Dentist fear - any tips?

[Partridgewell]

I have a huge filling in one of my molars, and today a big bit of the back of my tooth broke off. Thankfully it doesn't hurt at the moment. I have managed to get an appointment tomorrow morning, and I know I'm extremely lucky. I'm also absolutely terrified of the dentist - almost to the point of a phobia. I know this is absolutely ridiculous. I am going to take paracetamol before I go and try to control my breathing.

Any other top tips? I would genuinely rather go through labour again than dental treatment.

Hope you don't mind me dropping in here. Something similar happened to me just before Christmas - realised because I could feel the sharp edge of the filling where the bit of tooth used to be. Really hate having fillings! Wonderful dentist who's looked after us for 30 years removed the old filling and replaced filling and missing bit of tooth with new white filling. Not pleasant but survivable. Worst bits are probably the anaesthetic jab going it and then when it wears off. Only thing I wish I'd done was bite down a bit harder when she was checking it but it's tricky when you can't really feel what's happening. Might be worth checking whether Paracetamol at the time is ok and/or whether they can help you with something stronger?

Just be upfront with the dentist about how you are feeling and don't try to hide it. They won't judge at all and they can then be extra gentle and take things slowly, explain everything and ask you if you need a break.

I almost always cry at the dentist from the stress of it, I absolutely hate it and get so scared even though I know it's irrational. But they are very understanding.

Also it made a huge difference for me when I got a new dentist who was much more gentle and had a much better manner than my old one who used to stab my gums all the time and then chuckle about what a 'bloodbath' it was. I actually think my fear was caused by him because I was never frightened of the dentist as a child. But I didn't change for so long because I thought it wouldn't make any difference. My new dentist is so lovely. So if you have a similarly insensitive or clumsy dentist, do try to get a different one!

Thank you. I am tempted to ask if they'll sedate me, but I don't think they'll do that on the NHS, and I have to go to work afterwards.

Mine put numbing gel on the gum before the anaesthetic needle when I had my first filling recently so it was just a pressure rather than a pain. It wasn't pleasant but it didn't hurt. And then I had like a shield over the rest of my mouth with just the teeth he was working on poking through. So no water spraying in my mouth or anything.

Don't know if this is your first time but have a good filling breakfast beforehand because eating with the local anaesthetic in effect is tricky!

Good luck and remember, dental phobia is very common and the dentist sees lots of patients who suffer with it. They won't think you're ridiculous, I promise.

I found since I started wearing noise cancelling headphones and listening to a calming app has helped me get over my fear of the dentist.
I think it was the noise of the drill that used to send me over the edge

I just had a mega molar filling yesterday. Traumatised by hideous old school dentist, as a child, will spare you the details. So felt sick about it for weeks beforehand.
It was more than fine. I did a half hour brisk walk ahead of the appointment, helped to get rid of some nervous energy. I told the dentist I was terrified. They're so used to it. 'Worst' bit was the injection - which is quick and really not that bad at all. It was all undramatic really and I'm a very, very nervous patient. Also, kept reminding myself that we're actually lucky to have access to a dentist/anaesthetic etc - lot of the world doesn't and vast majority of people history didn't.

You can be referred to community dentists for sedation but the waiting lists are very,very long. Two to three years in my area. That's a long time for something to get worse.

Try and get some Valium and stronger painkillers

You are so right. It's not my first rodeo. I once had eight fillings in one go, about 20 years ago when it was free because I'd just had a baby. The last time I had a filling, a few years ago, I asked the dentist for double the amount of anesthetic, and I couldn't feel my mouth for about 9 hours afterwards 🤣

I do feel very lucky. I know toothache is miserable. But, my lord, I really do hate it!

I have extremely sensitive teeth and gums so I do sympathise. I hate going to the dentist but have had to go several times in the last year because a couple of molars did break and were gouging agonisingly at the underside of my tongue. So I had no choice.

For me it is the anaesthetic injection going in that is the worst, and I need plenty of it. I have found though that asking them to plaster my gums and jaw with numbing gel worked well for me and made it, if not painless, then much more manageable.

I generally find dentists quite sympathetic. Mine even admitted that she is herself nervous of actually having dental treatment for the same reasons I am.

So, how did it go??

It was ok, thank you. She filed down the sharp point, which was not painful and I'm booked in for two appointments in April - one to replace the filling, and one for a partial crown. I'll worry about them closer to the time.