Dental help please! Bit of tooth just broke!

[Rocklover]

I am lucky in that I have my first check up (for 3 years or so..ooops) for tonight at 5.30, but I am a bit of a dental phobe and i'm freaking out a little here.

Basically it is the side of one of my top molars, I had a filling in it years ago (as in at least 9-10 years) and it was a big filling. As a consequence the dentist left quite a thin ridge of tooth around the outside, so I'm quite surprised it lasted this long.

It's not hurting, but I am squeamish about it, I just wondered what the dentist might do? I am also 24 weeks pregnant, although I don't think that will make any difference with this particular problem. Thing is, I am already having a problem with the tooth next to it, in that I get a sharp pain when I bite down on anything hard.

I am now imagining that I am going to have loads of dental work and I am really worried about it.

Anyone had a similar experience?

Yep, almost exactly the same thing - thin piece of tooth broke off behind a filling on Boxing Day a few years ago.

The dentist had to drill out the filling that was there and refill it. BUT it didn't hurt, as the tooth was already 'prepped' for a filling, IYSWIM. Definitely get it done though, as it needs to be sorted to prevent an infection and possible root canal treatment (which is also not as bad as it's painted, IME, but is expensive!).

Oh, I wasn't pg though - not quite sure what difference that will make (other than that you don't have to pay if you're with an NHS dentist ).

I figured they may have to drill out the filling, that kind of scares me as it is a huge filling, not sure I will have much bloody tooth left!!

I am presuming they won't do it today, they never flipping do, so no doubt I'll have to wait for a week or something. Why the hell am I so scared?