teeth problem

sunflowersuffolk

Any help or advice would be gratefully received and I apologise to the dentists here who hate patiemts like me, as I know I've brought all this trouble on myself. Even writing this upsets me as I know I have to take action soon.

I desperately need a lot of dental treatment, and at 59 am still terrified of the dentist, I know it's stupid and unreasonable and pathetic but goes back to when I was 4 and had several teeth removed with gas by dentist with blood down his front, my friend also remembers the same man. I have never smoked by have drunk diet coke a lot.

I did find dentist I trusted in my 30/40s, who did a lot of crowns root canal and other work, and knocked me out with (I think) valium in arm, which I preferred. It was NHS but think I paid private for the knock out option. I've no back teeth top or bottom on one side. I was given partial denture but never liked it, so managed without.

That dentist has retired. Found another who'd' knock me out, had to pay for extra anesthetist. Now over time, back of one of the crowns has come off some time ago, two big fillings come out. Second one has come out so I can't eat that side either. I need a lot of work, and cannot afford implants.

On the make over programmes you see people have fantastic dentures but no doubt these cost thousands. I can't afford it.

If I can find a NHS dentist do you think he'd repair my crowns?

I know you can't really give advice without seeing me, but I am so scared and know I have to do something soon as now I can hardly eat either side.

I am so embarrassed to go to a dentist apart from the fear, as I know he will judge me badly for letting this happen. Do you dentists see people like me often? Any encouragement/advice welcomed.

kazmc

I cant help I'm afraid as I am exactly the same!! but I will follow this thread with interest.

I have sporadically had treatment over the last 40 years (I'm 42) but have had some horrendous experiences over the years ... in the first instance the school dentists and the last being not being allowed back to the dental hospital as apparently I became very aggressive when they knocked me out to do some work a few years ago (I remember nothing!) Hence I now have no dentist willing to treat me and cannot afford to go private to be knocked out. My teeth are crumbling away due to having a medical problem that has caused excessive acid in my mouth all my life.

Sorry to hijack your thread but wanted you to know you are not alone!!!

I did email somewhere in London who were advertising for excessively nervous patients and would completely knock you out but the prices started at £12K!!!!

Toothsmith

I can't give you any specifics, or say what can or can't be done for you. Patients frequently think their mouth is in a far worse state than it actually is.

All I can say is that you need to do step 1 - find a dentist.

You won't know anything until you do, and it will all be fear.

brook2jack

If i had 10p for every patient who felt like you... it's far more common than you think.

Good care , even with sedation, will not cost thousands. If you need sedation on the NHS you will have to be referred, it will take a long time but it can be done. Even privately sedation typically costs £100 to £150 extra .

you may want to look at www.dentalfearcentral.org who have some useful tips.

The best thing is to realise that the time has come to do something about your teeth, ask around, book an appointment now and find out what can be done instead of worrying what might be done. You won't be the worst the dentist has ever seen guaranteed and once you have a proper treatment plan then you will be better able to plan how to cope. Good luck and most importantly don't listen to every negative story you hear.... there are millions of nervous people who have found the right dentist to help them conquer their fears.

joyfull

I too had a fear of dentists until... a year ago I fell on my face and knocked out a front tooth & eventually lost 2 more teeth. Honestly - my worst nightmare!

The NHS dentist has been amazing. I've been so impressed. I 've let him know (sent a card) how much I appreciated his kindness & professionalism (he was totally made up as he rarely gets thanked!). I love my denture.

I no longer have a horror of dentists. I still get nervous, but I focus on getting the work done and enjoying the end result. The fear and dread is FAR FAR worse than anything you'll go through at the dentist. It is all fleeting.

The very best of luck. Just DO IT.

brook2jack

Converting a nervous patient to a confident one is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

In the NHS you get so much abuse the occaisional card /thanks is so appreciated by all the staff.

Stephb1986_2

I too am terrified of the dentist but went for a scale at polish at the beginning of August which got me started up on getting my teeth sorted. Some of the dentist on here may remember my thread as I wanted veneers instead of anything else.

Well I considered my options and I am going back to my new dentist in chester for a invisalign brace next week so exciting times really. My teeth aren't as bad as I thought they were and he said it will take 6-9 months in total.

Where are you in the country? If you are anywhere near chester I can recommend the one I have started to go to he is really nice

Steph xx

sunflowersuffolk

Thanks everyone. I am unfortunately nowhere near Chester. I am in East Suffolk between Ipswich and Lowestoft, so if anyone knows a good dentist in the area, I'd be interested.

I am finding it hard to find a really recommended dentist, everyone I talk to doesn't understand my fear and just go to the most local person.

Are all dentists able to give sedation in arm? Or do you have some extra qualification?

If I could find a really lovely understanding dentist I might take the plunge

Thanks again everyone

brook2jack

It's not the qualification that's the problem so much as having the right equipment and staff back up, so not all dentists are set up for IV sedation.


Privately you just need to look for a dentist who specialises in IV sedation. On the NHS only referral clinics will do sedation so you will have to see a general dentist first.


However what worries me is you say you "might take the plunge". Your oral health is not getting any better and won't cure itself. You have to commit to doing something about it yourself... no might... you will get it sorted.

If your friends see someone who they like and trust... not just the nearest dentist, why not make an appointment. If the dentist cannot reassure you then they can ,at least, refer you to a practice that does specialise in sedation, if necessary.

foreign_correspondent

I am scared of the dentist too - I do manage to make myself go occasionally bit havent been for abut 4 years now. I have a hole in one of my back teeth, right next to a big filling, and I know I need to go and get it sorted - but currently I am short on funds, as well as scared, so I keep putting it off. I will watch this thread with interest! Good luck OP

Toothsmith

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

I am scared of the dentist too - I do manage to make myself go occasionally bit havent been for abut 4 years now. I have a hole in one of my back teeth, right next to a big filling, and I know I need to go and get it sorted - but currently I am short on funds, as well as scared, so I keep putting it off. I will watch this thread with interest! Good luck OP

'Watching' this thread isn't going to make the hole go away.

There have been very similar threads at regular intervals over the past few years, and there is no miraculous 'answer'.

At some point, you will need to go out and find yourself a dentist who will fix it for you.

You can either do it now, when you're not in pain, and have the luxury of time to look around and find a nice sympathetic practice with reasonable fees (Or even NHS). And because it hasn't got too bad, it will be cheaper to fix.

OR - you can hang on until the pain is keeping you awake at night, you're banging your head against the wall, and you'd gladly pay someone a couple of thousand pounds to just make it go away.

On that day, you will be at the mercy of the first dentist with a space in their appointment book, and common sense tells you that this (unless you're incredibly lucky) is probably NOT going to be the best dentist in the area.

Your choice.