to feel extraordinarily proud of myself for going to the dentist?

[prettypurpledaisy]

I am extremely phobic about dentists and yesterday broke a tooth so had to go. First visit in 7 years, need alot of visits to the hygenist but no other major work.
I did cry like a baby in the waiting room but was ok in the chair escpecially when I realised the nurse was an ex pupil .

oops especially.

YANBU maybe a little irrational, but that's what a phobia is all about eh?

Well done you, seriously. Its similar to asking my DH to stick his hand in a wasp's nest I guess, so for that alone, give yourself a shiney!

YADNBU.Well done. You've every right to be proud of yourself. It's not an easy phobia to overcome.

I know because I recently did the same after five years of avoiding the dentist. An excellent and understanding dentist makes all the difference.

Well done

I'm not keen on the dentist, but I'm far more scared of the state of my teeth if I didn't go.

That's brilliant you only have to see the hygenist.

Pour yourself several a large 'un!

Well done. I too have a dentist phobia so completely empathise.

YANBU, well done! It's a difficult fear to overcome. Have a glass of something nice to celebrate.

I am so scared of dentists that I hadn't been for 10 years and I only got up the courage to go to set a good example for DDs.

I had to have a filling and was literally shaking from head to foot on the chair but I was soooo proud afterwards.

Well done you! I mustered the courage to go in July for the first time in about 18 years - reasoned that as I am pregnant I have to nip this phobia in the bud now (while the dentist is free!) to avoid passing it on to my DC. I was SO proud of myself, especially when I realised it's nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be!

Well done you. I'm the same, complete terror of dentists. Here in Sweden I get gas (the stuff you have when in labour) it's wonderful.

Thank you everybody, I feel very proud of myself but a little bit foolish to be so terrified.

I don't think it should be defined as a phobia, because it's a bloody rational fear, dentists can fucking hurt!!

Why would anyone want to willingly put themselves in that situation?

I've just started a thread about your thread

Very well done!!! I had a dentist phobia throughout my childhood after having several teeth out when I was about 7 with gas. My DM found a lovely new dentist after that who was great but I was always terrified. The only thing that cured me was actually working as a dental nurse for 6 months when I was temping.

I loved it, loved looking after the patients and I learned a lot. I saw lots of patients who were as scared as I was and saw that there is nothing that can't be numbed beforehand. I saw quite a few people who were too scared of injections to have one before a major filling but had to stop the dentist many times during the procedure because it was too painful.

Seriously, dental injections do not hurt anywhere near as much as the pain of having your teeth drilled. It lasts seconds. Once you're numb it's all good. I even booked a lip wax after one of my root canal treatments as I knew it wouldn't hurt!

I know not everyone can work as a dental nurse but please, your dentist does not want to hurt you. Ask to be numbed. They know how to do it painlessly.