I broke my healthy molar in half.

swampwitch · Jun 17, 2010

The last 9 months have been extremely stressful. I thought I was handling things pretty well until today when I noticed a slight pain in my right jaw, and saw that my back molar is split in half!

An hour later at my dentist I was told the molar was perfectly healthy, "beautiful molar" he said. The only times healthy molars are broken like that, he said, is from something violent, like car accident, sport injury, or blow to the face.

Then he said that if you ask somebody to bite down as hard as they can, they can put about 90 lbs. of pressure to a square inch. Under extreme stress, that number go 10 times as high!

I was clenching my jaw so hard at night that I broke my tooth, and it's too damaged and has to be removed.

In 6 months I'll have to have something attached to my jaw bone, with a crown on top so I'll have a fake tooth, since that's the only way to save my top molar.

I'm on antibiotics, Advil, and muscle relaxers.

Just another bit of stress, to add to the pot.

strange_wings · Jun 17, 2010

How well do you sleep? Do you find yourself waking up? - that is if you don't take anything to help you sleep. Do you feel really fatigued during the day?

sharky · Jun 17, 2010

Oh I am so sorry ...

alicatjoy · Jun 17, 2010

Here is not only a hug

, but loads of vibes as well .

I wish I had some amazingly insightful advice to offer on how to better handle stress, but I'm not the best person for that job. What I do know is that the saying "this too shall pass" really has helped me immensely over the last couple of months. I've also made the Serenity Prayer one of my favorite sayings and sometimes find that to get through the day I need to remember "one day at a time" which sometimes becomes "one hour at a time, one minute at a time, one second at a time." The funny thing is that I'm not a cliche-sayings kind of person, but, I've found that they work...even when I least expect them to...

There are other sayings, of course, such as "just do the next right thing" and "let go and let _____ (for me, it would be God, but anything can be put in that place)." Faith is a tremendous help to me during difficult times, but I know that a belief in God or something greater than oneself is not always something others are comfortable with. But, if it helps, please know that you are never alone and that there are people here and, I'm sure, in your life that care about you and are pulling for you.

As for your tooth, I hope you get to feeling better soon. I lost a couple of teeth earlier this year as a direct result of my eating disorder (though the dentist tried to tell me otherwise) and it was incredibly difficult. But, acceptance does come and it does get easier.

Do you think that doing some sort of calming "ritual" before going to bed at night would be helpful to you? Sometimes, when I'm having a rough time, I will journal, listen to music, light candles and focus on my breathing, stroke my kitties, or even do art. Bubble baths can help calm me as well as drinking hot tea or warm milk. Of course, none of those things will help take the stresses of life away, but they are additional tools to help me better cope with the things life throws my way. And, most importantly, please know that there is no shame in what happened with your tooth. Stress is a fact of most everyone's life and it affects each of us differently. Be proud of yourself for handling things as well as you have been. Sure, there can be some improvements made, but we do as best we can until we learn otherwise. And, then we can act otherwise.

Again, here are some vibes and some hugs

. And, my kitties send head butts and kisses your way as well. Take care of you. And, know that you're in my thoughts.

kailie · Jun 18, 2010

Awww hun, I'm so sorry that you are going through some rough times right now.

I too clench my jaw badly when I sleep and constantly wake up with a sore jaw. The strange thing is, I don't think I'm too overly stressed, so I have no idea why I do it.

Here's a hug for you.

I hope things improve for you!

Winchester · Jun 18, 2010

Sending you some ((((hugs)))). I'm a tooth clencher and grinder at night in my sleep. Almost all of my molars are capped now for that very reason. I finally invested in a mouth guard and it has helped, not only with the clenching, but I also don't have those intense headaches from all the clenching and grinding.

I hope things calm down for you.

blueyedgirl5946 · Jun 18, 2010

Originally Posted by Alison Joy

Here is not only a hug

, but loads of vibes as well .

