• Dental Phobia Support

    Welcome! This is an online support group for anyone who is has a severe fear of the dentist or dental treatment. Please note that this is NOT a general dental problems or health anxiety forum! You can find a list of them here.

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saddleshoez

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2012
Messages
22
Well I managed to make it to the new dentist. I refused a panoramic x-ray but they were able to get the others while I was semi sedated. I even managed to have my teeth cleaned and a few cavities filled. I have had issues with a crown that hits before my other teeth do. I have had issues with it for a while now. I was told the root canal was not done well by my old dentist. My husband was told this new office could re-do it and fix the crown. My husband just called and upset me very much. He spoke to the dentist I have been using. Another dentist in that office wants me to see some other dentist that specializes in open bites. My teeth do not hit on the right side due to the crown hitting first on the left side. THe crown is on my upper molar on my left side. I showed the dental assistant the crown hit before any of my other teeth. Why would they tell my husband she could re-do the root canal and fix the crown so it is better..............then in the next day she is talking to another dentist and he wants me to see a special dentist. My husband said I can tell you right now she will not go. I won't either. I looked up open bites (which I never had before the crown and my teeth were taken out five total a few years ago) and their 'solution' is surgery and orthodontics. I refuse to go through jaw surgery and I cannot afford braces. I feel like a freak right now that cannot be helped. I in no way will go to that special dentist. I forgot the name. Why can't they just fix the crown for me and re-do the root canal. My guess is it would help. I do not feel like I can walk into that office again after this. I was thinking of trying someone else to see if they would be willing to fix the crown for me. I should have left the tooth alone after I broke part of it. It never hurt until I had the botched root canal and crown put on. Now I have years of issues. All I am doing is crying. If my husband says one more time don't cry I think I will scream. I took a prescription xanax and it is not even helping. Please do not laugh but I am just continually crying holding a teddy bear. I feel so defeated. I was told this is not a common thing (open bite) by my husband. Everything I read says reconstructing the jaw. NO THANKS!!! I just feel like a freak right now. LIke they are looking at me like my mouth is really bad. I do have TMJ and wear a night guard which now the crown hits before that does!! If anyone can offer some gentle support I would appreciate it. I thought I did so good going and boom I get hit with this. I feel so defeated and so upset. I do not know where to put myself. I have no one to talk to that would understand my very real fear. Thanks for listening to me.
 
I think it is a good thing your dentist did, because she could have tried to fix things and made matters worse. She obviously is putting your welfare first by admitting this job is too much for her.

I would go and see the specialist she wants to refer you to, by going you are not agreeing to have anything done, just letting them have a look and talking to you about what is involved. This specialist might be the best thing to happen to you, they could be really nice and get you out of pain and fixed.

I understand your frustration at getting all prepared to have the tooth fixed and then to be told that the person you had agreed to doing it, cannot.

Take a few days to calm down, then get your husband to ring and arrange an appointment with the specialist, it can't hurt to just see them, just give them one visit and see how you feel. You can't be any worse than you are feeling now.

I hope you can manage to get your mouth seen to and that you even manage to get the treatment. You can go back to the dentist you like and have got used to after. :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:
:grouphug::grouphug: you can do it you know, and your husband sounds very supportive and sympathetic to your fear.
 
Dont worry about crying. I feel for you and go ahead and cry!

I too have bad issues with tmj and I have had a nightmare of a time. I will tell you from experience pleasedon't believe the internet. I went in my first visit terrified Id have to have my jaw completely reconstructed and you know what? I didn't. Fortunately there seems to be a lot of non invasive treatments for tmj.

As far as seeing a specialist, I think you should go see the specialist. There's a reason your Dentist said she can't do the work and she referred you to someone who can. I know it's so tough to deal with. Take the weekend to just hang out and maybe make the appointment Monday.:XXLhug:
 
She told my husband she can fix the root canal and crown. She also said they can put a temproary crown and re-adjust the permanent one. It will not be perfect he was told but it would help. She consulted with another dentist today who wants to send me to the specialist. Believe me there is no way I will do it. I cannot go unsedated and get used to another specialist, more x-rays and who knows what they will tell me. My mind is spinning just thinking of it. Jaw surgery is not an option for me nor are braces. It is plain as day the crown hits before any of my other back teeth. The dental assistant even told my husband they could make it much better. Turns out that the specialist is related to one of the dentists. My crown is not very painful it is just plain annoying. It hits before any other teeth. My jaw is painful when I wake up mainly and a bit achy throughout some days. It took most everything I had to go to the dentist already. A specialist will just put me way over the edge. I thought I hit a personal milestone getting some cavities filled. I was looking forward to getting an invisalign consult and here we go with this. My husband told me he would respect my wishes and not allow them to do anything I did not want. Boy I feel back at square one. I want to thank Harperista. Your post helped me. I just might personal message you with some questions if you do not mind. I feel like I have been beaten with a stick. Having a GAD does not help believe me. Thanks for trying to help me. I am just in that state where the fear and anxiety are taking over. Sorry for rambling. Thanks for being there.
 
Wow if we aren't in a similar place...

I feel for you! I'm kind of in my own little bad experience a well and I do feel for you with the tmj. My gosh..that pain...it's the WORST pain because it just goes through you. And yes, you really feel like there's no one who can help you relieve the constant ache you have and the discomfort. I had to start seeing a Doctor about the tmj separate from a Dentist. He's been treating it and things got a lot better once he started to treat it. I get steroid injections every 6 months and have a very low dose of some medications I can take as needed but most of the time now, over the counter ibuprofen works.

My first time though...oh gosh. I was going to need surgery. They are going to take my jaw out! Totally overreacted. No surgery needed. In fact, just some infrequent visits! The initial injection hurt like crazy but it was an almost immediate relief.

