Dental problems causing severe DEPRESSION

Hi there,

This is rather long and complicated but I really wanted to write down how I'm feeling and this seemed like a good place. I've been suffering from depression for the past 3 years (on and off), partly (or maybe mostly) to do with my dental problems and halitosis.

I simply don't know what to do anymore

So here goes the story...If you get bored easily you might not want to carry on reading

I've had dental issues for the past 4 years now and every time I sort one thing out another thing comes up. I originally had 3 crowns in my teeth. My previous dentist did a really bad job on two of them to the point where it led to an infection in the bone. One of them would also bleed quite a bit and had a REALLY bad smell coming from the area whenever I would floss or simply touch the tooth. This really got me down as I think I suffer from halitosis anyway so this just made it worse. Anyway, my current dentist said the post was infected and I had to see a specialist....it was the only way the smell would go....

So since I couldn't afford it in the uk, I had to go abroad which I did a couple of months ago. I went to the top comestic dental surgery I could find. It was still pretty expensive but I got seen by various specialists who re did all the dodgy root canals and treated the infection. A gum specialist also did gum surgery/recontouring as there was not enough tooth left under my original crowns. The dentist said I also needed more crowns and since I was having a complete smile makeover I ended up with 7 crowns and a couple of veneers (all on my upper teeth).

So here I was thinking problem solved! My teeth look great now and the smell from the original crown (my only real complaint initially!) had gone. YAY! Or so I thought...

When I returned to the uk, my new dentist said the only problem was that there was not enough space to clean between all the teeth as they seemed cemented together. This would eventually lead to gum problems. Over the next couple of months I continued to use floss/interdental brushes etc, so now I can clean between all my teeth, but in doing so, 2/3crowns began to bleed. Now these areas smell REALLY bad again. One of them is really bad to the point where I feel my mouth smelling if I just lick the area (its at the front of my mouth). Although my original complaint of the crown that smelt had gone, this one seems even worse! I've seen my dentist about 3 times since. She's always said my gums are quite healthy, and the bleeding is only because of the heavy restoration in my mouth. She recommended I use corsodyl for a month. My dentist abroad recommended I use a waterpik.

Anyway, its been three weeks with the corsodyl and no improvement, the crowns still smell bad along the gumline. I also brought a waterpik, but even the low pressure setting seems really fast and when I used it....surprise surprise the crowns bled.

I think I'm going crazy with all of this. I mentioned that I already thought I suffered from halitosis, and I've been very consious of my breath for the past few years, but all this could be controlled by mouthwash, gum etc (I carry a mouth spray with me wherever I go and if I have no pockets I put it in my sock!). But now with all this never ending crown smelling business I don't know what to do. I cannot afford to get the two crowns replaced here and I also cannot afford to go abroad again...but would replacing the crowns even help. I feel like there is blood under the crowns, but I'm scared to use a waterpik again...I don't have enough control over the fast jet spray and I don't want any of the other crowns to start bleeding.....God forbid the one with the original smell complaint!....that's about the only positive thing right now...that that crown doesn't smell anymore and the fact that my teeth do actually look quite good.

Just to mention that I have had a very thorough cleaning regime...brushing, flossing, mouthwash etc for the past 4 years. I've also had counselling for the depression as its affecting ALL areas of my life. I'm finding it very difficult to live my life and I'm feeling very very depressed....the future looks so bleak. People who have suffered from depression for whatever reason will understand. I don't want to see people, talk to people but I can't get out of it. Imagine something as simple as going to watch a film with someone or travelling on the tube with my friend or even having my nephew sat on my lap. These things are not normal for me anymore as I'm always just thinking.....MY BREATH MUST SMELL SO BAD RIGHT NOW! Although I've had relationships in the past with no problems, since all this crown business it seems impossible. How would I ever be in a relationship with someone now? I can hardly talk to people without being at least a safe distance away.

Gosh this question is so long. I'm sorry. If you've made it reading to the end of this then thank you so much. I can't really speak to anyone about this because its so embarrassing, so if nothing else, its helped writing all this down.

I just want to know of a way I can get my crowns to stop smelling. Then I think i'll be fine or at least i'll be able to get by with life somehow

Right now I don't want to live...as drastic as that sounds.

Any advice will do....thank you so much