to hate lying completely flat at the dentist?

[partystress]

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?

Mrsm I'm worried about you. If you want to chat please pm me. I'm an NHS GDP too so know how it is.
As for the op- I think it should be give and take. I put people in the right position for me but always ask older people, pregnant women etc if they are ok to lie back. I assume fit and healthy (I know their medical history) adults are ok to lie back but would always adjust slightly if they asked. I can do some treatment with the patient sitting up but for me that would exclude root treatment, crown preps- lengthy procedures . I just couldn't do those without proper positioning. An exam, a small filling, a quick scale or an extraction would be ok though. It has never been an issue though, in 15 years of practice.

I shouldn't have read this thread!
I haven't been to see my dentist for about 4 years now, I am supposed to go every 6 months due to long term gum disease. I struggle to breathe when lying flat, a combination of panic attacks and an enlarged uvula meant my last visit was horrendous! I'm sure my dentist regretted telling me to let them know when to stop, my treatment took ages and i was a gibbering wreck when they finished.
I asked if I could be more upright and was told no.
I understand that it's not comfortable or good for my dentists back, but I really cannot face sitting in that chair ever again, I feel panicky just thinking about it, it's bad enough taking the kids in for their appointments (I tell them that my appointments are when they are at school)

Thanks treacle. PM rant sent

I raise my hand when I need to raise my head to swallow and my dentist stops for a few seconds. He also does impressions with me sitting up as otherwise I gag.

I have dentist phobia and the set up of the surgery makes a huge difference to me. I can't stand being out flat as I feel so trapped and can't stand them looming over me.

Current dentist really got me over my phobia - not so much her interpersonal skills as she doesn't really have any, also quite abrupt (I suspect she may be aspie, sorry to amateur diagnose) but a matter of act approach suits me.

she also only reclines the chair about 45 degrees and stands at my shoulder and manages not to loom at all. Even through pretty extreme right at the back root canal work. She also puts tampon like things in my cheeks to soak up the spit so no sucky thing and nurse just hands her stuff and has never been near my mouth. On the odd occasion a bit of suction is needed she does it herself in just a couple of seconds, with nothing else in my mouth. So never got that feeling of a hundred hands and tools all stuffed in there.

Find a different dentist.

Mrsm god that's vile! I suppose a snotty nose is no biggie but it always makes me a little self conscious! And the laying down makes it more bunged up so lots of snotty breathing noises

mrsmorton - hope you're ok. My DH is a dentist and also getting thoroughly fed up as are practically all the other dentists we know. He's thinking of giving up his NHS contract and going fully private.

And sorry if I'm being thick but why can't a pregnant woman lay back? I went whilst pregnant and can't remember for sure but I think I was laid back, not flat, definitely not sitting up though.

Well cool, if your dentist wears loupes, like magnifiers, they can't see your nose anyway. I can see the arch I'm working on (top or bottom) and the about elbow/hand level in my peripheral vision.

It's very hard to see faces with loupes on so I always ask them to put their hand up if they need a rest or a chat or it's sore. I reckon about 15% of patients will, the rest pull faces. Which I can't see. And then wait til the end to tell me how uncomfortable they were.

The baby shape compresses the abdominal vessels like the vena cava dredging anatomical memory and stuff. So it's uncomfortable and fainty. Do I sound like I know what I'm talking about..???

That's good to know mrsm :) I get a little paranoid about sneezing in their face but it's never happened thank god :)

Sorry x post. Ah yes I suppose that makes sense. Now I recall my midwife told me not to sleep on my back too but I had forgotten about that, I never normally sleep on my back anyway so it wasn't a big issue for me.
Yes you do sound knowledgable indeed! :)

Agree mrsm- most pregnant people will be fine but towards the end lying flat gets uncomfy so I always ask.
I tell them to raise their left hand so the nurse can tell me- I wear loupes too although not all the time. I can only see the tooth I'm on with them on, peripheral vision is rubbish. My nurse has to stick materials right in front of me. They are brilliant though, so much clearer!
No one has ever sneezed in my face!
I think private practice is the way ahead really, the 2006 contract was a joke but there could be worse to come I think

Really sorry you feel so stressed Mrs Morton another NHS dentist here all be it in Scotlan please feel free to pm
d

For those questioning Mrs m she has just spent ageof her own time given really detailed answers to common dental problems it can be found in health section titled" dental chronicles" you will find from there she is caring, no one should get injured at work whether they are a dentist plumber nurse etc.

I have injured my shoulders at work treating patient with scoliosis it took about an hour obviously tjis patient could not lie back, but I was off three days afterwards resulting in about 60 other patients having their appointments rescheduled,

Ultimately me making sure I work in correct position ensures maximum number of patients get good treatment, however there is no excuse for rudeness of dentist to OP. When dentists worked sitting up molar root treatment was unheard of, supine dentistry has been the only way taught for more than 30 years, dentists taught sitting up will be in Their 60's now.

