Scared of DENTISTS...but HAVE to go!

[MUM23ASD]

please help.

due to back teeth probs- have been eating using my front teeth for years.

front teeth now crumbled on edge.

one front tooth has loads of decay to back (not visable yet in front)

back tooth filling /tooth crack- very jagged- really sore tongue from touching this tooth.

wisdome tooth coming through at bad angle causing me to bit chunks out of cheek.

so fed up of my fear...last major treatment 9 years ago- only 1 visit since which did not go well- 6 years ago- never went back for treatment.

my ideal solution would be to be sedated for however long it took to do any fillings i needed....and remove bad teeth...without them warning me how many would be removed.... to wake up with everything fixed.

I am so scared.

I have OCD/anxiety/depression....in varying degrees.

the pointy tooth was one of my bottom 'vampire fangs'. I am even tempted to ask him to file down the other 3 now! It took less than 2 minutes... and REALLY wasn't at all uncomfortable. He said i had to let him know if it hurt...which worried me...but in this case i had NO discomfort

the only thing i would say is , this 'fang' had no wear or tear on it (my best tooth)... so probably could tolerate alot of filing/grinding.... my other fangs look less sturdy...so maybe they may hurt a bit.

the thing that impressed me with this dentist, regarding this fang was that he used 'positive' language to bulid my confidence...he said something like " I CAN file this tooth down for you NOW so that it feels AND looks better" People think that NHS won't cover ANY cosmetics... or if they do you need 'proof' that it is psychologically affecting you.... and infact maybe JUST my fear of dentists was enough.

I don't think he realsises how impressed i am with this 'rounded tooth'....it was fantastic this morning to wake up and feel that tooth!

all i have to decide is about this 'upper wisdom tooth' removal he will do if i want on monday.
i have googled...as we do.... and it seems that what he said IS correct...that upper wisdom teeth ARE easier to remove....

Also- he noted evidence of me 'night grinding' my teeth- i also do it daytime if concentrating.
he recommeneded a 'nightguard' but warned it would cost £200... he then went on to explain that i could buy one elsewhere- but it would not fit my teeth exactly etc...he then explained that if we get ALL this done in 2 months - the NHS counts it as 1 course of treatment...so making it a little cheaper than spreading it over months and months.

so again i have googled... and have found that it is true...mouthguards fitted by dentists..ARE better.... and the 2 month thing seems right too.

so again, helps me in my evaluation of him as to whether he is to be trusted!!!

Great to read a positive dental story

Well done mum!!!

it just gets better!

I've just taken ds3 to the dentist...and his checkup took 1 minute.... NO PROBLEMS....

so despite MY PHOBIA and him at almost 10 having only seen a dentist ONCE...he has lovely teeth!!!

Both DS1 & 2 have unfortunately both had to have teeth out by age 7 (in hospital) and have my fear too.

Good news!

I haven't taken my DSs either - DS1 has been once but DS2 never has and it is down to me being frightened more than anything. If I went regularly I am sure they would too.

Problem is I don't have a dentist - I thought I had one but he turned out to be a nutcase so I can't send them there!

I shall take a leaf out of your book and just get on with it now though.

Well done.

i'd love to think that my experience has helped you NEICIE... please keep me posted on YOUR progress.

Thanks Mum23ASD.

Slightly off topic but can I just ask if you have trouble getting a dentist to understand ASD. My DS1 has mild AS and finds new things difficult and also because he has dyspraxia as well, he can't actually follow instructions very easily.

For example, I try to get him to show me his front teeth, which he can do, but the minute you put a brush near his mouth his mouth shuts around it so that you can't brush his teeth. I don't think he is being difficult but he simply seems to have some sort of reflex that means he can't physically keep his mouth open with anything inside it. It drives me slightly potty (totally irrational thing to get annoyed with so DH has to deal with teeth brushing most of the time) but it wouldn't make a dentists job very easy and I don't know that they would understand he wasn't just being a pain on purpose.

Getting him to stop talking wouldn't be easy either!

Another reason why I have been putting it off!

purlyqueen I'm sorry I didn't see your post before - here's the link - she is truly lovely

www.dentistforphobics.co.uk

well...tomorrow is the day i am meant to be getting the tooth fixed that prompted me having to go to the dentist... and to have a wisdome tooth out....in the chair...awake....aware....

I keep telling myself that it will all be over with in no time at all....

Have been following your story... as I too need to go to dentist but have major fear. How did you get on MUM23ASD? Hope everything went well!

i am about to go- at 12... i am absolutely feeling totally and utterly sick at the moment.

my hands are sweaty...i've took some codeine tablet (for the light headed feeling they give me).

i know in an hour i will be sat in the chair (appt is at 12.20)...

i'm assuming he'll do the bottom tooth filling first- then take the upper wisdom tooth out.... so i'm hoping IF he's gentle for the filling...that i will be calmer for the extraction...as i'll have a bit of trust in him... whereas if i were just having the tooth out...i'd not know how he works?

so off i go...

I've had it done!!!!!

I HATED having the filling done...it DID NOT HURT ....but it felt like forever- and i needed to cough during it- but it's done

The upper wisdom tooth took less than 30 seconds to pull out. It was a better experience than the filling....but i nearly fainted when i heard an almighty crack! I thought it had snapped and he'd have to start digging around to remove it...but it was all out in one...and i'm sat here now with the pad in the gap- and so far...no blood has escaped!

So...whilst i am still apprehensive about the fillings side of things....i may now be less tense about going.

GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!!
have been following your thread and am very impressed - well done!

thanx... its now 7 hours since i had it done...and i've taken 2 lots of ibuprofen...and have had NO PAIN!!!

....but during night...ibuprofen wore off and the filled tooth is aching. NOTHING like a normal toothache...just bruising i assume.

dissapointed as so far this was all going so well...

so just taken more meds...and am going to go back to bed and wallow in self pity....(when i've finished checking MN !!!)