I went to the dentist. And I survived.

climbingsingle

So, as I had mentioned, I hadn't been to the dentist in 6 years. I didn't go for a lot of reasons: I was scared, I didn't have dental insurance any longer and my previous dentist was apparently doing a ton of unnecessary work on my teeth. FI promised I'd love his dentist and finally convinced me to go. Fi has been going to this practice for years and it was recently bought by a guy he actually graduated HS with. 

If you guys could have seen me in the chair, you would have died. I was squeezing desperately onto my purse and was barely sitting in the chair. 

I had a ton of build-up on my teeth and gums. And the cleaning hurt, even after the hygienist used a numbing gel. She explaining it to me like trying to rip off a bunch of scabs, which made sense. She also explained again WHY it is so bad to wait that long between cleanings. And I think it finally clicked. 

My teeth look AMAZING. I can't believe how white they are! I am never, ever, ever going that long between cleanings again. I totally let my fear take over and I let my teeth get bad. I am a convert. I will be in that office every 6 months. 

Also, I only have two cavities. They were shocked at how well I still took care of my teeth. I told them, "I'm terrified of the dentist, not of brushing and flossing!"

So, if you're holding out and are afraid to go, just go! I promise it will be OK. If I can do it, anyone can :-P

One more thing - FI surprised me by booking a bleaching appointment for me! I guess that was my reward for finally going. After I have my cavities filled, I'll be having my teeth bleached in their office. Woo hoo!

wandajune6

Congrats! FI went to the dentist a few weeks ago after 6 or 7 years away and fared worse. He's got an appointment for Thursday to take care of the cavities and section of decay that developed. He was appalled by how bad his mouth was and has vowed to be more diligent going forward!

emmaaa

I'm in the minority of people who love going to the dentist. I go every 6 months. FI, on the other hand, sounds like you and hasn't been in years. I've convinced him to finally go to my practice that I've been going to since I had teeth to clean. 

Hooray for bleaching! I want to do that before the wedding!

cupcait927

Yay! I'm so glad that you had a good experience! Two cavities in 6 years of not going is not too shabby! I'm converted as well - I will be in that chair every 6 months getting my teeth cleaned. I ditto your advice to everyone who hasn't gone to the dentist in awhile - just do it! It's not as bad as you think! We promise!

Peaseblossom55

Yay I'm glad it went well and yay only 2 cavities.  I went awhile without going to the dentist too and it was so awful.  I decided it was just better to suck it up and go every 6 months then wait and deal with all pain, stress and possible cavities.

LabLove86

Yay I'm so glad you went and had a good experience! Your cleaning in 6 months will not be as uncomfortable - I promise! 

SmileDamnit

Yaaaay! Congratulations on surviving

You fared way better than I did after my impromptu visit post-tooth chipping a few weeks ago. I have to get two crowns AND I have two additional cavities. That said, I did score free teeth whitening, so it wasn't all a bust.

pinkcow13

That's awesome! I also went a few years without going to the dentist and they told me I had gingivitis. I had to go back 4 different times last year so that they could do a super deep cleaning (there's a name for the type of cleaning, but I forgot). I still need to go back for a regular cleaning soon and I want to do a bleaching next. I'm terrified of the bleaching though, because I used the crest whitening strips a few weeks ago and I was in SO much pain. Guess I have sensitive teeth. 

Good for you for becoming a convert!

climbingsingle

Thanks everyone! 

pinkcow13 said:

That's awesome! I also went a few years without going to the dentist and they told me I had gingivitis. I had to go back 4 different times last year so that they could do a super deep cleaning (there's a name for the type of cleaning, but I forgot). I still need to go back for a regular cleaning soon and I want to do a bleaching next. I'm terrified of the bleaching though, because I used the crest whitening strips a few weeks ago and I was in SO much pain. Guess I have sensitive teeth. 

Good for you for becoming a convert!

I was worried about the bleaching too. They told me to use Sensodyne and it will help. 

Simky906

Congrats! I am a convert too; just had my 6 month check up a couple weeks ago and got compliments on my gum health (weird how I'm proud of that now). And I was so scared that not only did I cry in the waiting room but I had started clenching my jaw in my sleep, leading to jaw pain, leading to me being convinced that all of my teeth were going to fall out of my head. 

@pinkcow13 Was is the thing where they basically power wash your teeth to blast off the plaque? I had that done but I cannot remember what it's actually called either.

pinkcow13

Simky906 - Yes that was it! It was so crappy. I had them numb my gums because I am really sensitive to pain. Or maybe I'm just a big baby lol.

OliveOilsMom

I get my teeth cleaned 3 times a year, alternating between a periodontist (who I see tonight!) and my regular dentist.  My periodontist would prefer I get them cleaned 4 tmies a year, but I don't got time for that!  So going to the dentist is no big deal for me. 

My H on the other hand had not gone in some time.  So when we married and he was added to my dental plan - I told him he had to go since I was paying for it!  He also had been pleasantly surprised at how white his teeth became after that visit.  I also got him to switch to using an electric toothbrush, which my periodontist recommended.  He comments even more frequently how his teeth feel cleaner and look whiter!

I recommend electric toothbrushes to everyone!  They are easy to use and work great!

Simky906

@pinkcow13 My dentist didn't even tell me the numbing thing was optional, she just did it, so I don't think you're being a baby. And I have a pretty high pain tolerance but man, did they ache afterward! 

I had it done in 2 visits though because I wanted that OVER.

climbingsingle

pinkcow13 said:

Simky906 - Yes that was it! It was so crappy. I had them numb my gums because I am really sensitive to pain. Or maybe I'm just a big baby lol.

eek. Is this called scaling? I think I still have to have that done. 

mysticl

ClimbingBrideNY said:

pinkcow13 said:

Simky906 - Yes that was it! It was so crappy. I had them numb my gums because I am really sensitive to pain. Or maybe I'm just a big baby lol.

eek. Is this called scaling? I think I still have to have that done. 

