terrified , embarassed ,going to make an appointment today

[pollywobble]

I know , the whole family was laughing when i told them !
Keep getting the shakes tonight . I thought i would be better off in work as it would keep my mind off itbut that hasn't worked . I hope i will be able to work next week - just need to be able to talk. I'm going to need all the money i can get to pay the dentist ! Hopefully i will get a treatment plan tomorrow so that i know how much it is going to cost and exactly what to expect .

 

[fox]

Good work Polly!!!
You are now my inspiration for my appointment tomorrow!

xx

 

[pollywobble]

Ah thank you Fox , will be thinking of you .
I probably wont be posting tomorrow - i expect to sleep a lot .
and i might be a bit .
Thanks again to everyone who helped me get to this stage .

 

[April]

Hi Pollywobble

You have done so well

Today will be a rollercoaster of emotions but it will also be the beginning of getting your phobia under control and of being able to live your life 'normally'. I know hindsight is an exact science and I know I couldn't help how I was but I wish I had had my treatment years ago, in the end it wasn't even a tiny bit like I had imagined.

If I could bottle the feeling of relief you will feel by Friday night and send it too you I would .... it is amazing!

We will be thinking of you and look forward to seeing a

 

[pollywobble]

Thank you April , I am finding the night pretty scary - wish i hadn't decided to work after all - but i've been so moody if i had taken the night off i'd probably be complaining just as much ! I seem to have done nothing else but moan and complain and cry for the last few days , I'm sure everyone is sick of me and looking forward to me being quiet tomorrow .

 

[michiemoo]

good luck pollywobble !! let us all know hw you are as soon as you feel up to it, we are all thinking of you xxx

 

[jenjen]

I haven't posted on here for ages.

2 years ago, you will find I was on here daily as after 25 years of not going to the dentist my teeth - I thought - were in a terrible state.

The dentist I eventually picked was superb - kind and understanding. A clean and a filling was all I needed.

I went this week for my 3 monthly clean and I actually 'forgot' the appointment when I woke up in the morning - can you believe that is possible but it is. I can't actually find the words to explain how terrified I was 2 years ago - I would say close to hysterical, now just slightly apprehensive.

You will be so proud of yourself too.

You will be fine - I promise.

 

[pollywobble]

Thank you jenjen. I'm back from the dentist . It was both very good and very disappointing . I cried for about ten minutes when he brought me in and he gave me time to calm down before putting the needle in . While i was a little calmer after the first shot i asked him if he had the treatment plan to explain the rest of the work needed (his last words to me on my first visit were ' You will get to keep your front teeth. ). He said we would discuss it at my next visit . After that i remember nothing until i woke up an hour later. I asked him again as soon as i could speak semi- normally and this time he said ' I think it would be best to remove all the remaining teeth but we will discuss it in a few weeks .'
In summary : it was completely pain free , i was conscious very quickly , have only had some pain at one extraction site and he immediately gave me a painkiller to take . Have only needed 2 paracetemol in the meantime (8 hours ).
On the negative side i am depressed that i will lose the rest of my teeth and that the eight painful teeth have gone forever ! Lokking forward to a in 24 hours ! I think i deserve at least one ! Thanks again to everyone for their support xxxxxxx andto you all.

 

[fox]

Oh Polly I'm so relieved for you love!
Sending you suuuuper big hugs! I was thinking of you today while waiting to go into my appointment and I had hoped things would go as smoothly as possible for you. 8 extractions is a lot! You're my hero! Compared to my little fillings I had today, I feel like you survived a world of hurt I haven't had. I hope that your treatment plan continues to be a success.

Speaking of that glass of wine...I envy you. I promised myself I'd be off it until I accomplished my goal of all my repairs.

Then I'm going to get royally pissed for several days on end. LOL

 

[pollywobble]

Morning all , slept loads , only needed 2 paracetemol this morning . Face fairly swollen today but managed to swallow some blackberries ,orange juice and pieces of banana . (feeling health conscious ! ). Still crying everytime i realise i am going to lose the rest of my teeth . . ..
Fox : I hope you are feeling good after your fillings and had a good rest

 

[pollywobble]

still swelling ,goes down temporarily when i put an ice pack on but i find that uncomfortable and the swelling comes back . Had a few drinks tonight and thats elevating the mood temporarily at least . Still bursting into tears without warning at the thought of having the rest of my teeth extracted . Having lectured myself constantly about it being my own fault for not going to the dentist sooner ,I have come around to the idea - a little . If i can get an immediate denture it would certainly be a dramatic improvement on how i look at the moment . On the other hand having read so many accounts here on the difficulty of adjusting to dentures , i am very concerned . Has anyone found it straightforward ? Is it possible that an immediate denture is impossible ? Very confused . Feeling guilty ... feeling embarassingly sorry for myself . Driving everyone crazy at home asking for their opinions and being snappy . My youngest had the misfortune to complain that her perfect teeth are not white enough for her satisfaction . ..I , (normally quiet and mild mannered )snapped at her to be F!"@:0ng grateful ! She was quite taken aback to say the least ...
Didn't help my mood to be informed by hubby that his mother and sisters rang to see how i was while i was still sleepy and confused and he informed them that i would be getting the rest of my teeth out as it was the best option according to the dentist . Nice of him to inform his whole family before i got a chance to make an informed decision...
Sorry everybody , i needed that rant , i'moff to have another drink or 3 ....

