Any dentists around?

[Booboopidoo]

I guess I'm looking for someone to tell me it's still worth me finally overcoming my fear and getting my teeth looked at, they are in a real state. Bad experiences with my dentist as a teenager have meant I've been too afraid to go ever since, I am now 41 so you can imagine. Fairly sure I have advanced gum disease, lots of bleeding when I brush and badly receding gums to the extent where I have a large white area below one bottom tooth which I assume is bone showing through. I guess my question is will a dentist be able to do anything and, if so, what exactly are they likely to do? I'm so scared and it's complicated by being just as scared of IV sedation as actual dental treatment so a sedation clinic is not even a viable solution for me, this isn't a standard dental phobia. I know I'm likely to start losing teeth if I don't do something soon, I think the only reason I haven't already is that I have abnormally long roots, the last extraction I had took over an hour and the dentist had to leave me and go looking for 'specialist tools' part way through because it just wouldn't budge. If anyone can help me gather my courage by telling me what to expect if I go I would be so grateful.

I have dodgy teeth too and no money to pay for the treatment needed.

I have had perio treatment for gum disease though which was pretty sore, but gums are all back to normal now - had to pay roughly £1k for the treatment about 4 year ago.

It's difficult to say exactly what to expect but I'd say go forces check up as soon as you can
Be honest about your fears if you don't get a good vibe from the dentist find another - a good dentist will listen to you and treat you carefully and respectfully
Sounds like you need a deep cleaning lots of TLC and some hand holding
Take it slowly the right dentist won't rush you into treatment ( unless it's an emergency of course)
You'll be ok.

I feel your pain. I was raped by a dental student from King's London while a student in my flat in my own bed when he broke in to my room early in the morning. Somehow broke the trust thing... Then when dd2 had to have a tooth removed under anaesthetic the dentists we had to use wer awful - dirty, stupid people on reception and the dentist was the most up himself arse I have ever had to meet. Put me off even more. Chatham anyone?? I really hope yu find someone good - if you do, please let me know xxx

I hate dentists after a nasty experience as a child and I didn't go for years , I also had a large area below a tooth which I thought was bone - it wasn't ,it was a massive build up of plaque and receding gums . I eventually found a dentist and more importantly a dental hygienist that I can work with and 2 years on I'm not doing too badly . The dentist originally thought I'd need a periodontist but by seeing the hygienist every 3 /4 months I have avoided that and providing I use the tepe interdental brushes my gums no longer bleed . I still stress about every appointment but it has been worth it. I think the first step is to find the right dentist / hygienist .

Go to the dentist OP - I was in the same boat as you a couple of weeks ago and I feel loads better now.

They might not be as bad as you think.

However, if you don't go then they're going to get a hell of a lot worse.

Tell the dentist you are anxious about it. They should be kind to you, and should have lots of experience of nervous patients

It is actually v. hard to find a nice dentist, and to also trust that the advice they are giving you is based on need rather than money .

My teeth are very bad too. I have a fear of brushing my teeth so they're in a bad way now. I bit the bullet a few years ago as I was spiralling into a dangerous depression because of them, and was so 'out of it' by this point, that with a few diazepam I was able to attend a few appointments with sedation too. I actually overcame my fear of dentists really rather quickly and was then able to find a really lovely NHS dentist who worked so hard on them. I was surprised how quickly my gums improved, and a lot of friends commented about it too. I was so cross with myself for not going sooner.

Unfortunately, despite treatment for my gums, my teeth still look awful until I can afford cosmetic procedures (probably never!) and I'm yet to overcome my fear of brushing, so they are starting to deteriorate again. I've moved away from that lovely dentist and I'm now trying to find the energy to search for another NHS dentist who will be as understanding as the last one.

But what I'm trying to say is, the treatment I had on my gums wasn't anywhere near as unpleasant as I expected, and the results were really noticeable really soon, which motivated me to keep going back to him around once a month. I really miss him.

It's understandable that you're nervous, OP. Call around some local dental practices and ask them if they have any dentists who specialise in dental phobia and nervous patients. You should get a feel from speaking to them how sympathetic they are likely to be.

IMO you're probably better off being treated as private patient than an NHS one as these appointments are usually longer and the dentist will have more time to put you at ease and answer questions, but obviously that's up to you. Either way, you are entitled to safe, pain-free and effective treatment.

After the examination, the dentist will give you different treatment options with prices. You can select any of them, or none of them, it's totally up to you. You don't have to decide then and there if you're not sure, so go away and think about it. You might not even need actual treatment, in which case the dentist can advise you on some preventative measures which might help (specific brushes/toothpaste/mouthwash/technique etc). You are in control. The dentist is just there to help you, if you want them to.

I'm not a dentist but I do work for a national body relating to dentistry and my DP is a dentist.

Also, ask about inhalation sedation if you're afraid of IV sedation. Gas and air basically.

Thanks for all the replies, have rung round a few this morning but don't think I've found one I'm happy with yet, will keep trying. At least I am trying now though, reading everyone's replies gave me the kick I think I needed. I don't think I could even have gas and air Mackerel, it's a fear of not being fully in control that puts me off any kind of sedation, what happened when I was a teenager has totally wrecked my trust in dentists.