Fear of the dentist

dippy3103

A number of years ago I had a very painful trip to the dentist. I havn't been back since.

I know I have a tooth that needs probably removing and need to make myself see a dentist before it becomes a real issue.

I pay for my NHS treatment but can't afford a private dentist.


Has anyone got any advice on finding a dentist that is good with nervous wrecks?

atolaas

Try asking friends and relatives who they go to and if they're happy with the treatment they receive. Check out the websites of local surgeries and see if any of them deal specifically with nervous paitents. Good luck and I hope your able to find a solution soon x

Horace

I too am terrified of the dentist but force myself to go - my dentist is aware of my fears and is always patient. Must admit that I have never had an NHS dentist but find the costs of a private dentist to be comparable.

I found my dentist by recommendation.

suki1964

I have a fantastic dentist on the NHS.

I was dental phobic for a good 30 years of my life. But this dentist has worked with me for 6 years now, and now I ring for an appointment if I feel even a twinge

There are still a lot of caring dentist on the NHS out there, word of mouth usually finds them

Don't stay with a dentist who doesn't listen to you just cos s/he is cheap.

pixo

I am petrified of the dentist. A couple of months ago I was in agony and HAD to get it sorted.

I got sedated (same price as usual with NHS) and honestly it was fine.

Getting in the dentist chair was a task but as soon as I was sedated it was like I really didn't care!

duloch

Similar boat to yourself, had painful mouth for far too long but extremely scared of dentist but pain was getting too much. Asked around friends family to see where they went and also looked on the dentist websites, fb page. Read about the dentist etc. I found a place that I liked the look of and went and spoke to receptionist and hold her fears. Was given a lovely dentist. I thought I might need a tooth out but I was wrong, I'm getting root treatment and also had an infection. I've been there three times in 2 weeks and still few appointments to go. Don't get me wrong I'm still scared and feel panicky before I go in but it's better than the pain.
Do your research and good luck x

dippy3103

Thank you... Nice to know it's not just me!!

I guess I'll have to bite the bullet (no pun intended) sooner or later!!

duloch

Let's us know how you get on.

Savannah02K

Friend of mine was absolutely terrified of dentist but she went to see her doctor and he prescribed valium. She has one of us take her to dentist (she explained to him how nervous she was), gets there bit early, takes her valium, then goes through to see the dentist, then we take her home and she sleeps the valium off for an hour or so. The valium just takes the edge off and a couple every two months (she has gum problems so has to have some sort of special gum clean regularly) aren't going to hurt.

suse*

I didn't go for a good 10 years or more after a lot of bad experinces. Found a briliant one though who let me go at my own pace. First time I went there was someone else there who was a paramedic for their job, but they said he had such a bad phobia for his first visit it would just be go into the room and sit in the chair and that is it. Just so he could get more used to the place and people.

I felt really pleased when I managed on my first visit to let the dentist do the basic checks after hearing that. I have ended up having to go a lot more than other people just as they don't do lots in one visit, eg they did the xrays the next trip as they can check them straight away now. I am back at the hygenist again next week, and apart from being told off for not flossing I'm not scared of her at all now.

Ring around a few once you have some recomendations and just explain the situation, as you won't be the first or last person they would have needed to deal with. My dentist uses hand signals too so if I need him to stop something I just have to put my right hand up, and they stop straight away. I have jaw problems too so it hurts me to have my mouth wide open for a long time, so they only do things for a couple of mins at a time and give me lots of breaks, where years ago they just expected you to sit with your mouth open for the whole time or whatever.

steevi

There's a good website called Dental Fear Central you can google.

I am terrible with the dentist. My current one is private, and I only went after smashing my front tooth back then I couldn't even say the word "dentist" without having a panic attack, so my mum did some googling and found a dentist that specialised in nervous patients. She rang them, booked me in and sent me off.

The first appointment was lovely - Joanne, my dentist, just spoke to me and sat me in a different chair. I eventually got in the chair and let her look in my mouth with a mirror, but that was all I could manage. She prescribed a hefty dose of diazepam for me (40mg!) so that I could return and have the treatment I needed.

Since then, a comvination of diazepam and her patient treatment has meant I'm partway to conquering my fear - last time I went, it was for a check up and I did so with NO sedation. I was really proud.

Good luck