Replacing one fear with another!

[Pat Hetic]

I have now managed two appointments with a very kind lady dentist who has initially given me a check up in the first appointment, and then a filling in the second. I am no longer scared of going to see her, but I am scared because after the check up, she has referred me to a specialist because something in my gums doesn't look quite right. I gave up smoking (up to 7 a day) 56 days ago, and I am 62 years old, so naturally I am petrified that it is something nasty. Gordon has explained that if it was something really ominous then I would have been referred to the surgeon straight away, and I take great comfort from his reassurances. Anyway, it makes a little discomfort in the dentist's chair fade into insignificance, so there is the plus! As a bit of a pessimist, however, I am reluctant to commit to too much cosmetic work until I know that oral cancer isn't going to get me first.

 

[sudzs]

Well done with your appointments Pat! And on stopping smoking. I did that years ago because the cancer worry was just too great. I'm like you, every little thing is a potential life threatening issue! But I'm sure your gum issue will be nothing too worrisome. Keep up the good work with the cigarettes.

 

[Pat Hetic]

Thanks Sudzs! It will be the new year before my referral comes through, so I’m going to try not to think about it too much over Christmas.

 

[sudzs]

Yes, it's best to forget about these things but sometimes it's not easy. Christmas might be a good distraction though. Best of luck with it.

 

[dentalnelly]

Can confirm that if she was super concerned you'd be fast tracked. In the NHS, if they believe there is a potential for cancer you have to be seen within two weeks. I was 31 and I found a lump and my mum passed of cancer in the same area when I was 30. It was COVID time 2020 and I was still seen. I imagine private would probably be even faster.

It might be a deep periodontal pocketing or something. Once they get to a certain point then a general dentist will refer out as they can only really manage I think up to 6mm. Not sure about that so don't quote me. Still tons can be done for gums if the teeth are still stable and there isn't excessive amounts of bone loss.

Really good job on getting in there and doing this. You've done amazingly.

 

[Pat Hetic]

Thank you dentainelly, I’m sorry that you lost your Mum in such a cruel way. I appreciate your wise words and will let you know how I get on… Have a lovely Christmas XXX

 

[Pat Hetic]

Well I have had my appointment with the Max Fac surgeon just now and he couldn’t find anything wrong! He said there is a little thickening of the gum where teeth have been removed, and he thinks that if there had been any inflammation then by no longer smoking it has cleared up by itself.
Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement. I can’t begin to express my relief. I feel like a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

 

[dentalnelly]

Congratulations, Pat. What a lovely way to start the year. I'm so happy for you.

 

[Pat Hetic]

Thank you! I hope I can be an encouragement to others, not least to stop smoking. I actually think that the whole dental phobia guilt trip was made so much worse because I knew I shouldn’t smoke. One less thing to feel guilty about definitely makes facing the dentist much easier.