To do dentistry effectively you need to sit with feet on floor knees slightly lower than hips with patients mouth a sensible distance from eyes so with mirror you can see perfectly, modern precision dentistry requires good visual field just like people using PC all day the screen has to be correct distance right sort of mouse to avoid RSI.

I mostly work with patients head slightly higher than feet but I am only short 5'2 so if chair completely upright the mouth is too high for me to see back teeth properly, it would be physically impossible for me to root treat an upper molar with patient sitting up, if patient feels gagging I normally tilt head rest upwards slightly to help them. I generally want to accommodate patients feelings and wishes but am not going to hurt myself in the process.

I don't expect a patient to think about my back or shoulders but I do expect if I carefully explain that I do need to be able to see what I am doing and unfortunately sitting bolt upright will affect what treatment options are available,

Most of the complaints are due to tactlessness and insufficient explanation rather than bad dentistry.

Unfortunately some patients do not brush teeth, it is blatantly obvious they have not been cleaned for days if not weeks sometimes you need yo say it like it is.

I just wish my NHS budget was sufficient to invest in loupes that allowed my patients to see what I see. It's frightening how awful even the cleanest looking mouth looks under magnification. A bit like the contents of a dishwasher before you switch it on.

After nearly 30 years at the tooth-face I am now counting down to retirement, but I really don't know how much longer I can face working for the NHS, after dedicating most of my career to the cause I just feel that they have been taking the p**s since 2006.

willdo such respect to you for slogging it out. Demoralising isn't the word.

I'd love an intraoral camera, one would have been handy to show the patient who called us with an emergency with an "abscess" which was actuarially a bot of popcorn (the hard, browny bit) stuck between his teeth. I asked if he'd been to the cinema recently "about two weeks ago" any popcorn since then? "nope". I flossed it out for him... I'm still not sure he believed me...

What I don't understand is, if some patients care so little about their dental health that they don't clean their teeth "for days if not weeks", how come they bother visiting a dentist?

grunt because it's our job (the dentist) to look after their teeth, not theirs. You understand?

It's like people taking their car for a service but never bothering to check their tyre pressure or top up their oil/washer fluid between times. They know they are supposed to go for a service (but they don't have to) but in between they're not bothered. But they still complain when it costs them more because they ignored it all in between...

Not a dentist but I'm an NHS Podiatrist (so yes, bad back here too, especially after 3 x RTA over the years)

Some of my patients ( they don't lie flat) cannot straighten their knee or keep their feet from rolling out. I cannot (due to not having three hands) hold my scalpel, keep skin tension, and hold their foot . So if they sit with their foot rolled out, my back has to bend.

Worse is bed bound, especially people in those high ended hospital beds.

Worst case scenario is a bedbound dementia patient lying on their side with the feet tucked up and arthritic hips and knees. Not aware to keep the feet extended and keep pulling the feet away. Maybe kicking, screaming, add incontinence. Lack of space and having to keep reaching for my instruments that are safe distance.
I can contort and nearly suffocate myself.

In nail surgery, I always ask a patient to lie flat, I was told (in training) that they can't faint if flat.

Here's one for you! Seeing a new dentist and I'm having a crown replaced and some decay removed from that tooth. First time I have ever been 'laid totally flat' in a dentist's chair! As the original gold crown is being drilled to remove it, a portion of it falls into the back of my mouth. I could feel it there but couldn't say anything. I tried heave it forward with my tongue without success. When the drill stopped, I quickly bolted upright, but it was too late... it already went down the gullet! I'm not distressed over swallowing a good-sized piece of metal, but it just shouldn't have happened. It would not have happened if I had been just slightly propped up when being 'worked on!'

I'm dental phobic and feel very vulnerable lying down in the chair. These are some things that I've found to help

1. finding a dentist who specialises in it and is really kind. I've had two (one retired) both very kind and patient and we have an agreement that no matter what if I grunt they stop and listen. It makes me feel more in charge. I don't take advantage of it but I'm hard to anaesthetise apparently and can often feel stuff and need more LA so knowing they will stop if needed helps a lot with my anxiety.

2. I wear sunglasses and have a blanket over me. The blanket helps a lot. My dentist has some but I've brought one before. The sunglasses work for the bright lights which daze me. My last dentist had tvs in the ceiling and videos or TV to watch and that helped a bunch to take my mind off it.

3. Not using me as a table for tools. I know they need to be close to hand but it doesn't work for me.

4. pillows under my legs so I don't feel so flat and spread out. With my last dr I was able to slightly be on my side but with my head turned if it wasn't a long procedure.

5. working with the assistant to get the right chair position before the Dr comes in so we don't waste time but then sitting up for all conversations and while waiting for the Dr. Also sitting up in between if practical e.g. doing impressions or waiting for something. My last Dr would offer very short breaks when practical.

6. spitting or drooling or rinsing instead of suction when practical (not always but they do try hard and let me turn my head and hold a bowl. Suction thing makes me gag a bunch (I gag a lot anyway ugh).

7. have me place things like bite blocks and gauze and help with X-ray thingies. I feel more in control that way.