Terrified of the dentist!

Clareel

Persistence not perfection
Hi all, I'm just wondering if anyone can offer any practical advice - I need to go to the dentist, I have a hole in my tooth which I know needs filling. It's been there for months and is causing me severe pain (not all of the time, probably for an hour or so per day).

The problem is, I'm absolutely terrified of the dentist. Even thinking about it now is making me feel uncomfortable and I just can't bring myself to make an appointment.

I haven't been for about 2 years (I know...) and I just don't know how I'm going to get myself there, I always used to bring my mum to hold my hand as such but she passed away last year and I don't feel like there's anyone else I can ask to come with me.

I know I'm being completely irrational, and usually I am quite sensible in terms of my health but the fear preventing my from actually ringing up and getting an appointment.

I know if I don't get this sorted I'm going to end up with some sort of horrible infection but I just don't know what to do.

Any help appreciated!

X
 
If the tooth is causing you severe pain, you'll more than likely need it removed. Why? Cos you waited so long.
I'm the same as you, and absolutely hate going to the dentist, but in all fairness if it's a choice between visiting the dentist for a filling, or visiting the dentist to get a tooth taken out, I'll pick the filling every time.

Don't wait so long next time. Tell the dentist how scared you are, and the dental nurse will probably hold your hand. Sounds funny, but they hear it a hundred times a day. The dental nurse holds my hand if I need her to. And really, it's not so bad. They have that gel stuff that numbs your mouth first so you don't even feel the injection anymore.

Promise yourself something nice afterward if you get through it by yourself. A nice new top or even a special meal this evening.
 
Thanks mandy. I didn't realise I would need the tooth to be removed but in all honesty I would much prefer that to a filling. The thing that scares me so much is the sound of the drill and I had a bad experience before were the injection didn't go in the right place (according to the dentist) and I could feel him drilling my tooth, the pain was unbearable and i'm terrified of it happening again.

This tooth is near the back so having it removed wouldn't be so bad. I need to make sure I don't ever need another filling I think because I can't cope!
 
Hate to break it to you hun, but having a back tooth removed is actually worse than having a front one removed, cosmetics aside. I had a back tooth removed about ten years ago that went horribly horribly wrong. The injection didn't work for me, either, and I felt every bit of it. But even had the injection worked, the removal would have been difficult because the roots were going in all different directions, as back teeth sometimes do. Front teeth are much more straight forward.

But still, I know that I still want to be eating with my own teeth when I'm fifty lol so I'll go to the dentist if I need to.
 
Tell the dentist you are nervous they may have a colleague who is experienced in treating nervous patients.
Take your mp3 player and play music whilst the work is going on.
Remember it's a few minutes of your life, you can do a few minutes!
Not all back tooth extractions are bad, I had my wisdom teeth removed when I was pregnant with Dort, it wasn't pleasant sue to his dodgy technique of using my bump as leverage but the extraction was fine.

Remember though just by going when you feel this way means you are incredibly brave!
 
i was petrified of dentists and didn't go for 13 years. i went to my doctors and explained i needed to go for a check up and a clean but i was terrified and i was prescribed diazipam to calm my nerves, well it basically sent me into a light trance but it made me realise how its not so bad. the next time i went....3 months later i braved it without a tablet and i had my teeth cleaned, that went ok but i needed a filling a couple of weeks later. i wanted to take the tablet cos i hate the thought of drilling but i also needed to drive there, so i braved it and went it alone. i was numb with fear when i arrived but he assured me my gums would be numb and i wouldnt feel a thing, and i didnt, its was over with within 15 minutes and the only pain i felt was some sensitivity afterwards for a bit. bachs rescue remedy also helps me a bit now, i am still scared but i go because i never want to feel the fear i did before, it used to cause panic attacks at just the thought. book and app and go, speak to your gp before hand if you need to, it might not be as bad as you think :)
 
Thanks for your replies guys, I have actually had a back tooth out before and it was no where near as bad as the filling, that was literally the worst experience of my life!

