Please help … appointment tomorrow and extremely anxious

[NellR]

I’m going out of my mind with anxiety— I have an anxiety disorder to begin with, but now I’m focused on my horrible mouth problems. I have advanced periodontitis with some gum recession and two very slightly loose front teeth. Also have bruxism. My teeth have shifted and my bite is way off. I’ve been in bad pain for months and as of last week it’s become unbearable. Hurts to even talk. I’m ashamed to see my dentist because I didn’t keep up with her recommendations from my last appointment (two years ago). I’m so afraid she won’t want to work with me, and more than that, that I’m going to lose a bunch of teeth. I don’t know if I’m being realistic or catastrophizing … I always think the worst. I don’t know if I can actually make myself go tomorrow, but the pain is so bad . Can anyone with similar issues ( or even other issues) “talk me down” and help me feel like I can get to this appointment?

 

[Stewart]

I think if youre in a lot of pain, the relief from the pain will be a good motivation to go to the appointment because youre in a situation where it cant get any worse, like the discomfort you feel on the day of the appointment cant be worse than what youre feeling now.

 

[NellR]

@Stewart Thank you so much for responding to my request for help. Despite huge amounts of anxiety, including tears and shaking, I forced myself to go to my dental appointment. Amazingly my bone loss hasn’t worsened in the last two years. My gums are in bad shape, but I think my dentist took pity on the amount of pain I was in and did a root planing and scaling on my upper and lower right side, and even offered to squeeze me in tomorrow for the other side.

 

[Stewart]

@NellR i must say its often surprising that we feel discomfort and pain and assume things are worse than they are, its surprising how many times you come away thinking....im amazed there was so little wrong.

hopefully the root planing and scaling went well and youre on the path to recovery

 

[NellR]

@Stewart Well, both sides are now done. I’m just waiting for the numbness to go away … seems to be taking longer than yesterday, but hopefully that’s just my anxiety messing with me. Thank you for your comments.

 

[smirked]

I’m ashamed to see my dentist because I didn’t keep up with her recommendations from my last appointment (two years ago)

This is the reason I didn't see a dentist for so long. In the end I dealt with unnecessary pain, infection and loss of confidence due to deteriorating dental health.

I actually left things so long that now I have a single digit number of teeth left (eight) and have a full upper denture with a partial lower.

Best not to allow your embarrassment or anxiety to prevent you getting the treatment you need and deserve to have. I know how difficult it is, I've lived it. Well done for following through with your appointment!

 

[Stewart]

@smirked its a brutal story. I take inspiration from the fact you turned it around though, i do find stories like yours inspiring.