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Original poster

Dentist phobia- have an appointment today

22 replies

KateyCuckoo · 20/10/2023 10:55

I haven't been for a very long time but need to now due to a broken tooth and pain.

I'm so scared. The receptionist was so lovely but my teeth are a state and I'm worried what they will say. Also worried about my reaction, I'll probably cry!

Any nice stories to help me please?

OP posts:
Hearmenow23 · 20/10/2023 11:02

It's OK to cry and well done for going. They've seen it all before. I just close my eyes as soon as I get in the chair. Focus on the relief you'll feel afterwards. This is the start of getting your nice teeth back in order. And remember there are drugs you can take if you need more involved work doing. Update us and good luck!

bumtrumpet · 20/10/2023 11:04

Don't worry about crying. I cry before I even go in for a checkup! Finding a sympathetic dentist has been helpful and they talk me through everything because, for me, the reason I'm frightened is that I feel a lack of control.

oakleaffy · 20/10/2023 11:06

Don't worry! I'm really phobic too...just had to have an old tooth root removed - just got home.
You will be fine!

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Dental health
Sonolanona · 20/10/2023 11:06

Good luck..I'm the same, and next week I'm going to attempt a filling unsedated for the first time... terrified! I've had to move to a private dentist as my NHS one has folded, and I have warned them I'm petrified.

It will be over soon... you can do this!

GrowThroughWhatYouGoThrough · 20/10/2023 11:19

Just explained to them how scared you are. This is what I did to two in the past year and they were both fabulous and talked me through every step. You'll fine, good luck

oakleaffy · 20/10/2023 11:21

I have real trouble with anaesthesia not working well ( since childhood )
so have to have lots of the stuff
I began to panic today and said “ What shall I do?”

the dentist is no nonsense and said “ Nothing- just lie back” 😯😬🙂

I did as he said and it was ok.
Ive only had sedation once- it was bliss.
completely unaware- BUT NHS don’t offer it so I have to be brave- but modern dentistry is so much better than years ago.

Original poster
KateyCuckoo · 20/10/2023 11:22

Aww thank you. I know nobody likes the dentist, I will update later this afternoon after I've been Sad

OP posts:
oakleaffy · 20/10/2023 11:32

Well done, @KateyCuckoo
Let us know how you get on!

MotherEarthisaTerf · 20/10/2023 11:43

I explain when I arrive at the dentist that I’m nervous and that I might cry. I take a fidget to hold in my hand and if I need any work that takes a long time I ask if I can wear my headphones.

i fix a spot on the ceiling and practice deep breaths. My body sinks into the chair. I can do it because I have to and soon it’s over.

30 minutes to an hour after I leave the dentist I will have a hot chocolate for nerves. I’ll plan for the rest of the day to be under a blanket relaxing.

best to be brave and to face up to it like you’re going to do. Imagine how nice it will be to be pain free and worry free at last!!!

Wavessea · 20/10/2023 12:34

Good luck
I cried last time , my dentist was lovely about it (I’m sure I’m not the only patient that happens to)
I have a big procedure later today and absolutely shitting bricks 😂my way of trying to be calming is walking through a holiday
so I went to Rome recently so I focused on that all walking through the streets
it sounds a bit silly but it did help
also know that a lot of people feel the same you are not alone
I have a root canal today and dreading it

EvilElsa · 20/10/2023 12:43

I'm exactly the same OP. I managed to find a lovely, sympathetic dentist this year who noted on file that I'm nervous and does a great job explaining everything and being patient. I had a filling and my heart was thundering throughout! It wasn't nice BUT much better than I thought. He has a TV above the chair and put on a program I liked to distract me. I hope it all goes OK OP it will be over soon

TheFlis · 20/10/2023 12:53

I have been dental phobic since childhood. I hadn’t been for over 12 years and my teeth were an absolute mess. A very prominent filling falling out forced me to go back last year. I was terrified and in bits on the way there.

