I've allowed this Phobia to rule me for too long

[alleyp]

Echo...

Let us know

[robotguy]

Hi all, just got back from my second visit to the dentist today. I went this morning only for them not to be expecting me until next week. What a weird feeling, to be disappointed I couldn't be seen today. Luckily I had the written appointment card in my pocket, that they gave me last week, that said I was due in at 11am today, so they made me an appointment for 2pm this afternoon, as the mistake was theirs not mine.

Well the appointment went well, I told the dentist at the beginning that I was so pleased with what she did last week, I've had no ache or pain from any of the covered teeth. I also said that I was still extremely nervous but she was making it so much easier for me. She said she was pleased with the progress and was happy to carry on going slowly, so that I can build up the experiences over time, to be able to cope with more things.

Again she asked what I wanted to do this week, I asked to finish off the temporary coverings on the lower teeth on the other side, but I did want the top one with a big hole to be done soon too. She responded by saying that maybe she could have a look at that after getting the lower ones done, if we had time.

Once settled in the chair I calmed myself down then told her she could start. This is such a small but nice thing she allows me to do, I don't feel pressure to 'just get on with it'. She soon got my lower teeth covered up safely just like the other side. That is such a relief, I had one abscess down there that started this all off, I didn't want another one, with the coverings on those teeth I should be much less likely to have another.

Then she asked If I wanted the top tooth looked at. Now this tooth has lost a filling and the front edge has broken off, I get food caught in it at every meal, I regularly have to swill some water around to clean it out, but there is never any pain from it. I know though that its just a matter of time before it does cause me trouble.

Anyway I agree and she starts wiping it clean and drying it. For the first time ever I feel a slight tinge and raise my hand. She stops immediately as she said she would. This is the first time I've had to stop her. All I wanted to do was let her know it was a bit sensitive when she was cleaning it and I couldn't do that with her fingers in my mouth. I talked to her about how it felt and then let her carry on. She didn't mind the interruption at all. As I had felt something she put some antiseptic in the tooth before applying the sealing filler, just to make sure she wasn't trapping any bacteria under it.

That was it, I was done in the chair for today, all my vulnerable teeth are now sealed up, including the top one I thought I would have to wait another week to be done.

We talked afterwards and I'm going back next week for an untra-sonic de-scale, plus a bit of a polish. This will introduce water and suction into my mouth, to allow me to get used to it before I start having drilling and stuff.

At the moment I have some pretty thick tartar, scale, whatever you want to call it, on many of my front teeth. To have this gone would boost my confidence so much when I'm cleaning my teeth, I might also start to feel less conscious of opening my mouth when talking to people. I have a holiday booked in two weeks time, to not have to worry about what the front of my mouth looks like when I'm on holiday is going to be great.

I can't believe how happy I feel this afternoon, I've had more done that I expected, plus next time I'm going to see a difference every time I look in a mirror.

[robotguy]

Oh I just re-read what I wrote and realised that I didn't acknowledge the fact that my wife changed her plans today so that she could come with me. This realy did help. I wrote a few days ago how low I was feeling and after I spoke to my wife that night, she re-arranged things so that she could support me. For his I'm really grateful. Having someone there in the waiting room when I come out is another thing that is different from my childhood dentistry visits, it all helps to change my appointments from a negative to a positive experience.

[Rebmob]

Wow another successful appointment under your belt! Well done you!

[alleyp]

I love reading your journal, and seeing how far you've come - you've done a lot in such a short space of time.

You're taking the same sort of "build up tolerance" line as I have - first we got me in the office, then she took a look, then we did the clean for the same reasons as you. I feel I should give you a heads-up that the ultrasonic scaler might buzz your tongue - I'm not trying to scare you coz it's really absolutely fine! - it made me jump out the chair, but it really doesn't hurt AT ALL. It was just unexpected for me, so I hope if you're expecting it you can keep yourself calm if you do get the buzz. It tickled more than anything! I hope I've worded that ok!

[robotguy]

Yup, the dentist has warned me about the buzzing feeling. As far as I'm concerned it is something new for me so I have no bad memories of it. Removing scale in the past, for me, was tugging with a metal pick, I often thought the tooth was going to be pulled out, its got to be better than that.

The build up tollerance is going hand in hand with build up trust, but there is also a build up of communication between us. I do feel we are working as a team, doing this together.

It does look like I've done a lot in a short space of time, but I really did have two moments during therapy when I just sat back and thought - wow, that is why I feel like this, I then realised that I can stop these feelings by just thinking differently. Don't get me wrong, I'm still very nervous, but as long as the dentist will allow me to work how I want it to go, then I really believe I can get through the apointments.

[robotguy]

This is just an update over how my teeth are getting on.

