Fear of Dentist

[RunningJo]

Can anyone help... I am terrified of the Dentist. I always go for my check up, my Dentist is nice. Previous Dentists were also ok, and at no time have I had painful treatments, so no idea why I feel like this.
It has got worse with age (I will thank Menopause for that as it seems to effect everything else). Anyway, I think I am possibly going to need some work doing (not sure what yet, but likely a crown or root canal).
My Dentist doesn't offer sedation but there are local private ones that do (my Dentist is NHS). Has anyone ever used sedation or acupuncture to help with this annoying fear, or can anyone suggest anything else that may help other than knocking back a large glass or 3 of wine before I go (because I am absolutely sure that would be frowned upon 😂)

Honestly just have a couple of glasses of wine before you go for treatment.

I think we could be friends in real life with that advice 😂😂

Where I live, the NHS dentist I am with is able to refer me via the NHS to a dental practice in a neighbouring town for a dentist there to carry out the sedation.

I've got this phobia as well. My dentist will refer me to a another NHS dentist for sedation, which is a lot better for me.
I am ok with having fillings done as my dentist lets me wear headphones and listen to music. So I lay there listening to Metallica to drown out the sound of the drill 😀

There are no painful treatments. The painful thing is tooth infections and decay etc.
The only thing that hurts a bit is the injection. Then the treatment area is numb. You can feel vibration a little and obviously water if it's used but they stop it from going down your throat.
My private dentist prescribed me diazapam for when I had quite a few fillings done. You could always ask?
But the treatment itself honestly doesn't hurt. It's great you go regularly for a checkup, which means your less likely to need fillings etc. but please don't worry. Having horrible broken and rotten teeth is much worse than any dental treatment. Not saying you've got those, but I used to. Didn't go for 8 years. I'm so glad I did and now feel confident in my teeth.

Isn’t that only for extractions though? NHS won’t cover sedation for fillings

Thank you , I may ask about this.

Thank you, I will see if that is an option. I have always played down my fear to the Dentist so don't think he understands how real it is. I've only ever had check ups with this Dentist so he hasn't seen the 'real' me 😆

You're absolutely right, and I think it's the thought of it more than the actual work. The sound of the machines they use, I also can have sensitive teeth which doesn't help. I think it's just a case of speaking to my Dentist so he knows how real my fear is. Thank you

I listen to podcasts usually choose funny ones turned up loud and I find this helps ( I also chant nothing lasts forever nothing lasts forever ) and I remind myself he has to go home for tea and no one is left there it’s over in a short time

I like the headphone idea (that and the glass of wine idea 😂)

Thank you - a podcast is a good idea and you're right, it doesn't last forever - just feels like it at the time doesn't it.

Thank you for the replies, I think an honest chat with the Dentist and downloading some music and podcasts may help... still not totally discounting the wine idea though!

Let your dentist know, I just said I’m a big feartie ( Scottish for I’m a coward 🤪)
and I have told him I might hold my hand up to stop and take a second he was fine with that but since listening to podcasts it’s been ok and I’ve not needed to do that.
You’ve got this op and reward yourself after for being brave!I have a big cream cake and props undo all the good work 🤣

I think I definitely need to tell him, I always make a joke of being a wimp, but laugh it off. I am 100% on board with the reward at the end 😁

@RhubarbandCustardYummyYummy

As an adult I have never had / needed an extraction.
as a child I believe / think I may have had 2 extractions - to make room ? before having a brace fitted.

as a child the ' sedation ' was completely different, I can only recall a violet smell and a mask over my mouth / nose for me to breathe in the ' sedation '
apparently that method was done away with years ago.

my ' current ' sedation consists of an injection into a vein ? and it's not the actual ' dentist ' that does that.it works for me as I have no recall of anything at all.

Wow! Where abouts in the country can you get sedation for NHS adult fillings?!?!

Newton Abbot, Devon

Another nervous nelly here, leftover from the awful school dentists of the 70s..i am fortunate to have an NHS dentist who is lovely so i force myself to go regularly and when having a moment i remind myself that people willingly pay ££££s to have cosmetic procedures done for a perfect smile so it cant be that bad, also the alternative is grim and id hate to lose the teeth i have

moves to Devon

True, I won’t be rushing off to have anything done that’s for sure 😂

That would be useless for me as I have a phobia of needles as well. I screamed (or yelped like a cat does when you accidentally stand on them) when I had an injection recently, the time before I bit down on my scarf to stop myself crying. It all goes back to my childhood where I was in and out of hospital. Had monthly blood tests, scans etc. I remember one really traumatic experience in the CT scanner, it's haunted me to this day.

The dentist is my worst fear, I hate people near my mouth, I hate being unable to move my mouth whilst someone messes around in there.

@XxSideshowAuntSallyx

Yes I now have the needle issue too - ever since i had a small operation and it took 4 different people and 10 attempts to get the needle into a vein for the cannula and made worse after that by all the Covid vaccinations.

@RunningJo and @RobinHumphries

Yes that is the neighbouring town !!!

I have always played down my fear to the Dentist

Tell then and give them a chance to help. I always explain that I find it really difficult. Current dentist listened carefully, promised to use as much sedation as possible, to numb the gum before injecting and that they would keep a close eye on my right hand.

If I raise it they will stop immediately

They also suggest that we only feel pain on the in breath so encourage me to exhale and let the inhale look after itself.

I trust them to do this. It has the brilliant side effect that I'm now mostly thinking about exhaling and wondering whether I can feel anything. It's a great comfort that I am in control.

Like PP I've never had to raise my hand and have had some fillings done too front where he promised the injection would be more uncomfortable than the treatment and I fully believed them and still managed ok.

Hope you find someone equally good.

Thank you everyone, really appreciate the advice. I will definitely speak to him before hand.