Please calm my nerves!!

[lowie]

I am extremely scared of the dentist. and my teeth have really suffered the consequences. i finally took the first step of calling around for a dentist who will be really nice and gentle. takes my insurance and can do pretty much anything i need in house.
i got a really nice lady on the phone at one office, who really seemed to care. we talked about the doctor for a while, what he's capable of and i made an appointment for thursday.
i'm freaked out! i'm so nervous i feel like i'm going to thrown up!

please dis friends, give me encouragement, tell me i'm not alone and send some good vibes my way that i actually go through with it.

also... if anyone has a similar experience, tell me how you got through it and tell me it wasn't as bad as you'd feared it would be.

 

[Christine]

The pre-anxiety is the worst part. I didn't go to the dentist for 5 years!! I'm lucky in that my teeth/gums are very healthy and I haven't suffered for it.

I go regularly now. Every time I go, it's a real effort and I am a wreck all day. But they have been good with me and nothing bad has happened.

Just remember: the day that you go in--they WON'T DO ANYTHING TO YOU. Even if you have a cavity, all you will get is a cleaning that day. If something is wrong, they will have you come in another day. Worry about that "other" day later. You can get through this in bits and pieces. Remember, you will only have a cleaning. This is not that bad. You will get through it.

 

[Kimmumum]

You will be fine!!!! What is the worst that will happen? On the first appointment they will clean your teeth. That won't hurt and will help get rid of your fear. Just take it one appointment at a time. Tell the dentist about your fears. Alot of the fear is about the unknown. You'll do great!!!!

 

[mcco5543]

First off, you are NOT alone, nor are you nuts for being scared of the dentist. I was born paralyzed from the waist down and becuase of that I see all sorts of doctors all the time and the dentist is the doctor that makes me nervous. Not the surgeons.

Anyways, as a veteran of dealing with doctors here's my advice.

A. Don't forget to breathe through your nose deep and slow..i'm serious, it slows down your heart rate and you won't feel as panicked.
B. ASK your dentist any quesiton you want and ask him to tell you everything he's doing before he does it. If he's NOT willing to do that or he forgets. continually ask him "what are you doing next". A good dentist will be very happy to tell what he's doing before he does it every step of the way.

C. remember you are the BOSS. What you say goes. Find a dentist that makes you feel safe and comfortable.

We Dis'ers are all thinking of you and sending you calming vibes.

 

[hydster]

You are definitely NOT alone! I hate hate hate the dentist! As a result I've had to go more because I didn't want to go to keep up with cleanings and such! You really will be fine on Thurs! They will clean and check your teeth and THEN will schedule you for what you need. If you are really nervous ask the dentist for a mild sedative or to give you nitrous way before he is ready to work on your mouth!

I have a friend who is so completely freaked about going to the dentist she actually now goes to one that will knock her out for the whole time. She found a sedation dentist and now has no problem going to the dentist when she needs work done. They give her a mild sedative, do the work and send her on her way. No listening to the drills and everything associated with dental work. I am considering going to one as well.

Hang in there and make sure you go even if you are scared! You need teeth!

 

[Sherri]

The good thing is that you took your time and found a Doctor who is gentle and a staff that took the time to talk to you.
You will be okay, in the end you will be so glad that you went.

 

[GraysMom]

I also have a SEVERE dental phobia that does not seem to get better. In fact I just went yesterday to have some teeth sanded on the sides before my next Invisalign tray (last time my brother sanded my teeth he found a cavity-to add to the 15 or so I've already had filled twice ). You are definitely not alone . I wish DB lived closer to me so I could just have him as my primary dentist. Anyway, I start to get nauseaous and on edge about 3 days before my appts. I finally asked DB if there was anything I could take to calm myself down. He called in a prescription for a Xanax tablet to take a half hour before my appt (plus an extra one so I could try it beforehand in case it upset my stomach). I took the trial one Fri night and didn't feel any different, though I slept better than I have in YEARS. I wish I could tell you the Xanax calmed me down, but I wasn't able to take it since I broke my wrist Sun night and had to take tylenol/advil for that, and I don't like to mix drugs. So you might consider asking about Xanax to take before you go (unfortunately it doesn't help the several days before the appt, but it's a start). I wish someone in DB's practice would do sedation dentistry. Better yet, knock me out at home and wait till I'm back home to wake me up ! Good luck fellow dental phobes!