After 8 years having not been to the dentist, does anyone have advice of what to expect?

Question

I haven't been to the dentist for 8 years, being naive and ignoring any social services, thinking it would not matter in the long run having had a long bout of depression. I had always gotten by, even through more challenging situations. Though, time has caught up with me, and I'm still here. One day after going out for dinner, I felt something in my mouth, turned out to be a peice of my tooth. I have my wisdom teeth in as well, which are pushing teeth around a little, but more importantly, I have a decent sized hole on my lower right molar, about half the size of an average pinky fingernail. I have always brushed my teeth twice a day, but still I managed to get this hole in my tooth, as well, some others further back aren't doing too well either. I am quite nervous about the procedure, so much so that I feel I might not get it checked out. I know this is silly and I understand that "ignorance is bliss", but I need to be told otherwise, the procedure and importance of this.

Answer 1

A LOT of drilling, grinding, and PAIN

Answer 2

I have to disagree - if you have a good dentist, there should not be much physical pain. The money thing, though, may be painful if you do not have insurance.

I had gone almost 20 years between visits and I got out with a cleaning, checkup, xrays, four crowns, plus assorted small repairs and fillings. This was not the painful, scary dentistry of my childhood. It was professional, mostly pain-free and came with nitrous and good drugs!

Of course, it all occurred over several visits and it cost a few thousand, but it was well worth it. Just knowing I have a dentist I can trust was worth that amount.

If you are really phobic, ask them to call in a prescription or let you pick up a couple of valium-type pills beforehand. Dentist visits are about the only thing I take things like that for, but it REALLY helps a lot. Just a small dose the night before and another dose a couple of hours before the appointment make a huge difference for me.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Expect a long detailed dental plan that may take you through several visits. I went 12 years before going back to the dentist. The only reason I went back is because I wanted to get braces and had to improve my overall oral health before they would touch me. My first visit they did a 4 quadrant periodontal scaling. This is basically like taking a very small water pick at high pressure to clean below the gum line. I was able to get through it with out Novocaine but for anyone scared take the option of the Novocaine.

After that I found that most of my metal fillings were deteriorating and cavities were forming under the filling. So I had 6 replacement fillings and 5 new fillings over two months. That was me going in every two weeks for more fillings.

A lot has changed since the last time you had fillings as I found myself. It is nowhere near as bad as it was 10 years ago. Interview a couple of dental offices and find one that fits your needs. If you have dental insurance find out your maximums and any deductibles you will be required to cover. I have very good dental insurance and my maximum for the year was $1500 and I used all of it. Almost $1400 was required out of my own pocket for the entire dental recovery plan. If you don't have insurance you may want to check into some dental discount plans.

Answer 4

I didn't go to a dentist for 15 years. I was expecting the worst but all I needed was to have my 4 wisdom teeth extracted, 1 cavity filled, and a regular cleaning.

My wisdom teeth grew in straight and normal, so they were simple extractions done by a regular dentist. It cost about $1200 US for everything I had done. My gums were fine. The only other issue was my enamel is wearing at an above average rate, even for someone of my advanced age (39).

The one advantage to waiting so long is technology has advanced. The ultrasonic cleaning technology does an incredible job with no muscle required of the dentist like is needed with hand-tool cleaning.

Answer 5

See a good dentist who will be able to assist you in your dental care. Do not think about the inconvenience and the pain if there is any. Having a good set of teeth is for a lifetime. If you do not think about the dental health from the beginning you may loose a lot in your life. First you may not be able to get to eat properly all the good food, maybe till your old age. Secondly because the odor from you mouth you may loose friends. Thirdly, the bacteria that may be multiplying in your mouth from the cavities will cause a lot of other problems and also unwanted sickness.
I would recommend that you start using a tooth paste that contains calcium and fluoride after your visit to a dentist. The calcium and the fluoride will help to take care of your teeth. Personnel hygiene begins from your mouth.

Answer 6

Having recently went to the dentist for $3000 worth of work for cavities and a crown, I can tell you that you can expect to pay a lot of money for eight years of neglect. Brushing alone is not adequate dental hygiene. You definitely need to floss every day (in your case after every meal) and visit the dentist twice a year (in your case I would go four times). You'll probably need a crown on your molar, or maybe a root canal if it's really bad. They will definitely recommend a deep cleaning of your gums, which will be inflamed as a result of gingivitis, and I would do this. If you continue to ignore your dental problems, I guarantee you that you will need false teeth in very short time.

Answer 7

Many people avoid the dentist due to fear or costs, but reality is that prevention results in less visits and much less expense.

Delaying visits results in large cavities, which lead to losing teeth or root canals if they grow so big they get too close to the root, which result in crowns... well over a thousand dollars $$$$ !!! for what could have been about a hundred if caught early.

The cleaning may take 4 visits rather than 1.

You have gingvitis and may have periodontal disease. Both cause bad breath. It's great that you're making this step! I hope you have good dental insurance!!!!

Answer 8

You need to see a dentist to get a thorough cleaning and check.
Don't be concerned about the pain--the dentist will numb your gums so you won't feel anything. If you let this go, you may get a cavity in the hole that will be painful or you might also lose more of your tooth. Ignorance isn't bliss in this situation--you want to keep your teeth for your lifetime.

Answer 9

DONT WORRY
First, go back and read the answers given by those that tell you times have changed, because they have! There just isnt any pain, honest. My dentist uses a swab of anbesol to numb where he gives you the novacaine. And the old stories about root-canal, are just that, stories. Worst case, you feel a little sore for an hour or two afterwards, not pain, just sore, which is understandable.

Answer 10

To be honest it's not as painful as people say it is, it's keeping your mouth open that hurts your jaw the most, and you may gag alittle as for me the back of my neck sometimes collects saliva and you can't spit it out if they're in the middle of something. The anesthetics hurt alittle especially if it's under your tongue! The drilling doesn't hurt, neither does the cleaning, my brother had his wisdom tooth pulled out and he said it didn't hurt at all, don't be afraid.

Answer 11

I can understand your anxiety.
Actually,there is nothing to be anxious about.
Times have changed.
The dentist nowadays have many painless ways of extracting a tooth.You wont feel an ant bite.
After extraction they have very good pain killers that you wont feel a thing.
Go and see the dentist right away and get rid of the pain.