Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be so shit scared of dentist tomorrow

43 replies

saltedcaramelicious · 18/01/2015 17:19

It's only a check up ffs. But I'm dreading it. I HATE going to the dentist. And I have a feeling I need a filling in another wisdom tooth as noticed a black line in the grooves Sad
Appt is at 8:30am and it's been hanging over me all weekend Sad

Need an un-mumsnetty handhold even though I know IABU in being scared of something so straightforward Blush

OP posts:
OTheHugeManatee · 19/01/2015 12:45

I sympathise, OP. I'm scared of dentists too. For me the trick was finding someone really gentle who was sympathetic about my nerves and kind of talks me through anything I need doing without it feeling judgemental or bullying.

Hope your appointment went OK.

Original poster
saltedcaramelicious · 19/01/2015 12:55

Well I did it Grin

Saw a lovely female dentist who gave teeth a good check, said I need a really thorough scale and polish as gums look irritated in places, (18 months since last dentist trip) also I'd noticed I had a swollen gum above a front tooth. She cleaned all my front teeth and going back next Friday to have the rest done.

It was fine, I was upfront with her from the beginning said I was nervous and often felt panicky in the chair so she said if I wanted a break to raise my hand. Didn't actually have to raise it at all but knowing I could stop, really really helped.

No doubt I will be anxious again next week but hopefully nothing like I was this morning. I think I am definitely going to request female dentists in the future, as they do seem much kinder than the men.

Thank you for thinking of me Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
saltedcaramelicious · 19/01/2015 12:58

OTthehuge yy to finding caring dentist. Lady I saw was friendly and non-judgemental and understanding. Put me at ease straight away and it made such a difference.

OP posts:
DrankSangriaInThePark · 19/01/2015 14:28

Well done OP!Smile
Karin- it was breaking a tooth in half that led to me having the root canal. I think pps about how dentists used to be is very true....my x ray (With plastic bag thing stuck inside gob) was much worse than the actual drilling and hammering )

morningtoncrescent62 · 19/01/2015 18:59

That sounds very promising, salted. I hope my dentist tomorrow is just as nice. It's rather longer than 18 months, though, since I last went. I've had to sign on with a new practice because I didn't have a dentist, and the health questionnaire that they've given me to fill in asks if you're nervous, so hopefully that will be taken into account!

KarinMurphy · 19/01/2015 20:55

Well done Salted. I'm so glad it went ok and the dentist was nice. Really hoping for someone gentle and understanding tomorrow.

Good luck everyone else.

CheekyWeeGandT · 19/01/2015 21:04

Well done OP! Morning, sedation was at a practice as opposed to hospital, but I'm fairly sure that not all dentists do it otherwise I'd have found out about it. Maybe a new development in the dental world for scaredy cat patientsGrin

RaspberryRuffle · 19/01/2015 21:51

Well done OP. I have had a lot of dental work done, I hate hate hate it! My last lovely dentist retired, he was so nice he got his nurse to ring me the day after having anything major done to see if I was okay. I'm happy he can enjoy his retirement he deserves it after treating me!

Good luck Karin.

KarinMurphy · 20/01/2015 16:17

Yay! I did it too. They were really, really kind and gentle. I've got to have a major filing and a wisdom tooth out but I'll panic about that later. For now
I'm just glad I got through it.

Original poster
saltedcaramelicious · 20/01/2015 19:05

Well done Karin!! Wine for you!!

OP posts:
morningtoncrescent62 · 20/01/2015 19:28

Well done, Karin. Scarily, though, I think you're me, because that's exactly what my verdict was too! The dentist turned out to be a lovely young woman who kept telling me how well I was doing just for keeping my mouth open, so I have hopes. Wisdom tooth is the first to go, because apparently that's what's causing the pain. The dentist is going to do it under local anaesthetic next week, as the alternative is a long wait for a hospital appointment. Eeeeek. And the major filling may turn into root canal treatment depending on what she finds when she starts doing it. More eeeeeek. To be honest, though, I'm slightly relieved it wasn't worse given how long it's been.

Original poster
saltedcaramelicious · 30/01/2015 18:21

Second appointment over with!! Grin was still laying there with hammering heart during the scale and polish but it wasn't as bad I thought.

Got to go back to hygienist in 3 months, then dentist in 6 months.

For now it's time to BREATHE!! Wine

OP posts:
Original poster
saltedcaramelicious · 30/01/2015 18:22

Good luck morning and well done for just going - that really is half the battle!

OP posts:
KarinMurphy · 01/02/2015 09:29

Well done Salted Caramel. So glad it wasn't as bad as you feared. You have been really brave.

Mornington Crescent, I'm having mine done the opposite way around. The filling first as that's the one hurting and then the tooth out later. Hope it all goes ok. My appointment is on Tuesday, when's yours?

ValancyJane · 01/02/2015 10:36

Well done for going :) I'm horrendously terrified of the dentist - have actually been skiving for six years now, despite knowing I need a tooth pulling and two fillings. Managed to go back last year, and he pointed out (very kindly) that the tooth still needed pulling and I still needed the fillings. Made another appointment, bottled it and didn't go. Sigh.

Just wanted to pass on some advice, though I can't really speak, but I DID manage to have a couple of fillings done back in 2008 (my Mum came with me, that's how pathetic I am) and got through it with 5mg of valium prescribed by a very sympathetic doctor and a very loud playlist of music and earphones in, drowned out the noise and gave me something to focus on. Would really recommend that as a coping strategy :)

KarinMurphy · 03/02/2015 13:28

Filling and scale and polish done. He super numbed me and I really didn't feel a thing and he took it really slowly and made sure I was comfortable with each stage. I can hardly believe I managed it but I did and I didn't cry once!

morningtoncrescent62 · 03/02/2015 14:18

Excellent stuff, Salted and Karin. I also have success to report. I had a wisdom tooth out with local only - and I hardly felt a thing! And I've had one lot of scale and polish, but the dentist wants me to go back next week for another lot as it had been so long! I'm back in tomorrow for fillings and I'm hardly feeling scared at all. My new dentist is lovely, so kind and reassuring.

KarinMurphy · 07/02/2015 21:19

Well done MorningtonCrescent. That is brilliant news. Grin

New posts on this thread. Refresh page