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Anxiety on dental fillings
Klein
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I went to get my teeth cleaned and a new dentist says they found decay on one of my wisdom teeth and what looks like decay on two of my molars. I should note, the hygienist who cleaned my teeth saw nothing on the molars during the cleaning. With my adult teeth, I have never had a cavity, but I am not surprised about the wisdom tooth because it is hard to reach. One concern is if my dentist is being too proactive with the molars, I would rather not have any fillings but understand they may be necessary. I could attribute this to me having no history with this dentist. I am not asking the forums for medical advice or alternative treatment options, but I would like to hear people's experience with getting dental fillings and if I should ask the dentist what are other alternatives.
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The process isn't fun, but it doesn't take too long either. They'll numb the nerve, remove any decay they can find, make much smaller hole than it feels like they're making, and then fill it. Then you just go about the rest of your day with your face half numb till the local fades.
Thanks for the input, I appreciate it! On the wisdom tooth, they could see the decay using a camera, but the other two were not. I think I will see if I can stop by the dentist before my appointment and have them walk me through their thoughts and the process.
Regarding the fillings, I am reading about amalgam and composite fillings, any experience with those? I am worried that they will either be noticeable, weak or easily damaged, or can come loose.
Regarding the actual procedure, it's really not a big deal. The worst part is keeping your mouth open. For the rest, well, they numb you up for it. They may prescribe pain meds for when the anesthesia wears off, but I don't remember it being bad enough to take anything more potent than ibuprofen for. That said, I have a lot of experience with pain management from other, more involved medical procedures, so YMMV.
In my opinion, the worst part, bar none, is the numbing shot itself - but it doesn't take long at all. Once that's over, the rest is annoying but tolerable. For my jaw, the dentist provides a bite block - basically a firm rubbery wedge that holds my mouth open so I don't have to do it myself. It can be removed at a moment's notice.
You'll feel some vibration from the drilling. You shouldn't feel any pain if you're numbed properly, though, so let your dentist know if it hurts. Also, concentrate on keeping your tongue out of the way - if the drill nicks it, you won't feel it at the time; but it'll sting like a bitch later :razz: Some people are bothered by the high-pitched noise the drill makes. For what it's worth, I have never been one of them, and I happen to know my hearing at high frequencies is better than average.
I have been known to take a small stuffed animal with me to squeeze. No one batted an eye.
ive had dozens of fillings, and if you held a gun to my head I couldn't tell you what teeth they are on or where on any given tooth they are at.. that's how not noticeable they are when you have them
if the cavities are mild and the dentist is skilled, you'll eventually not even know anything was done.
in terms of the procedure itself, again, mild cavities.. skilled dentist... sometimes its done before you realize it started
There are no alternative treatments. Teeth don't self-repair.
My insurance covers composite fillings for visible teeth and amalgam for what are considered non-cosmetic teeth. You can pay the difference of course but there's no reason to.
I think this might depend on location, I got my first filling recently in the UK and was offered the choice between composite and amalgam. I went for amalgam because it was explained to me as being cheaper and more durable, just less aesthetically pleasing (which I didn't care about due to the location of the cavity).
Though my dentist also gave me the filling without anaesthetic, so maybe my experience was somewhat non-standard.
Fillings aren't so bad, they numb you up there's a lot of noise and vibration in your mouth, and then it tastes funny for an hour, and you mouth is numbed up for about 2 or 3. It's just kind of an annoying few hours.
If you don't get them, and decay gets deep enough, you could have some serious problems, that could require extraction or a root canal.
:bigfrown:
Is this a UK thing? An ex of mine when I was younger lived there, and he had the same thing, and just..
It was nonsense, it hurt exactly as much as you think it would.
I read a few years ago that the dentist who did it to me died of stomach cancer after a very prolonged illness, and it brought me a smile for the day. I hope he suffered immeasurably.
Edit:
It hurt so much that the next time I had a bit of dental pain that might have been a cavity, I pulled the tooth with a pair of pliers and a handful of napkins rather than go see him again. Which also hurts a lot, and bleeds a lot, and sounds like someone tearing a piece of cardboard in half but inside your head. I still can't say it was worse than the drill.
