Help - dentist tomorrow

[thelastgoldeneagle]

I've got a dentist appt tomorrow. First one in five years.

I'm fucking terrified. They might say all my teeth are shite and need to go. Oh, they probably won't, but I have gum disease, I know that, and one tooth is chipped.

I hate the fear, feeling out of control. Help. Any tips to stay calm and not cry??? I've chosen a private dentist who has a good reputation and great reviews for being kind to nervous patients.

I really want sedation if they have to do anything awful - would that be bad??

I had gas and air as a teen and liked that... why don't dentists offer that any more???

Jesus. With Covid anxiety and dentist anxiety, I feel like shit. Words of advice, help and comfort please??!

Nobody??!

Some private dentist do offer sedation. Have you asked the one you're going to?

Just think about after, that piece of mind that you done something for your health. You will be fine (I know easy for me to say) and feel great afterwards as you have done something for yourself. It’s scary but I wish I was inyour shoes, I’ve been trying to get a dentist app for ages, no luck because of Covid-19 😞

And tomorrow explain to the dentist how you're feeling, they will be used to it. Can you take some earphones and listen to music or a funny podcast?

Have you tried something simple like Kalms tablets? Might help for this first visit.

I’m so sorry your feeling like this. I too am anxious about the dentist so I have no words of advice, only to let you know that you are not alone.
I went for the first time in probably two years last week (hadn’t been due to Covid) and it was fine. The relief afterwards felt immense.
It sounds like you have chosen a good one, so let them know how anxious you are and hopefully they will be able to put you at ease.

Have you got something for music? I take my noise cancelling earphones and listen to something calming

Well done for going. Much better to go now then put it off.

Don’t panic. Nothing is going to happen tomorrow, it’s just an appointment to see what’s what. I’m a regular dentist goer and have been for years , I see the hygienist too as I have implants. It’s not my fave thing to do but once you start going you will see a massive improvement and be pleased you went. Poor dental health can cause lots of issues not just with your teeth , well done for making the appointment. They will set out for you what needs doing and do it in stages, it’s not all going to happen in one appointment. Tell them you are nervous, they are very used to this. Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

Dentists have seen a lot worse, I get the impression some wonder if patients brush with the brush the right way around.

They’ll give you pain relief for anything painful anything else would be inhumane. If you need to stop at anytime you can say stop, they can’t force you to do anything. Dental hypodermics are very narrow too and silicone coated so they go in very easily.

We use them at work to make local anaesthetic easier to give.

I have just been through the very same thing. First visit for 5 years and it really, really wasn’t bad. They were lovely. I needed a little bit of a filling repaired. I saw the hygienist but I didn’t have serious gum disease. I have just been back (4 months after my first hygienist appointment) and I have made decent progress on improving my gums with my new fancy toothbrush and better interdental brushing and everything is fine.
I am going to go every 6 months forever now.

One of my best friends is a dentist, and I was just talking to him a few days ago about how he deals with nervous patients.

When you go in, explain how you feel. Ask them to tell you what they’re doing every step of the way if that will make you feel comfortable. Sedation is definitely an option where he works (not sure about the UK if that’s where you are?) but even without sedation, they sometimes provide oxygen masks that help you breathe more calmly.

You can do this. I don’t know how your dentist will be but I’m really crossing my fingers for you that you will have someone as nice as my friend! Most of them really want to help and make you feel at ease. Good luck!

I went today. First appointment in two years due to Covid. NHS. Literally was in there 5 minutes. It took longer to get in the building with all the social distancing measures than the time spent with the dentist.

Hopefully you'll be ok. It's unlikely that they'll do much at the appointment but will have to book you back in again. I've booked a scale and polish which has to be done privately and the first available appointment is in October.