremely bad phobia when it comes to the numbing shot as well as drilling of any kind, so that's the real source of my fear. However, I've also noticed that it's worse when laying down as I have vertigo, and although that isn't a big deal in this case since my dentist said he could have me semi-reclined when doing the filling...well, it's also that the filling is so far back in my mouth. That really spikes my anxiety because of my horrendous fear of choking and a bit of a gag reflex I have. On top of all that, I worry about them drilling out the amalgam and mercury exposure. Or even simply inhaling or choking on the bits of filling...
Another thing I have thought about lately, is that the mere environment of the dentist terrifies me, at times. The sights and smells, although they don't bother me *too* much if it's just a mere cleaning. I went as far as to look into at-home dentistry, but sadly, there is nobody in my area that would do that yet.
So my only option is IV sedation, which I had back in June 2004 when I got all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed. That went amazingly well, even though I was crying in fear beforehand, after it was all done I had no bad side effects whatsoever, except for being a bit excessively tired, but that may have been due to the antibiotics they put me on.
However a few things have changed since then and I want to ask for some reassurance...
1. My BMI has increased since then from 32 to 37. I'm not going to have time to lose a lot of weight before the procedure which I want to get done in October. I heard higher BMI puts you at increased risk of bad effects, so I'm definitely freaking out about that.
2. I read that bad interactions can occur when you also take anti-depressants. I was on them back in 2004 too, but I still worry...
3. The cost. Even with insurance there's a chance this whole ordeal could cost up to $1,000! I hope they can accept a payment plan, how have others here dealt with huge dental bills?
I've almost convinced myself I'm going to die, and it's really hard to shake this fear no matter what I tell myself. It does help tremendously I've done this before but I'm worried my BMI is too high...
(Also no nitrous for me, I HATE how it made me feel it really made me feel dizzy and nauseated, I also felt disconnected, and the trauma of a past dentist when I was a child forcing the mask on me has caused me to never EVER want it again... )
If anyone can help that would be so nice...
Btw I will get an initial appointment to discuss these concerns and more with the anesthesiologist.
I've posted a few times before in 2013, so it's been a few years since my last posts. My life has been relatively free of dental woes until a few months ago, when I cracked a filling on my lower back molar (#19). It was a *very* small crack, so at first I wasn't worried about it. Due to my phobia I avoided going to the dentist for it, and the cracked part became more and more loose until it came out when I was flossing.
(Bit of a long story ahead...)
Finally I went to the dentist today for my regular cleaning and x-rays. That experience was fine, I don't have much anxiety with cleanings or x-rays. I figured the news was bad, but it was worse than I thought- not only does the entire amalgam filling need to be drilled out and replaced, but I also have a small cavity in the tooth next to it. I suspected I was going to get one there sooner or later, since they have been watching it for further decay for several years now.
The news I was hoping for was that I'd need only two really small fillings at the most- a repair on the amalgam and then a small one in the tooth beside it. But no, this is pretty bad news to me...
Over the years my dental phobia has gotten worse, especially since my last filling in 2009 or so, and then my bad experience at the ortho getting my top retainer removed...(If you search my posts you can find that one).
I've always had extremely bad phobia when it comes to the numbing shot as well as drilling of any kind, so that's the real source of my fear. However, I've also noticed that it's worse when laying down as I have vertigo, and although that isn't a big deal in this case since my dentist said he could have me semi-reclined when doing the filling...well, it's also that the filling is so far back in my mouth. That really spikes my anxiety because of my horrendous fear of choking and a bit of a gag reflex I have. On top of all that, I worry about them drilling out the amalgam and mercury exposure. Or even simply inhaling or choking on the bits of filling...
Another thing I have thought about lately, is that the mere environment of the dentist terrifies me, at times. The sights and smells, although they don't bother me *too* much if it's just a mere cleaning. I went as far as to look into at-home dentistry, but sadly, there is nobody in my area that would do that yet.
So my only option is IV sedation, which I had back in June 2004 when I got all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed. That went amazingly well, even though I was crying in fear beforehand, after it was all done I had no bad side effects whatsoever, except for being a bit excessively tired, but that may have been due to the antibiotics they put me on.
However a few things have changed since then and I want to ask for some reassurance...
1. My BMI has increased since then from 32 to 37. I'm not going to have time to lose a lot of weight before the procedure which I want to get done in October. I heard higher BMI puts you at increased risk of bad effects, so I'm definitely freaking out about that.
2. I read that bad interactions can occur when you also take anti-depressants. I was on them back in 2004 too, but I still worry...
3. The cost. Even with insurance there's a chance this whole ordeal could cost up to $1,000! I hope they can accept a payment plan, how have others here dealt with huge dental bills?
I've almost convinced myself I'm going to die, and it's really hard to shake this fear no matter what I tell myself. It does help tremendously I've done this before but I'm worried my BMI is too high...
(Also no nitrous for me, I HATE how it made me feel it really made me feel dizzy and nauseated, I also felt disconnected, and the trauma of a past dentist when I was a child forcing the mask on me has caused me to never EVER want it again... )
If anyone can help that would be so nice...
Btw I will get an initial appointment to discuss these concerns and more with the anesthesiologist.