Have you ever been hypnotized?

[Tiggeroo]

Does it work? Do you think it would help for fear of dentists?

 

[Angelrose]

I was hypnotized years ago. It's a very nice feeling. You are completely aware of what is going on and you can "wake up" at any time. You are just in a very comfortable, suggestable state. I went for weight loss. After two or three sessions, I could hypnotize myself. It did work....for a while. After that I slippped back into my old habits. I guess it depends on how strong the suggestion is and how you take it. I would say go for it.

 

[arminnie]

I have never been hypnotized, but I did manage to conquer a major fear of dentistry.

I made my first trip to the dentist at three years old. I had to have two teeth pulled and 2-3 filled. I am very old so this was in the days before they did much deadening.

I can STILL remember how much it hurt. For years I just freaked out if I even heard a drill. I remember a dentist having to sedate me just for an exam when I was 9 years old.

Dentistry has come so far in the past 50 years that there really isn't a reason that anyone should have to experience pain.

When I go to a dentist (and I've moved several times so I've had to get new ones) I have a very frank discussion with them about my aversion to pain.

It is very important to have a dentist who recognizes that and accepts that as part of your treatment - no "This will only hurt for a little bit". Even a little bit for just a few seconds is too much for me. Some people would rather have a minute of pain to avoid the shots. Not me.

I went to one dentist who totally numbed the area before he gave me a shot of novocaine so I didn't feel the needle. He also provided gas and then had a tv in the ceiling. I had headphones on - didn't have to hear the drill and could pick a video to watch.

I used to just sit there waiting for the point at which it would hurt - now I know there doesn't ever have to be a point at which I have to experience pain.

 

[Tiggeroo]

i want nitrous even for the cleaning. It's not so much fear of pain as it of all the sights, sounds and smells of the dentist. I start to hyperventilate. I don't care if it hurts afterwards. I"ll pop a few aspirin and lay down with a hot compress.

 

[arminnie]

It's not so much fear of pain as it of all the sights, sounds and smells of the dentist.

I can SO TOTALLY identify with this. I think it's really important to make sure that you have a dentist who understands this and will do everything he can to make it easier on you. I see no problem with gas for a cleaning.

I'm so afraid of pain that I made my dentist give me hydrocodone in case I have pain afterwards. I haven't had to take it (except when I had 2 wisdom teeth out), but I just feel so much better knowing that I have some way to be in control in case it might start hurting later.

 

[froglady]

I also had similar experiences when I was a child, and have paid dearly for it in adulthood.

When my children were born, I asked around to find a good pediatric dentist for them. Even though he is a 30 min drive, and rather pricey, it's worth it to me. My children have never felt pain at the dentist, and DS doesn't even know that he's had novocain injections. I only wish I could go to the same dentist.