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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to hate lying completely flat at the dentist?

71 replies

partystress · 31/10/2013 16:13

I have never had a dentist phobia before but am getting v stressed by new dentist. She is a bit abrupt and bossy, but I am beginning to think it's more the fact she tips me right back in the chair - my feet end up higher than my head. I feel like I am gagging before she even gets going, and then the dental nurse keeps bumping the roof of my mouth with the sucky thing which makes me feel even gaggier .

AIBU because this is the modern way, or should I find a new dentist?

OP posts:

phantomnamechanger · 01/11/2013 13:23

I have a wonderful dentist - who we started seeing 13 years ago before which I had not been for 16 whole years of my life due to bad experiences. All of our children see the same person and they are kind, cheerful, explain everything very well and my teeth are in great condition and my phobia of dentists gone. But he is still always very calm and reassuring because he knows how stressy I used to feel.

My previous dentist when I was in my late teens used to stand astride me in the chair (looking back this made me uncomfortable and was probably very dodgy indeed!) and he had awful halitosis, not a great ad for the profession!

Please shop around, you do not have to lump it!

Mrsmorton · 01/11/2013 13:38

phantom that's great. I hope he knows how much you appreciate him!

greenday123 · 31/03/2015 19:27

As a dental practitioner, this makes me sad. No one should be expected to injure themselves at work- laying down to let the dentist work in a position where they can see also benefits you as we can do a better job. I always want to ask how patients sleep when they say they don't want to lay down.
It's going to be the thing that makes me quit dentistry. You only have to lay in the chair for a short time, we have a lifetime of treatment, let us have our spinal health!

Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2015 19:37

This thread is a couple of years old.

expatinscotland · 31/03/2015 19:43

'I always want to ask how patients sleep when they say they don't want to lay down.'

I sleep semi-propped up due to GERD. I also have PTSD and panic attacks. I haven't seen a dentist in years now because I don't like laying flat and never do.

Dillie · 31/03/2015 19:43

I would try to find a new dentist.

I have had a phobia for as long as I can remember. I had a filling at 5 yo, and according to my mum I didn't cope with it well. I also don't go numb very easily on my bottom jaw, so any work was painful! Didn't help that the previous dentists I had didn't believe me!! I also choked once at a hygienist appointment as the water was too high and I was lying head lower than feet! This reinforced my phobia and didn't see another dentist for years!

The one I have now is brilliant. He takes his time to explain things to me and gives me a few minutes in the chair to do my relaxation exercises. He believed me when I was in pain. I just need a little extra medication (something to do with the way my jaw is and the nerve placement). He did try a shot with adrenalin, but that made me feel really bad for a few minutes!! Worked though!!

My hygienist is also fantastic. She treats me almost sitting up and cleans manually. Takes a bit longer, but she is very gentle.

There are some good ones, just need to shop around

Dillie · 31/03/2015 19:44

LOL!! Old thread, didn't even see that!!

Gruntfuttock · 31/03/2015 19:51

greenday123 Why did you search for and resurrect such an old thread? I don't get it.

Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2015 19:54

Me neither Grunt. An AS for what and why?

Mrsmorton · 31/03/2015 19:57

I always get a warm feeling when I see. Sparkling on a thread. I don't know why, I don't even know you but it's like being in work with all my staff. Just comforting.

As you were,

to hate lying completely flat at the dentist?

Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2015 20:04

MrsM. Before I realised it was a Zombie I was going to post that the dentist can have me in any position they like if it means I can be in and out as quickly as possible.
Mine does go for the feet higher than head option but if it means she can see what she's doing better that's good isn't it?

Mrsmorton · 31/03/2015 20:11

Yes. Life is a lot easier when you can see what you're drilling!!!

I go for fairly level but my chair broke today so I did sitting up until manning levels and my stress levels got so ridiculous that I closed the surgery. Not before clocking up a complaint though.

In fact I'm going to totally derail this thread. I went to my GP and was signed off with stress which is something I never thought would happen. Unfortunately, my employers say that every complaint has to be responded to within 48 hours so I will have to go into work anyway. I know it's not nice to be told you don't brush your teeth properly but if it's true, well, it's true. Still, I'll have to go in and write a response.

Hoping to leave clinical dentistry altogether soon, it's not worth the stress and being public enemy number one. I am done with patients.

Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2015 20:13

They complained about you because you told them their dental hygiene was not up to scratch? How?

MrsM that sounds all arseways.

Mrsmorton · 31/03/2015 20:16

and I had a Martini as well. And went to bed and watched a film

Hopefully this is the bottom of the curve.

Sometimes home truths don't go down very well but I hold my hands up and admit my stress levels probably didn't help the conversation.

CallMeNancy · 31/03/2015 20:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CookPassBabtrigde · 31/03/2015 20:24

The only objection I have to laying flat is that whenever I go to the dentist I seem to have a cold and get embarrassed that the dentist has to see up my snotty nose

Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2015 20:25

It must be frustrating though because if a patient isn't doing their bit you must wonder what the point is?

Hope things get better for you.

Mrsmorton · 31/03/2015 20:27

Cook, I've seen some really rancid things at work. A snotty nose is akin to a bunch of carnations, roses would be nicer but meh. Be grateful for what you have!!

The rancidest was a patient who had part of a toothbrush stuck between his back teeth that must have been there for three weeks judging by the calcified plaque.

So, I'll take a snotty nose.

expatinscotland · 31/03/2015 20:30

Thanks for putting me off eating this popcorn .

ChickyEgg · 31/03/2015 20:31

I always want to ask how patients sleep when they say they don't want to lay down. I always go to sleep on my side But if you think about it, if the patient is flat then the dentist has to lean over? That can't be good for the back either?

I absolutely hate being flat out on my back. I even complained when having a caesarian with DS.

Mrsmorton · 31/03/2015 20:33

One issue is that our magnifying loupes are set up to look at a specific distance so changing things can make life tricky as well!!

I sometimes go for a quick lie down in my other dentists chairs, just to while away a lunch break see how comfy they are.

Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2015 20:34

My dentist sits on a little stool thing with my head virtually in her lap.

Mrsmorton · 31/03/2015 20:36

Yes, I sometimes have to change my scrubs if a patient wears hair gel as their head is sort of touching my tummy.

Don't get as close as the optician though! I can see what he ate for lunch yesterday!! Have to concentrate v hard to not laugh.

Gruntfuttock · 31/03/2015 20:37

"Sometimes home truths don't go down very well but I hold my hands up and admit my stress levels probably didn't help the conversation."

Do you mean you were actually really nasty to the patient?

Mrsmorton · 31/03/2015 20:42

No, not really nasty. I explained what the issue was. They said I was being unreasonable to suggest they didn't clewn their teeth properly. I said "why don't you just make a hygienist appointment and let her explain it to you". By this time I had already had three of my staff taken away to work somewhere else so I was pissed off and didn't really have the time or patience to explain the science to the patient.

I work for an occupational service so patients don't pay, it's all included in their sort of capitation/insurance. That doesn't mean we compromise their level of service, it just means it's more frustrating when they want you to justify free preventive treatment to them which most NHS patients aren't entitled to.

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