Well after having the dressings on the teeth over the past two weeks it still feels strange to feel almost full size teeth in places where only bits have been for so long. I know they are only temporary coverings but at least my teeth are not getting smaller anymore. Not having food caught in the big hole at the back anymore is brilliant, I'm still trying to get out of the habit of checking that tooth with my tounge after each meal.

A couple of the teeth had clove tasting antiseptic stuff put in the holes before the dressing was put over the top. Both times I have had the taste of cloves in my mouth for four days afterwards, its OK at the start, but its not my favourite taste and I'm glad when its gone. Once the taste has gone though I've felt a bit of tenderness on those teeth for a few more days. The first time I thought that something was wrong and the dressings were failing, but I think its just that I'm not protecting those teeth so much when I eat anymore. The first side is now fine at all times, its been nearly two weeks since they were covered. The second side was a bit tender the past couple of days but its also settling down now.

One thing I hate is for my upper and lower teeth to touch, yeah I'm weird. Since the second side of my mouth had been temporary dressed, I've had loads of instances when I've touched my teeth together, it makes me jump every time.

I've caught a bit of a chest infection and am feeling pretty rough at the moment. As soon as I lay down I start coughing. Last night after I finally managed to get to sleep I woke up clenching my mouth shut really hard, I think this clenching at night is how I broke most of my teeth in the past. The clenching last night had made my lower teeth really ache one side, so much that I thought the abcess was returning. Luckly this morning all the aching has gone and a look in the mirror shows no damage.

Tomorrow I'm getting the cleaning done, I'm still looking forward to it. I find it very strange that I can now feel this way about the dentist.

[robotguy]

For the second night in a row I've woken up clenching my teeth, the bottom tooth is now quite tender to touch. I'm starting to think the abcess is on its way back

I had an appointment this morning for the de-scale which went really well. She started by showing me the tool and touched it to my finger so I could get a handle on the sensation. She ran through how it works and the fact that it will expose some parts of my teeth to my mouth again that have been covered up by scale for years, so I should expect a bit of sensitivity to cold things for a few days, but a sensitive toothpaste will help.

Once I was settled in the chair she started with the front bottom where the scaling is really thick. It wasn't a bad sensation at all, I could hardly feel a thing. A couple of times she went between two teeth and I had a high-pitched buzz in my head, a bit like a mosquito, but it didn't last very long each time and was bearable. I was then given the oppotunity to stop if I had had enough, but this cleaning I want done so we carried on, after all it wasn't unplesant compared to how I used to be de-scaled. Even having the inside of my teeth cleaned was OK, that is where I really had issues when it was done before. Overall she did my mouth in four sections, after each one I was given a rest and allowed to compose myself, plus I was given the chance to say enough, but I felt no need to stop. I kept thinking this was actually what I wanted to have done today.

I mentioned the clenching and the fear I had that the abcess was back before we started. Now that the temporary coverings are on my teeth I've been less careful on protecting my teeth when I eat, resulting with my teeth touching a lot more than I've allowed then to do in years, I thought that it was the temporary coverings touching. The back tooth is very sensitive now, it feels like pressing on a brused fingernail when I rub on it, so its not the tooth that hurts, but underneath it.

With the de-scale done she checked out my bite and the back tooth. Big releif when she that there is no sign of infection or the abcess returning, phew! Its not the temp coverings touching but my actual teeth. Because I haven't allow my teeth to touch for so long its allowed then to move where they want to, so there is no even pressure throughout my mouth and these back teeth touch first. With the two nights of clenching I've probably caused a bruse under the bottom tooth that touches first.

I going back again next week so that she can check out the bottom tooth again, just to make sure there is no infection or abcess before I go on holiday. I've also agreed to have a tiny filling done on one of my top teeth, this will involve a LA but the whole thing should be fairly quick to get me used to the process. I know I need a lot more work, but I'm still doing baby steps and I will get through all this.

I left with shakey legs this morning and I hate the feeling of individual teeth against my tounge at the front, but I suppose that is how they are meant to feel. The sensitivity I was warned about hasn't appeared. The best thing though is looking at my teeth in a mirror now, OMG what a difference, it looks 1000 times better, 26+ years of scale removed, I am so pleased with the result.

[Rebmob]

I love reading about the success of your appointments!! Well done you! I can relate to that feeling of individual teeth the back of my bottom teeth still feel weird on my tounge and I had mine cleaned over a month ago. The end of my tounge gets quite sore where I rub it over my teeth alot too!

[alleyp]

Agreed on the weird individual tooth feeling! I hated that at first, but I've got used to it now.

I'm pleased you kept going, and it's good to hear the new attitude to dentistry... "I want to do this" is the phrase that marks a turning point for all of us! I felt exactly the same way when I had my cleaning done, there were points at which I wanted to run, but the feeling of "I am actually doing this" overrode that!

Anyway, a huge huge well done on another appointment to notch on your dental belt xx