Terrified and Embarrassed

[calypso]

I was on here a few years ago and am embarrassed to say that I still have not made it to the dentist but now I have to go and must find an emergency dentist. I have what is an abscess, at least I hope that is all it is. My gum under one tooth is very swollen -and the swelling is about the width of the tooth (a lower back molar), red and tender. The tooth is a little sensitive as well to me touching it, but is not raised. It was a little painful and more swollen when I was lying down. The tooth is not sensitive to hot or cold. The gum has had little swelling there for a while now but not painful so I suppose it must have been draining a bit. The gum has bled a little too right against the gumline in front of the tooth and the tooth has felt higher at times, but no real pain, but I do have a pocket between the tooth and the next one on one side now. And to add insult to injury, I have bruxism of the clenching variety on that same side which puts loads of pressure on the teeth and gums there.

I am so embarrassed to go to the dentist, but all I can think of it that it's probably something much worse than an abscess. I also don't want the dentist to go on about any other gum or tooth issue I may have.

I read so much about tooth trouble and I understand that, but periodontal disease makes me feel so very unclean, and I'm a clean person. I am also a brusher, just not a flosser because I have pushed a piece of food into my gum before and had an issue, and have never really had a lot of dental trouble until the past 12 years, all of it being with my gums. My teeth don't look bad to just look at them and I don't have calculus piled on, although I do have a little where the gums have receded in places. I am just so scared right now and have to find a dentist in the morning. Currently, I just feel doomed.

 

[littlething]

Hi,

Please don't be embarrassed - they will have seen worse, and they are there to help you. I know what you mean about now wanting them to talk about what is wrong with your teeth/gums - I was the same way, and was terrified to hear about all the problems I had, and thought that it would make me seem like less of a person. That was not the case at all. I think a big part of it is finding a dentist you trust, and building up rapport with them. Once that happens, it is not so bad, and I think worrying about all the unknowns is the worst part. Once I found out what was going on in my mouth, and how to fix it, it got a lot easier for me.

You can maybe even ask them to not immediately tell you what is going on, if you aren't ready. My dentist only gave me a cursory run-down of what needed to be done because he wanted to look over my x-rays and pictures before giving me a more comprehensive treatment plan. This was helpful because I had a general idea of what needed to be done, but it gave me time to process it for a bit before being given the "official" diagnosis. He did also stress that I shouldn't feel overwhelmed, and that we'd take it one step at a time.

All the best to you!

 

[calypso]

Thank you for responding. I appreciate it! I did go today. I will start a new thread on having gone for the first in 15 years.