T
tombstoneteeth
Junior member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2015
- Messages
- 4
I'll try to make this as brief as I possibly can. I have severe dental phoebia, suffer from anxiety in general - which has manifested into agoraphobia.
Having not seen a dentist in 12 years, I have stored up a wealth of problems; which will mean extensive work and lots of dental appointments. Due to gum disease, I have lost a total of four of my bottom teeth, and it is only a matter of time before the top teeth give way(they are wobbling severely). So, I will definitely need extractions. My gums have receded quite dramatically, and I have the gums of someone twice my age!
Needless to say, my diet is poor, as I'm extremely limited as to what I can eat - given that my capacity to chew is almost non existent. I am a Type 1 diabetic, and my bad teeth is having a knock on effect on my overall health.
What I'd like to know, is whether anyone can recommend the best way forward for me. Can I for example get a referral to one of the larger dental hospitals in London? I should add here, that I live in North London(Zone 4), but I'm prepared to travel to a recommended dentist, who is good with nervous patients, and will not humiliate me due to the state of my teeth.
I should also mention that I require a dentist that does all the work I would need on the NHS, as I cannot afford private treatment. This is why I mentioned a dental training hospital, as I've read that I would get the same treatment, but at the fraction of the cost - due to it being for those training in dentistry.
Has anyone gone down this root(no pun intended), and if so, how was it for you? Would you recommend it?
On a final note, I've read posts whereby people have mentioned being referred to a dentist by their GP. I asked my GP for a referral a few weeks back, and was told that it was for the dentist to make a referral. It's the first time I've seen her, and perhaps she's just not knowledgeable about these things, or it's simply down to the individual GP's discretion?
Any advice would be much appreciated. I'm determined to get my teeth sorted out this year, in order that I can have a better quality of life, and just being able to smile open mouthed would be quite something.
Having not seen a dentist in 12 years, I have stored up a wealth of problems; which will mean extensive work and lots of dental appointments. Due to gum disease, I have lost a total of four of my bottom teeth, and it is only a matter of time before the top teeth give way(they are wobbling severely). So, I will definitely need extractions. My gums have receded quite dramatically, and I have the gums of someone twice my age!
Needless to say, my diet is poor, as I'm extremely limited as to what I can eat - given that my capacity to chew is almost non existent. I am a Type 1 diabetic, and my bad teeth is having a knock on effect on my overall health.
What I'd like to know, is whether anyone can recommend the best way forward for me. Can I for example get a referral to one of the larger dental hospitals in London? I should add here, that I live in North London(Zone 4), but I'm prepared to travel to a recommended dentist, who is good with nervous patients, and will not humiliate me due to the state of my teeth.
I should also mention that I require a dentist that does all the work I would need on the NHS, as I cannot afford private treatment. This is why I mentioned a dental training hospital, as I've read that I would get the same treatment, but at the fraction of the cost - due to it being for those training in dentistry.
Has anyone gone down this root(no pun intended), and if so, how was it for you? Would you recommend it?
On a final note, I've read posts whereby people have mentioned being referred to a dentist by their GP. I asked my GP for a referral a few weeks back, and was told that it was for the dentist to make a referral. It's the first time I've seen her, and perhaps she's just not knowledgeable about these things, or it's simply down to the individual GP's discretion?
Any advice would be much appreciated. I'm determined to get my teeth sorted out this year, in order that I can have a better quality of life, and just being able to smile open mouthed would be quite something.