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Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use:
How do I start dental treatment?

inMy World	Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use: How do I start dental treatment? I have some Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use, and I am terrified to go to the dentist. I'm not sure why I am so hesitant to call and make an appointment. I have been sober for 2.5 years, and I think I was secretly hoping that things would just get better on their own. I know that sounds stupid. I think my main fear is trying to explain what went wrong. I used to have perfect teeth, and I have ruled out seeing my old dentist. I feel like I have come so far, but I'm so ashamed. I don't even know if they will be able to do anything. I have looked up info online, and I have no idea who I should call first. I'm just curious if anyone else has been through this. if so, how did you cope? is the first call the hardest? am I overreacting? ugh.
Replies...
Penel0pe	Re: Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use: How do I start dental treatment? I DID THE SAME THING! I was TERRIFIED - and I have 100% dental coverage!! I am happy to say that, after two of my teeth got so bad (Fortunately they were way in the back) the dentist had to pull them out, I finally actually got the REST of the teeth examined and the bad ones fixed. It wasn't even close to as bad as I thought it was going to be. The dentist convinced me that waiting for teeth to hurt so bad that I have to have them removed was probably not a good use of my dental insurance - or my teeth. I'm really happy that I got it done and over with... no more big old holes, no more "Crunchy silver gum" (From old fillings falling out a little at a time,) and no more anxiety about going to the dentist. The anxiety was worse than the dental work!
Ldy Lesa	Re: Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use: How do I start dental treatment? They had a great show on tv the other week about meth and dental issues during recovery. A true professional dentist would probably immediately recognize the damage. As a non-user its easy for me to sit here and tell you just to be honest with your dentist about how your teeth got this way. Tell them the history and that you've been clean for 2.5 years. (BTW - hooray for being clean that long!) Take care of your teeth. They will help take care of you in the future.
le grumps	Re: Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use: How do I start dental treatment? I kind of know how you feel, I have put off seeing a doctor for a few years because of that. Honesty is best, and seriously, the worst that would happen is that they look at you with disdain. In which case you should be assertive with them and demand that they treat you with respect. Alas, what is more likely to happen is that they are proud of you for getting and staying clean. And they'll have a full picture of what happened with your teeth so that they can provide you with the best care. It's hard let go of the shame, but I think that once you make that call, and things are in motion, that dread will ease up. Good luck to you!
1Head light	Re: Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use: How do I start dental treatment? Hi Congrats on your clean time My son had quite a bit of dental work needed. He went to his appointment and was honest. Over the 6 months of appointments, the dentist became one of the people who would ask how things were going for him and give him a "congratulations" each visit for his clean time. A dentist is a doctor - they are there to "care" for you..... honesty is your best bet
forget suzette	Re: Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use: How do I start dental treatment? I had all my teeth pulled at 35 and got new ones. .....They never asked me "why my teeth were beat" ....they just did it. don't be embarrassed. a lot of people have bad teeth. .....getting em fixed not only proves you have class, it'll cheer up the whole office, because they get money for it.
lax2	Re: Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use: How do I start dental treatment? They won't get better on their own I went after being clean about a year or so, in about 20 appointments they did what thy could, which was extract a few teeth, fit me for partial dentures, and told me to hang onto my remaining teeth as long as I could. I didn't have full or cosmetic coverage, so I had to make do. They said implants could cost as much as $3-5,000 a tooth... I've heard of repair jobs to teeth costing as much as $75,000, but that was on a makeover show... Dentists are getting very familiar with methmouth. Sometimes they know, but don't even ask about it... I too am very hesitant to go to dentists even at 4.5 yrs clean... I don't want them to take out any of the teeth I have left any faster that they are falling out. UGHHHHHHH!!! I hate what I have done to my teeth. That is for sure... I CRINGE every time I see a TV program make fun of someone with bad teeth. It makes me feel like such a loser. When I go in stores w/o wearing my partial dentures, everyone treats me like I am a penniless pariah, who is out to get them, and rob them blind. Some people clutch their purses and children when you speak to them, and give disapproving disgusted looks as they hustle away in silence. It sucks. And all I can say is @#$% 'em!!! Good luck with the teeth. Hope you will keep posting here and come chat in the chat room. It is always great to meet another person who has come back from the living dead. CONGRATS on staying clean these past 30+ months!!! Excellent!
nine years clean	Re: Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use: How do I start dental treatment? Swallow your pride and get to the dentist ASAP. You'll be glad you did. I wish I had, but I put it off, and by the ripe old age of 42, I lost what teeth I had left. I used for 13 years and by the time I got clean, I had no back teeth, top or bottom, and the front teeth were so full of infection they could not be saved. I know what you're going through, but if they can save ANY of your teeth, believe me, you want them to try. My dentures are painful and will never fit right because the dope ate the bone that holds the teeth in. You're supposed to have a ridge of bone that the dentures fit around, but there is no ridge on the bottom of my mouth, because there is no bone, so the dentures slide around and I can't eat so many things that I love without them coming loose.
gsb1313	Re: Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use: How do I start dental treatment? AFTER USING FOR 20 YRS. OR SO...I FINALLY WISED UP AND STOPPED. UNFORTUNATELY, MY TEETH DID NOT GET ANY BETTER ON THERE OWN. I FINALLY WENT TO THE DENTIST AND AFTER MONTHS OF REPAIRS AND CROWNS, I HAVE MY SMILE BACK. AND I'M SO GLAD I DID. I SMILE MORE NOW THAN I EVER DID ON METH. IT IS A REAL CONFIDENCE BOOSTER.
Cool Auntie	Re: Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use: How do I start dental treatment? Don't be embarrassed to tell the dentist about your past meth usage. He or she will be glad that you're no longer using. If you go back to your old dentist, you might even get a needed "atta girl."
inMy World	Re: Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use: How do I start dental treatment? thanks for all the replies. i am going to make a point to call and set up an appointment first thing tomorrow morning. you are all right, and its not going to get better. i might as well face it now, since it will only get worse. also, i am really glad this site is here. i don't post very much, but i read the site regularly. sometimes, when i get an urge, i sign on here and read things that you all post. it helps me get through my rough patch. i just wanted to say that and thank everyone for their replies.
forget suzette	Re: Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use: How do I start dental treatment? I pulled one of my teeth once... .....man, toothaches are the worst, and it keeps you doing speed, because you don't want to eat and get a toothache. I got mine pulled on my birthday. .....I got to where root canals felt good. better than pain. ......oh yeah baby......let's dig that nerve out!

Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use: How do I start dental treatment?

Gum / teeth / tooth damage from meth use:
How do I start dental treatment?