M
MC
Member
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2012
- Messages
- 45
I went to the dentist for the first time in 24 years today. It took everything in me to walk through that door.
Here's my first post here on this forum. My Dad is a Dentist.
It started about an hour and a half before my appointment where I suffered some rather bad intestinal cramping and upset stomach. I finally got myself together and drove to the office. When I got there, my breath was short, my heart was racing. But when I checked in, I was one step shy of visibly shaking. I was a wreck. The assistants behind the desk were sympathetic, but I finally had to sit down. I couldn't answer their questions as I was full on panicking. I finally calmed myself enough through breathing where I could answer the one or two questions they had. They then told me I'd be getting a cleaning and x-rays. I had only expected x-rays.
Another assistant came to get me, and we walked into a room. I set my purse down and she invited me to sit in The Chair. It took about 5 minutes for me to do so. During this process, the dentist saw me, and said a friendly hello. I had about three or four staff looking at me, although they all seemed friendly and understanding. I finally mustered the strength to sit in the chair. She then told me they'd be taking x-rays and doing the cleaning. First the panoramic x-ray. I knew this was somewhere else. She said to take my time and then we'd go to the x-ray. I said let's go right away. I wanted to get it over with. It was probably the thing I was dreading most, as it was the "bad news." The x-ray itself wasn't that bad, just took some time to set up. I hated standing there with the thing rotating around my head with a cotton between my teeth. First step to uncovering my story.
She then introduced me to another person, who would be taking the bitewing x-rays and doing the cleaning. His name was Angel. I felt a little attached to her, so having another person made me have to gather myself a bit, but I was ok. He saw how nervous I was. I sat down reluctantly and he started talking to me, asking me questions about myself. He was doing a great job, I wasn't. I kept losing my breath, as it would drop out from under me. I was still trembling. He started doing the x-rays. I didn't gag, but it was awkward. As soon as it was over, I'd open my mouth, and let it fall forward to get it out asap.
As he was doing the third x-ray, the dentist walked in behind me (I didn't see him). The dentist said, "wow! Everything looks great! Your pulp looks great, gums look good. No signs of cavities so far! Looks like we're not going to find much" And walked out. I turned to Angel, and said, "What? is he lying?" Angel said, "we cannot legally lie to you about your health! No, he's not lying!" I got tears in my eyes. To think that I hadn't visited a dentist in 24 years and with half of my mouth x-rayed and no cavities (the side where I thought I'd have the most work done as well!), I was overwhelmed. Stunned. It gave me a boost of confidence, and it certainly calmed me some. So Angel did the rest of the x-rays.
He then started the cleaning. He used a probe, which is a laser to detect decay over my teeth. I kept my eyes closed the whole time, as there was a camera attached and you could see it on the screen. I told him I didn't want to see anything. So then came the scraping. I'm ok with this... it's not my favorite, but I can tolerate it. My fear comes from embarrassment, the bad news, and needles. So I let him proceed, even though I hadn't known I was getting a cleaning when I walked in. My arms were locked straight and my fists clenched because of how nervous I was. I even joked that I was getting a better arm workout than in the gym being there and being scared. Angel had only started on me for about 5-10 minutes before the dentist walked in to say "I'm stealing her. Let's go look at x-rays."
The big moment of dread came. I was a wreck. I went into his office and he looked at the screen to look at my x-rays. I didn't know what I was looking at, so after a few minutes, I kept my head down. The dentist said various things looked normal as he looked over everything. I saw he got to the bitewing x-rays, and again, I just looked down. He turned to me and said, "I see no new decay." My whole world came to a SCREECHING HALT. "WHAT?!?!?!?!?," I said. He said, "You have no decay!" My mouth dropped. I was shocked. He just stared at me with this grin and knowing look and I must have looked like I saw a ghost. "No cavities?" "No MC, you have no cavities!" I hugged him. I was completely shocked. I thought for certain that I would have multiple cavities and need at least 1-3 root canals.
NOTHING. NO FURTHER RESTORATIVE WORK NEEDED.
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?!?!
I still cannot believe it. I am celebrating with a glass of wine and a cupcake tonight. It's the best best best feeling ever.
Angel finished my cleaning for the day and told me I looked MUCH more relaxed. I was. The cleaning was the easy part. Hearing what I thought was going to be horrible news was what made me so anxious. So the rest of my appointment, I was ok.
I do have to go for a second cleaning next week, but that is sooooooooooo fine with me. I was expecting so much worse, I cannot even tell you. And all I need is a 2nd cleaning? DONE people. DONE.
