Dental terror
Oct. 17th, 2007 09:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
annwfynI'm going to the dentists today.
For the first time in my life, I'm terrified.
I've never had problems with my teeth before. I've never had a filling. I've never had anything wrong with my teeth.
I'm not feeling quite so sure at the moment. I think I've got periodontitis, mostly based on my gums being really sore and bleeding, and actually feeling miserable and sore all day, for hours after I've brushed my teeth. I'm scared I'm going to go there and the dentist will say "well, that's your teeth coming out. Dentures?"
I'm also petrified by the cost. The main reason I go to the dentist once every five years or so has been the money thing. The nearest dentist to me said they weren't taking any NHS patients, and I could come along privately, but it would cost me £56 for a check up, and more for any treatment. Right now I've got an appointment with an NHS dentist, but I'm scared I'll get there and they'll say "no - you're out of our catchment area. You've got to go to the closer dentist and pay for that" and I really don't have £56 floating around. Finally, I'm scared that even the NHS dentist will say "that's £800 for treatment, or your teeth come out."
*sighs*
My appointment is at 12.15 pm. Wish me luck.
EDIT: It appears one of the downsides to having had mostly healthy teeth is that I have become a massive massive hypochondriac when anything does go wrong. The dentist told me that my teeth are perfect, I do have early stage gum disease, but I won't lose my teeth for about 10 years at this rate. The pain and the bleeding came from me scrubbing too hard at my teeth and gums in a desperate attempt to cleanse myself. I need to brush more gently, apparently. I do need to get a load of plaque removed, and he thinks if I have gum disease in my family I could do with regular check ups, but it's not a disaster.
I had an x-ray too. It was strange.
The most painful moment of the entire thing was coming out and discovering that I needed to put down a deposit for seeing the dental hygienist who will be cleaning my teeth. The appointment + hygienist cost me £35, which is slightly painful at the end of the month, but I can at least cover.
Thank you for the helpful comments. I'm a big girl!
For the first time in my life, I'm terrified.
I've never had problems with my teeth before. I've never had a filling. I've never had anything wrong with my teeth.
I'm not feeling quite so sure at the moment. I think I've got periodontitis, mostly based on my gums being really sore and bleeding, and actually feeling miserable and sore all day, for hours after I've brushed my teeth. I'm scared I'm going to go there and the dentist will say "well, that's your teeth coming out. Dentures?"
I'm also petrified by the cost. The main reason I go to the dentist once every five years or so has been the money thing. The nearest dentist to me said they weren't taking any NHS patients, and I could come along privately, but it would cost me £56 for a check up, and more for any treatment. Right now I've got an appointment with an NHS dentist, but I'm scared I'll get there and they'll say "no - you're out of our catchment area. You've got to go to the closer dentist and pay for that" and I really don't have £56 floating around. Finally, I'm scared that even the NHS dentist will say "that's £800 for treatment, or your teeth come out."
*sighs*
My appointment is at 12.15 pm. Wish me luck.
EDIT: It appears one of the downsides to having had mostly healthy teeth is that I have become a massive massive hypochondriac when anything does go wrong. The dentist told me that my teeth are perfect, I do have early stage gum disease, but I won't lose my teeth for about 10 years at this rate. The pain and the bleeding came from me scrubbing too hard at my teeth and gums in a desperate attempt to cleanse myself. I need to brush more gently, apparently. I do need to get a load of plaque removed, and he thinks if I have gum disease in my family I could do with regular check ups, but it's not a disaster.
I had an x-ray too. It was strange.
The most painful moment of the entire thing was coming out and discovering that I needed to put down a deposit for seeing the dental hygienist who will be cleaning my teeth. The appointment + hygienist cost me £35, which is slightly painful at the end of the month, but I can at least cover.
Thank you for the helpful comments. I'm a big girl!
