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Original poster

Dental crown loose spiralling into panic please help! So scared of dentist

36 replies

fuckingteeth · 08/10/2023 20:49

Trying to stay calm but rapidly getting more upset.

I was flossing, and the crown on my molar suddenly felt like it shifted when I was getting the string out (my teeth are packed very closely together) and I honestly started to feel really sick and shaky. I find flossing very difficult for exactly this reason - a fear I will wrench out my fucking teeth and always talked myself down ie that's nonsense it won't happen dentists reassuring me my teeth are firmly stuck in.

But now I feel I have fucked up my crowned tooth and it's going to suddenly fall out and cause unbearable fucking pain and I am terrified! What the fuck why would this happen it is 3 years old??

Google says most likely cause is the root canal underneath has failed and the whole thing is fucked and will need to come out?

I can't bear this I honestly can't, I'm really fragile at the moment as bereaved and have a whole host of scary health problems of my own and I am TERRIFIED of the dentist after bad childhood experiences left in agonising pain and I am so scared.

Can't stop crying at the thought of having to go for emergency dentist appointment and procedures and the whole week being a blur of misery and pain and terror I really cannot. Please help me what can I do to get through this???

OP posts:
SM33 · 08/10/2023 20:58

My crown has come off quite a few times. Each time the dentist has cleaned the tooth and cemented the crown back on. It’s not been painful at all and I hate the dentist. Try and book an appointment as soon as possible, as the last time my crown came off I left it for a month and my teeth shifted and the dentist couldn’t get it back in (ended up costing me more money).

Original poster
fuckingteeth · 08/10/2023 21:02

@SM33 did your crown detach fully - was it when you were eating or cleaning your teeth or just randomly when you were doing nothing?

What if you're asleep when it falls off? I'm also scared of choking on it if it happens when I'm sleeping or drinking a glass of water.

OP posts:
Thirtiesphysio · 08/10/2023 21:04

Sounds like you're in a really fragile place and this is the last thing you need. I really feel for you, I'm also terrified of dentists and anything to do with invasive dental work. It's never anywhere near as bad as I think it will be though. Ask around locally for recommendations for a really kind and gentle dentist. Remember when you're there that you're in change and can ask them to stop at any time. Try to be kind to yourself and take it all one step at a time 💐

wellthatwentwelldinnit · 08/10/2023 21:14

Don't panic! I recently lost 2 crowns, literally just fell out.

There was no pain. Even though I was fully expecting agony. It was a long wait until I got everything sorted, but in the meantime no pain at all.

Zanatdy · 08/10/2023 21:18

My dentist also fixed my crown no problem. Stop googling

comedycentral · 08/10/2023 21:22

Dentists can fix this easily as long as you don't wait and see. Get an appointment as soon as you can.

sakura06 · 08/10/2023 21:24

You should be fine if you've had a root canal. There are no nerves to feel pain. Get yourself booked into the emergency dentist though!

LostAtTheCrossRoad · 08/10/2023 21:28

Ask for non adrenaline injections. I can't tell you how much they have changed my life at the dentist. I too hate the dentist and didn't manage to go by myself till I was in my thirties. It wasn't until I was in my late thirties and had a nasty reaction to my injections (also for a crown incidentally) that my then dentist suggested we could go non-adrenaline. And it changed everything. The panic stopped, the racing heart beats, the hyper ventilation, basically I was so high in my own adrenaline that having the injections was sending me in to overdose every time, and this one time I collapsed in the waiting room in my way out. But the non adrenaline ones, oh my god, I still hate going, but now I can tell the difference between painful and unpleasant, actual sensations not metal fear and gymnastics. It's turned everything around,I can't recommend it enough.

Normalsizedsalad · 08/10/2023 21:29

Happened to me. Just showed dentist the crown in my hand. The tooth under collapsed/cracked. I am assuming you had nerves out so it's not going to hurt. Depending on how broken the tooth is they either pull it out or do it under general anesthesia.
Don't worry you will be ok. I kept the tooth for years until I was ready to have it done.

Shadyboots23 · 08/10/2023 21:33

Take a breath, it's ok
I have cured my dental phobia but I spiral with panic about anything to do with my teeth so I get it
Recently I cracked a back tooth and by the time I made the appointment I was convinced it would be a root canal or an extraction and panicking like mad. Reality? It was a filling without a drill or injection!

venusandmars · 08/10/2023 21:48

If you can, look into dental sedation. Find a practice that does it.

The GOOD thing is that you need no local injections into your mouth

The BEST thing is that it does not lay down memories. I recently had an impacted wisdom tooth removed for a tooth very deep in my gum. I am very dental phobic but it was all very OK, and i feel no trauma afterwards.

