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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

dentist/fillings

31 replies

dentalphobia · 14/05/2019 17:00

I've had an extremely old filling come out - so old that it's white so it's around 40 years old, one of 3 that I've had. I've got extreme dental phobia and can't go to the dentist so am going to buy a filling repair kit.
Can anybody suggest a good one please?

I know I'm being unreasonable but I cannot go. I haven't been to the dentist since I had teeth drilled out without an anaesthetic because it didn't work.

OP posts:
SpoonBlender · 14/05/2019 17:42

Call up a dentist. Tell them you have a phobia because you were drilled out with non-working anaesthetic. They should be able to do something for you.

Replacing a filling yourself is a terrible risk - it's come out because it's gone manky or cracked, and that needs dealing with. You can literally die from tooth infections. Don't try and self-fill it, all you'll be doing is sealing in the germs and then at some point you'll and up in A&E with septicemia.

Dowser · 14/05/2019 17:55

Please do, do go
That will not work
It happened to me my lovely dentist, made a piece like a jigsaw that slotted in and I’m really careful as I want it to last for the rest of my life

Half an hour to an hour of a bit of discomfort will give you an almost new useable tooth

And yes I’m so phobic as when I had one out, I was having dry, heaving shaking sobs...
You need a dentist you can trust ...that’s what’s helped me build up confidence
Together we are committed to saving my teeth

And she’s saved three very old one...like 60 years old

Dowser · 14/05/2019 17:56

I had 12 injections to get one tooth out
And 6 just to have a temporary filling / cap removed
I’m the injection queen
After a visit to the dentist ...it’s a good six hours before I get feeling back 😂

Dirtyjellycat · 14/05/2019 18:00

I had an extreme dental phobia which resulted in my not going to the dentist in years. Last year I summoned up the courage to go and my dentist has been so wonderful that I’m no longer afraid. Things have moved on a long way in the intervening years, and you will feel no pain. I was scared due to previous experiences like yours but my dentist numbs me up completely and I can’t feel a thing. I swear, I feel like my life has been transformed by this!!

Please go. Find a dentist who specialises I’m nervous patients. If you’re really that scared, they can sedate you so you won’t feel remember a thing, but they will only do this privately.

Bear in mind if you don’t go, you will have bigger, more significant problems further down the line so it’s much better to nip this in the bud now, before it gets worse.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 14/05/2019 18:11

Off-topic, but are white fillings a thing of the past?

Likethebattle · 14/05/2019 18:15

Do not fix this yourself. I had undetected decay under a filling and my tooth broke in two. I had to go and have filling drilled out (it was still in), tooth disinfected and new filling in. Your filling possibly came out due to an issue with that tooth that needs treated. My dentist uses numbing gel before injections so I feel nothing. I have s new fancy type of filling that involves less drilling but cost £80 as the nhs won’t cover it.

Divgirl2 · 14/05/2019 18:20

Speak to a dentist or the dental hospital and explain your extreme anxiety about going to the dentist. There are way more options than you think!

Mouth infections can lead to sepsis which can lead to becoming dead. It's not worth the risk.

0nTheEdge · 14/05/2019 18:26

Please find a sympathetic dentist, you could really cause yourself damage filling it in yourself, what if you trap in some decay and make it worse?
I've had lots of problems with not going numb in the past and am also phobic, but I've got a great dentist now who gets most things done and has referred me to a specialist for the things he can't do.

thetemptationofchocolate · 14/05/2019 18:39

I too have suffered with injections that haven't worked, it's really awful and I feel for you.
Do please go, and tell the dentist beforehand. I had to have a tooth out recently and he gave me such huge injections that it was 5 hours before my mouth came back to life but I honestly didn't feel a thing. I was relieved I can tell you!

Ariela · 14/05/2019 18:44

Ask on a local Facebook page for recommendations for a dentist that is good with nervous/anxious patients.

granadagirl · 14/05/2019 18:44

My son had a tea bad experience at dentist, he needed a filling he was only 12 at time.
The woman dentist put the injection in, waited a few mins and started drilling. Son started to move, so she put more in. Waited tried again, same thing happened again. My this time in was in tears and she turned round and said. ..,,,.... don’t be such a baby!!!
He wouldn’t have it done, and I don’t blame him.

He wouldn’t go near the dentist for years, I promised him anything

Years later he started to get toothache, as you would not looking after your teeth.
We got sent to dental hospital as he was so so phobic, we got there and obviously had to wait. To longer wait for son, he was out of the building

I looked on internet for dentist for phobia patients
I found one, it was about 16 miles from us and private.

Long story short
He gained his confidence, he used a
Machine called The Wand, it put the injection in slowly so you can’t feel the sting and tops it up to the correct amount you need.
He still nervous about going and as to sight himself up to going but so so much better.

