Petrified of dentists but have no choice

Violetta_2

Well done on making the appointment, I hated the dentist,wasn't as scared as you (and from your past experience that fear is totally understandable), I didn't go to the dentist for years once I left home as my mum wasn't making me. Then I got terrible toothache, forced myself to go. It was so scary, he checked my teeth then told me what treatment I needed-I promptly burst into flood's of tears. The dentist was so lovely & patient & it's thank's to him I am no longer scared & go to the dentist regularly.
Good luck it won't be easy but it will be so worth it in the long run.

uolypool

Well done for booking the appointment , you will be fine ,
I was petrified of the dentist , after a harrowing experience when I was a lot younger.Didn't see the dentist for years , even though i took the children from when they were tiny. Had really bad toothache a couple of years ago and finally amitted defeat and registered at the childrens surgery but had to go to the hospital dentistry dept for immediate treatment.Just wanted to get rid of the pain so asked them to pull the diseased tooth.Instant relief, however when it was time for my dental appointment I wanted to back out but managed to get myself there and sat in the chair shaking like a leaf:o.Fantastic dentist , thoroughly understood and tried their very best to make the trip as plesant as possible now I have no problems with visiting my dentist and might even go as far as to say I now look forward to it:eek::eek:;).They always have relaxing music playing in the background which I think helps.I also never take the kids with me or have my appointment at the same time would hate myself if they developed a dentist phobia because of me.
Well done you again:)

SnowyOwl_2

Well done on making your appointment, you will feel so much better (and braver!) after you have been. In the meantime could you look into practising relaxation techniques? If you practice lots you might be able to put your mind in a different place while the dentist is working. When you are there also remember that you are not going to be in there forever, but rather for a very limited amount of time. For the time you are in the dentist's you will be perfectly safe and secure, maybe focus your mind on that. Perhaps you could have a look at some "self help" books which spell out techniques for managing fear and putting it into perspective. Your past experience is of course very real, but it is definitely in the past and is over. The dentist you are going to see is a different dentist, and s/he will use improved methods, use new, modern tools. You are also now an adult, and your overall experience will be different and better this time around.

p00hsticks

Cookiee wrote: »

Well peeps the deed is done. I have an appointment (thanks to my work mate who had no idea my fear was this bad) with her dentist. It is a lady dentist and even though they stopped taking on NHS patients they agreed to take me on as the dentist is very good at treating people like me.
They have said that they will take their time with me.

I don't usually frequent this board so am coming to this thread a bit late, but just want to say 'well done'. I know how you feel - I hadn't been to a dentist for years until the point last year where my teeth got so bad (culminating in one of my front ones just falling out) that I had to try to overcome my fear. I found a dentist who was recommended for nervous patients, and was petrified and in tears phoning up to make the appointment. But he was very good - he allowed plenty of time for the first appointment, just letting me sit in a normal chair and chat for a while before he even looked in my mouth. I've completed the course of treatment now, and feel a lot better because of it. I don't think anyone every likes going to the dentist, but hope you find, like me, that it gets more bearable each time you go.

Best of luck with it all!

Cookiee

I have the dentist on Wednesday and as I am typing this I feel sick!
I know I have to go .... and I know that I cant let the past scare me but I am scared. A grown 30 yr old woman scared!

I know I cant escape as my boss will frog march me in there and if nessessary he said he would sit on me until they have checked my teeth :-P

Wish me luck all and I will post on Wednesday night how I get on ....

penguin83

Good Luck Cookiee, let us know how you get on. I have got to the same point too of not being able to put the dentist off any longer. My problem isn't so much a fear of the dentist but more embarrassment as to the state of my teeth. If I knew the dentist wasn't going to be horrible to me I would be quite happy with injections, drilling etc but the thought of actually getting through the door makes my blood run cold! xx

Cookiee

Update !

Well I went to the dentist today. I was sooo scared but my boss literally frog marched me out of the office. I went into the reception and they were all so lovely! They knew I was going to be really nervous so the lady at reception said for me to sit near her and she just kept jabbering away to distract me.

Anyway time came for me to go in and I was feeling sick. The lady dentist was wondferful. She sat me down and asked me to explain what I was scared of and I explained about what happened to me. She then put her arm around me and said that she was sorry to hear of this and could understand why I was scared. She said that I was in total control and nothing would happen until I was ready. TBH I was getting more relaxed speaking to her and the nurse that I managed to sit back in the chair to let her check my teeth. I was expecting an embarressing telling off but this never happened!
She told me that yes my teeth were bad but were very clean. She said that my teeth were not as bad as I was expecting and that she would be able to save 3 of my teeth. However she did say that I would need to have 2 teeth out :-( but that it looks like I would be fine to have a bridge or some implants as there is lots of bone in my jaw to have this proceedure. But again she said the main challenge was coming and facing my fear!

Yay!!! It was so easy and relaxed. She made me feel comfortable and everyone there helped me.
I am not saying that I am glad to go because even though it was a nice experience it is still going to the dentist :-P The 1st step is done so now I have to have treatment every other friday for the next few months so I can just have little chunks of treatment at a time.

Thank you all for your support. I know I have a long road ahead but with now the help of this lovely practice I know that I will be looked after.

For those who are scared .... find a dentist who will understand you and your fears. It might take 1 trip or several but remember it's your chompers and only you can decide how fast to move forward with your treatment. :-D

duloch

Well done cookiee. Thanks to your posts and everyone elses I am also going to get past the first step and find a dentist. I dont have a phobia as such but more embarressed as I havent been for years and have now recently started getting sore gums and broke half a tooth. Money is a problem for me as I dont work full time however I will go to the chemist and pick up a form for payment help. Now to find a dentist who take on nhs in scotland.

suki1964

Thankyou for coming back and posting how it was for you. I'm so glad you made it to the appointment and sat through it.

Like you say it's the first small step but it's an important one you now have a dentist you trust.

Good luck with your treatment.

Torry_Quine

duloch wrote: »

Well done cookiee. Thanks to your posts and everyone elses I am also going to get past the first step and find a dentist. I dont have a phobia as such but more embarressed as I havent been for years and have now recently started getting sore gums and broke half a tooth. Money is a problem for me as I dont work full time however I will go to the chemist and pick up a form for payment help. Now to find a dentist who take on nhs in scotland.

At least your check-up will be free.