Fear of the dentist

missblonde

I've been dental phobic for years, as long as I can remember due to bad experiences as a child and only recently went after a 10 year gap between visits. Last time I went I had to have root canal treatment which failed and got infected (worst pain ever) and ended up with a tooth being removed. I was sedated both times so the treatment itself wasn't too horrific, however the dentist was awful and he so unsympathetic that it totally set me back - hence the 10 year break!

Over the last few years I started getting random pains, were gradually got worse and after convincing myself that I was going to have to have all my teeth removed, I eventually decided I had to go - even just to let them look and tell me how bad it actually was!

I did lots of research and ended up deciding to go private as I wanted to be able to build a decent relationship with a dentist in an environment where I felt at ease and sadly my previous experiences seriously influenced this - I know there are good NHS dentists out there, I just haven't been able to find them! I found a lovely surgery who had a dentist who specialised in nervous patients and they allowed me to go and have a check up (no pressure for any treatment and they promised not to poke or prod anything). She was so lovely, explained everything she did beforehand, let me look and and check tools and gave me the choice of what she did and said she would stop at any stage. She explained all the options I could have if treatment was needed, such as sedation or using gel on gums so that you cant feel any injections (my biggest fear). It turns out that all I needed was a very thorough clean, scale and polish and that my pain was due to sensitivity - no treatment needed, not even a filling! They offer a monthly payment plan which I thought would mean I'm more likely to actually go if I'm paying already, plus it works out cheaper than expected.

Please go, it may not be as bad as you think and if you find the right dentist then it makes the whole thing so much easier. Go just to visit first and check things out, I had to get someone to call and book my appointment and then take me there but I honestly think I'll attempt to go alone next time as I feel so much happier knowing I'm being listened too.

Good luck!

themull1

I've never been to the dentist since i was 15, and i'm now 46.!! I will go if i have to, but never had pain yet, so just biding my time...

faerielight

I have to have a crown removed and a new one put in and I'm putting it off as I am scared too.

no.1swimmum

Make you dentist aware of your phobia, ask for a more sympathetic dentist, I am terrified of going even though my dentist is amazing with me, hubbie comes in with me, in fact he makes my appointment and only tells me hours before we go. I am a trembling tearful mess by the time we get there. Last year I had to have quite a bit of work done, we had put off for some time, I was referred to an nhs unit for anxious patients and had what they called awake sedation - everyone there was amazing, understanding and sympathetic it cost me the same as a normally visit I had treatment on 5 teeth for around £45. I think I'll always be anxious I'm sure but my dentist is so patient with me. Have you considered hypnosis, there is a local dentist that offers this, I only found this out a few weeks back, but would have considered had I known. Good luck.

dippy3103

It's a bad experience with an unsympathetic dentist that caused this.. Before that I was nervous but coped.

I'll leave the details out, but when I left that appointment I sat in my car too shakey to drive for a while. Horrible

Chlorine7

dippy3103 wrote: »

It's a bad experience with an unsympathetic dentist that caused this.. Before that I was nervous but coped.

I'll leave the details out, but when I left that appointment I sat in my car too shakey to drive for a while. Horrible

The dentist can give you sedatives to take before you have your tooth out to calm you down but you will need someone with you to take you home.

My current dentist gave me some as I have been left so traumatised by my childhood one that I had to be sedated via injection for years during my 20's to have anything done to my teeth.

Johnmcl7

I was never good with dentists and had a bad experience with one which didn't help either. I spoke to my GP who prescribed Valium but I didn't like the idea of that so I didn't use it and continued to avoid the dentist until I had an infection that I was in agony over.

I gave the valium a go (half dose for the first time) but initially it didn't seem to make any difference at all as I was not in a good state by the time I reached the dentist chair and he told me the tooth would have to come out. However I found that when I sat back and took a deep breath, I could actually relax and let the dentist proceed.

After that I continued to go back and get other dental work that was overdue done as well, each time I took the small dose of valium and by the end of the treatments I was much better with the treatment. Now when I get a twinge or pain I go to the dentist and make sure it's ok, I wouldn't have even considered doing that before.

I was worried about taking valium as I was worried about it being addictive (I know that's ridiculous) and I didn't like the idea of being totally out of it. However I found the small dose worked well in that I was completely with it (I never risked driving or anything similar though) but the valium had the effect of calming the panic normally triggered as I went into the office and picked up the usual dentist noises and smells.

Obviously finding a good dentist is crucial as well - the one I used was extremely good and I had full confidence in his abilities.

John