Bone loss, periodontist, panicking

[mrsnibblesisahero]

Hi, I'm hoping somebody can relate to this and give me some level of reassurance. I went to the dentist today, wanting to talk about getting my bridge work replaced. I have developed a gap between my two front teeth - I thought because one of my side bridge teeth fell out some time ago, I thought it had drifted because of that.
But no, it's because of gum disease. He said I am missing bone. He is referring me to a periodontist. I have had a brief google and from what I can see, I'm screwed. I'm going to have very disgusting teeth, the treatment is going to make them look worse?
I can't google any more - I'm terrified - pretty much phobic of the dentist anyway, and phobic about even cleaning with those sticks. I'm going to have to get over that I know.
I'm not sure I can carry on if the appearance thing is very bad. I'm 46 and already in a very low place about my appearance. I'm not sure I will be able to be stay married - my husband is so lovely but I just won't be able to be normal with him. And my job, it relies on my appearance, or rather my confidence, I'm a Director in an agency, I have to spend my life talking to clients. I just don't know what to do.

I was told the same thing when I was at the dentist last week.

Told off for not seeing the hygienist for 2 years - erm, I was booked in over a year ago but funnily enough I wasn’t able to make the appointment due to them being closed because of a global pandemic!!

Honestly, try not to worry about it too much. I’m presuming they want to make money out of me by scaring me into having them cleaned at £70 a pop 3 times a year.

My parents didn’t look after their teeth half as well as I do and they both smoked but both still had a full set of teeth. Plenty of people have gum disease. Worst comes to worst, there’s always dentures. I know that seems trite but honestly, if they’re too far gone now, there are alternatives. Catastrophising about worst case scenarios where your husband leaves you etc won’t help.

See the periodontist and see what they say before going too far down that road

Thank you. Dentures though, really? More me leaving my husband than the other way round but I get what you mean about catastrophising.

Wait and see what they say. I was diagnosed with periodontitis 3 months before the first lockdown then couldn't get back in to see a hygienist or dentist until last September so it had been 9 months instead of the 3 it should have been between appointments.

I broke down crying when I walked in to my appointment as I was so scared, I had lost over a stone as I had been scared to eat and had gone way over the top with flossing and interdental brushes. It's fine though. I've stopped it in its tracks with excellent hygiene between then and now and it's under control. They said it can stay that way as long as I keep on top of it.

though, I absolutely understand your panic.

Hi op
I'm due to go to the dentist and hygienist next month for the first time since pandemic started.
I was told last time I have severe gum disease, I have lots of bleeding when I use the interdental brushes. I noticed a few weeks ago 2 of my back teeth are actually loose, I already have 3 missing teeth and have a partial denture which tbh I hardly wear.
No advice really but I sympathise with your situation.

Please don't worry too much. I was in a similar position - I went to see the dentist to get braces and was told I couldn't because I have gum bad disease and was referred to a periodontist. This was 4 years ago.

After being diagnosed with severe gum disease by the periodontist, I had non surgical treatment on my top and lower gums... now I see my periodontist once a year and have to see the hygienist every 3 months and use the interdental brushes every day. And my teeth are in good shape and I have no more pockets.

Unfortunately my front tooth has dropped slightly through it all and made me quite conscious when I smile but it's nothing that couldn't be sorted with braces of some sort.

Yes. I've got ongoing issues with bone loss.

I've been told to use Colgate peroxyl mouthwash twice a day. It oxygenates the area and the bugs causing infection hate oxygen apparently. It says only use for a week but my dentist says it's fine to use all the time.

It has kept the issue at bay and although one of my back molars is wobbly, it's not getting any worse.

I know how you feel. I'm only 32 but my teeth are grade 2 mobile and I have receding gums from bone loss due to borderline osteoporosis. Normally, with good brushing and flossing, you can stop it in it's tracks. If it does get really bad, dentures really aren't that bad and no one can tell they're fake. I have a partial from when I smacked myself in the face with a door. It replaces 3 of my front teeth and no-one ever notices. And I forget they're fake until it comes to brushing my teeth 😂

Gosh, you are kind. I will sleep on it I think. You make it sound not too bad, I'm not sure. I think I need to let it settle. Thank you.

Hello, dental nurse here and would just like to say what you are describing is a lot more common than you think. I promise!

It's best for you to see a periodontist as they specialise in that subject. There are treatment options available to help slow the progress of gum disease. We use Perio Chips which is used as part of periodontal maintenance programme. This is used in pockets to eliminate most of the disease causing bacteria. So very easy to fit and take about 2 minutes if that per pocket.

Thank you @BitOfAFaff - I just feel horrified at the moment. Am quite panicky but will sleep and try and think about what you've said. Thank you.

Another one here with gum disease. I've had treatment and 3 monthly hygienist appointments which got shelved due to lockdown, my gums suffered for the lack of appointments so I had to have treatment again. I'm waiting to hear the results but I'm keeping everything crossed it has started to work. I hate interdentals too but my hygienist pointed out that the more I can do at home the less they have to do in the dentist chair. I hope that helps.

I've woken up feeling just awful about this, I'm terrified of these dentist appointments- the hygienist has always been an awful experience for me. And the thought that I've done this to myself....

I feel like I'm not responding to anybody because of blind panic. I'm sorry, I'm so grateful to you sharing your experiences here, it's definitely making me feel less alone.

I really feel for you, it’s not a nice thing to have at all. I had really aggressive gum disease in my early twenties. I had each quarter of my mouth deep cleaned under local anaesthetic. This was repeated twice.