 

[letsconnect]

Hi Pollywobble - you've done so well !! It must have been a huge disappointment to hear that you won't be able to keep your remaining teeth, but it may have been better to find out now, rather than put a lot of time, effort and money into trying to keep them only to find out shortly afterwards that they weren't worth saving .

A lot of people find that getting used to upper dentures is easier than they had imagined. Lower dentures tend to be more difficult to get used to, because they are not stabilised by suction the way upper teeth are. You might want to ask your dentist if mini-implant retained lower dentures could be an option for you. These have been getting very popular since the 90s, but you'd have to check if you're a candidate.

You could also check out this web page: https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/faq/dentures/ - it gives some links to support groups for denture wearers. Mind you, I haven't checked what these groups are like these days, but they used to be quite informative and supportive!

Here's to you - I hope you'll be feeling better soon

 

[pollywobble]

Thanks Letsconnect , i will have a look there . I have been told that the dentist will ring me today (apparently i was too out of it to remember what he was saying ! ). I did wonder about the implants . The original plan was to use the 5 teeth left at the bottom front to stabilise a bottom denture in some way . I was expecting one of the extractions i had on Friday to be a back tooth on the bottombut when i came to my senses one of the five front ones had been removed instead . I am trying to come to terms with the idea of getting the dentures by reading everything i can on the subject . I want to be well armed with questions when i see the dentist again - and calm if possible . So far he has only seen the side of me that can barely speak with terror once i set foot in the dentists office . This time i would like to be more at least a little capable of a reasonable discussion . He has been so kind and understanding .
When i went in - shaking uncontrollably - on Friday , he asked me if my husband understood how difficult it is to deal with the phobia . When i said 'honestly he is supportive but hasn't a clue how it feels ' he suggested i bring my daughter with me next time or someone else .(My daughter accompanied me the first time as she has already dealt her phobia I felt she was the best person to come with me .) Well meaning hubby spent his time making jokes about dentures etc., - his way of coping when he feels helpless in any situation is corny jokes ! God help him , I am permanently cranky the last few months with pain , i think he'll be delighted when i finally get dentures ! I hate myself for being so cranky and snappy too ,it just isn't like me . I have even avoided friends and as many social occasions as possible for the last year .It is such a strain remembering to smile with your lips closed all the time . At the same time i dread the thought of dentures that slip when i talk , that are painful to get used to , that make me look different
- so grateful to have this space to vent ...
Thanks again to you alll

 

[mghstl]

Don't feel bad about being grumpy...you've been thru a tremendous amount, with more to come, and you are entitled to a bit of fussiness. It will pass, you will feel better, your family loves you just the same and you will never be able to control "who finds out when". It was sweet of your in-laws to call and check on you...focus on that blessing, and the fact that your husband let you rest rather than chat with them.
Courage and prayers for an increasingly good holiday season. You deserve it!

 

[pollywobble]

Thank you mghstl .I'm so moody , I just started crying at your kind message . I am indeed grateful for my lovely husband and in- laws . Just embarassed that the upcoming Christmas party every one will want to discuss the impending dentures . Silly i know ...
My moods are like those of a hormonal teenager .
A very happy christmas to you too x

 

[mghstl]

While I didn't go thru as much as you (was lucky to get by with three extractions, five crowns and a lot of "little" stuff), I totally understand how it feels to put yourself out in the world during treatment. Hell, just being able to say "well, I'm a huge dental phobic but now I'm dealing with it" isn't enough, is it? Everyone wants DETAILS. Everyone wants to "see". I liken the whole experience to a tragic death-in-the-family situation; no one knows the right thing to say! My family, my neighbors, my co-workers...I seem to be the most fascinating "thing" to talk about. No one ever says "gee, your teeth used to look like crap and I'm so glad you're getting them healthy". Have patience...I remind myself CONSTANTLY that, if someone brings the subject up, it's because they love and care about me.
And, yes, I've finally stopped tearing up over every little thing. You will, very soon, look back on this time and realise that you ARE as amazingly tough and courageous as everyone is telling you.
A big American hug to you, dear lady!

 

[jaime]

Wow, you are a brave person! As for the dentures, they could end up being great. My mom and her new husband both have dentures and they do just fine. Best wishes to you!!!

 

[pollywobble]

Thank you Jaime , not feeling very brave at the moment , still crying a lot and obsessively googling anything to do with dentures . Hoping it wont be as bad as i think . My job involves working with the public , answering telephone , so i worry about taking time off if i cant cope with speaking etc., arggghhhhhh.
.. so tired of worrying . Wish i could hibernate for the next few months and only see people again when it was all over ..

 

[TerrifiedWoman]

polly, please go read my journal. I got immediate upper and lower dentures July 7th and it's the best thing that could have happened to me. I had very, very little trouble adjusting to them. Yes, I had a few annoying days..but nothing compared to the bad days I had with my old nasty teeth! I always say a great deal of getting used to dentures isn't in your mouth..it's in your head. If you are positive and determined..you'll be fine. Millions of people are walking around every day with dentures.
Yes, there's a period of adjustment. You have to get the hang of talking and eating with them..but that doesn't take long. I can eat anything I ate before I had dentures..some things just take a bit more chewing.
Good luck on your journey..you'll be just fine.

P.S. STOP googling dentures. If you want factual information..read it here.

 

[teacup]

My mom works with the public too, a lot of face-to-face talking, and her top teeth are all dentures. The only time she has a problem is when she takes them out and someone decides to stop over the house, then she gets annoyed because she has to put them back in. c: