My teeth have started chipping at the gum line that has been caused by severe decay. What can I do?

Question

the decay and breakage of several teeth have been broken due to years of neglect and high consumption of sugary snacks 2 back teeth have been filled in but a third one on the upper jaw has a hole coming from the gumline but now the bottom front teeth are also chipping away at the gumline and much of my back teeth have been stained but also carrying a hardish substance. unfortunatly i am a very anxious person by nature and as a result i get extremely nervous when it comes to doctors and dentists.

Michael Ayzin, DDS · Answer

Thank for your question. A lot of people feel just like you. Please consider being asleep while your dental work is being done. Throughout the years I have had a lot of cases treated that way. Routinely we put people to sleep for their dental work and when they wake up most, if not all, dental needs are taken care of.

Jessica Wyatt, DDS · Answer

You're not alone when it comes to being anxious about dental treatment. Luckily, there are so many ways in which we dentists can help manage this anxiety and provide comfortable treatment for our patients. It's always important to bring up your concerns about your anxiety to your dentist so they are aware of how your'e feeling and can help you get the treatment you need. There are options such as nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oral sedation (Xanax, etc) that can be used to help you relax during your procedure, but still remain conscious. Additionally, if your anxiety is so severe, you may want to consider seeing a dentist that offers IV sedation to help you throughout your procedure. 
Regardless, you should not put off getting treatment because of your anxiety. The longer you wait, the worse your condition will become, and often times the treatment to fix it becomes more expensive and complex. Good luck and I hope this helps!

Robert Fields, DDS · Answer

I am so sorry to hear you are anxious seeing a dentist.  Rest assured, you need to have  this decay taken care of or you will lose your teeth!  You mentioned that your back teeth have a hard substance and stain. Sounds to me you have a  build up of plaque on your back teeth. You need to see a dentist and get an exam cleaning and needed x rays to see if he can help you save your teeth!  Do not put this off much longer because of anxiety. There is oral medication that you can take at the dentist so you will not have fear any longer.  You need your teeth....please do not let your anxiety take over .....see a dentist soon!

Shivangi Gajwani Jain, MDS · Answer

Hi,After reading your query I suggest that you visit your dentist for the following:-Scaling and polishing: cleanup so that the hard tartar and stain get removed improving the overall hygiene of your oral cavity.-Fillings where ever necessaryThese procedures are almost painless due to advanced techniques and instrumentation.Chipping at the bottom of the teeth near the gum line maybe due to acidity or sometimes the hardish tartar which accumulates on the inside of the teeth near the gums also feels like chipped teeth leaving a rough surface. If its the latter then a clean up will resolve the issue. A thorough examination by your dentist is advised.

Neal Nealis, DDS (retired) · Answer

Dear helpsy,
So sorry to hear about your dental problems. Sugar addiction is a very common problem which affects an enormous portion of our population. Sounds like you need a good dentist. Being an anxious person by nature, you should consider visiting a few dentists. There will be an expense for each examination; however, you should be able to get a copy of your x-rays and bring them to subsequent appointments. This way you can find someone with whom you are comfortable which is important because it seems that you will be spending significant time with that person.

My teeth have started chipping at the gum line that has been caused by severe decay. What can I do?

Answers (5)

Answer: Chipped teeth and decay

Answer: Chipped teeth and decay

Answer: Severe tooth decay

Answer: Severe tooth decay

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My teeth have started chipping at the gum line that has been caused by severe decay. What can I do?

Answers (5)

Answer: Chipped teeth and decay

Answer: Chipped teeth and decay

Answer: Severe tooth decay

Answer: Severe tooth decay

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tooth Repair

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.