I brush my teeth twice a day religiously. I don't floss, but that is changing now. I feel like I am starting from a clean slate so to speak. I absolutely will be keeping up with my 6 month check ups and cleanings. Taking as good of care of my teeth as I can. I do NOT want to have to have a filling or root canal. And now I know I can prevent a lot of that with an even better regimen than I had before. Keeping up with it diligently will only keep things in check and if something comes up, it will be SMALL and easily treatable. I know my dentist also has Nimbus toothbrushes which sound like they are really good toothbrushes. I'm going to learn more about them next week WHEN I go back for my cleaning.
But I promise to floss and brush and I am going to check about Listerine or fluoride rinses to see what would be best.
I know at the 6 month check ups and cleanings, I'll probably be anxious, but not NEARLY as anxious as I was this morning. Again, thinking that if I need a filling, it should be small and easy to fix. My dentist has lasers and air abrasion so these techniques do no require injections for a filling. Hence the biggest reason I chose this dentist. But I really think I'd be able to handle those techniques. I just hate needles so much.
But I hope this inspires others to brush and floss. And eat well. I love sugar, don't get me wrong. But I always chew gum to try to keep the acid down. I eat balanced meals with lots of veggies and fruits. Balanced with protein, healthy starches (not processed) and healthy fats. I think this is a part of why I don't have cavities. I know though that my habits of brushing my teeth before I leave for work and before I goto bed was also key. My dentist recommended gum with Xylitol in it to really cut down on the acid. I have found this type of gum and will be using that more too. But I'm so grateful and I know I am SO lucky that I've kept up on my home care to prevent myself from having to have ANY work done. And I plan to keep it up. And keep up with my dental check ups. I'm not going back to the stress that I've had for the last 24 years. It's been the weight of the world on my shoulders and it's now off. And gone. And I'm not going back.
Thank you so much to those who supported me in my thread. You were all such a big help. And to everyone who has posted their story on these boards.... I saw and felt everything you did. And seeing that I wasn't alone helped me through this. I didn't want my friends and especially my family know any of this was going on, and everyone here got me through this. And I am so incredibly happy tonight. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Here's my first post here on this forum. My Dad is a Dentist.
It started about an hour and a half before my appointment where I suffered some rather bad intestinal cramping and upset stomach. I finally got myself together and drove to the office. When I got there, my breath was short, my heart was racing. But when I checked in, I was one step shy of visibly shaking. I was a wreck. The assistants behind the desk were sympathetic, but I finally had to sit down. I couldn't answer their questions as I was full on panicking. I finally calmed myself enough through breathing where I could answer the one or two questions they had. They then told me I'd be getting a cleaning and x-rays. I had only expected x-rays.
Another assistant came to get me, and we walked into a room. I set my purse down and she invited me to sit in The Chair. It took about 5 minutes for me to do so. During this process, the dentist saw me, and said a friendly hello. I had about three or four staff looking at me, although they all seemed friendly and understanding. I finally mustered the strength to sit in the chair. She then told me they'd be taking x-rays and doing the cleaning. First the panoramic x-ray. I knew this was somewhere else. She said to take my time and then we'd go to the x-ray. I said let's go right away. I wanted to get it over with. It was probably the thing I was dreading most, as it was the "bad news." The x-ray itself wasn't that bad, just took some time to set up. I hated standing there with the thing rotating around my head with a cotton between my teeth. First step to uncovering my story.
She then introduced me to another person, who would be taking the bitewing x-rays and doing the cleaning. His name was Angel. I felt a little attached to her, so having another person made me have to gather myself a bit, but I was ok. He saw how nervous I was. I sat down reluctantly and he started talking to me, asking me questions about myself. He was doing a great job, I wasn't. I kept losing my breath, as it would drop out from under me. I was still trembling. He started doing the x-rays. I didn't gag, but it was awkward. As soon as it was over, I'd open my mouth, and let it fall forward to get it out asap.
As he was doing the third x-ray, the dentist walked in behind me (I didn't see him). The dentist said, "wow! Everything looks great! Your pulp looks great, gums look good. No signs of cavities so far! Looks like we're not going to find much" And walked out. I turned to Angel, and said, "What? is he lying?" Angel said, "we cannot legally lie to you about your health! No, he's not lying!" I got tears in my eyes. To think that I hadn't visited a dentist in 24 years and with half of my mouth x-rayed and no cavities (the side where I thought I'd have the most work done as well!), I was overwhelmed. Stunned. It gave me a boost of confidence, and it certainly calmed me some. So Angel did the rest of the x-rays.
