Please help - so scared what will happen

[JellyBaby]

Hi - Basically I went to the dentist because of a twinging lower left molar 5 weeks ago and she did all the tests - tapping, cold, biting, etc. which there were no problems with - and decided to replace the large and old amalgam filling in the tooth, during which she discovered a small crack in the tooth, but didn't seem overly concerned. She also referred me to a periodontist specialist because of gum disease - I have been to see the specialist and had full x-rays taken, with treatment scheduled for February next year. In the meantime I have a new cleaning regime with interdental brushes and a new round head electric toothbrush. The thought of this treatment in itself has got me in knots as I am very scared about having the sub-gingival debridement - has anyone had this?

The replacement filling has never felt right since I had it done. It isn't sensitive to hot or cold, it just feels 'uncomfortable' and the tooth with the filling seems to 'bang' against its upper counterpart before the ones on the other side even meet - I can't really chew on it either. It feels like something large and alien in my mouth. Husband thinks the filling is too high and needs filing down. However, I am scared stiff of going back to the dentist in case she tells me I need to have it out- literally terrified of getting a dry socket, as knowing my luck it would definitely happen to me as I wouldn't be able to leave it alone. Also I don't want a gap there, but could never have an implant as I cannot bear alien things in my mouth. I just wish I hadn't been in the first place as I bet the twinging would have calmed down.

The problem is that I cannot think of anything else at the moment - I wake up in the night and imagine all sorts of scenarios - and shake with anxiety most of the day. I hate it so much and what makes things worse is I can't even enjoy my food!

Does anyone have some words of comfort for me, please?

 

[Scaredbutready]

I really think it would be worth a call to your dentist to have your bite checked. I’m not minimizing your anxiety at all but think that would be the easiest starting point. Rule that out and go from there. took Me a long time to adjust to my fillings, they still feel weird so I get that. One step,at a time and I think calling your dentist for a bite check is the first step. Best of luck, keep us posted?

 

[geos]

I don’t have experience with sub-gingival debridement.

What your husband said is quite possible. It would be quite simple to do a bite check and fill down where it’s needed. There are other options available that would be considered before thinking of pulling the tooth out. For now, the best would be to see your dentist so she can evaluate the situation and help you. I know it’s easy to think at the worst possible scenario. For example, when I experience tooth pain, I often think what if it’s an abscess. In reality there are many things that could cause that pain or discomfort and it’s not always the worst possible outcome we think of. The only way to really know what is going on and what are the options would be to go see the dentist.

 

[Enarete]

However, I am scared stiff of going back to the dentist in case she tells me I need to have it out- literally terrified of getting a dry socket, as knowing my luck it would definitely happen to me as I wouldn't be able to leave it alone. Also I don't want a gap there, but could never have an implant as I cannot bear alien things in my mouth. I just wish I hadn't been in the first place as I bet the twinging would have calmed down.

I agree with geos and Scaredbutready. It may be a good idea to slow down a bit here You basically just extracted your tooth in your mind and put yourself through a super unprobable post-extraction complication, all while that tooth is still in your mouth and only with some pretty common discomfort after a filling. Oh and not to forget the idea that the tooth would have settled on its own (I doubt - fillings need to get replaced now and then and if that‘s what your dentist suggested, then there was a reason for it). At the same time you entirely ignored the option that the bite just needs to get adjusted, which is about 1000 times more probable than any of the options you played in your mind

So now, how about having it checked and allow the dentist to tell you what they think is happening? You are fully in control here, you can hear her opinion and then stand up and go. By the way, dentist are trained to save teeth, not to extract them. Any dentist who suggests and extraction based on what you just explained would be totally crazy. So why not having some trust into dentistry now and give it a chance?

 

[JellyBaby]

I agree with geos and Scaredbutready. It may be a good idea to slow down a bit here You basically just extracted your tooth in your mind and put yourself through a super unprobable post-extraction complication, all while that tooth is still in your mouth and only with some pretty common discomfort after a filling. Oh and not to forget the idea that the tooth would have settled on its own (I doubt - fillings need to get replaced now and then and if that‘s what your dentist suggested, then there was a reason for it). At the same time you entirely ignored the option that the bite just needs to get adjusted, which is about 1000 times more probable than any of the options you played in your mind

So now, how about having it checked and allow the dentist to tell you what they think is happening? You are fully in control here, you can hear her opinion and then stand up and go. By the way, dentist are trained to save teeth, not to extract them. Any dentist who suggests and extraction based on what you just explained would be totally crazy. So why not having some trust into dentistry now and give it a chance?

Thank you for your reply - I guess it does put things into perspective and makes me realise I am being a bit silly! I will make an appointment to see my dentist when she is back from holiday next week and take it from there. Thanks again.

 

[JellyBaby]

OK - I went back to the dentist today. After all the usual tests - tapping, biting, cold application (which did not feel cold) - she took some off the actual tooth rather than the filling. At least my teeth now meet! However, she's still not sure where the pain on closing the teeth together is coming from. There are 3 options:- taking the tooth down might cure it in a couple of days, it is the crack in the tooth which is perhaps putting pressure on the nerve on biting (in which case it's a root canal or extraction), or it could be the inflamed gum around the tooth which is causing it. I'm now home and the tooth is now throbbing and hurting even more! I am so fed up with it.

 

[Enarete]

Give it some time JellyBaby. Shaving down a tooth can cause a bit of stress so it is perfectly normal for it to need some time to settle down. I know it is difficult to tolerate this and you are probably absolutely petrified of the possibility that it could be a crack, but it doesn‘t have to be. Hang in there and keep us posted!

 

[JellyBaby]

I spent a horrible sleepless night last night, worrying about the tooth. It has stopped throbbing today but still hurts to bite down on. I really am fed up with it.

Enarete - there definitely is a crack in the tooth - dentist is just not sure how far down it goes. I've read that the pain should be felt on releasing, not biting down. It is a mystery! Also, with my new gum cleaning regime, all areas apart from the gum around this tooth have stopped bleeding. This morning, it bled quite a lot - any idea why this would be?

 

[letsconnect]

I've read that the pain should be felt on releasing, not biting down. It is a mystery!

I had a cracked tooth and the pain was on biting down, not on releasing - I think that's quite common (see the Wikipedia entry on Cracked Tooth Syndrome)! Can't help with the bleeding around the tooth though - no idea.

Sorry to hear that you're having such a tough time ?

 

[JellyBaby]

Another update! My dentist just phoned me, having obtained my xrays taken by the periodontist. She says I don't have an abscess or infection in the offending tooth, but the xrays have shown a lot of hard plaque deposit around it which again may be causing the pain. She doesn't want to touch the tooth again until I've had the debridement treatment (scheduled for February) in case this solves the problem. If it doesn't, then next steps would be to remove the filling again and have a closer look at the crack, followed by possible root canal or in the last resort, extraction. She doesn't want to do anything irreversible now, which I guess is quite right. However, it does mean that I have to get along with the pain on biting and difficulty eating for a while yet!!

 

[LauraQ68]

The debridement treatment is really not bad at all. They used topical gel anesthetic on me and I didn’t have any issues tolerating the procedure. Don’t worry! It really is amazing getting a deep cleaning and how good everything looks after. Hang in there!