• Dental Phobia Support

    Welcome! This is an online support group for anyone who is has a severe fear of the dentist or dental treatment. Please note that this is NOT a general dental problems or health anxiety forum! You can find a list of them here.

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Doreen

Junior member
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
5
Hello This is my first time here on this forum. Since reading a lot of the info I figure I have a dental phobia. Have all the symptoms and now am asking for some input from others. At my age 67 I feel so stupid to have to ask for some help to get me to a dentist. I am a widow and am facing things on my own which I am finding quite hard. I hope someone can give me some report because I do not know where to start as I am mortified to even pick up the phone to call any dentist.
 
Doreen,

Welcome to the forum! The people posting here are an awesome support system to help you. I don't know what I would have done without them to encourage and support me through my recent dental journey.

My first advice would be to ask your friends, family or Primary Care Physician for a referral to a dentist they know and trust, who is empathetic and understanding of dental phobes and anxiety. I went on the advice of a friend who is dental phobic also and she gave me the name of a wonderful dentist here in Arizona. Drum up that courage (I know it's in you!!!) and call to make an appointment......let them know that you are phobic/fearful...believe me, they are used to that.

Secondly.....talk to your PCP BEFORE your appointment with the dentist and ask if he/she can prescribe you some anti-anxiety medication to take before you go see your dentist. This helps immensely.

Thirdly...when you get to your appointment make it known to your dentist that you are anxious/fearful and what those fears are. Most of the dentists today are NOT going to chastise you for not going for the 5, 10 or 15 years you haven't gone. They want to help you obtain a healthy mouth.

Lastly....don't be afraid to ask for any help.....there are so many people on this forum wearing your shoes and knowing what your fears are (me being one of them).

You CAN do this!!! And let me know how I can help support you since I've recently gone through it myself.

My best wishes,

Trish
 
If there is a moderator out there can we move Doreen's post over to support?

Thanks
 
Welcome to the forum!

First of all you could check the dentist recommendations for where you live. Maybe there is someone good mentioned there. Then you could email them, many find it easier than calling.
 
Thanks for your reply. The last time I went to the dentist was 3 years ago. I searched him out and went for the help but he did not seem to really listen to me at just how petrified I was. I asked him not to put the pick in my mouth but he insisted. He made me an appointment but I never went back. I just did not even trust him. Before that I had seen a dentist about 2 years prior and he sent me to a specialist to have the teeth out. After being put to sleep and getting this done, I came home and the next day I could not even move I was so dizzy. They discovered I had vertigo. Also my face was bruised from the top of my forehead to the chin. I have had ringing in my ears now for 5 years. They say that vertigo can be caused by a trama to the head and I really do feel he was very rough. Such a long history I have that it would be too long to print here.
 
Hi Doreen
Sorry to hear of your less than ideal recent experiences. Many people find it does help to write down their full dental history as it helps them identify their main areas of concern so that they can be sure to choose a dentist who has the facilities and willingness to help them in an appropriate way.

You can do that in this thread or in 'Journals' as a diary thread.

What kind of treatment do you think is likely needed as this could also influence who you choose to help you...e.g. if you need a partial or dentures you probably want to choose someone skilled at making these?

All dentists are really not the same and it is a case of finding one who sounds promising for you and that very much increases your chances of success.
There are some tips here: https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/help/find-a-dentist/

Personal recommendation is the preferred route although there are others.
Given the type of dental practices you likely experienced as a child given your age, this article about the importance of the dental environment being stressfree might be of interest to challenge your perceptions of what is available/possible:


Choosing the next dentist with care and prior research would be time well spent.
:grouphug:

The dentist insisting on using the 'explorer' when you asked them not to is not respecting your fears..they don't 'have to' use it. The good news is they also can use it very gently and without causing discomfort...a dentist skilled in helping nervous patients would not have treated you like this.
 
Last edited:
Doreen, I'm so sorry to hear about you troubles. Until yesterday, dentists had tails, horns and pickforks. I went last night having not been to a dentist in 5 years because of my fear. No, I didn't have the treatment you did, it was merely the insensitive treatment I had and pain. I think you're very brave going back to a dentist after went you went through, I don't think I woud've had the guts. I didn't tell him I was terrified of dentists but he picked it up from my body language and was really gentle.

You hae to find a dentist you trust. I know this sounds weird but I think you can tell a lot from the recepitionist. My old dentist's receptionist was a moody cow, my new dentist's receptionist is really nice and friendly... it correlated with dentist.

I'm not over my fear by any strenght of the imagination, but a nice dentist certianly helps.
 
Hello: I am so happy I found this site. Just reading the replies is giving me some help. I know I must do something soon and am trying hard to get on with it. I am walking on pins and needles hoping not to get worse and my tummy is in knots. Rinsing with anbesol is not going to stop it I think. I think I will write in the journal because it will make me feel better. Thanks to all
 
Well here I am again. Have been reading all the threads and help but have done nothing. I am afraid to even eat. Have anxiety attacks every day and am getting so tired out from not sleeping. On the one hand all I want to do is go to bed and sleep and wake up and find my teeth have fallen out. I am sick of walking the floor all night long. I just am so scared that I am jumpy all the time. Also at this time of the year there is so much to do and my heart is just not in it. If only this would go away til after the new year then maybe I could face it better. Have had many health problems and now worry that I will not be able to get thru this. I wish there was a fast answer. Thanks for listening
 
Doreen, where are you ?
maybe someone can help by recommending a sympathtic dentist to you for your issues and in your area

i will gladly name mine if you want. we are in the west midlands/worcestershire

ronny
 
Thanks for your response Ronny. I am in Canada, but thanks for the info. Just hearing from someone in responses to my crisis helps immensely.
 

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