I had warned them I was nervous in advance and everyone from the reception onwards could not have been lovelier. The dentist did not judge me at all, he looked my my teeth objectively like a project and we have been working on that project together over the last year. They are almost finished now, after very extensive work, and I am happy with my smile for the first time in my life. I’m so relaxed going there now that after a 90 minute invasive session in the chair last week, my Fitbit thought I was asleep 😂

Trust me OP, it will not be anywhere near as scary as you think and you are incredibly brave to make this first step. It will only get easier.

Rosecoffeecup · 20/10/2023 12:55

Best of luck, I hope it goes well. They will have seen it all before and will be used to dealing with nervous patients - please tell them how you feel

FloofCloud · 20/10/2023 13:00

I was so so worried too when I was in the same boat in 2001 - I go regularly now.
I said to the receptionist when I made the appointment 'will he take all my teeth out' ... she said of course not, you'll be fine! I cried in front of the dentist when I walked in and he was so lovely and went through my worries, he told me
My teeth were ok and just needed a little work, and we slowly got through those apppintments - I still worry a bit but I don't leave things now
Good luck and MN are with you, holding your hand x

Hugosauras · 20/10/2023 13:01

I avoided going for 20 years and was utterly petrified of going. It transpires that my teeth were in far better state than I had expected (a total of 3 small fillings required). Also that those fillings were much quicker and less painful than I had expected. The dentist was superb and very understanding/reassuring. It was nothing like my childhood experiences! I no longer have any fear of going.

User0000009 · 20/10/2023 13:04

I had no choice but to go because of agonising toothache. It was a wisdom tooth that needed to come out; just to add to the horror. Honestly, I didn’t feel a thing. I was thinking “please let her start soon and get this over with” but she’d done it!!! Hah! Really was fine. Came out of the surgery elated at my bravery 🤣

Hugosauras · 20/10/2023 13:06

Honestly, you will come on here later on feeling great and saying that it was so much better than you thought it would be and feel so relieved to have gone.

spiderlight · 20/10/2023 13:11

The vast majority of dentists these days are much more sympathetic and understanding of anxiety and phobia. Remember to take deep breaths, hold something in your hand like a smooth pebble or a fidget toy to help distract you, and it will be over before you know it. Think of some distraction techniques beforehand - something like naming TV programmes or bands beginning with each letter of the alphabet in order can work well, or the 5-4-3-2-1 technique. I hope it goes well for you. You'll feel so much better afterwards.

Original poster
KateyCuckoo · 20/10/2023 15:05

OK I'm back.

It was fine, not great, but fine. I cried as predicted but they were very kind, and waited until I was ready before starting.

I need a root canal Sad I mean, I'm glad they think they can save the tooth which I didn't think was possible so I guess that's a positive.

Anyway at least it's got that appointment out-of the way.

OP posts:
MotherEarthisaTerf · 20/10/2023 15:19

I didn’t find the tooth canal half as bad as I found going to the initial appointment. I was horribly worried about what ifs and all my teeth needing to get pulled etc.

root canal is fine after the initial numbing injection. And they use some form of dental dam (?) which covers up what they’re doing so I could breathe freely during it. This felt much better than a normal filling with all the dribbling and what not. And the best bit about a root canal is you’ll never ever feel pain in the tooth again!!!

good pair of earphones and something distracting will do you great. And someone to give you a big hug after it too. I had a sugary cup of coffee and a chocolate mousse as a treat afterwards.

well done for going Flowers

Rosecoffeecup · 20/10/2023 15:26

Well done OP. I've not had root canal but everyone I know that's had one has said it's really not that bad at all. I think it's one of those things that is often referred to as being very scary but the reality probably isn't as bad.

oakleaffy · 20/10/2023 16:06

Well done OP.
Root canal is fine. Especially with modern equipment.
I had one done years ago, and this is the one I had to have out today, sadly, a little bit of root was left and got infected.
BUT that was from over 20 yrs ago

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