Is anyone else here afraid of the dentist?

[converted_democrat]

I have a really big fear of the dentist, and I don't want to go. I was blessed with pretty teeth, but I do need to go get a check up. When I was a kid I had a really bad experience with my dentist, and it's soured me for life.. Does anyone else have a fear of the dentist? Any tips for getting through it?

[Kid OfThe Black Hole]

1. If you cause enough problems

they strap you down.

Ask me how I know (or don't)

[converted_democrat]

2. How do you know? n/t

[Kid OfThe Black Hole]

20. The more trouble you cause

the more burly the orderlies become is what I've noticed

[LynzM]

3. I dread it, but it's not a fear, per se

I would suggest seeing if you can find a dentist you can talk to, even for a couple minutes, first, to gauge their personality and if they will take your fear into account. I was lucky to have a very sweet, gentle woman as my dentist for a couple years, and it made a big difference for me. I hope you can find someone like that! :hug:

[Catch22Dem]

4. There's a local dentist here...

Who prescribes valium the day before, then picks you up for your appointment and takes you home. Pretty wild, eh? You ought to see if there's something similar in your area.

[converted_democrat]

8. Geez.. That's great.. I could deal with that I think..n/t

[Catch22Dem]

13. Yeah, no kidding

Might make me schedule some EXTRA appointments. ;)

[CBHagman]

15. Okay, where is that?

I'll bet there's a waiting list, too.

Thinking back over the dentists I've seen, I'm none too happy with my past experience. The problem is finding someone who's skilled and reasonably sensitive. Actually, the dentist I've liked best was a dental student, the housemate of a friend of mine. That was years ago, though, and I've lost track of him.

[Catch22Dem]

17. Tulsa, OK

I bet it's a fairly common service.

[DawgHouse]

5. This is a really common fear, I think.

DH is horribly afraid to go but not so honest about admitting it. He just makes excuse after excuse to avoid it. Every time he has an appointment, something comes up at the last minute and he has to cancel. Eventually I nag him enough and he goes. Poor thing, when he was a littly guy, he was the unfortunate victim of a very sadistic, uncaring dentist. :( Anyway, he has been seeing a really nice dentist for about a year and this dentist completely understands and is very gentle. Best advice is to just take it a little bit at a time and if you need major work, take it in small steps. Good luck!

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. I never used to be. I had perfect teeth, no cavities until my illness

at 30...Now my teeth always have cavities...they sometimes can't get the molars numb and I feel the drill, and then she has to stop and renumb...and then my whole head is numb...and I get a migrain. So I am frightened like a baby in a funhouse now...when I think of going to the dentist. :scared: :hug: I have no tips, I'm sorry.

[bigwillq]

7. NOPE. They make my teeth clean

and probably save me from disease. I love going to the dentist.

[friesianrider]

9. I used to be deathly afraid of the dentist...

When I was a kid (one of my first trips to the dentist), I had a cavity that needed to be filled. I wasn't nervous at all, until the dentist thought I had already received my Novocaine shot. I hadn't. He started drilling and I don't think I've ever moved so fast. I ran out screaming for my life and had a mind thing ever since.

Only within the last 5 years or so did I really get over it. I would think about what time of day my appointment was and then plan to do something fun afterwards, like rent a movie I really wanted to see or make myself a cookie shake (my favorite). I'd just tell myself, "your appointment is at 2, and they can't keep you there forever. By 4:30, you'll be at home enjoying _____." It really worked for me to know it wouldn't last forever and I had something to look forward to. Plus, once you get the Novocaine thing over with (if you're having work done), the rest is really a piece of cake.

One final tip - you might try and find a dentist who has a very modern office and can offer you some extra creature comforts to help you relax. My dentist has flat screen TVs mounted on the ceiling of each exam room so patients can watch their favorite show while he's working. He also has these neat little glasses patients can wear that have a screen in them so you can watch a movie while he's working too. I had Invisalign braces about a year ago so was in the dentist every couple weeks, and some of these things can really help nervous patients like me relax. It doesn't even bother me anymore, thank goodness.

I know it sucks and its certainly easier said than done, but just try and do mind over matter! Good luck :hug:

[converted_democrat]

11. Thank you for the tips, you've given me some good ideas. Thank you. n/t

[Oeditpus Rex]

10. Sedation dentistry is the way to go

Even if you decide you don't need sedation or don't want to take the meds, sedation dentists are much more sensitive to dental phobias. Mine is absolutely marvelous; his entire staff is. Before I opened my mouth, we had a talk about my fear issues. That alone is very reassuring.

Check it out: http://www.sedation--dentist.com/

I just wish this had been around 20 years ago.

[converted_democrat]

14. This is the answer for me!! Thank you!!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! n/t

[Redstone]

12. Jack Daniel's and Elavil. Quells the fear of anything.

Worked for me when I was getting flight fillings and caps from a Navy dentist.

Redstone

[hippywife]

16. My dentist is really

great and pain-free in his approach. They are out there and worth their weight in amalgam!

