My worst dental nightmare

[a1mamacat]

I have an almost paralyzing fear of dentists and dental procedures.

I hyperventilate even making an appointment, and usually have to have an ativan just to be able to get into the chair.

Last night I cracked a molar almost in half. All the pieces are there, but I know I will have to go in an have something done.

I am already breaking into a cold sweat!

[MarleysGh0st]

Good luck, Saucy.

But don't scare us with a subject line like that!

[christie1111]

Good luck, Saucy.

But don't scare us with a subject line like that!

Agree with Marley on this one.

The headline had me panicked. That is NOT your worst nightmare. But I completely undersatnd why it is up there in the ranks as nightmare material.

[Evil Dentist]

I guess you don't want to see me in this thread....

[Ignorant Juicebag]

Is it safe? Is it safe?

Spoiler

[Thousandaire]

I thought I was her worst nightmare.

Just put the dentist on ignore, mamacat!

[JBillyGirl]

Poor thing! Having had a wisdom tooth removed a couple of weeks ago (fairly easily, though still painful), I empathize with your fear. Hang in there and best of luck with whatever you need to have done.

[secondchance]

I recently had the same issue... a cracked molar- the last upper on the right. They had to remove it, and then talked me into getting an implant (said my teeth would all eventually shift if I didn't, and that my lower molar directly under the "hole" would start growing "up," and would screw up my bottom teeth as well). So after a couple months of healing from the extraction and bone graft (they said I didn't have enough bone to hold an implant), they inserted the implant. In May they'll attach the crown. You know what- I have a feeling that just leaving the hole would have been just fine too... By the way, it was all uneventful and not even painful!

Here's a good tip for you: I find that wearing earphones & listening to loud music during dental procedures - even cleanings - makes it go much easier and eases the anxiety. Try it.

[Bob Juch]

I recently had the same issue... a cracked molar- the last upper on the right. They had to remove it, and then talked me into getting an implant (said my teeth would all eventually shift if I didn't, and that my lower molar directly under the "hole" would start growing "up," and would screw up my bottom teeth as well). So after a couple months of healing from the extraction and bone graft (they said I didn't have enough bone to hold an implant), they inserted the implant. In May they'll attach the crown. You know what- I have a feeling that just leaving the hole would have been just fine too... By the way, it was all uneventful and not even painful!

Here's a good tip for you: I find that wearing earphones & listening to loud music during dental procedures - even cleanings - makes it go much easier and eases the anxiety. Try it.

I'm sure your dentist is happy that you paid for a semester at his kid's college.

[secondchance]

I recently had the same issue... a cracked molar- the last upper on the right. They had to remove it, and then talked me into getting an implant (said my teeth would all eventually shift if I didn't, and that my lower molar directly under the "hole" would start growing "up," and would screw up my bottom teeth as well). So after a couple months of healing from the extraction and bone graft (they said I didn't have enough bone to hold an implant), they inserted the implant. In May they'll attach the crown. You know what- I have a feeling that just leaving the hole would have been just fine too... By the way, it was all uneventful and not even painful!

Here's a good tip for you: I find that wearing earphones & listening to loud music during dental procedures - even cleanings - makes it go much easier and eases the anxiety. Try it.

I'm sure your dentist is happy that you paid for a semester at his kid's college.

I'm sure you're exactly right... But- I did ask my neighbor, a retired dentist, and she confirmed that what they told me about the shifting, etc is indeed true. So... whaddever. cha-ching.

[a1mamacat]

Well to quote Monty Python...


"This is an EX - Tooth"

There was no saving it, so it has gone wherever bad teeth go. It took three shots of Novocaine to get it frozen enough. I really didn't have much time to even think about whether or not I wanted to get ti done, the dentist just said "it has to come out. Better right now that you thinking about it for a couple of days..."

Now, let the thawing begin.

[littlebeast13]

I recently had the same issue... a cracked molar- the last upper on the right. They had to remove it, and then talked me into getting an implant (said my teeth would all eventually shift if I didn't, and that my lower molar directly under the "hole" would start growing "up," and would screw up my bottom teeth as well). So after a couple months of healing from the extraction and bone graft (they said I didn't have enough bone to hold an implant), they inserted the implant. In May they'll attach the crown. You know what- I have a feeling that just leaving the hole would have been just fine too... By the way, it was all uneventful and not even painful!

Here's a good tip for you: I find that wearing earphones & listening to loud music during dental procedures - even cleanings - makes it go much easier and eases the anxiety. Try it.

I'm sure your dentist is happy that you paid for a semester at his kid's college.

I'm sure you're exactly right... But- I did ask my neighbor, a retired dentist, and she confirmed that what they told me about the shifting, etc is indeed true. So... whaddever. cha-ching.

I coulda told you that! After 15 years of "research", I have indeed found that teeth have an uncanny knack of trying to cover up a gap......

lb13

[mrkelley23]

I recently had the same issue... a cracked molar- the last upper on the right. They had to remove it, and then talked me into getting an implant (said my teeth would all eventually shift if I didn't, and that my lower molar directly under the "hole" would start growing "up," and would screw up my bottom teeth as well). So after a couple months of healing from the extraction and bone graft (they said I didn't have enough bone to hold an implant), they inserted the implant. In May they'll attach the crown. You know what- I have a feeling that just leaving the hole would have been just fine too... By the way, it was all uneventful and not even painful!

Here's a good tip for you: I find that wearing earphones & listening to loud music during dental procedures - even cleanings - makes it go much easier and eases the anxiety. Try it.

