2 years ago I had had a break down. I started having panic attacks and I would grind my teeth a bit. Eventually I shattered a tooth. Two years later and a root canal that tooth is causing issues due to an infection. I have a check up on it in a month. It's not really painful, but it's a grim reminder of all the issues I had.

I am a significant amount better than before. Meds and therapy helped a lot. But this tooth reminds me of a time where I was a wreck. It's not a fun feeling. And I don't know what happens next. I never got a tooth pulled for example, I don't know what to expect.

Has anyone beaten anxiety issues? Will I be like this forever?

Edit: Went to my dentist, they looked at it, they are sending me to a specialist tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Edit 2: got scheduled for surgery today, they think they can save the tooth.

Edit 3: Surgery was not that bad.

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[–] pan_troglodytes@programming.dev 3 points 11 months ago (2 children)

extraction. I've had a few root canals and they always go bad after a decade. get it pulled sooner, before the infection kicks in.

I can describe one of my extractions - the one where I didnt get put under for. it was so rough that I happily paid for anesthesia the next time I needed an extraction. so I had a failed root canal, and it got infected, like my jaw started swelling up in just a few days. went to the dentist, xrays to see how to go about it. the roots on that molar were branched and hooked & there was a cyst in/under that (the infection), the dentist had to use a dremel saw (or whatever it was) to cut the tooth in half, vertically, then break it apart with pliers (special dentist tool but it looks like pliers to me) so she could get down to the roots and then used the pliers to sort of yank/twist the roots out. it was not a pleasant experience.

not being able to eat anything that wasnt blended to a paste for a few weeks was even less fun - you get to a point where you CRAVE texture. meds were pretty good though, killed the infection off fast and the 5x strength narcotic of some sort absolutely erased the pain for the week the prescription lasted for. once I could eat real food again I gorged on raw broccoli.

anyway, I eventually had a bone graft put where the tooth was and then a titanium post installed. havent gone back to get a fake tooth installed on there, it's super expensive and I've learned how to live without a tooth in that spot.

[–] CameronDev@programming.dev 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I have a root canal from 20 years ago, still going strong, am I really an outlier? Were all yours done by the same dentist?

[–] pan_troglodytes@programming.dev 2 points 11 months ago

the only two I had were performed by the same guy yeah. maybe his fault then I dunno.

[–] Vej@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I was thinking the implant route too

[–] pan_troglodytes@programming.dev 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

bone graft is definitely the way to go - if you get an extraction but no graft there's a chance your jaw can sort of cave in a little there - not really perceptible to people who have never met you but you will be able to see the difference in the mirror - so said my mother when I asked her about this, back when I had my extraction(s).

you have to wait for the gum to fully heal, then the dentist can peel a bit of it back, pack the hole where the tooth's root was with bone and a growth matrix, then stitch it back up. 6+ months later on you can get a post installed, then you have to wait for that to heal before the fake tooth can be installed.

[–] Vej@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

That's the same as an implant right? I don't know much about dentist work.

[–] pan_troglodytes@programming.dev 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

yeah - so basically when you have an extraction there's a hole in your jaw where the tooth used to be. a bone graft fills in the hole. then an implant can be installed in that spot when the graft has taken/integrated into your bone structure.

I didnt know much either until I had to go through it. now I know a little bit

[–] Vej@lemm.ee 2 points 11 months ago

Thanks. Well I go to a specialist tomorrow. The dentist thinks thatbthe tooth may be salvageable.