I’m outside the dentist and terrified

[Dontwanttodothis22]

Anyone want to give me a nudge to actually go inside?!

My appointment is in 10 mins, I am so terrified. It has been years since I’ve been for a check up. I have one tooth that broke off a few months ago, and I can see the old filling just hanging on. It’s starting to hurt 😞. I have others with visible holes in 😞. Just feel embarrassed and so scared. And probably also going to be broke soon as of course I have had to go private. Help!

Sending a hand hold. My private dentist was extremely fanciable!

Don't be embarrassed. First off be grateful you've got an appointment and realise that the dentist and their nurse are there to help you. If something's starting to hurt now you know it's much better to go in and let them start fixing it rather than wait until it's an absolute emergency and you can't get an appointment.

It's expensive, but a really good investment in your well being and comfort which benefits you every minute of the day.

Good Luck.

Is it just a check up initially? When I'm nervous about check ups I comfort myself that there will be no needles jabbed at me, the worst they do is pick at your teeth a little with a scraper, nothing bad will happen today.

If you're having work done - thank the heavens it's the 21st century and they have anaesthetics. A tiny bit of pain and then it's just uncomfortable but shouldn't hurt. And advocate for yourself, have a plan. If you feel anything you will tell them to stop and give you more. That is your right as the patient, it shouldn't cause you pain. I've had plenty of fillings and even a root canal, only ever had twinges of pain where dentists have been impatient and not let the drugs kick in enough, I know now to explain that I'm nervous and make sure they use enough. I still shake sitting in the chair but it's managable.

Don’t be embarrassed! I know it’s hard but it’ll be over within minutes and if there are any issues they can be addressed in time and if there aren’t any you can go home with lovely super clean teeth. Be brave!

I'm at the dentist too. Haven't been for years. We can do this!

Do it !!

I was you yesterday. I hadn't been for 5 years, and was terrified. But I realised I was more terrified of leaving it any longer and problems getting worse.

I thought the dentist was going to be cross and shout at me, as it had been so long, but he was lovely. Very patient and said I could stop him any time and he would stop as it was important I trusted him and felt comfortable. Then when I was ready he would start again, no matter how long it took to get through the check up and treatment.

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and I feel much better today. For me the fear of going was worse than actually going.

Well done to you and OP.
I hadn’t been in years and was terrified but made myself go. I’m so glad I did even though I still get really scared.

Thank you. I made it inside, have forms to fill out but my hands are shaking 🙈. They are running late apparently as well. I think it’s a check up only… I booked it as a new patient appointment but they asked if I was in pain and I had to say yes, so don’t know what to expect.

good luck @lisavanderpumpscloset when is your appointment?

Just want to add how brave you are . Tooth pain is the worst ... but you are doing so well to have got an appointment and got yourself in there !

Well done Op!!

I have an appointment in an hour. I went in October as an emergency as a tooth broke, I had to have an extraction. The dentist gave me a big list of other stuff that needed doing but I chickened out and haven't been back since. Today is my 'going back to restart the treatment plan' appointment and I feel sick.

We will be fine!

Concentrate on the feeling afterwards when you can go about your day.

You won't spend the long weekend in pain either.

All done and dusted! How are you doing?

I've done the same, nearly left the chair as the procedure started, lost 3kg in sweat but left with no pain, and as relieved as I ever have been in my whole life. The afterwards is worth it!

Im a total dentaphobe. I go for sedation, but means Ihave to find someone to drive me there and back. The total feeling of a huge cloud lifting once Im out again is tremendous. Im 70 and experience of dentist in early years has left me in fear which I still cant get over! Need to go as last visit in 2019 !

Midazolam twilight sleep sedation. The only thing that gets me beyond the surgery door. All work done while you are away with the fairies, and the drug also ensures that you don't remember much of it. Same drug used for colonoscopies and endoscopies, of which I have had many too. Wonderful!

How did it go OP? I braved the dentist early this year having not been for 5 years due to fear and am so glad I did. The dentist was very understanding and I've almost completed my treatment, just one more appointment to go! I really hope they have set your mind at ease

It wasn’t good news at all 😢. Had a full
check up and was ‘lucky’ that they had had a cancellation and could sort out the broken tooth there and then. Said tooth is now gone and I can see the gap when I smile. Still
numb.

On top of that I apparently need 9 fillings! Two of them are under old fillings and really big so she said there was a good chance one or both would turn out to need root canals. I knew I needed some work, but not 9 😫.

Not a fun experience. Dentist was nice but kept
commenting on how much decay there was. I jumped in pain with the air spray thingy a few times when she went over holes and felt like she was tutting at me each time. Totally embarrassed to have let it get this bad.

Anyway how did everyone else with appointments get on?

Mine was good, had a few X-rays, needs 2 fillings (potentially 3). All lovely until I got the bill 🤣

Don't feel embarrassed and let them tut if they want to. I used to have one who spoke to me like a schoolteacher until I reminded her that without people like me with not the best teeth she wouldn't have a job 🤭

Most important thing: YOU DID IT. You overcame your fear, you went in and you faced it. You're gna be fine

Op, this is the worst its going to be. Be proud of yourself. I'd also be relieved that the tooth is gone and not causing any more trouble. How quickly can you get the fillings done? How many will they do at a time.

Ugh it's rubbish. One of mine which was a filling back in October has now progressed to needing a crown. I booked in for it and paid half up front to make sure I go through with it.

I find my dentist quite judgy too but I've gone beyond embarrassed and just think bollocks to it: I'm a grown up, these things happen. He's a dentist, he loves teeth. Maybe I'd be appalled by the state of his bathroom/tax return/electrics insert my profession , you know?

It will be ok OP, stay strong. It will be worth it to have them all fixed even if it costs a fucking fortune

Very recently had a two-hour session in the dentist chair. Not great but not as bad as expected. The most painful bit was paying the 50% deposit which was huge. Private dentistry has always been more expensive than NHS but costs seem to have increased hugely in the set few years. And I get to go again very soon for the other part of the treatment and pay the other half... 🌹