Also other person, I don’t know your finances
But you can now have fillings done by Laser, so NO Drilling
Which for me(anxiety) I really don’t like
This is for me if I need one

Also could you ask you gp for diazepam or a one off

Hope you manage it

Liverbird77 · 14/05/2019 19:00

Please go, or it could lead to a root canal and crown further down the line. More painful and more expensive.
Tell the dentist about your fears, and don't be afraid to "shop around" until you find one you like. Go for a consultation and see how you like them. If you don't trust them, go to another.
I can recommend an excellent and honest dentist if you are in the North West. She is fab. She was recommended to me by a neighbour because I have a fear of inept dentists after years at the hands of someone I would class as a maniac!
I am actually having a filling on Thursday and I am not at all worried that it will hurt. It will be fine, as would yours be.
Flowers because I get what it is like to have a phobia... Spiders are mine, however I would walk through a field of them of the alternative was agonising pain!

TLBftm · 14/05/2019 19:01

Dental nurse here.... please fix it!

Boots do a temp filling but they don’t last very long at all. Weeks... if that.
Plus, if you don’t do it correctly, you may aswel have not bothered at all.

Call a dentist, honestly. As a nurse, I love having patients in that have a phobia! Because we change most patients opinion and that feels great, and 99% of the time, their phobias have come from past experiences. I promise you’ll have a new view.

Let the receptionist know how you feel and ask for extra time to be booked in. A dentist isn’t going to do anything you don’t want them to, and will go through every step of what needs to be done.

Alternatively, the dentist CAN give you a temporary filling. Which will take minutes and requires nothing but a quick check of the tooth, they will mix the filling and pack into the tooth. No drilling, no injections etc. Those temp fillings are said to last maybe 3-4 months... however we have seen them last a whole lot longer!

But please visit. Your problem will only get worse i can assure you that, and in the end, you’ll be in that much agony you’ll have no choice but to go, and will be at a point of wanting it ripping out immediately, no matter how big a phobia you have. So you can easily prevent that.

You’ll be glad you did xx

Original poster
dentalphobia · 14/05/2019 20:13

My finances are limited, I get free NHS dental care (well I would if I went) so it's whatever they do that I'll have to have.

OP posts:
Piglet89 · 14/05/2019 20:16

Go. Do not fuck about with your teeth. I did and I needed root canal, which failed and eventual extraction of a tooth in the smile zone.

Original poster
dentalphobia · 14/05/2019 20:23

It doesn't hurt at all..well only where it scrapes my tongue because of a rough edge. I've filled in the online form to register with a local NHS dentist...I'll try.

OP posts:
TLBftm · 14/05/2019 20:57

Well done for being willing to try. Rather than wait for an NHS dentist, call 111 and they will direct you to an emergency dentist who will see you on the NHS. They will however, only probably give you a temporary filling.

Original poster
dentalphobia · 14/05/2019 21:00

I am going to see if I can get booked in during half term

OP posts:
TLBftm · 14/05/2019 21:25

Whoop, good! Please come back and let us know how you got on?
I’m a geek with work tbh and I love a good turn around and I’m almost certain you’ll feel differently after you’ve been x

Original poster
dentalphobia · 14/05/2019 21:29

If only you were in my part of the world TLBftm and I'd book at your place.

OP posts:
TLBftm · 14/05/2019 21:49

I was going to say that earlier, I’d love to have you in our place!

Deffo get it across to the receptionist to book more time etc. Should have said earlier too, but I’m so shocked your previous dentist removed a tooth (with or without a drill) without you being anaesthetised. I hope it puts you a tad more at ease to know that I’ve never heard of that being done, nor is it ok! If it weren’t working, they should have sent an urgent referral to a dental hospital who can put you to sleep instead. I don’t know how long ago it was but currently there are lots of types of anaesthetics we keep in surgery and each have slightly different properties and they will have something that works... they can also inject up to 6 cartridges so I think you’ll be just fine :)

Also.... they can inject you painlessly. However it takes more time and unfortunately the NHS doesn’t provide that. However, if they know you are worried etc they will book more time for it and offer it pain free. The trick is, to warm up the anaesthetic first ;) and inject very slowly. You won’t feel a thing.

Original poster
dentalphobia · 15/05/2019 18:35

They gave me 5 injections but they didn't work.

OP posts:
TLBftm · 15/05/2019 20:44

Do you happen to know what colour the cartridge was? As I mentioned there are so many now that are kept in surgery so they will likely use stronger stuff. Makes no difference in the procedure just means you may be numb a little longer but it’s much more effective :)

There’s also a few reasons as to why it may not have worked so don’t go in thinking the worst and that it won’t this time :)

Original poster
dentalphobia · 15/05/2019 20:48

No, it was years ago. You know that numb feeling you get afterwards? It had worn off by the time I walked from the room to the top of the stairs! No time at all.
I've had one injection since last time I plucked up the courage to go and it worked fine.

OP posts:
TLBftm · 15/05/2019 22:49

Crikey... yeah, I’d bet they used lidocaine. Articane works much better and lasts far longer.

I’m glad it worked for you since however, I hope that gives you a bit more confidence for this time around :)