It's kind of like buying the expensive new car, instead of yet another used model. You might have been able to get by for several more years with a succession of crowns and/or root canals, but if the molar was cracked as severely as it had to be to recommend extraction, that would have all been patchwork, and you would have been facing the joy of the pain whenever the patchwork failed. This way you have a nice new (albeit expensive) tooth which should easily last you the rest of your life, if necessary.

In Saucy's case, extractions are never pleasant, but it sounds like you didn't have an awful time of it. A few weeks before Christmas, my wife (the hygienist) had to assist the doctor on an extraction, and it went so poorly she came home traumatized. So it could have been worse, I guess.

[Estonut]

I coulda told you that! After 15 years of "research", I have indeed found that teeth have an uncanny knack of trying to cover up a gap......

Yup, that's natural, unless the gap is your thinning hair...

[littlebeast13]

I coulda told you that! After 15 years of "research", I have indeed found that teeth have an uncanny knack of trying to cover up a gap......

Yup, that's natural, unless the gap is your thinning hair...

Do you think they'll reach that far....????

lb13

[a1mamacat]

I am just grateful that even though I can't rinse or brush for 24 hours, he did say that I COULD have a glass of Scotch, as it was antiseptic (damn, where's the gap-toothed smiley when you need it)

[Queen Fantine VIII]

I'm sure your dentist is happy that you paid for a semester at his kid's college.

I'm sure you're exactly right... But- I did ask my neighbor, a retired dentist, and she confirmed that what they told me about the shifting, etc is indeed true. So... whaddever. cha-ching.

I coulda told you that! After 15 years of "research", I have indeed found that teeth have an uncanny knack of trying to cover up a gap......

lb13

Mine have the uncanny knack of trying to create a gap. Yay diastema!!1

According to my spellcheck, diastema is not a word. I assure you that, not only is it a word, it is spelled correctly.....

[littlebeast13]

I'm sure you're exactly right... But- I did ask my neighbor, a retired dentist, and she confirmed that what they told me about the shifting, etc is indeed true. So... whaddever. cha-ching.

I coulda told you that! After 15 years of "research", I have indeed found that teeth have an uncanny knack of trying to cover up a gap......

lb13

Mine have the uncanny knack of trying to create a gap. Yay diastema!!1

According to my spellcheck, diastema is not a word. I assure you that, not only is it a word, it is spelled correctly.....

I guess if you so decree, it can be.......

lb13

[Queen Fantine VIII]

I coulda told you that! After 15 years of "research", I have indeed found that teeth have an uncanny knack of trying to cover up a gap......

lb13

Mine have the uncanny knack of trying to create a gap. Yay diastema!!1

According to my spellcheck, diastema is not a word. I assure you that, not only is it a word, it is spelled correctly.....

I guess if you so decree, it can be.......

lb13

Yay, I decree that MBRS is now a Packer Backer and those pompons (no, it's not "pompoms") are now Green Bay Green.....

[Queen Fantine VIII]

I am just grateful that even though I can't rinse or brush for 24 hours, he did say that I COULD have a glass of Scotch, as it was antiseptic (damn, where's the gap-toothed smiley when you need it)

My dentist doesn't have scotch (at least not at the office) but they have four therapy dogs to distract you during tense moments....

[littlebeast13]

Mine have the uncanny knack of trying to create a gap. Yay diastema!!1

According to my spellcheck, diastema is not a word. I assure you that, not only is it a word, it is spelled correctly.....

I guess if you so decree, it can be.......

lb13

Yay, I decree that MBRS is now a Packer Backer and those pompons (no, it's not "pompoms") are now Green Bay Green.....

I changed avatars without a decree. Shall I off my own head....?

lb13

[Queen Fantine VIII]

I guess if you so decree, it can be.......

lb13

Yay, I decree that MBRS is now a Packer Backer and those pompons (no, it's not "pompoms") are now Green Bay Green.....

I changed avatars without a decree. Shall I off my own head....?

lb13

What the french??????

I will make you shorter by a head. (That was going to be Fanny VIII's signature until I decided it was too obscure. Go ahead, make my google.......)

[littlebeast13]

Yay, I decree that MBRS is now a Packer Backer and those pompons (no, it's not "pompoms") are now Green Bay Green.....

I changed avatars without a decree. Shall I off my own head....?

lb13

What the french??????

I will make you shorter by a head. (That was going to be Fanny VIII's signature until I decided it was too obscure. Go ahead, make my google.......)

Don't worry, I'll have something new tomorrow (maybe), and I will bring back the Packers Backers for the Stupid Bowl....

And now, stuff needs to be stocked....

lb13

[Queen Fantine VIII]

I changed avatars without a decree. Shall I off my own head....?

lb13

What the french??????

I will make you shorter by a head. (That was going to be Fanny VIII's signature until I decided it was too obscure. Go ahead, make my google.......)

Don't worry, I'll have something new tomorrow (maybe), and I will bring back the Packers Backers for the Stupid Bowl....

And now, stuff needs to be stocked....

lb13

I'm making a pilgrimage tomorrow. Make sure there's plenty of Equate Pepto on the shelf.....

[littlebeast13]

What the french??????

I will make you shorter by a head. (That was going to be Fanny VIII's signature until I decided it was too obscure. Go ahead, make my google.......)

Don't worry, I'll have something new tomorrow (maybe), and I will bring back the Packers Backers for the Stupid Bowl....

And now, stuff needs to be stocked....

lb13

I'm making a pilgrimage tomorrow. Make sure there's plenty of Equate Pepto on the shelf.....

Your wish is my command....

lb13