New member, terrified to see dentist for first time in years

[Rabbiteer]

So... I haven't seen a dentist in 13 years.

It all started with a dentist bullying me (screaming in my face for 15 minutes straight) about having my wisdom teeth out. I'd only just found out I had them to begin with (my mom never had any, so I had hopes I'd be as lucky), and he scheduled the surgery the next day without consulting me. This was a few years after a terrifying molar extraction during which I found out Novocaine doesn't work at all on me, which the dentist refused to believe... meaning I had a molar extraction where the tooth had to be cut into pieces and taken out, bit by bit, with no pain medication whatsoever.

Anyway, a few years after the wisdom tooth incident, I noticed the first signs of my teeth eroding. I was a pack-a-day smoker for years, and that, coupled with infrequent brushing and genetically weak teeth (the last thing I didn't know until years later), led to my teeth beginning to erode along the gumline. I was 26 when it began, had my first molar break (more like crumble, really) the following year, and it just progressed from there. By the time I quit smoking 2 1/2 years ago, I had 3 broken teeth, and one cracked down the middle. The degeneration has mostly stopped since I quit smoking, but I quit brushing about 3 years ago because it only seemed to bring on abscesses (believe it or not, stopping brushing cut my abscess occurrence to about 5% of what it was when I was brushing).

Of course, they still abscess. Most of my teeth are significantly eroded at the gumline, with one broken below it. On New Year's Eve this year, I woke up with a dull ache in my jaw that, over the next few days, escalated to debilitating jaw and ear pain. I assumed I had an ear infection, or that it was related to TMJ... until I woke up on the fifth day with no pain. Then I tried to eat, and the first bite down nearly made me collapse; one of my broken teeth had abscessed. I went to the ER that night, where they put me on an antibiotic and sent me home. But it didn't get any better. 6 days later, I was back in the ER, and it was even worse. This time, I begged the doctor to prescribe a different antibiotic, so she did so in conjunction with the first. After a few days of the two antibiotics together, I finally started to emerge from the searing pain.

This was a real wake-up call for me in terms of my dental health, as there were several days there during which I was sure the pain would never end. Even countless painkillers barely made a dent. The ER doctor told me I had to have the tooth pulled as soon as possible; the problem is, if I have it pulled, I won't be able to chew. I haven't chewed on the other side in years because there's a cracked molar that abscesses if anything gets into it. Of course, I can't chew on the side with the broken molar, either; I haven't had solid food in over 3 weeks now, and it's really taking its toll. Compounding the knowledge that if I get the tooth pulled, I may not be able to chew for MONTHS is the fact that I'm petrified of seeing a dentist. Not only do I have the bad experiences of the past to dissuade me from seeing one, but I'm afraid that because I'm on Medicaid, they'll tell me all they can do is pull my teeth and give me dentures. I'm 32, single, and already have enough problems on my hands; the last thing I need is false teeth (apologies to anyone for whom dentures were the only option).

I'm just hoping, based on what I've read in threads on here, that someone might be able to give me some insight here. I worry that my teeth are far worse than what most people on here are dealing with; I'm trying to get up the nerve to post a photo, but it would be the first time anyone had seen them in their full "glory". Suffice it to say I'm tired of being told I must have been a methamphetamine addict to have teeth like mine-- people don't understand the effects of nicotine and meth look nearly identical on the teeth, and I've never used meth in my life. I'd love to hear from someone who had horrible problems like mine and was actually able to have them fixed... but maybe that's too much to ask.

 

[wishonastar]

I wish i could help but im in the same boat with you. I'm older than you but suffering right along with you. Medicaid sucks because no one takes it and the ones that do are so bad when you read there reviews thats enough to scare anyone to death. I'm in Ohio. I'm not sure where you are . My only advise is to keep trying to find someone.

 

[ScaredyCat22]

Hi Rabbiteer and welcome to the forum

I would have to disagree with you that nicotine causes the condition known as meth mouth. Not that smoking is good for you at all, but basically every meth addict gets meth mouth while I have never seen any nicotine user including myself with meth mouth. I would think your troubles have many causes other than nicotine use.

That being said, no dentist had a right to be rude to you, yell at you, shame you, or insult you.
You may feel that your teeth are worse than anyone else's here or worse than any dentist has ever seen, but I promise you no matter how bad they are the dentist will have seen worse.

There is every possibility that your teeth can be saved, even infected abscessed teeth can be root canaled. even broken crumbling teeth can be held together with crowns. the only time a tooth can not be saved is if there is a vertical root fracture. You will never know unless you try. And if worse comes to worse and you end up needing a denture, it is not the end of the world. Better to have a denture than a mouth full of pain and inability to eat and stress and infection and agony.
I know of someone who had all her teeth out at the age of 19. They were not decayed they were cracked from constant clenching and grinding. She could not afford to have all her teeth crowned and so got rid of them all. She never regretted it. Some people do have trouble adjusting to their dentures, and in fact I know of a couple of people who have dentures but don't wear them except in public and they still eat with just their gums.