I wish I had some amazingly insightful advice to offer on how to better handle stress, but I'm not the best person for that job. What I do know is that the saying "this too shall pass" really has helped me immensely over the last couple of months. I've also made the Serenity Prayer one of my favorite sayings and sometimes find that to get through the day I need to remember "one day at a time" which sometimes becomes "one hour at a time, one minute at a time, one second at a time." The funny thing is that I'm not a cliche-sayings kind of person, but, I've found that they work...even when I least expect them to...

There are other sayings, of course, such as "just do the next right thing" and "let go and let _____ (for me, it would be God, but anything can be put in that place)." Faith is a tremendous help to me during difficult times, but I know that a belief in God or something greater than oneself is not always something others are comfortable with. But, if it helps, please know that you are never alone and that there are people here and, I'm sure, in your life that care about you and are pulling for you.

As for your tooth, I hope you get to feeling better soon. I lost a couple of teeth earlier this year as a direct result of my eating disorder (though the dentist tried to tell me otherwise) and it was incredibly difficult. But, acceptance does come and it does get easier.

Do you think that doing some sort of calming "ritual" before going to bed at night would be helpful to you? Sometimes, when I'm having a rough time, I will journal, listen to music, light candles and focus on my breathing, stroke my kitties, or even do art. Bubble baths can help calm me as well as drinking hot tea or warm milk. Of course, none of those things will help take the stresses of life away, but they are additional tools to help me better cope with the things life throws my way. And, most importantly, please know that there is no shame in what happened with your tooth. Stress is a fact of most everyone's life and it affects each of us differently. Be proud of yourself for handling things as well as you have been. Sure, there can be some improvements made, but we do as best we can until we learn otherwise. And, then we can act otherwise.

Again, here are some vibes and some hugs

. And, my kitties send head butts and kisses your way as well. Take care of you. And, know that you're in my thoughts.

This is a beautiful post. I know it was meant for Swamp Witch, but it has helped me too. I am encouraged.

mbjerkness · Jun 18, 2010

I have done that twice. Thankfully mine could be crowned. calming

larussa · Jun 18, 2010

Ouch, I'm glad you found what the problem is tho. Hope the meds help your pain.

darkmavis · Jun 18, 2010

Sorry to hear your stress is breaking your teeth! Ouch!

Sending hugs and healing vibes your way.

marycatherine · Jun 18, 2010

Originally Posted by Alison Joy

Here is not only a hug

, but loads of vibes as well .

I wish I had some amazingly insightful advice to offer on how to better handle stress, but I'm not the best person for that job. What I do know is that the saying "this too shall pass" really has helped me immensely over the last couple of months. I've also made the Serenity Prayer one of my favorite sayings and sometimes find that to get through the day I need to remember "one day at a time" which sometimes becomes "one hour at a time, one minute at a time, one second at a time." The funny thing is that I'm not a cliche-sayings kind of person, but, I've found that they work...even when I least expect them to...

There are other sayings, of course, such as "just do the next right thing" and "let go and let _____ (for me, it would be God, but anything can be put in that place)." Faith is a tremendous help to me during difficult times, but I know that a belief in God or something greater than oneself is not always something others are comfortable with. But, if it helps, please know that you are never alone and that there are people here and, I'm sure, in your life that care about you and are pulling for you.

As for your tooth, I hope you get to feeling better soon. I lost a couple of teeth earlier this year as a direct result of my eating disorder (though the dentist tried to tell me otherwise) and it was incredibly difficult. But, acceptance does come and it does get easier.

Do you think that doing some sort of calming "ritual" before going to bed at night would be helpful to you? Sometimes, when I'm having a rough time, I will journal, listen to music, light candles and focus on my breathing, stroke my kitties, or even do art. Bubble baths can help calm me as well as drinking hot tea or warm milk. Of course, none of those things will help take the stresses of life away, but they are additional tools to help me better cope with the things life throws my way. And, most importantly, please know that there is no shame in what happened with your tooth. Stress is a fact of most everyone's life and it affects each of us differently. Be proud of yourself for handling things as well as you have been. Sure, there can be some improvements made, but we do as best we can until we learn otherwise. And, then we can act otherwise.

