W
Wentworthy
Junior member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2015
- Messages
- 4
Hi, everyone. I could use some support.
Before today, I hadn't been to a dentist in 10 years (I am a 28 year old female). Honestly, it's because of a string of lousy jobs over the last decade that haven't offered health insurance. I have lots of fillings in my mouth from childhood and, in the past three years, not going to the dentist finally caught up with me. One of my teeth completely crumpled in my mouth (there is no tooth left, only the root) and another tooth fractured quite badly (it is just a giant crater with sides that always gets infected). I also know I have even more cavities that need to be filled.
I was so terrified to make the appointment, out of shame for not having visited a dentist in so long. I didn't want to be judged, but I worked up the courage and made the appointment (I got married last year and am now on my spouse's dental insurance).
I went today, totally nervous, but people told me it would be okay, that my teeth probably aren't nearly as bad as I imagine them to be.
Everyone at the office was so nice. I had pictures and xrays and a general assessment. Things were going so well. I thought, hey, maybe my teeth aren't as bad as I thought.
Then, the hygienist took a look at my xrays. My two bottom front teeth have considerable bone loss and pockets behind them. I was referred to a periodontist (I go in three weeks).
I almost started crying right there in the chair.
Funny, I thought my biggest concern would be the one tooth I lost and the other one that is broken. I was totally shocked and taken off guard when she told me about the bone loss in the two bottom front teeth.
The dentist (very nice guy) told me I am only 28 and he doesn't want to see me losing my teeth already. Now they won't work on my teeth at the dentist office until I see the periodontist.
I feel so depressed and anxious. I already suffer from bad anxiety and now I'm going to obssess over my two front bottom teeth falling out (and I am expecting the nightmares to start soon. I'll probably be having bad dreams from now on.)
I honestly had no idea. The teeth move a little, yes, but not much. I noticed that they wiggled a little a couple of years ago, but since it was such a small movement, I didn't think it was cause for concern.
I'm really beating myself up over here. I quit smoking two years ago and have really cracked down on my brushing, but I still really managed to mess my teeth up. I'm not a big floss: I admit that, but I have been terrified of flossing ever since I attempted to floss next to a fractured tooth a couple of years back and a chunk of it fell out.
I have no further details of the bone loss, just that it is there and that I have pockets behind the front two bottom teeth.
It's making me sick to my stomach.
I could really use some support. I hate being such a wimp about it, but I'm just so afraid and sad about it.
Before today, I hadn't been to a dentist in 10 years (I am a 28 year old female). Honestly, it's because of a string of lousy jobs over the last decade that haven't offered health insurance. I have lots of fillings in my mouth from childhood and, in the past three years, not going to the dentist finally caught up with me. One of my teeth completely crumpled in my mouth (there is no tooth left, only the root) and another tooth fractured quite badly (it is just a giant crater with sides that always gets infected). I also know I have even more cavities that need to be filled.
I was so terrified to make the appointment, out of shame for not having visited a dentist in so long. I didn't want to be judged, but I worked up the courage and made the appointment (I got married last year and am now on my spouse's dental insurance).
I went today, totally nervous, but people told me it would be okay, that my teeth probably aren't nearly as bad as I imagine them to be.
Everyone at the office was so nice. I had pictures and xrays and a general assessment. Things were going so well. I thought, hey, maybe my teeth aren't as bad as I thought.
Then, the hygienist took a look at my xrays. My two bottom front teeth have considerable bone loss and pockets behind them. I was referred to a periodontist (I go in three weeks).
I almost started crying right there in the chair.
Funny, I thought my biggest concern would be the one tooth I lost and the other one that is broken. I was totally shocked and taken off guard when she told me about the bone loss in the two bottom front teeth.
The dentist (very nice guy) told me I am only 28 and he doesn't want to see me losing my teeth already. Now they won't work on my teeth at the dentist office until I see the periodontist.
I feel so depressed and anxious. I already suffer from bad anxiety and now I'm going to obssess over my two front bottom teeth falling out (and I am expecting the nightmares to start soon. I'll probably be having bad dreams from now on.)
I honestly had no idea. The teeth move a little, yes, but not much. I noticed that they wiggled a little a couple of years ago, but since it was such a small movement, I didn't think it was cause for concern.
I'm really beating myself up over here. I quit smoking two years ago and have really cracked down on my brushing, but I still really managed to mess my teeth up. I'm not a big floss: I admit that, but I have been terrified of flossing ever since I attempted to floss next to a fractured tooth a couple of years back and a chunk of it fell out.
I have no further details of the bone loss, just that it is there and that I have pockets behind the front two bottom teeth.
It's making me sick to my stomach.
I could really use some support. I hate being such a wimp about it, but I'm just so afraid and sad about it.
Many of my problems have gotten worse from too much time passing, and I may need teeth pulled. I have an appointment Thursday at a new clinic so I can finally get this work over with, but I have spent the day in tears over shame, guilt and fear. 
