[kms89]

This seems like such a small issue with what anyone and everyone could be dealing with right now, but my anxiety is driving me crazy. Last summer I spiraled out of control with anxiety and depression and only in the last few months started to feel normal again. I have always had horrible anxiety about my teeth. Virtually no one in my immediate family has their teeth. I found out at my last cleaning that I had several cavities-one of them being on the back of my front left tooth-when I say front tooth, I mean VERY front tooth. When I went in for my cleaning this time, I had the fillings completed. Everything seemed okay afterwards, and even after the numbness wore off that day. The following day, I developed a toothache (I didn't have one prior to the filling) with a dull throbbing sensation in that front tooth. I went back on Wednesday (2 days after) and the doctor said everything looked fine. Still on Friday, I was painful so I went back again and saw a different doctor. He said that I was applying a lot of force to the tooth and filed the back of my front tooth that was filled down (I could not tolerate him filing my front bottom teeth that were hitting). Friday night I fell asleep on the couch and when I woke up the entire left side of my face felt congested and I had a horrible ear ache. I went to urgent care Saturday and was diagnosed with an ear and sinus infection that the doctor is concerned could be related to this filling. I'm going to try and get in at a completely different office tomorrow for a true second opinion but my anxiety is killing me. I haven't eaten or really slept in several days and can't stop thinking about my tooth being too thin from the filing down he did or losing the tooth all together. All I do is lay on the couch and cry. Everyone is trying to comfort me by saying that fake teeth and crowns look very realistic now and I shouldn't be worried, but I don't want to lose my teeth.

Everyone is trying to comfort me by saying that fake teeth and crowns look very realistic now

Well, gee, I can't imagine why that doesn't make you feel better!

Toothache plus anxiety is NOT a good combination, because, as you pointed out, you haven't slept or eaten well in days. I think you should feel perfectly justified about being really upset.

If you can eat something soft like a room-temperature smoothie or a banana or applesauce or yogurt, that would be great.

Do you have any meds you could take to help the anxiety and sleeplessness?

I can't say what's going to happen with your tooth, but the doctor's guess that your sinus and ear infection are related to the filling sounds perceptive. Maybe they didn't drill quite enough before they filled it or something or maybe it's related to the filling itself not being done correctly.

I just went to the dentist recently and was very worried beforehand, so I do relate. Maybe after you lose one tooth, you don't get as upset about the second one? I don't know. I'm in my 50s and am fortunate enough to still have all my original teeth and was very worried recently that I was going to lose one or more of them.

I will send good thoughts your way. I hope you get this all straightened out soon. And please do ask your doctor if you need to about what to do to get enough nutrition and sleep while this is going on.

[skeksi]

Tooth pain is the absolute worst! I have had a lot of dental work done and it wears on you emotionally.

If you do have a sinus infection, that can also make your sinuses swell and cause tooth pain, although it's usually a bunch of teeth, not just one. Sometimes I have a tooth that is fine, perfectly healthy, but hurts because I've been grinding or clenching (I have one front tooth in particular that It affects). A mouth guard can help with that.

So--it could be a problem, or it could be a passing issue. Sometimes teeth act up after they have had work done and then calm down after a week or two. I hope you are able to get some relief soon!

[gayleggg]

I'm sorry this is causing you such anxiety. And you won't know the outcome until you see the dentist. Dentists can do amazing work these days but I know that doesn't do you any good right now. Try to stay calm until tomorrow and see what the prognosis is before you start worrying.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Sabrina]

I had a root canal last week and was terrified but it ended up being quite okay. I don't say this to try and make you feel better for you are justified in feeling so anxious. I'm glad you're getting a second opinion and hope that the dentist will be able to sort it out this time without you having to lose the tooth.

[jaynedough]

Hi KMS89,
Hopefully things have gotten better by now. Some of my teeth impinge on the floor of my sinuses, so when one thing is infected, it affects the other. If that's what's happening with you, I can say that I've had that happen several times and it usually calms down after a few days.

I've had to have over half of my teeth pulled over the last 2 decades. For me, it's never gotten easier. The physical part isn't horrible (for me, anyway). Mentally, it's distressing.

Thinking about losing a front tooth is really scary. I've got some more dental issues that need to be checked and the front one is freaking me out. I'm going to have to go to the free dental clinic and if it's not easily (cheaply) fixed, they'll pull it. If you have dental insurance and/or the money, get the best care you can and get things taken care of as soon as they crop up. It's much less anxiety -provoking to have good options. Given your family dental history, you should keep on top of things.

Ask your dentist about maybe getting a TMJ splint or bite guard or some other treatment to keep yourself from damaging your teeth when you grind them. IDK what the current treatment is, so there may be other options available.

Sorry this is so long.