Again, here are some vibes and some hugs

. And, my kitties send head butts and kisses your way as well. Take care of you. And, know that you're in my thoughts.

I wanted to 2nd that this was beautiful. Thank you.

fifi1puss · Jun 18, 2010

So sorry to hear that! I hope they will make you a nightguard so your other teeth are protected from now on. Our bodies have a way of letting us know how we are handling stress. In our minds we may think we are doing alright but there are always physical signs. I am so sorry you are under such extreme stress and for so long. I hope you can find a way to channel that stress so you can be healthy. I like to journal...gets all the negative out of me and I can be free to gather positive energies.

goonie · Jun 18, 2010

i have a bridge on my upper left side. about 2 months ago it seemed loose and my dentists worked me in to re-cement it. i figured i'd be in and out. i was in the chair for over an hour. the one tooth that the bridge is hooked on had a rootcanal done and a steel post. somehow i had broken off the tip of the steel post but not cracked or damaged the bridge. the dentist had to put in 3 smaller steel posts to support the broken one and then re-cement the bridge. he said he'd only had one other patient do that and that was a big guy. he said he couldn't understand how a small woman like me could've possible done that. i don't know how i did that either

swampwitch · Jun 18, 2010

Thanks for the good wishes and the advice!

Originally Posted by strange_wings

How well do you sleep? Do you find yourself waking up? - that is if you don't take anything to help you sleep. Do you feel really fatigued during the day?

Sleep well, at least I thought I did.
No, unless the cats wake me up
Don't take anything to sleep, but I don't go to bed until I'm tired.
Fatigued during the day, sometimes, several other known reasons for that.

Originally Posted by DarkMavis

Sorry to hear your stress is breaking your teeth! Ouch!

I know, it's so harsh! You phrased it exactly!

I've never had any problems except once an impacted wisdom tooth that was removed, not even any cavities (probably 50% good oral habits, 50% dumb luck genetics). My poor tooth.

And I did it to myself, I really try hard to take care of myself, although I don't know how I can control something I do when I'm not conscious.

Getting a mouth guard and going to start yoga with a friend!

trouts mom · Jun 19, 2010

My gosh, that is so upsetting

Take care of yourself (((hugs)))

strange_wings · Jun 19, 2010

Just curious. Teeth clinching is linked to sleep disorders such as apnea.. .and apnea (central opposed to plain ol' obstructed) is linked to other health issues that would affect the nervous system in any way.

coolcat · Jun 20, 2010

So sorry Kat...

....
I hope youÂ´re fine right now!..

..

natalie_ca · Jun 20, 2010

I'm sorry to hear that!

I would suggest that you talk to your dentist about a night appliance to wear on your teeth at night when you sleep.

I grind my teeth at night and was getting chronic headaches until my dentist told me that I grind my teeth. I had one of those appliances made and the headaches went away. I find also that my jaw isn't as tense during the day.

Last year or the year before I was in a pop corn faze and ended up breaking 2 of my healthy molars. I tend to eat those partially popped kernels and I guess it finally got to be too much for my teeth. Since then I gave up pop corn!

I managed to salvage the teeth. My dentist put fillings, but now he tells me that I really should have crowns put on them. At $600.00 per, I'm not exactly jumping for joy!

strange_wings · Jun 20, 2010

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

At $600.00 per, I'm not exactly jumping for joy!

That's pretty fair price actually. That's close to what I'd pay out of pocket per tooth for that sort of thing. I think I paid $540-ish out of pocket on my root canal and crown - with no rod/post.

ldg · Jun 20, 2010

Natalie, it's a lot of money, but around here it's twice that, and I have a temporary on waiting to get back to the dentist to get the crown put on - but I don't have the money for it.

Kat, Gary just had something similar happen. I'm so sorry - if you're in the same pain, my heart really goes out to you! I'm sorry I have no advice... just lots of love, hugs and vibes.

I broke my healthy molar in half.

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