grown adult - scared of the dentist

[Comeonmommy]

I am ashamed to say I am petrified of the dentist!! I have had no dental work done to date and I think that is half the problem!!!

I regularly go to the dentist so my daughter goes too and this time I need 2 fillings. I said 'that's fine, I'll book back in' so my daughter wasn't spooked but what I really wanted to say was 'hell no!!' I have paid upfront so I can't never return but am really really worried about it

I made the mistake of googling it and it sounds like a form of torture!!!!!

What should I expect? Please please be kind - no horror stories required!!!

Tell your dentist you are scared. Many, many people are scared. They can do things a little bit differently - or if your fear is really bad, they might be able to sedate you.

They will give you a local anaesthetic around the tooth to be drilled. It'll be a small injection. Then they'll check that the anaesthetic is working. Then they'll drill a little hole in your tooth. That will take a few seconds. Then they pack it with... I dunno, whatever fillings are made of. Then you're done.

However, the local anaesthetic will last a bit longer, so you'll get to amuse people with your wonky smile. And be careful drinking things, or you'll spill down your top. It'll wear off after a couple of hours.

Oh bless you....its horrible to have that fear. I used to be the sane but found a great website called Beyond Fear which is for dental phobic and fearful people. The forum there is great and lots of dentists there too who are great at answering questions .

Will trh and find a link

Hygienist here - be honest and say you're nervous. It's better to tell us so we can talk to you about what your fears are .- and hopefully we can help you become more confident. Some people find they need to know exactly what's going to happen others don't want to know both is fine. Most dentists love explaining things and will stop if you need a break or a rinse out.
There's many people around who are nervous it's actually very common.

Btw the Dentist can put a gel on the gum to relieve the scratch of the local anaesthetic.

I am also scared of the dentist and opt for dental sedation. I am awake but have absolutely no recollection. You feel like you have been sleeping.x

I think of the unappealing physical consequence of leaving teeth to rot not having dental treatment as and when required and then I think of all of those hospital patients, adults and children, who are undergoing operations and other procedures that may be far more uncomfortable and take considerably more time to recover from than a filling or ten.

After I've performed this mental exercise I'm invariably of the view that the mere seconds of discomfort of having local aneasthetic injected into gums and 15 or so minutes of being unable to talk sat in a reclining chair is a small price to pay for a gleaming smile.

Although I still approach the chair as if it's plugged into the mains, I invariably find myself dancing out of the dental surgery.

Make your mantra 'I can and I will' and go for it! It's nowhere near as bad as Dr Google may have led you to believe.

Oh me too. Have posted recently about this - how my lovely gentle dentist went on mat leave and was replaced by a torturer. I'm now phobic, from going every 6 months to not at all for about 10 years. And it just gets worse as the longer I leave it the more work I think I need done.
I contacted a dentist locally that advertises as being for nervous patients but even bottled out from seeing them.
Alife please find the link so I can look at it and probably ignore that too.

Talk to them
I used to be petrified. Dentist helped me with a plan! iPod to listen to music and block out noise, gel before injections, stop means stop (I put my hand up), and he pulls my earpiece out if he needs to ask me something
Oh and if they use the gel, mine is bubblegum flavour so don't stick your tongue in it then panic when your tongue goes numb - every time dentist rolls eyes at me

I didn't go for 12 years at one point and only went in agony due to impacted wisdom tooth.

I was very pleasantly amazed at how much better it is now. Gel before injection, nothing more than discomfort, dentist will stop at any time.

I specifically chose one who specialisd in dental phobics and at the age of 40 had my mum there holding my hand

Even though that dentist has now left and I just have the 'normal' one I feel confident going.

You will be so glad if you have it done no more pain or worry and you'll be soooo proud of yourself.

Thank you all so so much for your comments. You all talk a lot of sense and I think I will ring my dentist early next week and make sure they have plenty of notes in file about me being a wimp - the gel sounds like a good idea......

I am also on a LOT of painkillers and due to my condition have a very very low pain threshold. Talking to the scary people dentist will hopefully put my mind at rest. You don't know how grateful I am to you all

Have you called?

Caught out Baconyum!!!! Thought this post would sink into oblivion and be forgotten

I will call today and post how it went promise X

I called the dentist today and spoke to a really nice lady who completely understood. They have taken a full list of my meds and confirmed I can gel on my guns before the injection. I am also going to take my headphones do I don't have to hear the drill. Feel so much better now - should have just asked when I was in there!!! Thanks again all X

That's excellent news so proud of you well done!

I know all about avoidance! I have quite severe ocd and am in an avoidant stage at the moment but know I can't let it go on too long.

I bet you feel better now you've taken action and got some reassurance. Keep posting, we can help with nerves and encouragement

comeon have you had your appointment yet?

No, appointment is on Thursday - 12:45 - oh my god I'm nervous!!!

I was just the same. Hadn't been to the dentist for literally years, then after having my first DC, had tooth pain and had to go. I needed 4 fillings and was terrified. I was just really honest about exactly how I felt and had a lovely lady dentist who was very patient! We did 2 fillings each visit and it really was okay. I am also needle phobic, so if I can do it I know you can!

Thank you all for your kind and encouraging words - it really means a lot X

Promise it'll be ok! I'm not a stressy or nervous person usually but I was shitting myself, honestly thought I was gonna pee myself the first time I went back after a few years.

The dentist gave me a couple of those lucozade glucose tabs, seemed to help calm me down. Always reminds me all I have to do is put my hand up and he'll stop straight away. He's developed a sixth sense of when he should tell me what hes doing, give me a minute or just crack on.

I now feel pretty relaxed going back, I'd give my dentist a medal if I could lol

Good luck

Found the secret to this is a brilliant dentist I recently had a root canal filling on a front tooth requiring 3 appointments and 3 lots of injections No need for any gel did not feel one injection

Oh wow!! Dangly and Rosie !!! Never heard of a dentist being awarded a medal!!

My dentist is lovely (so receptionist tells me) and I have been promised no pain so fingers crossed I feel ready to award medals after my appointment

It might help to think about exactly what scares you, this can give you more control over it. Eg. The drill, pain, breathing etc?

I realised I hated the sound of the drill, and the dentist always promises to keep it to a minimum. And after using an electric toothbrush for a while, I also got more used to the sensation!

Hi all - I did it, made it through and nobody was hurt !!!! I can not thank you all enough for your kind comments, support and advice. After going through this I am pretty sure my fear has gone and yes, I might well put my dentist up for an award - age was amazingly kind

Wahey well done comeon, the fear is definitely the worst!