If you do need an extraction or even a few it will not stop you eating for months, and I can tell you from personal experience it is easier to eat on an extraction site than it is to try to chew on an aching tooth.

good luck and best wishes

 

[Rabbiteer]

Boy, way to make a guy feel good! I never said I had "meth mouth", only that people have likened the way my teeth have deteriorated to the same condition those who have used meth endure. Television commercials lately that advocate quitting smoking have shown teeth that look like mine as being eroded from nicotine. I don't really appreciate the inference that I somehow did something more to cause my tooth decay. I'd say the fact alone that the deterioration almost entirely halted in its tracks once I quit smoking (and did not make any other concurrent lifestyle changes) is evidence enough. And what harm is there in my telling people that smoking did, in fact, destroy my teeth? It's a disgusting and incredibly unhealthy habit that kills countless people every year. Anything I can do to dissuade people from starting or continuing smoking is, in my opinion, invaluable.

Aside from that, however, I appreciate the assurance that I won't likely have to deal with an option of dentures or nothing else.

Wishonastar, I'm sorry you're coping with the same thing. I'm in Colorado, and I hear you about the bad reviews on dentists who take Medicaid. I had actually found one here in my area who had good reviews, and I even got up the nerve to call... only to have the receptionist be incredibly rude to me, inducing me to hang up before making an appointment. I don't understand why they're not a little better-equipped to deal with people who maybe aren't so eager to see a dentist, considering that, in my experience, there are quite a few people who are at least somewhat apprehensive about seeing dentists in general. I don't trust dentists, either, but I try to have faith that there are still some who are trustworthy. Of course, to find a trustworthy and understanding dentist, in my area, who also takes Medicaid? I feel like I'm asking for a miracle.

 

[wishonastar]

After what i have been threw the past few days i agree with you. The question that is causing me to have panic and anxiety is what do i do now? It seems hopeless. If you are on Medicaid it's like theres no help, throw in dental phobia and forget it. This is awful.

 

[ScaredyCat22]

people don't understand the effects of nicotine and meth look nearly identical on the teeth, [/QUOTE]

My response was to the above quote, I did not say you had meth mouth. Yes smoking can lead to gum disease which can lead to tooth loss. in addition it can cause lung cancer, mouth cancers and a host of other life threatening illnesses. but the effects of nicotine and meth do not look nearly identical on the teeth.

 

[Rabbiteer]

Awesome, ScaredyCat22. I posted asking for support, and you criticized. Thank you. You are the reason it's taken me so long to get back here. You gave the opposite of support. If only I could do the antithesis of "thanking".

 

[ScaredyCat22]

Awesome, ScaredyCat22. I posted asking for support, and you criticized. Thank you. You are the reason it's taken me so long to get back here. You gave the opposite of support. If only I could do the antithesis of "thanking".

sorry that you just want to argue. looking at my original post I seem to have offered you more support an encouragement than anyone else has, and I quote

"Hi Rabbiteer and welcome to the forum

I would have to disagree with you that nicotine causes the condition known as meth mouth. Not that smoking is good for you at all, but basically every meth addict gets meth mouth while I have never seen any nicotine user including myself with meth mouth. I would think your troubles have many causes other than nicotine use.

That being said, no dentist had a right to be rude to you, yell at you, shame you, or insult you.
You may feel that your teeth are worse than anyone else's here or worse than any dentist has ever seen, but I promise you no matter how bad they are the dentist will have seen worse.

There is every possibility that your teeth can be saved, even infected abscessed teeth can be root canaled. even broken crumbling teeth can be held together with crowns. the only time a tooth can not be saved is if there is a vertical root fracture. You will never know unless you try. And if worse comes to worse and you end up needing a denture, it is not the end of the world. Better to have a denture than a mouth full of pain and inability to eat and stress and infection and agony.
I know of someone who had all her teeth out at the age of 19. They were not decayed they were cracked from constant clenching and grinding. She could not afford to have all her teeth crowned and so got rid of them all. She never regretted it. Some people do have trouble adjusting to their dentures, and in fact I know of a couple of people who have dentures but don't wear them except in public and they still eat with just their gums.

If you do need an extraction or even a few it will not stop you eating for months, and I can tell you from personal experience it is easier to eat on an extraction site than it is to try to chew on an aching tooth.

good luck and best wishes"

but since you only want to harp on the one sentence that I disagreed with your statement that nicotine use looks like meth mouth I am thinking you are more interested in arguing than I am so I will not bother to respond further and believe me had I realized what a waste of my time it was going to be to reach out and offer support I would not have bothered. feel free to post as much as you want to without fear that I will bother to waste my time reading or replying to any of it. don't stay away on my account.