Edit2: added spoiler -
Also, if it's an anxiety issue, call ahead and tell the dental office you can't sit still without something for the anxiety, they will offer nitrous oxide and it's worth it. It's a disassociative with a very short half-life that will make it feel like you're watching a movie about someone else. You can also call your primary care physician and tell them that you have a dentist appointment and you'd like a single dose of ativan or vallium... take it as prescribed and it'll really be no big deal.
Edit3: I take a sudafed so that I can breath through my nose easier, it might be helpful for you.
O.O
From the Netherlands here, never had anaesthetic for fillings either.
I don't think so, most of my friends here were shocked that I hadn't had any. I'm pretty sure it was just a combination of a very minor cavity and a slightly sadistic dentist.
OP, if your dentist offers you such a choice and you've never had a filling before (or haven't for a long time), take the anesthetic!
Long story short I had 2 crowns put on when I was 11 years old with no anesthesia. The result being I didn't go back to a dentist until I was in my 20s because it turns out when you walk out of the dentist office soaked from head to toe in sweat and literally shaking from pain you kinda don't want to go back.
Take the anesthesia and if it's wearing off don't be afraid to tell the dentist.
And if they try and tell you that it's fine please murder them with the spiked ball that's spinning at a few hundred rpm that they've been using to literally grind your teeth to dust.
Bring some headphones, put on some Pink Floyd and enjoy the weird of nitrous and Valium.
You'll need a ride to and from the office if that's something you think would help.
I also have like...six or so amalgam fillings from when I was a pre-teen and I'm 34 now and they haven't moved - they are all amalgam. One tooth in particular I remember the dentist telling me is actually more filling than tooth enamel.
As a mod I am supposed to point out that you aren't allowed to suggest or condone violence on the forums... just... having trouble with this one.
Now I also go in whiskeyed up but there are likely reasons that’s not a great idea, but I like whiskey and hate Novocain.
But if they're anywhere near a nerve then you definitely want to be numbed up, and some people find just the vibration from the drill to be discomforting. So if they ask and you're at all anxious, go with the local injection(s). (they'll probably just do it regardless as a matter of routine).
here's how it works... they largely get paid the same amount of money by insurance no matter how much they use.. so the less they use, the more cream for them
if you want it, get it, and if they don't give it to you, find a better dentist
Yep,and if it still hurts a lot, tell them. Only one dentist I've seen has reliably nailed the nerves first try.
Also - relaxants are a thing, but for minor fillings likely overkill (really not that bad). I don't want to think about how many fillings I have....
I'm pretty sure my teeth are approaching close to 50% fillings/crowns at this point. And I'm literally going in tomorrow to have a filling fixed which may end up requiring another crown.
Turns out ignoring the dentist for 10ish years when you have crap teeth to begin with is not a great idea and you literally pay for doing so for years. The first time I went back the report was "You need 17 fillings, 2 crowns and a root canal" meaning I had to spread the work across three years because my dental plan would have laughed at doing all of that in a year.
Going in a few weeks to get 2 fillings and replace 2 cracked crowns in one go.
Eh?
Now, granted I was in middle school when I got my two fillings, but I distinctly remember the dentist putting gloop on my gums before using the needle, which made me barely feel the needle at all. Is that not/no longer a thing?
It is, but it only numbs the surface. Apparently the pain is actually from the novocaine entering the tissue, or so Google tells me.
There's a difference between topical and local anesthetics. Well, mostly its a nomenclature thing.
Gels or sprays are topical anesthetic preparations that numb the superficial tissue. Injections are local anesthetic preparations that will numb deeper nerve structures.
Same drug, different routes.
Yep I got two fillings last year that weren't anywhere near a nerve so the dentist just drilled and filled. Honestly the cleaning beforehand hurt more, with all the picking and scraping.
Yes. The question, as I understand it, was about the topical anesthetic they apply so the local anesthetic shot won't hurt (as much).
This. My dentist put the topical gloop on first, waited a few minutes, then injected me with the local anesthetic. Didn't feel much of anything for either filling. Keeping my mouth open and having cotton wedged into my cheek was more uncomfortable than the actual filling process.