My teeth are scared

[litlover12]

I have to schedule a dentist appointment, seeing as how I'm way overdue, and I'm DREADING it. When I was a kid I was always the one with the perfect teeth and no cavities. Now they seem to find two or three of them every time I go. Plus my gums are getting sensitive again (after a long period where they were doing okay) and it's freaking me out. It's terrible how we disintegrate as we get older, isn't it?

I'm confessing all this here instead of talking about it with my mother, because I'm not in the mood for a lecture about my lax dentist-going habits. Especially from someone who didn't go to the dentist herself for six years straight. Parents are masters of that "do as I say, not as I do" thing.

Comments

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

Parents are masters of that "do as I say, not as I do" thing.

Ha! Ain't that the truth?

I used to have no problem going to the dentist. I had braces from a young age, so I was used to all that stuff and didn't seem to have the sorts of problems that everyone seemed to complain about that made it all such a horror. I never understood that.

Then I had jaw surgery when I was 18-19. And boy, did everything change! For whatever reason, my teeth/gums became SO sensitive that I'd jump whenever they barely touched me. It was completely involuntary and uncontrollable on my part.

Then, years later, I had a horrible experience getting a tooth pulled. I'll spare you the details. Let's just say even the poor dentist felt bad and apologize for putting me through it. (Even though he didn't have any control over it.

But I've never been back to a dentist since that day. It's been... 15 years? Maybe more? I'm horrified to even count. And now it's been so long that even if I had the money, I am so embarrassed that I can't even imagine admitting to someone how long it's been! They'l think I'm a total slob!

Anyway, my sympathies. This seems to be a common problem for so many people! I bet you could talk to them and ask what your options are. If knocking you out completely or partially is an option, I say go for it! I used to always try to be the "tough" one. But as my sister used to say, we live in civilization, not some jungle somewhere. Might as well take advantage of the drugs or whatever other help is available to us!

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

To be fair, when I finally confessed my worries to Mom, she was very reassuring and sweet. (I made her look in the back of my mouth this morning because I thought I saw a worrisome-looking gap way at the back -- we think a filling might have fallen out! Hard to tell for sure, though.)

Thanks for the sympathy and good wishes!

[spiderorchid81.livejournal.com]

Oh my - I hate going to the dentist (but I do go twice a year as recommended because I have really bad teeth). It's not a nice experience for everyone, I guess. Be brave and I hope he doesn't find anything. *hugs*

[sonneta.livejournal.com]

Aw, I hope the dentist gives you a clean bill of teeth-health.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Good luck!

[msantimacassar.livejournal.com]

Dentists are the worst! Best of luck! My fingers and toes are crossed for you!

[ever-maedhros.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm in the same boat as you are. Perhaps we'll master this together. I'm thinking of Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy saying to himself, "I shall conquer this!" right now. :)