Worried about seeing a different dentist

[Meshell82]

Firstly thank you for accepting me.

I developed severe health anxiety last year that flairs whenever I have any type of medical appt which is not helping.

Anyway I had a deep filling 6 months ago in my 2nd top right molar, my dentist decided to give it a shot but was 50/50 on whether it would work. Apart from a bit of sensitivity to cold it settled nicely and when I saw her 4 months ago for something else she was pleased with how it had settled.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. I had a bit of pressure along those molars but my hay-fever was bad so I put it down to sinuses. It settled after a few days until last Thursday night when mid soft drink (first one in ages as ive tried to cut right back) I had a bad ache all along my molars, there isn't a specific tooth that hurts. I took 2 paracetamol and it eased. However the gum and my cheek on the side around my wisdom are incredibly painful as is my jaw and under my cheek bone, I also have a sore throat and my ear hurts too. Last night I spotted a white spot and tucked away on the gum above my wisdom with a little but of pus so im now assuming ive got an abcess somewhere and ive inadvertently left it to possibly get worse without realising which has worried me.

Ive been trying to see my dentist since friday but she's on holiday and her cover dentist has been ringing in sick, finally today her nurse has managed to get a different dentist in and im waiting on a call on a time to see them this afternoon but im so worried.
I dont like going to the dentist and after being de-registered by my NHS one in lockdown ive spent a lot of money finding one im comfortable with (which tbh as a single parent i dont have either) and its obviously not going to be her.
I also googled which we all know we shouldn't do and ive scared myself even more.

Ive waffled on and I do know that I wont know what the problem is until I see a professional but my anxiety is sky high and my friends don't understand which makes me feel so isolated so I guess I was posting for some hand holding from those that get it whilst getting it off my chest.

 

[Meshell82]

I thought id update as the dentist called me in! She was very lovely and confirmed that it was the filling done previously that was causing the pain.

She has gone in and given me a temp medication dressing and filling, she said she could see the nerves were partly already dead. No abscess as far as she could see.

She is the root canal specialist for my surgery so quoted me for the work to be done, an eye watering £800 plus a crown as apparently my roots are calcified and difficult. Only other option is an extraction. Ansolutely gutted as dont want to lose any teeth but just dont know how to find over £1k.

Im off on holiday next week so some time to decide!!!

 

[Nicci]

I'm glad your dentist was a nice one - it's always extremely helpful and comforting
It's good that you could locate the tooth. I've been having pain for 5 years, all because we can't locate which one it is... I'm basically waiting for the pain to become unbearable, which tbh I'm not that far off, yet the earliest appointment is 3wks away... Joy.

What did she say the white spot was?

I'm with you.. I was quoted £1200 for a RCT & crown, extortionate imo, all because NHS dentistry is a complete mess.
When I have been able to find one they won't do all the work or seem to find excuses to delay it causing more problems. I appreciate this isn't the dentists fault but it doesn't help me either.

I've been tempted to have it pulled out due to the cost aswell. I have virtually no back teeth though so one more doesn't really make a difference at this stage!

I think if you can look at your budget or even do a payment plan then it's probably best to save the tooth. Either way it sounds like you're in good hands.

Enjoy your holiday

 

[Meshell82]

I'm glad your dentist was a nice one - it's always extremely helpful and comforting
It's good that you could locate the tooth. I've been having pain for 5 years, all because we can't locate which one it is... I'm basically waiting for the pain to become unbearable, which tbh I'm not that far off, yet the earliest appointment is 3wks away... Joy.

What did she say the white spot was?

I'm with you.. I was quoted £1200 for a RCT & crown, extortionate imo, all because NHS dentistry is a complete mess.
When I have been able to find one they won't do all the work or seem to find excuses to delay it causing more problems. I appreciate this isn't the dentists fault but it doesn't help me either.

I've been tempted to have it pulled out due to the cost aswell. I have virtually no back teeth though so one more doesn't really make a difference at this stage!

I think if you can look at your budget or even do a payment plan then it's probably best to save the tooth. Either way it sounds like you're in good hands.

Enjoy your holiday

Thanks for replying Nicci, she didn't mention the white spot and i was so anxious I forgot to ask

She actually offered to do nothing and see how it goes but being away next week I just didn't want to risk it. Unfortunately there's no change in pain since thr local wore off although the pressure in my cheek has eased so im hoping in 24 hours things might be different.

I really hope they can work out which tooth it is for you soon its such a miserable thing to live with

Unfortunately they don't offer payment plans and with 3 young children and a low income I think extraction maybe my only option. Im still looking at finding £300 for that according to the dentist today
Itll be the first tooth ive lost apart from one wisdom so im not happy but at the same time feeding the children and paying the bills has to come first. Sad times we live in imo.

I really hope things dont get too bad for you x

 

[NervousUSA]

@Meshell82 Just want to offer my support and say you aren't alone. I have health anxiety, and fear of medical appointments too, and am also scared of new offices, new providers, and providers that are intimidating to me in some way. I'm glad to see your update that you were able to see your preferred dentist. I hope all works out for you as well as possible.

 

[Meshell82]

@NervousUSA hi there, thank you. Unfortunately things have gotten worse and the pain has increased as well as pain now on the opposite side so im booked in for an emergency appt tomorrow. I've managed to get the same cover dentist as before but im anxious as if it is extracted id have rather had my own. Unfortunately she us away for another 10 days and I just cant imagine making it through my holiday next week without some action being taken.

Feeling rather low about it all as I really don't want to lose teeth but i cannot come up with the root canal money so quickly.

Sorry that turned into a bit of a ramble

 

[NervousUSA]

@Meshell82 I am sorry to hear you are feeling worse. Would it be worth asking if they would let you do a payment plan if that would let you get a root canal?

 

[Meshell82]

@NervousUSA thank you much for your last message. I went today and it turns out the pain on the other side is 1. Jaw pain from me not chewing properly as I was too scared to eat on the temp filling (shes given me a talking to as she said hiw will she know how it is coping if I dont eat normally!) And 2. The tooth i was told by a previous dentist would need pulling if it hurt as it was a failed rct has never in fact ever had a rct and has a small pocket of infection left from when I saw that dentist last year so no extractions but 2 rcts so I plucked the courage to ask for a payment plan like you said and they've said yes I can pay monthly. Never been so relieved. She dropped the price to £750 each.

I also had a long chat with this dentist as she is the person who does the root canals and she was so patient and reassuring with me and even apologised that it was so much, apparently they couldn't get an NHS contract as they wanted one for at least children.
Its a sorry state of affairs but I feel they've been really fair and I feel like im now in good hands so onwards and upwards. First appt in 2 weeks time.

Thank you for giving me the ideat to ask as I dont think I would've otherwise!!