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Original poster

Dental phobia and agoraphobia

7 replies

MegaPhobic · 01/10/2022 14:38

Name changed for this because I'm extremely ashamed/embarrassed.

Long story short, I'm only 42 and my teeth are an absolute shambles. I look like I belong on Jeremy Kyle. My mum borderline neglected my dental care when I was a child and I didn't improve matters when I was a teenager/young adult. The few times I have been to the dentist were awful experiences and I developed a phobia. Then I developed agoraphobia and dentist visits became impossible. The last time I went, about 10 years ago, I was told I needed extensive treatment - lots of extractions and dentures. I managed about four appointments and had three extractions but I didn't manage to complete the treatment.

This last week I've had toothache, the worst I've had in a long time. Overnight my face has swollen up and in the last hour or so my temperature has raised. Obviously I'm concerned and I have no idea how to cope with the situation.

The agoraphobia has been much worse over the last few years, with covid and everything and I'm pretty much housebound. My mum is the only person I can occasionally travel with, there's literally no one else. She just got back from a holiday today and has tested positive for (mild) covid.

I don't really know what I'm expecting from this thread. I know no one here will have any answers. I guess I'm just scared and overwhelmed and I figured telling a load of complete strangers might help me get out of my own head for a bit.

OP posts:
RobinHumphries · 01/10/2022 14:43

Some dentists will visit you in your own house like ‘at home dental’

Dodie66 · 01/10/2022 14:47

Ring NHS 111 and ask advice. If you have a temperature you probably need antibiotics. A dentist probably won’t do treatment while it is infected anyway this link will help www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-can-i-access-an-nhs-dentist-in-an-emergency-or-out-of-hours/

Thatboymum · 01/10/2022 14:49

So I was similar, didn’t see the dentist for 11 years after a final examination in my early 20s where I was told I needed extensive work. I then became agoraphobic- still am 12 years later but I’m functioning now at least and I had severe tooth pain I could no longer ignore. Phoned my dentist explained my position and basically I was sent to hospital to have it all done in one go under sedation and prior to leaving the house was prescribed 15mg diazepam to make sure I got there. It was so worth it and ended up being not bad at all infact you don’t remember a thing after it

Original poster
MegaPhobic · 01/10/2022 14:52

RobinHumphries · 01/10/2022 14:43

Some dentists will visit you in your own house like ‘at home dental’

I know, I've just been putting off asking for a referral because I'm so scared. I'm wishing I'd done it now though. I can't afford to go private.

OP posts:
Original poster
MegaPhobic · 01/10/2022 14:54

Dodie66 · 01/10/2022 14:47

Ring NHS 111 and ask advice. If you have a temperature you probably need antibiotics. A dentist probably won’t do treatment while it is infected anyway this link will help www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-can-i-access-an-nhs-dentist-in-an-emergency-or-out-of-hours/

I didn't think 111 would deal with me because it's dental but I will try them and see what they say. Will they need to see me to prescribe antibiotics though? I literally can't go anywhere at the moment.

OP posts:
Original poster
MegaPhobic · 01/10/2022 14:58

Thatboymum · 01/10/2022 14:49

So I was similar, didn’t see the dentist for 11 years after a final examination in my early 20s where I was told I needed extensive work. I then became agoraphobic- still am 12 years later but I’m functioning now at least and I had severe tooth pain I could no longer ignore. Phoned my dentist explained my position and basically I was sent to hospital to have it all done in one go under sedation and prior to leaving the house was prescribed 15mg diazepam to make sure I got there. It was so worth it and ended up being not bad at all infact you don’t remember a thing after it

I'm sorry you've been through similar, but I'm glad you were able to get treatment. Your experience actually sounds ideal for me - scary, but doable. When I went to the dentist 10 years ago I asked about sedation and he said I couldn't have it. If I could get everything done in one day though that would be so much easier to cope with.

OP posts:
Thatboymum · 01/10/2022 15:26

honestly as somebody who dies at the thought of leaving the house it was a piss in the park, the diazepam made me feel so chilled about doing the 5 mins journey to hospital I have no recollection at all of the procedure or the few hours after it , no memory of getting home and I’m so glad and grateful I done it. Phone your dentist or gp and advocate for yourself they’ll them this is what you need and want and be pushy as why should you suffer in silence because of your mental health. I had 2 teeth pulled 7 fillings and a couple of other small things and it was like nothing happened lol

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