C
CitrusGirl
Junior member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2024
- Messages
- 1
- Location
- Germany
First of all, hello! First time poster, long time lurker here. 
So, for the past decade or so, I was able to keep my anxiety in check. As a child, I had terrible dental health and bad experiences, and had crying fits at the office, if I even went there at all. However, this got better with time, when I started brushing regularly and going to checkups was then less stressful. They even became sort of a ritual because leaving the office then meant that everything is fine and that alleviated my anxiety a lot.
This has now changed. Even though I go to get my teeth checked twice a year, two of my molars cracked only one year apart. Fortunately, both issues were fixed painlessly, but still, this undermined my trust in the effectiveness of the checkup.
The real problem began this spring when I called to get an appointment because I had strong, deep pain biting down on a molar. I had severe pain months before, but I mistook it for sinus pain and took painkillers for a week and it was fine. (Because if I go to get my teeth checked and my dentist says nothing, then it must be nothing, even if I'm in pain, right?!) It was pulpitis and I had to get a root canal right there on the spot, when I expected to hear that this is a minor cavity. And the anesthesia did not work. I had several injections, one directly into the open nerve, and I still was in pain. Apparently, this can happen with like the end stage of pulpitis. Went home in tears, but at least it was over.
A few days ago, I started noticing slight pain when biting down on another molar. This one has a huge amalgam filling which is 10 years old, and it has always been a bit sensitive to cold air etc. The pain seems to be more superficial and way less intense, but I am still absolutely terrified. Terrified as in I can't concentrate on my work, I can’t sleep, and I'm constantly on the brink of tears because I don't know how I can get through another RCT. It could be that the filling is loose or something, but what if it's not? I'm considering just doing nothing and waiting for two months when my regular checkup is, because when I think of calling the dentist, I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack.
I'm now basically just googling things and scaring myself. I even googled my dentist and it turns out that he specializes in endodontics. And the anesthesia still didn't work! I know I'm jumping to conclusions here, but I don't know what to do anymore. My fear is unbearable at this point. I considered waiting it out because what if it's just another period of hypersensitivity because the weather just shifted where I live, but then I think "What if this can get fixed now, but not in a week, you have to call the dentist RIGHT NOW" but maybe then I'd have to get a crown because the tooth is mostly just filling already, and you probably know the overthinking patterns when you're spiraling. Honestly, I'd appreciate any kind word right now, or advice what to do or whatever, because nobody in my life I've talked to so far understands.
Thanks for reading <3
So, for the past decade or so, I was able to keep my anxiety in check. As a child, I had terrible dental health and bad experiences, and had crying fits at the office, if I even went there at all. However, this got better with time, when I started brushing regularly and going to checkups was then less stressful. They even became sort of a ritual because leaving the office then meant that everything is fine and that alleviated my anxiety a lot.
This has now changed. Even though I go to get my teeth checked twice a year, two of my molars cracked only one year apart. Fortunately, both issues were fixed painlessly, but still, this undermined my trust in the effectiveness of the checkup.
The real problem began this spring when I called to get an appointment because I had strong, deep pain biting down on a molar. I had severe pain months before, but I mistook it for sinus pain and took painkillers for a week and it was fine. (Because if I go to get my teeth checked and my dentist says nothing, then it must be nothing, even if I'm in pain, right?!) It was pulpitis and I had to get a root canal right there on the spot, when I expected to hear that this is a minor cavity. And the anesthesia did not work. I had several injections, one directly into the open nerve, and I still was in pain. Apparently, this can happen with like the end stage of pulpitis. Went home in tears, but at least it was over.
A few days ago, I started noticing slight pain when biting down on another molar. This one has a huge amalgam filling which is 10 years old, and it has always been a bit sensitive to cold air etc. The pain seems to be more superficial and way less intense, but I am still absolutely terrified. Terrified as in I can't concentrate on my work, I can’t sleep, and I'm constantly on the brink of tears because I don't know how I can get through another RCT. It could be that the filling is loose or something, but what if it's not? I'm considering just doing nothing and waiting for two months when my regular checkup is, because when I think of calling the dentist, I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack.
I'm now basically just googling things and scaring myself. I even googled my dentist and it turns out that he specializes in endodontics. And the anesthesia still didn't work! I know I'm jumping to conclusions here, but I don't know what to do anymore. My fear is unbearable at this point. I considered waiting it out because what if it's just another period of hypersensitivity because the weather just shifted where I live, but then I think "What if this can get fixed now, but not in a week, you have to call the dentist RIGHT NOW" but maybe then I'd have to get a crown because the tooth is mostly just filling already, and you probably know the overthinking patterns when you're spiraling. Honestly, I'd appreciate any kind word right now, or advice what to do or whatever, because nobody in my life I've talked to so far understands.
Thanks for reading <3
. When you say that your dentist "specialises in endodontics", does that mean he is an actual specialist with additional training? Because in some countries, you can say that you "specialise" in something without actually being a specialist, just by offering and/or enjoying a particular aspect of dentistry. In the UK, it's easy to check if someone is actually on the specialist register for endodontics by searching the General Dental Council's website. It just seems a little unusual to do a root canal treatment on the spot - normally, you need to book quite a while in advance because it's a lengthy procedure so you need a long time slot.
!