I'm not sure if this will help or not, but my first appointment - I literally launched myself out of the chair and started to shake so bad they almost had to give me something to calm me down. But, I went back! I felt really good about going back.
 
Harperista you are making me feel sooo much better. I do not feel so alone. I used to go to a pretty good chirpopractor for TMJ. He seemed to help. Maybe I can try it again. I am the type that will try every natural option available before anything else. I have bad anxiety and I clench my jaw a lot at night and during the day. I actually ground down part of my jaw bone...........according to the old dentist. I have a NTI night guard but now it does not fit right thanks to having teeth out and that fabulous crown that is longer than my other molars. . That was a whopping $800 dollars for the night guard. As I did my fabulous google research (I Know BAD thing to do) I did see some sites said ill fitting crowns can cause open bites. Well well mine is like that. I would certainly give invisalign a try but not a mouth full of painful metal. I have a low pain tolerance can you tell? Boy am I a HUGE chicken or what? Yes, I am.

I am doing exactly what you did. Thinking worst case scenarios. The male dentist did say something of braces and jaw surgery to my husband. Well he can forget it. Did you see a special doctor for the TMJ or what it a family physician? I think I could handle going to see a regular doctor as opposed to a dentist.

I am proud of you for getting in the chair. The very first dentist appointment I had since my teeth extractions a few years ago was less than a month ago. I had not been to a dentist because fear bit me in the fanny again. That fear hit me like a ton of bricks. I clung to the handle of the door to get into or out of the building. I would not sit down. When she came to get me in the consult room to sign papers I went in. She wanted me to sign all these things and I would not. Guess what. I walked out and I flew the other way..............out the door and into the car. I told my husband forget it I am to aware and cannot go back there. I could see other people staring at me which made me feel even stupider. I felt so defeated and so embarrassed. I did go back a few days later sedated with a valium and another pill used for sedation dentistry (they are a sedation dentist office) and was able to get my teeth cleaned, the cavity x-rays and a few cavities filled.

This just threw a monkey wrench in what I thought was going to be my husband calling saying they had an appointment for me to get the crown fixed and root canal redone. I feel like a fool for feeling this way but I surely cannot help it.

The worst case scenarios always run through my head. I have a family history of anxiety disorders and dental/doctor fears.

Thank you for understanding. Thank you for making me feel like I am not the only one in the world going through this. You are very kind. Your time in writing to me is so appreciated. :)
 
I don't blame you for being scared. I'm the same way. I'm having some wisdom teeth extractions soon and I'm a total wreck. I take xanax like every other day to get the knots out of my stomach. My fear is making me physically ill. Just remember one thing... its your mouth and your teeth. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. I hope they can fix the crown for you and it will help. Hugs!
 
I sure know how you feel Tabatha7. My fear makes me physically ill too. I had three wisdom teeth out a few years ago. I worried myself sick. I can honestly tell you that under the IV sedation I remembered very little. It was the right way to go for me. I know you can do it and you will be just fine. I wanted to thank you for saying it is my mouth and teeth. Right now I am so upset that things in my mind are all jumbled. If this dentist is not willing to fix the crown I will try my moms dentist to see if he can help me. I am sure they have my best interests at heart. My husband told my female dentist that there is no way I would get into that specialists office unsedated. She thought I had a fear of just male dentists. I have a fear of dentists period. Don't these people know that!!! I wrote a letter for goodness sakes explaining it! Sometimes I think I would rather get the darn thing pulled and get a bridge or just leave it out. I already am missing three wisdom teeth and two molars they took along with them that they were no supposed to. What's one more!! I am at my wits end. I never had issues until the crown and the teeth came out with my bite!! UGH!!!!! Just when I thought I was on my way to getting through my fear I hit a major bump in the road. I appreciate your support and everyone else who responded to me. I know if I keep reading your encouragement and kind words that I will be able to make a rational decision on what I feel is right for my mouth. Thanks for listening to me babble. You are all so kind, caring and patient.
 
Well, you are more than welcome. It's the least we can do and we sympathize with you. I know that fear all too well. I hope I didn't misunderstand but is jaw surgery necessary??? I don't understand why they want to do that. If you are not in too much discomfort and there is a dentist that can fix your crown why would you need surgery? I guess I'm not completely understanding. Again, it's your body and your decision. If you don't feel you need it, don't do it. I'm not a doctor but I may not understand correctly. I remember my dentist trying to pressure me the 1st time around to have my bottom wisdom teeth out. I flat out told him no. LOL My husband tells me all the time it's my teeth and if I don't want to do it I don't have to. I'm starting to think now though that it is the right thing to do because one of my wisdom teeth is crowded and practically in my jaw but it's not impacted. They are both erupted but there's not much room for them and I don't want to lose the teeth next to them too. It doesn't keep me from being scared to death though. I'll be so glad when its over with. Thank you for the encouragement too. I just reread your original message. If it were me I would have the crown redone or even have it extracted before I had jaw reconstruction. From everything you have said it sounds like the tooth is the problem, not your jaw but again, I'm not a dentist. Also, if sedation makes you more at east then use it and find a dentist that is understanding. I will say a prayer for you and hope everything works out well and no surgery. Hugs
 
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being sympathetic doesn't cost a cent, only perhaps some time, which translates to money, but that's not the point here. :( i think if one is called to be in the medical profession, he should at least have some empathy for the patient, even trying patients :redface:. i feel for your helplessness. i hope your next visit or call will be more reassuring. we just need that little tender loving care. it goes such a long way to calm our battle worn emotions of dealing with so many things and legitimate fears. i hope you get the care you so deserve. HUGS :XXLhug: and GOOD LUCK!!
 
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