Worried about front tooth

[SummerSunshine]

It's been almost four years since I posted last I guess I have a really great dentist in order to get through all of my treatment plan without too much anxiety, except one filling that my dentist wants to wait for Ortho to get turned around to make filling it easier (currently undergoing Orthodontic treatment).

I noticed a "bump" on my gum under my nose and it's about above my left very front top tooth. Ortho said I need to se my dentist ASAP and not to wait til my cleaning appointment. So my dentist appointment is tomorrow. I'm really feeling very nervous and a little scare, ngl, about it potentially being an abscessed tooth, this front tooth does have a filling in it. And it's strange, I'm not sure what else it could be, I've never had a bump on my gums before, and my last three infected teeth had all hurt up until the day it was removed and never had an actual "abscess" on my gum. This front tooth does not hurt, but I am freaking out, for a period of 3 days a couple months ago, that tooth did have some severe pain in it, where I did have to take meds and ice cold water instantly relieved the pain and I thought it was normal pain from the braces. Now, I'm not so sure.

The tooth still has sensitivity in it (it has always been, especially since there is a power chain and a lot of pressure on the premolar a "few doors down", so all those teeth are sensitive there. But absolutely no pain, at all. Cold and hot stuff doesn't make it hurt or anything.

My ortho saying abscess really scared me and I'm kinda ashamed that I did cry on the way home after that news. I know the dentist can drain and prescribe antibiotics to treat it in the meantime, I know the only way to treat infection in the long run is root canal or extraction, I cannot afford a 3k root canal (my dentist refers those out and no office I've checked offers payment plans), so it will have to be an extraction job and years to save up for an implant, which means it's gonna be another several years to save up for the bottom partial dentures I need. When it was my molars that needed extraction or root canal, I opted for the extraction easily because since it was a back tooth, I didn't care.

I'm not vain, but I'm really upset since it's a front tooth, and I'm really hoping my dentist tells me tomorrow that its not the worse case scenario. The anxiety is really acting up right now. Loosing that tooth is really gonna take a toll on my self confidence and cue me never opening my mouth again.

 

[SummerSunshine]

Update to this:

I have to have a root canal

 

[letsconnect]

Hi @SummerSunshine so sorry to hear that the tooth needs a root canal, but at least that’s a lot better than losing it.

If it’s any consolation, because front teeth only have a single root, they’re quicker and cheaper than molar root canals. Also, they don’t always need a crown. So fingers crossed the cost will be manageable. Is your dentist doing the root canal, or are they referring you out to an endodontist?

 

[SummerSunshine]

@letsconnect Because it's a front tooth, my dentist is able to do it. If it was a molar, she would have to refer out. My dentist is really good with my anxiety, so I am glad she's able to do it. It's a lot cheaper as well. She said I wouldn't need a crown.

I'll start my antibiotics tomorrow once my dentist office can resend the script (they're closed now). However, the soonest appointment I could get for the RCT is a month away, I'm not sure if that would be a problem, but I'm not surprised because that office stays really busy.

 

[letsconnect]

Great to hear that your dentist is able to do it, and that it doesn't need a crown . Keeping my fingers crossed that you won't have any issues with it between now and your appointment (it's unlikely and shouldn't be a problem). Please let us know how you get on!

 

[SummerSunshine]

Just had my appointment this morning and got my bracket and wire put back on this afternoon.

So far, no issues or pain. I took Tylenol before the numbness wore off and then another dose before going into my ortho. Ortho said they sealed it very nicely.

My anxiety raised my BP once I was there, but I was totally fine by the time everything got going and I was numb. It really wasn't much different than a filling, just took much much longer. I was there in the chair for like an hour.

 

[SummerSunshine]

6:13pm- yep, here comes the soreness