new here, really scared but glad i'm not alone

[gonzooo]

hi everyone,

it is such a relief to read everyone's stories here. i thought that i was all alone in the world! i am 21 and i have been to the dentist once in the last seven years - it was awful... the dentist took x-rays of my teeth and gave me the whole "lecture"... even stood there sucking his own pearly white teeth and shaking his head and saying "my, my..." needless to say after he brutally cleaned my teeth with what seemed to be sadistic pleasure at my pain... i never went back. now i have a tooth in the back of my mouth that is just completely gone now and there's a hole in the gum where it used to be and a few days ago it was really painful and bleeding... a filling fell out of it about five years ago and i was just so scared i never did anything about it... then there's another tooth on the top that feels loose and yet another tooth that's broken, most of it is actually missing and the remaining bits are sharp and uncomfortable in my mouth... there are also small caries in nearly every remaining tooth in my mouth. i can't smile anymore, everytime my friends smile i just stare at their teeth, longingly wishing that i had brushed my teeth everyday more than once a day or flossed once in a while for the past seven years... even as i write this there's a distinct feeling of rottenness exuding from every bit of my mouth... and try explaining to your new boyfriend that you don't want to kiss him because you don't want your appalling dental hygiene to cause him to run far and fast...

i recently lost my state health insurance and won't be able to get insurance from my employer until open enrollment in february. i am desperate to fix my teeth but i am SO broke on top of this paralyzing fear... don't know what to do! i would scream, but i don't even want to open my mouth that wide...

 

[mcorgan]

You are on the right track. Just wait till February (it's not that far) and then you can finally go to the dentist. Keep reading the forum, you'll get a lot of support here. You are not alone.

 

[faint]

can totally agree with you about the boyfriend part!!
Hopefully you can get there soon.

 

[chickenjen]

Hi, and !! I agree with what mcorgan said, February isn't that far away. You could use this time til you get insurance researching dentists to make sure you get one that will meet your needs.
Also, read the "Share Your Success Stories" and "Journals" sections in this forum for encouragement.
Start your own journal. You can rant and rave (I know, I have done my share of ranting) and members here will give you good advice!!
I second what mcorgan said ....you are definitely not alone. Not anymore!!
Wishing you all the best,
,
Jen

 

[Miss Sparkle]

Your tooth sounds exactly like one of my poorly teeth and I am scared stiff!! I went to an emergency appointment for the first time in 14 years (regarding another tooth) and he noticed my rotten/barely there tooth, more of a black hole. I said "please don't touch it" at the end he said that it would have to come out as there was nothing he could do (I knew this anyway). But my next appointment is not until October. I asked him if there was anything life threatening e.t.c. in my mouth and he said no so I assume it is safe to leave them like this in your mouth for some time anyway.

I am constantly freshening my breath through fear of what others think but most of my friends tell me I am being paranoid!! I don't think so...

Hang in there

 

[gonzooo]

in so much pain right now, can't handle it, please help

one of my rotten teeth is giving me so much pain, i'm fairly certain the gums are diseased as well, i can't bite down or anything, it's very very swollen. it feels like the pain is deep in my jaw bone. it has prevented me from sleeping well for days. i don't know what to do, i can't handle it anymore. i don't have insurance for a good couple of months so i can't see a doctor yet. on top of my depression the pain in my face has kept me home from work so many days this year i can't take another day off but i also can't function like this. ibuprofen doesn't work to make the pain stop anymore. i'm terrified and feel like ripping my lower jaw off my head it hurts so badly. on top of that i'm crying like a baby even though i'm 21 years old. i need help!!!

 

[brit]

Re: in so much pain right now, can't handle it

Sorry to hear you are in so much pain but I doubt it would cost too much to see a dentist just to get the painful tooth dealt with. Why don't you borrow the money from a friend or relative if necessary? Get the rest fixed when your insurance kicks in in New Year which I presume relates to a new job.
You could also see a doctor dentist in the meantime just for antibiotics if appropriate. Don't leave infection untreated, you're worth more than that.

 

[Zoritsa]

Re: in so much pain right now, can't handle it

I'm with Brit...even if you can get in and on some antibiotics if you need,the pain should subside then.I went in in March for an emergency and they just looked,took an xray and prescribed antibiotics.I felt much better with a few days.

 

[brit]

See the Success Story here: https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/forum/threads/painless-extraction-kind-of-long.7583/