Anyone else dental phobic?

[DISshopkeeper]

Originally posted by 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.

This reminds me of the time I was at the ob/gyn and he was taking an informal poll. This guy was great at conversation and distracting you during an exam. He asked...would you rather be here or at the dentist? He was totally amazed that so many women were choosing the ob/gyn!! For me it was no contest!!

 

[DisneyJules]

Well, it's good to hear I'm not alone. It all started once when my mouth didn't freeze fully, the dentist attempted three times to drill (after each freezing) man did that hurt like hell!

 

[Disney Ella]

DH has a serious phobia about the dentist, after some painful childhood experiences, and really needs a lot of work done. I am going to tell him about the Valium. I am having no luck getting him to go and he really, really needs to go.

 

[loisg1]

Good luck, Disney Ella, with getting your DH to go to the dentist. You might want to mention to him that he can develop endocarditis as a result of neglected dental work that will allow the bacteria to enter the bloodstream and zap the heart.

I know about fear when it comes to the dentist as well from bad experiences as a child. I now have a wonderful dentist, who is an absolute Disney fanatic as well. He definitely does not subscribe to the no pain/no gain scenario. He wants to know immediately if something is causing pain. My thing is listening to the drill as well. I've requested that he let me know when he's done drilling so that I can relax a bit!

 

[Disney Ella]

Endocarditis! That will certainly scare him! (Scaring works with him, so that's good.) I'll have to try that one.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

I have a HUGE phobia...probably one of the worst ever...

I had a really nice dentist before I moved a few years ago and I was still uncomfortable going. It was never exactly fun...

well now, I went to a dentist here and was petrified. I wanted to be knocked out so I wouldn't freak out. The dentist noticed and referred me to a pediatric dentist.

So I went (and was EXTREMELY terrified...I think I was literally crying, if I remember correctly). Well, I went, and they took xrays. The lady that took the x-rays told me to make sure I bit hard or else she'd have to do it again (really rudely, if I must say). Then came time to see the pediatric dentist...a dentist who specializes in taking care of children. I was considered a bit old to go to one, but really wanted to try someone who would understand me, because though I'm too old for pediatric, I'm too young to go to a dentist that sedates you.

So he comes over and says strictly, "If I'm going to help you, you must help me." He pokes around and I make a few muffled sounds because I'm nervous he might hurt me. "I'm not even touching 'such and such'!!!" He snaps at me. All the while, my mom is sitting next to me. He then stops in the middle of what he's doing after I make a few more noises and turns to my mom and says, "I can't help her - she's a NUTCASE!!!"

Needless to say, that made my phobia MUCH MUCH worse!

 

[loisg1]

I flinch in anticipation of pain and my dentist is concerned that I'm in pain. He stopped on Wednesday to check to touching my gum area that should have been numb, at which point I felt nothing. Consider myself very lucky to have the dentist and his staff which is also very kind, that I do.

That pediatric dentist needs to find another line of work IMHO!! Good luck finding someone else.