[Vadem]

18. Well, honey, you are ahead of the game! If you have pretty....

teeth, but are still afraid of the dentist, don't be afraid! What is there to be afraid of? You already
have pretty teeth!. Those of us who never had good dental health care as a child, salute you! Don't be
afraid of the dentist! Keep your beautiful mouth of teeth! Go to the dentist!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. The cost more than anything

:scared:

I spent about $2000 there last year, and I don't have dental insurance.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

21. I've long since gotten over it

I recently had 3 teeth pulled, all at once- my arthritis medication is rotting my teeth, so I'm getting somewhat the equivalent of meth mouth. One day they'll all be gone, so it's best I suck it up and deal with it.

It's really not that bad- dentistry has vastly improved over the years, and it's all fairly painless these days. As long as you have good teeth there's really no reason to freak. If you're scared, tell 'em and they can give you a mild relaxant of some kind to help you through it.

[fleabert]

22. fleabert's hand is raised...

I flip out if I am not gassed. And I can't control it. I had no idea this was the case until a few years ago- when a dentist actually came at me with that long motherfuckinghugescary needle full of novacaine, and was actually going to STICK IT IN MY GUMS W I T H O U T gas first. I practically slid out of the chair and slithered out of the room crying and shaking. He felt so bad for me that he gave me the gas for free. (my insurance didn't cover it, and still doesn't)

I have delayed some really important dental work because it isn't covered. I have avoided finding a solution, because even just typing this out has caused my heart to race and my head to feel woozy.

fuck, i am so fucked.

edited to add: I give blood all the time, watch surgeries on tv- the unedited kind, have attended women during birth and watched the money shots each time...all with no problems. I am not squeamish or freaked by needles in general. Just at the dentist. weird.

[jobycom]

23. I don't know. I haven't been in decades.

I went to a dentist in about sixth grade, then went again when I was 25 when a tooth chipped. He told me I had no cavities and would probably never get any. My regular doctor claims I have wonderful teeth, especially since I drink a lot of sodas. So I'll go back when my teeth start cracking, I guess.

I got good teeth in exchange for being bald, I guess. It's okay, I'd take that trade any day. :)

[driver8]

24. I hated the dentist and avoided him as long as I could. When

I finally went, I thought to myself, "Self, what the hell were you afraid of??"

It's no big deal at all. I have had a couple of cavities filled and a crown put on and no pain at all.

Get your teeth cleaned first -- get used to people poking around in your mouth.

Good luck!

[AlienGirl]

25. Death Before Dentistry!

When I was a little kid, I decided I'd just kill myself first if I ever had a toothache so bad I needed a dentist to work on it.

I didn't have a cavity till age 28, by which time I had antianxiety drugs to help me out. It's still scary and I still hate going to the dentist though.

Tucker

[neweurope]

26. I start hyperventilating just thinking of the dentist.

When I'm laying in that terrible chair I always try the rose meditation. Sometimes it works, mostly it doesn't.

---------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[JuneInJax]

27. I can't even get my teeth CLEANED without

happy gas!! I hear you - as a kid a dentist got me so whacked out they had to give me a pill - Valium, I think - to calm me down enough so I could go home. Another one slapped me when I protested that my tooth was not deadened when he started to drill.

I now have a dentist who gives me all the happy gas I can handle, and if I say it's not dead enough, she gives me more shots. I have the option of having a sleeping pill if I want one and have someone to drive me. There ARE decent dentists out there who make the experience at least tolerable. It's best to get recommends from you fellow dentist-phobic friends, but if all else fails, look in the phone book for "We cater to cowards." They really do!
Good luck!
Moni

[REP]

28. Scared To Death Of The Bill

I would LOVE to get my teeth fixed - I have two molars that are badly broken and need crowns, one that probably needs to be pulled, and no doubt a root canal or two. The work that's neded would hurt like holy hell, but it would heal, which is better than my teeth hurting all the time. I just can't afford it - no dental insurance and I'm SSD.

[Strong Atheist]

29. No, but I don't trust them. nt.

[billyskank]

30. It helps when you have the hots for your dentist

:blush:

But no, I used to hate the dentist when I was a kid, but I'm okay with it now.

[Heidi]

31. Not at all. I _am_, however, afraid of pain. (nt)

[Cobalt Violet]

32. I had some bad experiences with dentists too.

I don't fear them. I hate them. I hate them forcing me to listen to their stupid opinions while I have a drill in my mouth. I hate them for cutting corners with their sanitation procedures. I hate them for bilking my mothers insurance and filling my non existent cavities. I hate them for been absolutely artless and incompetent.

My tip is to not go. Or get a second opinion for even a filling. And most importantly make sure everything that goes into your mouth has been sterilized. Don't blindly trust that they will do the right thing. Their are republicans in dentistry.

[Crazy Dave]

33. I had to get two wisdom teeth pulled two years ago...

...made the appointment and worried myself the whole two weeks before it for nothing. They knocked me out completely and only one (ex-tooth?) gave me a little pain for a day. I don't have any cavities or fillings though so I don't know how much pain or discomfort those can be.

[samplegirl]

34. I love going

I have no fear at all never did. I was a dental
assistant for a number of years so I guess that might be why.