He then started the cleaning. He used a probe, which is a laser to detect decay over my teeth. I kept my eyes closed the whole time, as there was a camera attached and you could see it on the screen. I told him I didn't want to see anything. So then came the scraping. I'm ok with this... it's not my favorite, but I can tolerate it. My fear comes from embarrassment, the bad news, and needles. So I let him proceed, even though I hadn't known I was getting a cleaning when I walked in. My arms were locked straight and my fists clenched because of how nervous I was. I even joked that I was getting a better arm workout than in the gym being there and being scared. Angel had only started on me for about 5-10 minutes before the dentist walked in to say "I'm stealing her. Let's go look at x-rays."
The big moment of dread came. I was a wreck.
I went into his office and he looked at the screen to look at my x-rays. I didn't know what I was looking at, so after a few minutes, I kept my head down. The dentist said various things looked normal as he looked over everything. I saw he got to the bitewing x-rays, and again, I just looked down. He turned to me and said, "I see no new decay." My whole world came to a SCREECHING HALT. "WHAT?!?!?!?!?," I said. He said, "You have no decay!" My mouth dropped. I was shocked. He just stared at me with this grin and knowing look and I must have looked like I saw a ghost. "No cavities?" "No MC, you have no cavities!" I hugged him. I was completely shocked. I thought for certain that I would have multiple cavities and need at least 1-3 root canals.NOTHING. NO FURTHER RESTORATIVE WORK NEEDED.
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?!?!
I still cannot believe it. I am celebrating with a glass of wine and a cupcake tonight. It's the best best best feeling ever.
Angel finished my cleaning for the day and told me I looked MUCH more relaxed. I was. The cleaning was the easy part. Hearing what I thought was going to be horrible news was what made me so anxious. So the rest of my appointment, I was ok.
I do have to go for a second cleaning next week, but that is sooooooooooo fine with me. I was expecting so much worse, I cannot even tell you. And all I need is a 2nd cleaning? DONE people. DONE.
I brush my teeth twice a day religiously. I don't floss, but that is changing now. I feel like I am starting from a clean slate so to speak. I absolutely will be keeping up with my 6 month check ups and cleanings. Taking as good of care of my teeth as I can. I do NOT want to have to have a filling or root canal. And now I know I can prevent a lot of that with an even better regimen than I had before. Keeping up with it diligently will only keep things in check and if something comes up, it will be SMALL and easily treatable. I know my dentist also has Nimbus toothbrushes which sound like they are really good toothbrushes. I'm going to learn more about them next week WHEN I go back for my cleaning.
But I promise to floss and brush and I am going to check about Listerine or fluoride rinses to see what would be best.I know at the 6 month check ups and cleanings, I'll probably be anxious, but not NEARLY as anxious as I was this morning. Again, thinking that if I need a filling, it should be small and easy to fix. My dentist has lasers and air abrasion so these techniques do no require injections for a filling. Hence the biggest reason I chose this dentist. But I really think I'd be able to handle those techniques. I just hate needles so much.
But I hope this inspires others to brush and floss. And eat well. I love sugar, don't get me wrong. But I always chew gum to try to keep the acid down. I eat balanced meals with lots of veggies and fruits. Balanced with protein, healthy starches (not processed) and healthy fats. I think this is a part of why I don't have cavities. I know though that my habits of brushing my teeth before I leave for work and before I goto bed was also key. My dentist recommended gum with Xylitol in it to really cut down on the acid. I have found this type of gum and will be using that more too. But I'm so grateful and I know I am SO lucky that I've kept up on my home care to prevent myself from having to have ANY work done. And I plan to keep it up. And keep up with my dental check ups. I'm not going back to the stress that I've had for the last 24 years. It's been the weight of the world on my shoulders and it's now off. And gone. And I'm not going back.
Thank you so much to those who supported me in my thread. You were all such a big help. And to everyone who has posted their story on these boards.... I saw and felt everything you did. And seeing that I wasn't alone helped me through this. I didn't want my friends and especially my family know any of this was going on, and everyone here got me through this. And I am so incredibly happy tonight. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
or like this ------> 
It didn't hurt at all, just every once in a while I'd feel a little warm sensation. Now that it's been a couple of hours, I can feel that something was done to my gumline. Nothing that is painful at all, just a little tenderness. Angel said I would need to rinse with salt water to aid in the healing process. But again, all of this is minor minor minor. Angel did say that my gum tissues look better, and I agree. It's only up from here!!!!
