How can I cope with dental impressions?

[Jestrin]

I've just revisited a thread that was started back in April and I commented that I needed a bridge and was crying because I would have to have dental impressions taken.

Well...here we are at the end of May and I still can't pluck up the courage .i don't know what to do. I usually have sedation for any dental work and despite being phobic I go every six months. I have a gag reflex which is the stumbling point for the impressions, and I panic.

But I just can't do this....the tooth I had to have extracted is at the corner of my mouth. Friends say 'oh no you can't see it.' DH says the same but actually, yes, you can see it when I speak. I hate it. It makes me cry. I've been looking on the net and you can get digital dental scanners which I think I could do but no frigging dentist in the UK seems to have one. What am I going to do??

Congrats youarewinning ! Is it wrong of me to chuckle about the candy crush bit? But you are right...baby steps..I'm so hard on myself. Not just about this but in lots of ways that I don't see when I've done well considering I get very frightened.

Oh and the drill wrestling sounds like me. Apparently I do fight them off a bit despite the sedation!

Also try listening to an iPod with loud music or audio book REALLY loud can help to distract you! I used to do this but have overcome (mostly) my fears after almost two years of braces and monthly appointments, and I now have nearly straight teeth

Good luck, let us know how you get on (holds hand too).

I'm going to ring them today

Massive sympathies ,gag reflex + my layrnx goes into spasm + very nasty endoscopy experiences here.

Dont go for anesthetic spray ,makes it worse .

Talk to dentist .

Breathe through nose plus counting helps ,visualisation ,leaning forward ,plus go to GP and beg drugs . Lorazepam ? sub lingual so no swallowing to take it .

Lots of tips here for bad gag reflex: www.dentalfearcentral.org/fears/gagging/

I would also add 'distraction' or counting down the time so you know how long you have to go.

Lots of tips here for bad gag reflex: www.dentalfearcentral.org/fears/gagging/

I would also add 'distraction' or counting down the time so you know how long you have to go.

Just sympathy, I get like this too and have had to have loads done for orthodontic work.

My dentist is really good and now raises the seat to sitting whilst I have them done, and encourages me to breathe through my nose. He also knows to stop if I raise my hand.

The way I get through it is to remind myself that for each failed attempt, we have to do another. Much better to get it done in one.

He did, however, guess that I was pregnant with DC1 when I was in the early stages (DH and I knew but no one else) because my gag reflex was soooooo bad!

Any joy?

I'm not particularly phobic and don't have typo much of a gag reflex problem, but I have to say filings etc are a while lot better since I started listening to loud music as a distraction from the drill. Early Chemical Brothers is excellent for covering all frequencies, as is Rammstein.

Can I support those who say that sitting up makes a world of difference. I have a bad gag reflex and dreaded impressions. When my dentist retired and I went to a different partner he suggested sitting up. I've twice since had to have impressions and it has not been a problem at all.

I have a feeling that it is not just the gag reflex that is the problem but the lying down. You feel out of control and it's almost like having claustrophobia. In fact I think there is a claustrophobic element to it.

That's how DS felt grimble.

My mum's breath absolutely stinks as she hasn't been to the dentist to sort out her rotting back teeth - please go to the dentist!

I rang today . The receptionist was very chatty. It really is a good practice! Anyways, I have an appointment booked to go and chat about it all. Thanks everyone. I shall certainly look at the links and try the tips. I've got a notebook with some questions written down from starting this thread.

DameFanny I shall mention I know where there's a digital scanner, if she doesn't! I wish it was local to me!!

Well done!

Well done - that i a first step - a willinglyness to discus it.

Thanks everyone. I'll need you all when the day actually arrives!