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22 June 2006

This is a stressed-out thread! →[More:]I just got back from the dentist. I'm terrified of the dentist, irrationally, because over the last 25 years, I've never needed anything more than a de-scale and polish.

Today was the first de-scale in a couple of years (I know, I know, don't nag ...) and, despite my mouth being numbed like a stroke victim I got so stressed that the hygenist had to stop half-way through because I started hyperventilating. My heart is still pounding.

I HATE being like this at the dentist. It's completely illogical. I just feel utterly terrified at the thought of it.

So now, instead of the de-scale being done in just two sessions, it'll probably take four because she only did the right side bottom teeth today.

post by: essexjan at: 06:19 | 11 comments

I'm sorry to hear that. Does the dentist and hygenist chairside manner make a difference?

Believe it or not, I've not even been to a dentist in, um, 24 years and have no fillings or other dental work at all. I have a huge fear that this neglect is going to catch up with me and it's all going to go bad at once. So from lack of bad experiences, I don't fear the dentist; but, perversely, I fear soon fearing the dentist.

posted by kmellis 22 June | 06:57

The chairside manner is excellent, gentle, calming (as far as they can calm me).

It's not the teefs that are the problem, but the gums. And no matter how strong my tegs are, if there's nothing to hold them in, I'm in trouble. So the scale build-up of the last two years is causing some gum erosion, which is treatable to a great extent, as long as I don't keep letting the scale accumulate.

posted by essexjan 22 June | 07:14

essexjan, if you don't mind me asking, how is gum erosion treatable? My bf has healthy teeth but eroding gums, and seems fatalistic about it, as though nothing can be done (and he doesn't go to the dentist all that often either). It'd be nice to be able to point him in a bigger-gummed direction.

posted by altolinguistic 22 June | 07:35

kmellis: That happened to my dad. After avoiding the dentist for 30 years he needed major dental work.

Seems that if he had gone in for an annual cleaning all of this would have been unnecessary.

posted by sarah connor 22 June | 07:44

Sarah: oh, thanks, I feel much better about it now. :)

Actually, it's moot. I have no money for even basic dental work.

posted by kmellis 22 June | 07:45

Flossing every day helps a LOT. It took me awhile but now it's habit. The hygienist always says, wow it's a good thing all our patients aren't daily flossers or we'd be out of business. She barely has to scrape and is done in less than 15 minutes, including polishing.

posted by chewatadistance 22 June | 08:06

Boo the dentist!

posted by By the Grace of God 22 June | 08:40

if you don't mind me asking, how is gum erosion treatable?

According to the booklet I've been given it says:

Is there a cure for periodontitis?
Yes, unless it has become very advanced. Your dentist will remove any deposits from pockets around affected teeth. This is done by scaling and root planing which may require several appointments. As the crowns and roots of teeth become clean, gums will tighten up around the root surfaces.

So the gum that's receded won't grow back, but further erosion can be halted by reducing scale build-up. Without regular scaling and proper cleaning (i.e. flossing) the plaque will spread down below gum level, producing 'pockets' between tooth and gum in which infection sets in and the bone is eventually destroyed.

I'm told that if I eradicate the plaque and stop it from building up again, the gum will heal, although it won't grow back.

Lots more info here, which is basically the same as my dentist told me.

posted by essexjan 22 June | 09:28

i just got back from an appt w/ one of the sadistic medieval cocksuckers, myself. fifteen hundred (US) dollars to fix a couple of baby teeth. subsidizing insured motherfuckers out of pocket is the new dental insurance. fuck yeah! and, i got a stern lecture from the hygenist about flossing... which is always pretty awesome. ianad

posted by Wedge 22 June | 12:15

Yeah (kmellis) - definitely floss, but also when you're brushing, brush your gums.

Angle the toothbrush so the bristles point into the space between the gum and the tooth. Twist your wrist to drag the bristles towards the tip of the tooth.

You might have a *little* blood, but if you keep it up the gums will be healthier and stronger.

Once you get used to flossing every day, your mouth will feel icky if you skip a floss. Flossing (and brushing your tongue [both top and bottom] and your cheeks/roof of your mouth will also leave your mouth non-smelly for longer.

posted by porpoise 22 June | 12:58

one word: Sonicare.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 22 June | 13:31

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