Stuck in the box

Scaling is when they scrape the tartar off of your teeth.  If you've had a cleaning they should have done that, unless you've always had ultrasound used.  

I have bad enamel.  It didn't form right so I get cavities that there is nothing I can do to prevent them.  I also am not always perfect about dental hygiene.  But I suck it up and go.  DH hates the dentist.  He leaves handprints in the arm rests.  He's in the Navy though so he only gets so much say in his medical care.  

Simky906

That's it! It didn't hurt when they actually did it (yay for numbing) but it did ache afterward. Couple of Advil knock it out though. And I would imagine it would be less achey for you since it seems like your teeth were in better shape than mine.

climbingsingle

They mentioned having to do scaling, but I swear that's what they already did! I don't know now. Hmm.

pinkcow13

Yes!!! It is scaling! I had to go FOUR different times to get this done, it was so miserable. And the worst part is, that we have a dentist upstairs from my job. So I went during work hours, and had to come back with a numb mouth lol.

phira

Can your dentist come to my neck of the woods?

It's weird--I was never afraid of the dentist as a kid, although I certainly never enjoyed going. These days, I'm definitely NOT a fan; even when I go regularly, they just tear up my gums and it's so painful. There are some Gentle Dentals near me, but rumors suggest they are not even a little bit gentle. I wish I had dental insurance!

Simky906

Did they do your whole mouth? I know they did my lower teeth for one appt and I came back later for the upper teeth.

Senecaf

I had a fear of the dentist and hadn't gone for years. After a few years my fear of pain turned into a fear of what they would say was wrong. Like it would be something terribly expensive. I went a few months ago because my wisdom teeth were coming in and they were super painful. They gave me a referal and did a cleaning and then told me I have done a good job with brushing because I had minimal build up but not flossing (guilty) and have a ton of cavities. So I left there with a $1200 plan to fill all of my cavities and my fears confirmed.

Knottie37373131

I have just now finally finished fixing up my teeth from not going for about 5 or 6 years. I ended up with lots of cavities and still had a tooth that needed a cap. I have decided that it is so much cheaper just to go and sit in that chair every six months for an hour than it is to take care of it after the damaged has occurred. Now all I have left is to get my wisdom teeth removed and my mouth is finally complete. It is so nice to know that your teeth are in good shape and they feel so much better after they get cleaned. Fiance has not been in quite a few years, so I plan on trying to get him in for at least a cleaning before the wedding.

climbingsingle

Simky906 said:

Did they do your whole mouth? I know they did my lower teeth for one appt and I came back later for the upper teeth.

They did my whole mouth. 

climbingsingle

ClimbingBrideNY said:

Simky906 said:

Did they do your whole mouth? I know they did my lower teeth for one appt and I came back later for the upper teeth.

They did my whole mouth. 

Sorry - I don't know if that was directed at me or not. Whoops. 

Simky906

No worries, it was directed at you. It may be that they just need to touch up some spots. They had to go back and do more on certain lower teeth when I went back to get my upper teeth done.

Emmy1493

See, I don't mind the dentist really. Well, as long as they don't have to pull anything LOL. Last year, I had a wisdom tooth growing in sideways which needed cutting out as it hasn't even hit surface yet. Then I needed the back two (moalers?) pulled on the top and they put me asleep for all that thankfully. Otherwise, I do not mind cleanings or dentist visits at all. It could be that we were in and out of the dentist as little kids and I also had braces for almost a year and a half. So I just got use to it all.

climbingsingle

Simky906 said:

No worries, it was directed at you. It may be that they just need to touch up some spots. They had to go back and do more on certain lower teeth when I went back to get my upper teeth done.

Yeah, I think they need to go back in and do more. I was in pain, so they said, "We'll do as much as you can handle today, and then you'll come back." 

climbingsingle

Oh! I forgot to mention this. My FI had two cavities. And he was drilled with NO NOVOCAINE. He said he does that all the time. I'm pretty sure he's an alien. 

Simky906

We may have to investigate his alien status! Especially depending on cavity size. I've had a couple teeny little baby ones over the years where I didn't need novocaine but anything bigger then that and you're are numbing me up!

rooz103

Hiya! I work in a dental office and I think I might be able to clear a little of the confusion up.

In the US, "scaling" refers to what most people call a normal cleaning, and it tackles the tarter and plaque along the gum line. These cleanings are usually done in one visit, with or without an ultrasonic scaler (depending on patient and hygienist preference) and sometimes is done with local topical anesthetic for people who have really sensitive teeth. 

A scaling and root planing (SRP) is what is often referred to as a "deep cleaning", and is for patient with periodontal disease/gingivitis. It cleans the teeth under the gum line, and since it can be really painful or uncomfortable to have your teeth cleaned there, usually hygienists use the "I can't feel my tongue or my cheek or my face" numbing injections. Most people need to come back two to four times to get this deep cleaning done completely and then need to return every 3-4 months to make sure the pockets stay clean.

A lot of East Asian countries use the term "scaling" to refer to everything, so it gets tricky, but there's your basic dental terminology lesson for the month lol. 

cupcait927

ClimbingBrideNY said:

Oh! I forgot to mention this. My FI had two cavities. And he was drilled with NO NOVOCAINE. He said he does that all the time. I'm pretty sure he's an alien. 

Yeah, that's not human. My ex had all four wisdom teeth pulled with just a local anesthetic because he didn't want to pay for the anesthetia. There's no way I'd let someone come at my mouth like that without being put out.