MandySlade
09-08-09, 19:27
Tomorrow is the second of many visits to my Dentist to come over the next few months. I posted about it before, but I finally went after not having gone for 13 years.
I'm supposed to have the following done (broken up into visits every 2-3 weeks) in this order:
Root planning/scaling
Removal of very old Mercury fillings (terrified of this)
New fillings
Wisdom tooth extraction
Tomorrow is the root planning/scaling (also known as the "deep cleaning") I'm really scared it's going to hurt or that it will cause more damage somehow. Worried something will "go wrong". I keep forcing myself not to google, because I feel like if I do it will be because I'm seeking out some worst-case so that I can talk myself out of it.
Anyone here had this done before? This is what one website said:
"Scaling is the removal of calculus (commonly called tartar) and plaque that attach to the tooth surfaces. The process especially targets the area below the gum line, along the root. Plaque is more likely to stick to rough surfaces. For this reason, the root surface is smoothed down in a process called root planing. Root planing removes any remaining calculus and smoothes irregular areas of the root surface."
That sounds soooooo scary and painful to me. :(
It also says this regarding risks:
"Root planing and scaling can introduce harmful bacteria into the bloodstream. Gum tissue is also at risk of infection. You may need to take antibiotics before and after surgery if you have a condition that puts you at high risk for developing a severe infection"
So, being that I have a severe phobia of sepsis and all sorts of blood-poisoning worries... reading that doesn't help my fears. :( It also said causes the gums to receede and can expose the root, causing chronic pain... wtf? That sounds WORSE. *sigh*
I'm supposed to have the following done (broken up into visits every 2-3 weeks) in this order:
Root planning/scaling
Removal of very old Mercury fillings (terrified of this)
New fillings
Wisdom tooth extraction
Tomorrow is the root planning/scaling (also known as the "deep cleaning") I'm really scared it's going to hurt or that it will cause more damage somehow. Worried something will "go wrong". I keep forcing myself not to google, because I feel like if I do it will be because I'm seeking out some worst-case so that I can talk myself out of it.
Anyone here had this done before? This is what one website said:
"Scaling is the removal of calculus (commonly called tartar) and plaque that attach to the tooth surfaces. The process especially targets the area below the gum line, along the root. Plaque is more likely to stick to rough surfaces. For this reason, the root surface is smoothed down in a process called root planing. Root planing removes any remaining calculus and smoothes irregular areas of the root surface."
That sounds soooooo scary and painful to me. :(
It also says this regarding risks:
"Root planing and scaling can introduce harmful bacteria into the bloodstream. Gum tissue is also at risk of infection. You may need to take antibiotics before and after surgery if you have a condition that puts you at high risk for developing a severe infection"
So, being that I have a severe phobia of sepsis and all sorts of blood-poisoning worries... reading that doesn't help my fears. :( It also said causes the gums to receede and can expose the root, causing chronic pain... wtf? That sounds WORSE. *sigh*