I've just had a look online for local dentists (I've moved since my last visit so need a new one) and have found one not too far away which welcomes phobic patients. I'm going to go down there tomorrow morning and register :(

I actually have some diazapam there that I got prescribed after my mum died, I may take one before my first appointment.

Thanks again for all you help.
 
Clareel said:
Thanks for your replies guys, I have actually had a back tooth out before and it was no where near as bad as the filling, that was literally the worst experience of my life!

I've just had a look online for local dentists (I've moved since my last visit so need a new one) and have found one not too far away which welcomes phobic patients. I'm going to go down there tomorrow morning and register :(

I actually have some diazapam there that I got prescribed after my mum died, I may take one before my first appointment.

Thanks again for all you help.

Don't forget to tell him/her you've taken diazepam or will be taking it.
 
I'm not scared of my dentist cos he's very well qualified!

He keep his plaque on a wall;)

Ok, I'll get my coat......:8855:
 
hi im exactly the same i rang round and found a local dentist that was good with phobic patients i now have a check up there but any work is done about 20 mins away at a another dentist under iv sadation and i have to say it is a life saver you should just ring round and ask its well worth it
 
Don't forget to tell him/her you've taken diazepam or will be taking it.
I will do thanks Shirleen x

I'm not scared of my dentist cos he's very well qualified!

He keep his plaque on a wall;)

Ok, I'll get my coat......:8855:

Haha!

hi im exactly the same i rang round and found a local dentist that was good with phobic patients i now have a check up there but any work is done about 20 mins away at a another dentist under iv sadation and i have to say it is a life saver you should just ring round and ask its well worth it

I was going to ask about this, I asked my last dentist about it and he went "Don't be so silly, sedation is for little children you're a grown woman!" so that put me right off!

I think part of the problem is that I just need a new dentist, just getting ready to go now and register - wish me luck!
 
i can assure you your dentist is so wrong the dentist i have my sedation hold clinics every sat morning and there is always a wait of about 4 weeks and they only deal with over 16 year old so defo not just children i had it done about 6 weeks ago for a filling we cant help how we feel some people just dont realize that a phobia is so different from being frightened you do need to find the right dentist but if you ring round you will find one that can refer you to one that offers iv sedation
 
let us know how you get on x
 
i can assure you your dentist is so wrong the dentist i have my sedation hold clinics every sat morning and there is always a wait of about 4 weeks and they only deal with over 16 year old so defo not just children i had it done about 6 weeks ago for a filling we cant help how we feel some people just dont realize that a phobia is so different from being frightened you do need to find the right dentist but if you ring round you will find one that can refer you to one that offers iv sedation

let us know how you get on x

Thank you so much for your help hun, I now have an appointment with a dentist tomorrow morning. They specialise in treating phobic patients and do offer IV sedation for fillings etc. Only spoken to the receptionist but he was so reassuring, he said lots of their patients are phobic and they are used to dealing with it.

Still absolutely bricking it! But feeling a little reassured and hopefully will get this tooth sorted soon

:)
 
iv sedation works a treat and once you have had it once you will be ok about having it again i still feel sick just before i go in but as soon the needle is put in the back of your hand the stuff starts to work you wont be asleep but you will just be so relaxed you dont care what is going on good luck hun hope all goes well
 
urghh can relate to this 110%

i need a few fillings pain everywhere i had a root cannal come out taking half the tooth away from the tooth next to it hmm last christmas! and still not been to get it fixed i have rotating pain from one side to the other so have to chew on a rotating basis :cry:

my fear comes from lack of dentists where i live only dentist available operates like a factory 1 in chair 1 waiting in corridor 10 more waiting in reception! my now 11 year old daughter had a filling that needed to be filled 3 times! because it kept falling out while shew ate soft foods!

urghhh free nice denist plz!!
 
Best thing to do (apparently) is to grab him by the crown jewels:eek: whilst coolly whispering "We ain't gonna hurt each other are we?"

;)
 
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