One little success but still Fraidie

[Fraidie]

I had my first dental appointment a few days ago and came away feeling so good about it and not as fearful about having the actual work done. Now I'm all worked up again about having an extraction this Friday. The tooth is an old rct that broke a few weeks ago, crown and all, at the gum line. Has anyone had a tooth extracted that was broken off even with the gum? How do they get it out? I asked at the dentist and they told me that it's not a problem, they have 'special tools' for that. Ewww. I'm also worrying about the Valium. They gave me a script for 4 - 5mg tabs and said to take two the night before and two an hour before the appointment. Will 10mgs be enough? They don't use nitrous very often - said it was up to the dentist if he thought it was needed, depending on the work he was doing. They also said that he likes to get patients nice and relaxed because it makes his job easier. OK, that was great news, but - why is the nitrous up to him and not me? I'm the one having the work done, not him!
Also, about the gum pockets. The hygienist said my mouth was in pretty good shape considering how long it's been since I've had a cleaning, etc (more than 30 years). I had one pocket that was a 5 and a few 4's. Is that serious gum disease? Or mild? Or does it even matter once you start getting pockets?
I think I have dental overload! Funny, after years of neglect, I now can't stop thinking about my teeth and what it's going to take to fix them.
Another thing they did while I was there - they used a webcam type thing and took photos of my teeth and put them up on a computer screen right in front of me. I was disgusted by the looks of that broken molar.

 

[RP]

I had my first dental appointment a few days ago and came away feeling so good about it and not as fearful about having the actual work done. Now I'm all worked up again about having an extraction this Friday. The tooth is an old rct that broke a few weeks ago, crown and all, at the gum line. Has anyone had a tooth extracted that was broken off even with the gum? How do they get it out? I asked at the dentist and they told me that it's not a problem, they have 'special tools' for that. Ewww.

I've had several of these removed Fraidie, 3 while awake with just local and 1 other with GA at the oral surgeon, they were the easiest to remove, no pulling really, he kinda got under there and lifted it out in pieces because it was so rotted, and also the easiest to recover from, no pain really.


I'm also worrying about the Valium. They gave me a script for 4 - 5mg tabs and said to take two the night before and two an hour before the appointment. Will 10mgs be enough? They don't use nitrous very often - said it was up to the dentist if he thought it was needed, depending on the work he was doing. They also said that he likes to get patients nice and relaxed because it makes his job easier. OK, that was great news, but - why is the nitrous up to him and not me? I'm the one having the work done, not him!

I just had 10 mg of Valium before an endodontic treatment, all I can tell you was I was giggling like a little girl at just about anything....it seemed like a lot and because Valium stays in your system so long, you will still have the effects from the night before. I'm guessing if you are snoring he'll probably decide you won't need the nitrous, if you're saying I need that- he will.


Also, about the gum pockets. The hygienist said my mouth was in pretty good shape considering how long it's been since I've had a cleaning, etc (more than 30 years). I had one pocket that was a 5 and a few 4's. Is that serious gum disease? Or mild? Or does it even matter once you start getting pockets?

I have same degree of pocket depth as you but that measurement was taken after treatment, so yours doesn't sound too bad. 1- 3 is normal, 4 is a warning, 5 is moderate, and anything over that is getting pretty bad. Did he say if you had bone loss any where? The pockets can be reduced, its the bone loss and loose teeth that are the terrible results of gum disease.

I think I have dental overload! Funny, after years of neglect, I now can't stop thinking about my teeth and what it's going to take to fix them.
Another thing they did while I was there - they used a webcam type thing and took photos of my teeth and put them up on a computer screen right in front of me. I was disgusted by the looks of that broken molar.

I couldn't look at the pictures of my teeth, at the consult with my new dentists he had them all sitting there- I turned them over!

Welcome to the forum!


Rho

 

[Fraidie]

Thank you, Rho. You helped to ease my worries. I wasn't going to take the Valium the night before (thought I'd save it in case I needed it afterward to sleep if I was uncomfortable) but now I think I will. I had a root canal and had valium with nitrous and it was wonderful. I didn't care what happened in my mouth. I was a little concerned about the dentist's reluctance to use nitrous. They even told me they won't let you drive after nitrous - which is something I've never heard of. I do have a ride, tho, so it wouldn't matter.

I haven't had any gum treatments yet. There is no bone loss. The hygienist was really suprised that things were as "good" as they were. Hey - neglect is my preventive treatment of choice lol. I use the floss, brush, and avoid the dentist system!

This is kind of funny. I had some extractions under GA when I was around 10 yrs old and the adjacent molars drifted. This dentist didn't know how long ago the teeth were pulled, and he told me that eventually I would lose the teeth that had drifted! I wanted to laugh. They're still there after 45 years!! If I haven't lost them by now ... He said the same thing would happen to the teeth next to the upper molar that will be extracted, and told me I'd need a bridge to fill the gap and prevent tooth loss. Well, the space from the lost molar won't be obvious, and the bridge is expensive. Maybe they're trying to sell me some treatment that isn't absolutely necessary.

Thanks again for your response. I love this forum!! I wish I had found something like it years ago.