J
jessicat81
Junior member
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2024
- Messages
- 7
- Location
- Pennsylvania
I felt that I had good oral hygiene but I avoided the dentist most of my life and I’m 43 now. After I got my braces off at 16 I didn’t go to the dentist again until I was 28, and now 43. My teeth look fine, nobody would even know I don’t go because I don’t get visible tartar buildup on my teeth but I still worried X-rays would reveal my teeth were ruined.
I don’t know why I avoided the dentist. When I was in my twenties it was because I was a smoker and didn’t want to be criticized. After I quit in 2010 I think I just avoided it because of shame and fear of being criticized for not going often enough.
At some point I developed this fear that my teeth were ruined (even though they looked fine and I had no pain) and I would need dentures. I also feared they were all rotting and the infection would enter my bloodstream and causes sepsis and organ failure. I should also mention I have very bad generalized anxiety and OCD tendencies.
I think the slightly irrational fears began when two of my cats had to have most of their teeth removed in 2022-2023. Upon the physical exam the vet said their teeth just had some tartar and a little gum inflammation but during x-rays they found that the majority of the teeth were rotting and diseased. I guess I thought maybe my teeth were like that too. The vet said you never know how bad it is until you look at x-rays. I’ve been sick with worry ever since that day even though she was talking about cats, not humans. But we both have teeth and gums, how different could it be? That’s what kept going through my mind.
I don’t know what happened but one day I just decided enough was enough. I had a small chip in my lateral incisor and it was driving me nuts and I wanted it fixed. I was sick of my parents and in-laws constantly talking about their dentist appointments. They are constantly getting crowns, bridges, implants, you name it. Or they are eating something and their tooth just breaks off. If this is what my future has in store for me I figured I better get my teeth healthy now. I made an appointment for one month out to work up my courage.
The appointment went fine and everyone was super nice. I did mention it had been “a long time” since I was at the dentist but nobody even asked how long. After x-rays the dental hygienist came in and told me I had a few deep pockets (4-5mm) so I would need a periodontal cleaning called root planing and scaling. Then the dentist came in and said I had one small cavity that needed filled. She said I did have wear on my molars from chewing on pens (bad habit from my anxiety) and I might need a few crowns down the road if the wear gets worse.
I’ve been to the dentist 4x in the past month and now going is no big deal. I got my cleanings done, cavity filled, and front teeth bonded. Next is the orthodontist to straighten my bottom teeth.
I feel free now. I didn’t let the fear win any longer.
I don’t know why I avoided the dentist. When I was in my twenties it was because I was a smoker and didn’t want to be criticized. After I quit in 2010 I think I just avoided it because of shame and fear of being criticized for not going often enough.
At some point I developed this fear that my teeth were ruined (even though they looked fine and I had no pain) and I would need dentures. I also feared they were all rotting and the infection would enter my bloodstream and causes sepsis and organ failure. I should also mention I have very bad generalized anxiety and OCD tendencies.
I think the slightly irrational fears began when two of my cats had to have most of their teeth removed in 2022-2023. Upon the physical exam the vet said their teeth just had some tartar and a little gum inflammation but during x-rays they found that the majority of the teeth were rotting and diseased. I guess I thought maybe my teeth were like that too. The vet said you never know how bad it is until you look at x-rays. I’ve been sick with worry ever since that day even though she was talking about cats, not humans. But we both have teeth and gums, how different could it be? That’s what kept going through my mind.
I don’t know what happened but one day I just decided enough was enough. I had a small chip in my lateral incisor and it was driving me nuts and I wanted it fixed. I was sick of my parents and in-laws constantly talking about their dentist appointments. They are constantly getting crowns, bridges, implants, you name it. Or they are eating something and their tooth just breaks off. If this is what my future has in store for me I figured I better get my teeth healthy now. I made an appointment for one month out to work up my courage.
The appointment went fine and everyone was super nice. I did mention it had been “a long time” since I was at the dentist but nobody even asked how long. After x-rays the dental hygienist came in and told me I had a few deep pockets (4-5mm) so I would need a periodontal cleaning called root planing and scaling. Then the dentist came in and said I had one small cavity that needed filled. She said I did have wear on my molars from chewing on pens (bad habit from my anxiety) and I might need a few crowns down the road if the wear gets worse.
I’ve been to the dentist 4x in the past month and now going is no big deal. I got my cleanings done, cavity filled, and front teeth bonded. Next is the orthodontist to straighten my bottom teeth.
I feel free now. I didn’t let the fear win any longer.
