Laura
Dear Laura,
I am sorry you have had such a hard time. The good news is that not only is it not too late to turn things around, but there is a solution for the dental anxiety you’ve been dealing with your entire life.
My first suggestion is that you see a sedation dentist. Generally, I suggest starting with the mildest form of sedation, which would be nitrous oxide. However, given your history and the level of your anxiety, I am going to suggest you start with the second level, oral conscious sedation. This is administered by a pill. You will be so relaxed that you will be able to sleep through your appointment with this option. You’ll also find that you can get more work done at each appointment, which allows you to catch up on all your dental work sooner.
Replacing Lost Teeth
Unless the tooth that you lost is a wisdom tooth, it will be very important that you replace the extracted tooth. If you leave the space open, the adjacent teeth will shift or tip into the open space. That can lead to painful TMJ Disorder.
The best tooth tooth replacement would be to get a dental implant. These are the closest thing to having a healthy, natural tooth in your mouth. If that is out of your budget, there are less expensive options. Some of them are removable so that you can keep that space protected while you save up for a more permanent solution.
This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Carl Embury.
