Visited the dentist 2 days ago for 6 month tooth-cleaning. Got bad news. I am healthy in general. But my family has a history of bad teeth. And among family, I may be the worst.
My dentist thinks I grind my teeth at night. I don't want to be indelicate, but I have had a few intimate relationships and asked my bed-partner if I grind my teeth (and do I talk at night)? The unanimous answer has been "no" (but I do toss and turn a lot). And one partner really did grind her teeth (to the point where I woke her up expecting to see pieces of broken teeth).
What actually happens is "earworms" in daytime. Some people tap their feet to the tune, some humm. I slide my lower jaw back and forth. That is not "tooth-friendly".
So my teeth are beat all hell now. The dentist said there is severe wear and "holes". He says that they are worn down so much that the only way to save me from full implants (which he does not do) is to place crowns on most of my teeth.
I have some crowns, so I know what one involves. I have had 3 teeth extracted because even a root canal wouldn't save them. I have a consultant visit scheduled in 2 weeks to have more examination and discussion. He wants to look at my teeth more carefully and discuss a timeline of appointments to crown teeth 3 or 4 at a visit.
I'm going to have to agree with his expectations. I know my teeth are bad and getting worse. But damn, it is going to be a miserable few months!
I always need a 2nd novocaine shot (I am somewhat drug-resistant and pain-sensitive). And I have a small jaw so it is difficult to keep it open enough for dental work. Heck, I can't even eat a thick sandwich!
My dentist doesn't push any "special treatments" on me, so when he says I need something, I have to trust him on that. So it looks like I'm in for a lot of unpleasant dental work this Summer...
3 comments:
I'm sorry to hear this. It's not fun to have dental work.
Oh no! Unpleasant and expensive. Does your dentist offer happy gas? If so, please give it a try if you haven't in the past. It doesn't make you laugh hysterically - on the correct settings, it just makes you relax. The unpleasantness of what's happening simply isn't an issue - you know that it's unpleasant but you're okay with that!
I've had a LOT of dental work done over the years. Most of my teeth have crowns on them. I used to get very anxious about going to the dentist but happy gas helped enormously. Because my appointments were often quite long, I used to allow myself some time to simply enjoy the effect of the gas but then I also made myself think about things that caused me stress. I figured that it was a good idea to experience the sensation of thinking about stressful stuff without feeling stressed. LOL
But ... some years ago my wonderful wonderful dentist stopped offering gas. Very few patients used it and the cost of providing the service - measured not only by having to have the equipment, but also by keeping up with regular safety training etc - caused her to decide to stop. I cried.
She is the world's best ever dentist and so I have chosen to continue to see her. But boy I miss the gas!! LOL
Megan
Sydney, Australia
I hope you have dental insurance. Crowns are pricey. I am a grinder. I keep meaning to get a mouth guard at night. At one point, years ago, I ground so much that the skin in my mouth ended up with a huge growth I had to have removed.
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