As the infection cleared and the gums healed I got quite a bit of gum recession (basically when the gum wasn’t inflamed anymore, it shrunk back into the space when the bone was, if that makes sense). To remedy that I had a plastic stent or gum veneer made, which is the colour of my gums and clips onto my front teeth. I just wear it during the day and honestly no one can tell - I was smiling in my wedding photos for example.

I’ve been on top of it for over 15 years now, I see the dentist every 6 months and the hygienist every 3.

My dentist has also talked to me about getting a gum graft to mend the recession, which I’ll probably explore more at some point.

I know it feels totally shit now, but concentrate on getting the active disease treated and then there’s lots they can do cosmetically.

Best of luck OP

Thank you @BillStickersIsInnocent. Can I ask, was it hard to get used to the gum shield? And did you have to wait long for it? I don't know what I'm going to do in the meantime. I'm so embarrassed, did you feel like that? I'm horrified at the thought of telling my DH.

It felt a bit odd to start with - like a new pair of shoes until you wear them in/get used to them. Psychologically it wasn’t hard, I was happy to have something to cover the recession.

Yes I did feel embarrassed and ashamed, it was not a pleasant time. With your DH, if it was reversed and he had this disease, would you be horrified to hear about it? You say he’s a lovely man, would he not be supportive?

He will be, yes, I guess it's just me in my head though.

I have been going through a period of feeling very low about my appearance anyway and I think this has just finished me really.

Is anyone still there? I've had a really shocking realisation. I've been getting awful headaches/migraines, and I have been to see neurologists and everything. I've got one today, and it is so bloody obvious that it's connected. I can feel it now, connected to my ear. This is so bad that it is actually making me ill. I feel really horrified and am panicking that it must be very far advanced. But brushing my teeth today, no blood, no sensitivity, nothing. It's so weird. I'm quite scared though.

Have you had x rays to confirm the bone loss?

I have an absolute dentist phobia and as result I don't go as often as I should.

I got an absolute bollocking from the hygienist last week who said if I don't brush my teeth properly I'm going to lose them.

I hate seeing the hygienist as I find it really painful and I've now got to have a filling which I'm absolutely dreading but she's scared me so much I'm going totally overboard with the flossing and teeth brushing!

You have my sympathies OP. I felt to embarrassed but I hope you get it sorted.

Thanks both.Dentist has done x rays, guess periodontist will confirm next week. My mouth felt fine, but ever since I went I now know it doesn't, it tastes funny. I hadn't realised. It's my front tooth that is the worry I think, complicated by bridge work. I am very scared of losing it.

Hello OP, just jumping on this thread to say it is possible to get this resolved. about 18mths ago I finally went to the hygienist after years of avoiding. Not sure why, embarrassment/busy/caring about everyone else. Got a bollocking. Well deserved frankly. Started to take dental health far more seriously and religiously used the interdental brushes. I’m now ‘normal’. I then took the plunge to get a whole smile makeover. I’ve always been embarrassed by my teeth. Poor dental work in the past hasn’t helped but I too started losing bits of teeth which kept me awake and it is possibly bone loss. I’ve now had braces, three root canals following rapid abscesses (was a nightmare) several rounds of bleaching, I was able to get an implant for a missing tooth and next week will get the final fitting of veneers/crowns etc. It’s been a long time coming (we are a similar age) and frankly a lot of money but I feel like I’ll be finally free of something that’s haunted me forever. My husband has never really commented on my teeth but can see I’m much happier now it’s finally being sorted. I’m sure yours will be the same. I just wanted to wish you luck and say it is possible to overcome even the worst level of poor dental health and come out smiling (no pun intended)

Thank you so much @Netaporter - that's a hopeful, optimistic message, which I am grateful for. I hope I can be like you (minus the root canals maybe). I've always had a fear of dentists, my childhood 70s dentist was not particularly nice (at least in my memory), I know I bit him once, accidentally, and think he really didn't like me after that... and he scared me. It's grown from there. And then I was missing teeth and had to have all the Bridge work done (badly too), and it's just left me scarred and scared. I normally take some drugs to help me get through visits, I have sedatives which I can use. But now I'm guessing if I need injections etc I won't be able to mix up. Going to have to figure out a way, and just woman up about the interdentals. I'm using them now but am a bit afraid I don't know what I'm doing and shouldn't be poking about. I guess I really need that assessment and then just crack on. This all feels so shameful.

Aww @mrsnibblesisahero no need to woman up, be kind to yourself. I have many unresolved childhood issues. Parental neglect of dental hygiene (and my mother’s paranoia surrounding healthcare professionals) is just one example. There were no visits to the hygienist or education about oral health. I promise you the interdental brushes are worth persevering with, they’ve made all the difference to my gum health. Find the ones that suit you. I use a mix of teepee and interprox. Your hygienist should be able to help you with the correct size. Maybe look up some YouTube videos if you are unsure? I look now at the pictures of my gums and teeth before and how they look now and I’m both proud but also embarrassed I let it go unchecked for so long. I’m not a lover of needles but the dentist takes good care not to let me see them. I am numbed to the max. I also load up amusing podcasts to listen to whilst I’m being treated so that I am distracted. My current fave is ‘dear Joan and jericha’ (dark but hilarious) or shrine of duty. Maybe try that? Trust in the dentist is huge for me so maybe be brave enough to find another one if your current dentist is not making you feel understood. Keep posting if it helps. Plenty of people will want to help you. Big hugs.

Also, Explore implants. They are expensive but a one-off and may be a solution for your missing teeth once your gums are fitter.