• 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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Going to medical doc for dental problems

Due to phobia-ever visited medical doctor for antibiotics/pain relief rather than visit a dentist?

  • No- I've always managed to see a dentist

    Votes: 31 40.3%
  • No- my medical doctor wouldn't see me for a dental problem

    Votes: 8 10.4%
  • Yes- I told the doctor that I had a dental phobia

    Votes: 10 13.0%
  • Yes- I made an excuse for why I couldn't/hadn't seen a dentist

    Votes: 28 36.4%

  • Total voters
    77
It helps to have the medical doctors in communication with dentist specialists who understand the phobia. Creating a list of referals to such dental specialists for patients would greatly help. And vise versa. Dentists having a referal list for medical doctors able to understand and help treat phobias.

This is not taken seriously enough and often we are treated unfairly. Dental phobia is a reality and not something most can control under the best of circumstances. We are not "mental" cases. Our fears are based on horrible past experiences.

Often we are silenced because we feel ashamed to admit our fear. And the silence leads to many putting off needed dental work. And putting off the dental work for years can lead to very serious problems.

In the UK I would assume this means a greater expense to the government?
In the US we have no means to get dental work unless we can pay for it which often means putting it off.

Good luck with the article and bringing about the awareness for medical doctors regarding dental phobia.

I did go to my doctor with dental pain questions. I now work with him in establishing a better communication about what a patient can do and where to go. This is for a different medical condition regarding brain and nerve damage but I would think it would work specifically for dental work also.

star thrower
 
I have visited the doctor and said I had a dental phobia and was getting a lot of tooth problems - the doctor did not suggest that he could offer antibiotics or pain relief, he encouraged me to go to a dentist even if just to talk to them and not have any work done and prescribed valium to try and help me get through the door. He explained that the dentist could refer me to a sedation clinic and that I did not need to have any work done at a checkup and the valium would make it easier for me to get through the door just to discuss my options with the dentist and get a referral if necessary.

He did not seem overly suprised at me saying I had a dental phobia and was quite sympathetic but he did seem to make it clear that I needed to go to the dentist for dental problems and he could try and help make it easier to get there but he could not offer a solution to my dental issues himself.
 
I can't really pick any of the answers..none of them fit. As bad as my teeth are, I've never had any pain! I know..crazy, but true. I've always been good at hiding my teeth to..so my doctor has never said anything about them. I do see my regular physician every 6 months due to my high blood pressure..but just broke down and went to a dentist May 14th after about 50 years. (Yep..you read that right.) I knocked a front tooth out and finally said enough is enough and made the appointment. Hardest thing I ever did..but I was very lucky to find a dentist that's patient and understanding of phobias.
 
No- I've always managed to see a dentist

Only because to me,the most logical place to go for a toothache,would be the dentist.It never even dawned on me that I could have gone to the local Urgent Care...and forget trying to get a same day appt. with my Dr..That rarely if ever happens,and I usually end up in Urgent Care if it's not major,and the ER if it is,but never for my teeth.
 
Thanks guys- I am starting to write the letter for the BMJ- if anyone still wants to add their experiences to the poll- there is still a few days to do so.
Thanks again
Dr Mike
 
My phobia extends to all people who touch me.. I only manage one haircut a year and she has to come to my house and just chop round the bottom as quickly as possible! My friends 'joke' that one day I will get an infection and just have to die, I actually don't find this very funny. Eventually I had to go to the dr as all the stress was giving me terrible insomnia, I only sleep 2 or 3 hours in 24, and was refered to councilling, which was helpful while I was having it, but I am not back to square one.. I am desperately trying to sort myself out, not just dental but other things, for instance I have never had an eye test. Getting to the point where I think my friends are probably right. The dental issue is rally difficult as pain eventually drives you to do something.. so eventually you have to find a way to deal with it. BUT life shouldn't need to be this hard.. there should be more help for people out there.. seriously x
 
Not directly but i have at times hoped one condition would help another.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys- I have submitted the letter to the British Medical Journal - here's hoping it will be published- I will let you know.
Best wishes
Dr Mike
 
I look forward to reading it, Dr. Mike. Also, congrats on your book chapter.

Mona
 
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