Anyone else dental phobic?

[DisneyJules]

I have to set a dentist appointment tomorrow. I am PHOBIC and terrified of the dentist. I have put this off over and over again. They have to check for my wisdom teeth which I know I have on the tops from my x-rays on my last visit. It freaks me out! I haven't had the greatest experiences at the dentist, I have experienced much pain in that chair. Anyone else feel the same way or offer any advice?

 

[eeyore74]

Yep - huge phobic here. My parent's fault. I never went to the dentist at all until I was 21 when I broke a tooth and ended up having to have a root canal.

I always tell my dentist I'm terrified and give him a short explanantion as to why. They are usually very understanding and will help you keep calm. My dentist is pretty funny and usually he'll talk about all sorts of things to keep my mind off my mouth. Both of the dentists I've been to have also given me a "signal" to use when something hurts or doesn't feel right.

They have really made dentistry less painful in the past few years. Just try and relax, remember to breathe, slow and evenly, and let the doc know about your fears. If at all possible, can you bring a friend? Just knowing someone is there for you can help, too.

Good luck!!! And some *eeyore hugs* from a fellow phobic!

 

[Kama89]

Too long a story to get into here, but yeah... major dentist wimp here. Nitrous used to be the answer for me (even for cleanings... I am the Queen of wussies when it comes to dental visits) but after a nightmare reaction to nitrous the last time, they've switched to Valium. Eeyore gave some wonderful advice... breathe deep and a signal is a wonderful idea!! Me? Just drug me and wake me up when it's over.

 

[ToriLammy]

Definitely dental phobic here. I found a dentist who really understands me, she prescribes valium, I take two before each appointment. Plus once I'm in the chair I get the gas. I normally end up falling asleep, she does her thing, wakes me up at the end. I really like my dentist now for the first time in my life I don't mind going to the dentist. I had my wisdom teeth out when I was in the Air Force, I went in at 17 and didn't have my wisdom teeth out until I was 24 - why because all of the dentists wanted to do it as an in office procedure - no way. Finally found a dentist who put me in the hospital, knocked me out and took all 4 at once. They never bothered me but for some reason the AF really felt I needed to have them out so... that was the only way I'd agree to do it.

Tori

 

[cassie]

I still dread the dentist after 50 years. But they are improving on pain management. My dentist now I've had for 5 years, and when I first went I told him I was a wuss, and he is so good at making my visit as pain free as possible. I still hate to go, but I keep scheduling every 6 mos.

 

[aunt lissa]

WOW!! And I always thought I was the only one! The dentist gives me valium before I walk into his office. I get so sick to my stomach just looking at that chair. Well glad to know I'm not alone in this!

 

[Mishetta]

If any of you come to MI, I'll refer you to my dentist, who is not only so gentle when it comes time to dentistry, but he's such a hoot! He's always got me laughing so hard that he doesn't have to ask me to "open wide!" Also, I don't know how he does it, but he'll ask me questions while his fingers are in my mouth & he can actually understand everything I say!! How does he do that??

If you're not happy with your dentist, find another one! If it's just "you" then by all means, tell him/her your feelings so that they can medicate you accordingly.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Hate the dentist. I had DS to see him Thursday to have a couple of fillings. I'm on the edge of my chair IN THE WAITING ROOM just listening to the drill. Doc calls me back into the office and there is DS... ALSEEP IN THE CHAIR!!!! I couldn't fall asleep in that chair in a million years. Even if the dentist was on a different CONTINENT I could not sleep in that chair!!!!!! I was, to say the least, totally flabbergasted!

Apparently the phobia was not heriditary in DS's case!!!

 

[CourtasanSatine]

another dental whimp here,soent most of Christmas break year before last on pain meds after major dental work(only good thing was that it could wait till then)

 

[mickey65]

Me too. I had to have major dental surgery this summer...crown lengthing, then the procedure to prep the tooth for the new crown and all. I was so freaked out about it! My dentist calmed me pretty much though, and my dentist also has a new 'neat thing' in his office. They do hot wax hand treatments! You dip your hands in the warm wax, he puts plastic gloves on them, and then warming mitts on top. You keep it in while he does the procedure, the the was slips right off and he gives you some aromatherapy lotion to rub on them. It feels sooooo good! Your hands come out baby soft! I have big dental work coming up again...to remove all 4 wisdom teeth He is going to put me out for that one!

 

[KarenB]

Yep.....all started back when I was very young. I let my dentist know all about it and he and his entire staff have been great!

 

[Tuffcookie]

Wow, there are a lot more of us than I realized! How strange that I take DS to the orthodontist and then don't make appts for myself! I have a tooth in the back, on the bottom of my mouth that I lost part of the filling a year ago. I am just now making an appt to get it handled. I'm afraid it will have to be pulled and then I'll have to pay on a post and crown...OUCH! Seems like every time I go to the dentist it costs big dollars and my dental insurance usually only covers half the expenses.

TC

 

[Nutsy]

Yup, me. I have a real phobia about going to the dentist. I get myself all worked up.

 

[floridaminnie]

I"m not a dentist wimp. Ofter the pain of braces, I've learned to sit back and let them at it. When I had all 4 wisdom teeth taken out at once, I compared it to child birth, not bad at all. He put me under and all four were out in less than 5 minutes.

 

[SAYHEY]

me. i don't like getting gas, though. So I ask for lots of novocaine

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I used to be dental phobic, but not any more!! I went seven years without going to the dentist! But I have had horribly crooked teeth since adolesence. But last year, I just finally got so fed up with my poor smile that I finally decided to get my teeth straigtened, no matter what the cost or pain! So my phobia came to an end, quickly. So in the last year, I been to my general dentist twice, had 8 teeth extracted by an oral surgeon (all 8 teeth at once with only novacane!), and then got braces! I will have braces for more than three years. So now I go to the ortho every six weeks, and I actually look forwards to those visits! What a dental year!

<img src="http://home.att.net/~disneysue/hugsmall3.gif">

 

[Planogirl]

I'm very scared of the dentist. Part of the problem is that I have gum disease and that makes it all worse.

I did have a dentist that I finally trusted. I let him replace some teeth and I even had oral surgery which was no picnic. But then we moved and I haven't had the nerve to go to someone else. But if I don't the problems will come back. It's a big problem for me.

 

[winniedapooh]

Count me in too! My dentist, when I see him, prescribes Valium. I am so bad that I will wait until things get bad and then it is a major thing as opposed to something minor.

 

[4greatboys]

I am! I hate going to the dentist. I hate the smells and the sounds. I need a valium to just think about going, lol. I want someone to knock me out, take me, and then bring me home when its over.

 

[Chattyaholic]

I, too, can compare dental work to childbirth...only in my case I'd prefer the childbirth!!! I had two children by natural childbirth and I would rather go through that again, than sit in the dentist's chair. It's been 11 years since I've been, and I do have some problems so I know I need to go but I just cannot force myself to make that phone call. So, as long as I don't have any pain from the problem teeth I just keep putting it off. I know that's bad but I just can't do it.