Dentist. Need to vent!

[sadkoala]

I get very anxious at the dentist. The smell itself makes me feel nauseous. I have had some really bad experiences between the ages of 10-15 with dentists, I'm not generally a sensitive person and I generally have a high pain threshold but I just get unpleasantly nervous.

Got the dentist booked today. Me, DP and 2 DCs under 4 drive the 40mins to get there and arrive before we are due in (we are rural).
It's a small surgery and 1 yo quickly gets bored and wants to go everywhere and it's almost nap time so he's grouchy. I'm a bit anxious with anticipation because I don't like dentists.
Receptionists can see us constanly. Everyone seems to be going in for their appointments but us. Maybe they're running behind I think.

45 mins of wrangling an overtired baby later I go up to the reception for her to tell us she found us on the system but never checked us in! Went up as out dentist took another patient in and was told another 30mins!

DP still waiting inside with DC1 and I'm currently in the car with DC2 just got him to nap. I feel a bit crap and tearful. I'm not going to cry but I'm already tired from this morning's antics and I'm now even more anxious about seeing the dentist 😢

Can you maybe go on your own next time? Then take DC separately? We used to go altogether: DS1 has complex needs and I was always agitated about how he would react - and some dentists were shockingly poor at helping him. Now I go on my own to get seen, then I used to take DS1 on his own. Now that the DC are older I can take them both together, as DS2 can be relied upon to be quiet whilst DS1 is being seen. I know it's a faff on, but it's so much better.

That’s pretty rubbish of the receptionist. Did she apologize?

Would it be possible for DH to keep DC at home an Dupuis to go by yourself next time? Dragging small DCs to medical appointments tends to make life more stressful.

Have you tried gas and air at the dentists? It can help some people with their anxiety (I am not one of them unfortunately!)

Definitely don't take DC with you if you are anxious. My mum did this with me and I developed my own fear because of her being so stressed.