Step back?

[Niki87]

Hi, I’ve been getting different dentist opinions recently, following a horrible extraction that is taking a long time to heal. I am worried about the teeth either side of the extraction and also have been told different thing ps regarding what needs to be done to other teeth, all my problems seem to be on my left side. My teeth on the right side are pretty straight no issues, just one filling in an upper molar that’s been there quite a while without issue. Moving round to the left and it all goes pear shaped, I had 1 set of pre molars removed when younger due to overcrowding so I was down on teeth numbers to start with.

I am now in situation where I have had differing opinions on my other teeth, with one dentist saying deep cavities and two others not seeing anything on X-ray. I panic if there’s a chance anything is wrong and want to just get it sorted, but at the moment I am still healing and sore and don’t feel like my mouth can cope with anything else immediately.

I worry I am losing perspective. I have a very sensitive mouth and notice slight changes - in my body in general I think. I am ‘aware’ of these teeth all the time, not because they are hurting, its not pain, just an awareness, and I don’t know if it is my body saying you need to do something - or Im just fixating.

I feel like I need to stop and breathe - but my mind won’t let me.

 

[letsconnect]

Hi, I don't think you are losing perspective at all! It's impossible for us as laypeople to know what is going on, so we're relying on the advice we get from health professionals, and if their opinions differ, how could you possibly know what to do for the best and what to expect?

I totally get how extremely difficult it can be to separate the wheat from the chaff... in case you haven't seen this page yet, maybe have a read and see if there's anything in there that might help:

How to find a high-quality dentist

How do you know if a dentist really cares about the quality of their work? Here is what to look for and expect from a high-quality dentist.

www.dentalfearcentral.org

The only advice I can give (from my own experience) is to go out of your way to find someone who is a perfectionist and genuinely enthusiastic about dentistry. For example, check out dentists bios and CVs on websites or google for specialists like prosthodontists in your area, and see which of them get good reviews from nervous/phobic people. If you come across someone who looks promising, maybe get a fourth opinion if you can afford it - it might just make things clearer (and at the moment, it sounds as if they're clear as mud, with the differing opinions!).

Sorry you're having to go through all this - wishing you all the best with the healing, I hope things will go much more smoothly from here on in!

 

[Niki87]

@letsconnect Thanks for your reply and for understanding. I doesn’t help when you look online and see that by 3 weeks everything should be hunky dory and you are not. My mouth is still sore, I get random pains coming from the socket that isn’t healed over, fortunately x-ray has shown nothing left behind so just seems to be slow healing. It was a traumatic extraction, very painful despite multiple injections and some bone broke off the front - dentist who did it didn’t say that but I’ve been told by another that is why there is a bit of a dip on the front. Infection, so I’m sure all this is contributing to the delayed healing. The teeth either side are Mobile and have been told only time will tell.

So you can imagine I’m worrying about losing my other teeth aswell.

I also find I hang on their every word aswell, and like fixate on it, which again with differing info can drive you mad.

Thanks for the info, I will take a look.

I am worried as I am off work at the moment and don’t get a lot of sick pay, but unfortunately I have to talk all day and it’s just too sore. I also talk to people who may have problems and I cannot cope with that mentally as I’m finding it hard to even get dressed or talk to my family.