NowItsSpring · 08/10/2023 21:52

Some good advice and encouragement from posters already. Please try and get yourself to the dentist ASAP.

My teeth are very close together and I have had similar battles when flossing. Current hygienist recommended interdental brushes - game changer for me and may be worth a try.

steff13 · 08/10/2023 21:54

If you've had a root canal then you shouldn't have any pain. In the past year I have lost three crowns because I had them all put on at the same time and the adhesive unfortunately doesn't last forever. All of mine came out with the build up inside the crown so I I'm in the process of getting implants.

SM33 · 08/10/2023 22:04

Came off completely. The first time It was loose for ages, also caused by flossing and then I decided to eat a toffee. The last time it was another toffee and it just came straight off.

Original poster
fuckingteeth · 08/10/2023 22:04

Thank you, I'm going to call dentist in the morning and see if I can come in this week. Would Tuesday or Wednesday be timely enough for this type of situation?

OP posts:
Silverdogblue · 08/10/2023 22:05

venusandmars · 08/10/2023 21:48

If you can, look into dental sedation. Find a practice that does it.

The GOOD thing is that you need no local injections into your mouth

The BEST thing is that it does not lay down memories. I recently had an impacted wisdom tooth removed for a tooth very deep in my gum. I am very dental phobic but it was all very OK, and i feel no trauma afterwards.

This post is not very accurate, for any phobics out there. Pls make sure you only believe what your dentist tells you. I practised for decades and never ever ever sedated someone without giving them anaesthetic injections as well. It’s part of the package for multiple reasons, including pain relief.

Original poster
fuckingteeth · 08/10/2023 22:06

@NowItsSpring How do you fit the interdental brushes in between your teeth though? I look at them and don't understand how they fit.

I literally have no spaces between my teeth so have to push the floss in quite forcefully and same to get it out.

OP posts:
Original poster
fuckingteeth · 08/10/2023 22:07

Also should I avoid flossing around the crown until I see the dentist?

If possible I'd prefer it to stay in place, no matter how wobbly, until the dentist can see it.

OP posts:
SM33 · 08/10/2023 22:07

fuckingteeth · 08/10/2023 22:04

Thank you, I'm going to call dentist in the morning and see if I can come in this week. Would Tuesday or Wednesday be timely enough for this type of situation?

Tuesday/ Wednesday definitely fine.My dentist just said as soon as you can. I hope it goes well.

Original poster
fuckingteeth · 08/10/2023 22:08

I'm too frightened to have sedation due to other health problems.

OP posts:
Original poster
fuckingteeth · 08/10/2023 22:09

Ok thank you re the timing. It's hard to get the gist of how urgent something is.

OP posts:
Sezza57325 · 08/10/2023 22:10

LostAtTheCrossRoad · 08/10/2023 21:28

Ask for non adrenaline injections. I can't tell you how much they have changed my life at the dentist. I too hate the dentist and didn't manage to go by myself till I was in my thirties. It wasn't until I was in my late thirties and had a nasty reaction to my injections (also for a crown incidentally) that my then dentist suggested we could go non-adrenaline. And it changed everything. The panic stopped, the racing heart beats, the hyper ventilation, basically I was so high in my own adrenaline that having the injections was sending me in to overdose every time, and this one time I collapsed in the waiting room in my way out. But the non adrenaline ones, oh my god, I still hate going, but now I can tell the difference between painful and unpleasant, actual sensations not metal fear and gymnastics. It's turned everything around,I can't recommend it enough.

I had an adrenaline-containing injection for the first time ever last week and it made me feel absolutely awful! Why on earth are they a thing? Thank god I was being sedated, I was about to call the whole thing off.
OP I also have a dentist phobia and being sedated was my best decision ever. A bit annoying to be groggy all day for a short procedure but all I remember is asking the dentist if he’d done anything yet (he’d actually already finished)

Original poster
fuckingteeth · 08/10/2023 22:11

@LostAtTheCrossRoad I wonder about the anaesthesia, I have the same full body panic when I get another drug for a procedure that has the adrenalin in it as well, I definitely will ask my dentist about this.

OP posts:
EilonwyWithRedGoldHair · 08/10/2023 22:13

I had a crown fall out earlier this year - broke the remainder of the tooth as well. Didn't hurt at all.

I did have the tooth removed, but didn't have to, my dentist said I could leave it if I preferred and it wasn't bothering me.

Original poster
fuckingteeth · 08/10/2023 22:16

If the rest of the tooth is decayed and broken is the only other option an implant?

OP posts: