Any dentists that can advise? Front tooth is coming out!

[PleaseGiveMeCoffee]

I’ll try and give some background without waffling, but I’m sorry if this is long!

I visited the dentist around 1 year ago for a check up. After X-rays I was told that the roots on my 2 bottom front teeth were poor, especially on one of them (I’ll call this the bad tooth). The dentist told me that I will lose them at some point, but teeth can be very resilient so wouldn’t give a time frame. I asked if I could just get them pulled there and then instead of waiting for it to happen but the dentist refused (understandable!).

I try my best to take care of my teeth as losing them is a huge fear of mine, but I think 10+ years of previously chain smoking (I’ve been a non-smoker now for 5 years) has really effed it for me!

after a scale and polish I had a large gap between the bottom 2 front teeth. This gap has gradually closed, and the ‘bad’ tooth started to raise higher than the others - not massively, but definitely noticeable to me.

the bad tooth feels really unstable and I don’t put any pressure on it, I don’t bite into anything hard like apples, corn on the cob etc as I’m worried that the tooth will come out.

Friday night I was woken up with an awful shooting pain in my mouth, and I think I’d clamped my jaw shut so the top teeth mashed down on the bottom teeth. This has caused the bad tooth to move forward a bit, so instead of pointing towards my top teeth it’s now pointing towards my bottom lip, If that makes any sense! Every time I move my tongue I can feel that tooth clunking around, almost as if something keeps snapping 😭

I don’t know whether to try and go to A&E and see if they can extract it now, or wait until Monday and try and get an appointment with my dentist. I can’t eat, and I’ve had no sleep last night as I’m worried I’ll clamp my jaw down again. Another worry is if I visit the dentist then I can’t afford the band 3 costs for a replacement until the end of July, so I could be left with a huge gap for 2 weeks. My DDs birthday, year 6 leavers prom, sports day and DPs birthday are happening in the next 2 weeks so I’m going to look awful 😢

Does anyone have any advice at all? Or even just a hand hold? I spent all yesterday sobbing as I feel so irresponsible that this has happened, I shouldn’t be losing teeth at 32 ☹️

I know I should have visited the dentist 6 months ago (and if I did this might not be happening) but I’ve been struggling massively with my mental health for quite some time, and rarely leave the house unless absolutely necessary.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-can-i-access-an-nhs-dentist-in-an-emergency-or-out-of-hours/

You may be able to be seen at the emergency dentist? Although they may just remove it and you will be left with a gap until you see your dentist anyway.
Sounds awful and you have all my sympathy. I have a bridge for one front tooth and, when it fell out last year, the dentist left me with the gap for 4 weeks before he refitted it. It was very distressing so I totally understand what this is doing to your MH when you are already suffering.
I hope you can see someone asap and can get things sorted.

I'd try 111 and the emergency dentist. A&E probably can't help unfortunately (but i absolutely understand the desperation!)

Did you manage to see a dentist op?

Thanks everyone, it’s a relief to know I’m not being a drama queen!

i phoned my dentist yesterday and asked if they had any appts, the receptionist said they had nothing for the next 4 weeks! I then explained the situation, and they’ve got me in for Monday afternoon. Not ideal at all, but I don’t think there’s much else I can do but wait until next week.

It’s still a struggle to eat, I’m so hungry ☹️ Also really paranoid about sleeping, I’m on edge that I’m going to do something in my sleep again!

That must be really difficult for you. I would wear a mask to public events and just say you're worried about catching anything.

Better to seek dentist help is surely avoid your problem in a right way.

Reported

We’re they able to help @PleaseGiveMeCoffee ?

thank you so much for checking up @DentalDisaster!

It wasn’t good news, they’ll be pulling my tooth next week 😢 When asked about replacements I said I’d looked into getting a bridge, however the dentist (who was lovely and reassuring) advised that the teeth on either side might not be able to cope with the pressure long term so I was given 2 options. I could either have the tooth extracted there and then, wait for the gum to heal for 6-7 weeks and then get a partial denture, OR get a mould taken that day for a temporary denture, have that made during the week and then next week extract the tooth and put the temp denture in.

financially option 1 would have been better, but I can’t go almost 2 months with an obvious gap. I went with option 2, so I’ll be paying for 2 dentures - £600 all in all. I was warned that the temporary denture is guess work as they don’t know what the gum is like etc, but at this point I’d rather have a shit tooth than no tooth. I think a gap would be much more noticeable (I hope?!).

I’m 32, I can’t believe this has happened ☹️.

i’ll have to save for an implant as I don’t think a denture long term is a great solution for me (knowing my luck it’ll come out in a meeting or I’ll lose the thing!).

Feeling very sorry for myself, but there’s no point in sulking over it now - and I’ll definitely be investing in a tooth-guard to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

thanks so much for checking up on me and replying so quickly on my first panicked post!

I really feel for you. I’d have gone with option 2 as well. As you say, at least then you have some sort of tooth in place. I hope it all goes smoothly and looks better than anticipated

I have had a temporary denture and it was fine, it fitted well, be careful though because my top front tooth was loose and I had the impression done before extraction for the denture and it loosens the tooth a bit more and to my absolute embarrassment it fell out at work the next day while I was at my desk, it didn't hurt but my three colleagues were . At least I didn't have to pay for an extraction though

Thanks both, you’ve made me feel a lot better! Ah I’m glad you would have done the same @DentalDisaster!

Oh gosh, I’m so sorry that your tooth fell out at work @User19633654 ! But yes, saves a bit of money (and trauma!) on the extraction 😅Really good to hear a positive of a temporary denture, I’m definitely feeling a lot calmer about the situation now 🌻