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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be in tears at the thought of the dentist.

40 replies

coolma · 12/09/2009 07:30

..I mean I've had three children, over 30 operations when I was a child and yet, I am in a terrible state! One of my side teeth has been gradually crumbling away for about a year and now the front part in literally falling off in bits. I went with one of my colleagues to her dentist on Thursday to watch her dentist (is that wierd?) and he seemed very nice but I am so so scared! Have had lots of dental work in the past, but I'm always like this. I know by wednesday night (appt on thurs) I will literally be crying all night at the thought. What can i do?

OP posts:
angrypixie · 13/09/2009 08:41

you have all my very deepest & heartfelt sympathy.

I can't bring myself to say anymore, but I understand

Original poster
coolma · 13/09/2009 08:43

I find that all strange about not being able to find an nhs dentist. we must be incredibly lucky in Cambridge - you can pretty much walk in anywhere and register. Hadn't thought about the coat actually - bugger!

OP posts:
Original poster
coolma · 13/09/2009 08:43

coat??!! Cost!

OP posts:
LittleMonkeysMummy · 13/09/2009 09:25

Crikey you are lucky if you can get an NHS dentist! I'm in Aberdeen and I've been on the NHS waiting list since my dentist retired 8 years ago!

gorionine · 13/09/2009 10:10

Not had any trouble finding an NHS dentist here in the North West (in spite of hearing horror stories about it in the local news) but I think it might be because we were registering the dcs at the same time and it might have made a difference?

Original poster
coolma · 13/09/2009 10:24

Blimey LMM, that is awful. I just take it for granted here! I don;t know what the practice is in other areas, but I just assumed, when I went with my colleague that he would take me as an NHS patient and he did!

OP posts:
RatherBe · 13/09/2009 12:35

I used to be terrified of the dentist. I had bad experiences in childhood with an old fashioned dentist - I was 15 when he retired and it was only when we got new dentist I found out that you could have injections before a filling. The old dentist never bothered! Anyway, after I left home I got out of the habit of going to the dentist and it was about 10 years before I went again - to one that a colleague had recommended as being very good with nervous patients. I explained the situation to him and he said something that I suppose is obvious, but I had never thought about before. He said 'Why do you think that I would do anything to hurt you? If I cause you pain I am not doing my job properly and I want to do the best job I can.'

I really didn't have an answer for that and now I am not scared of the dentist any more. I don't know if thinking about it like this will help you OP, but it made a big difference to me so I wanted to tell you about it in case it works for you too. Good luck!

ben5 · 13/09/2009 12:42

go and have a check up first. take your friend with you. tell your dentist about your fears. tell the dental nurse as they are the ones who will look after you!!! give you tissues etc!!

motheroftwoboys · 13/09/2009 14:25

another scaredy cat here. I always have sedation through a canula like LissyGlitter. You have to pay extra for it £45 at my dentist but worth every penny for me. I am also terrified of the hygienist so if I do have to have any work done (luckily my teeth are good) then they do that under the sedation to. Otherwise they just use hand tools (nothing electric) and I can just about bear it now. Be aware that not all dentists are qualified to do this - it is quite a big deal - I searched around to find one and am now very happy.

motheroftwoboys · 13/09/2009 14:29

by the way we have no problem getting a nhs dentist here (Newcastle) but my lovely dentist went private a few years ago and I wanted to stay with them so I joined Denplan - think I pay about £10 a month and I get 2 appointments/2check ups each year plus standard fillings etc for that. Under 18s are still free of course.

zipzap · 13/09/2009 23:00

haven't managed to read the whole thread sorry. I hate the dentist too and always leave it too late to go and have horrible teeth as a result...

I also hate injections but the last couple of dentist that I have been to have use a thing called a wand (I think!) to put the injection in, rather than a traditional syringe and needle. even without a bit of numbing gel you can't feel it go in and then there is a little electric pump that pumps it in 'by computer'.

It's not quite as drastic as having to have a canula and be knocked out, it just does what the old jabs used to and numb the area but they seem to be able to target it better so it works more quickly too. And I say that I am nervous and don't like pain so they will put more rather than less in.

good luck...

queenofdenial2009 · 14/09/2009 22:11

I'm the same and now get sedation from my local dental hospital on the NHS. It is v. expensive privately, but if you live in an area with a teaching hospital they may take you on as a teaching case. Ask your dentist to refer you - you have to be persistent, it took me a couple of years. I also have quite a crush on the consultant, but that's more because he's handsome and single.

Chegirl - I'm so sorry for the loss of your DD. IMHO, you may not be scared of dentists but have post traumatic stress and might benefit from your GP referring you for cognitive behavioural therapy. I really feel for you, I had a DS that died and it's very hard but I now manage to work in hospitals.

Original poster
coolma · 17/09/2009 16:59

Well, I went this morning and he was so incredibly nice. I DO need an extraction - which he'll do next week but only one tiny filling as well, so am very pleased. I know I'll be ok with the extraction as it's (relativley) quick, and a small filling should be ok. If I can do it - you all can! Honest.

OP posts:
5Foot5 · 17/09/2009 19:56

Well done! So glad you managed this OK. Treat yourself to a glass of something tonight.

RatherBe · 17/09/2009 21:39

So glad to hear it went well - was thinking about you today.

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