• 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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Very Nervous

C

cdrago

Junior member
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
10
I everyone I am new here and I'm hoping you all will help me gain some courage.

I have been putting off going to the dentist for a couple of years. I am now about to turn 19 so my insurance will go away next year. So of course I need to get them fixed now and of course very nervous. Also I am a very nervous person and a working though social anxiety. I'm also improving but still not a fan of the dentist.

I don't think my teeth will need much fixing at least. I have a small chip in one of my eye teeth ( I think it is called that). Then 2 different small holes in my 2 farthest upperleft side. These 3 are all caused my gingivitis so these aren't big but can get worse. Then my worst one is the second to last one on the bottom right. The part that faces the back tooth is gone but the sides are there, a little less than a forth broke off. None of them hurt and I don't think any of them have any black in them. I can get pick the with a tooth pick with no pain. (yes I know I shouldn't do that)

Anyway the thought of the dentist makes me want to throw up. I even shiver and shake when I think about it. I hated the last time I went because the dentist used a new xray thing on me that touches the back of your thoat and I can never do that again. I also hate the block think that keeps my mouth open, for some reason it makes be freak out.

I am going to try and go to a smaller town dentist because I think that it might make a difference and they won't use all the new toys on me. I just hope that they have happy gas. I hears most are switching to a pill, is it any good?

If anyone can give me any courage or advice I would really apreciate it. Thanks in advance!
 
The most important advice I can give you is to take care of your teeth now before you are in a situation like the rest of us. With no insurance myself, I've gone through hell for YEARS now because I didn't go to the dentist when I should have. Literally hell. My life is near ruined because of dental pain. I have now gotten the courage to go to the dentist and will have FIVE teeth extracted next week. Just remember that taking control now is important. Because your fear will grow with time and sadly, so will dental problems. Meaning more expensive and invasive treatment in most cases. It's really hard though isn't it? Dental phobia sucks and I feel for you and here we all understand your fears. Good for you for coming on the forum for advice and taking the first step.

I suggest reading lots of posts here and seeing what helps others. Another option is calling ahead, and some dentists wll prescribe you a pill to take BEFORE you even get to the appointment which can greatly reduce anxiety. :)

Just take things slow but stay on the road...even if you go SUPER slow. :)
 
Thank you for replying. I will read more posts on the forums. I hope I can gather some courage for this!
 
Anyone else? I could use more encouragement.
 
stay strong and i wish you all the very best! you are young enough to get a hold on this and prevent a lot of tooth problems now rather than 20 yr later when they will be beyond repair ! we all understand your anxiety and stress about this, we're all the same, thats why this forum is so marvellous and a god send to soooo many !! keep posting, stay brave, and remember we are all behind you ! good luck ! xx
 
I'm so sorry you are suffering. I had to get an Apicoectomy in August and I was terrified. What helped me is that I went to the doctor and got 3mg of ativan. It made the whole experience way less terrible.
 
I just hope they aren't damaged to bad so I don't have to make multiple trips. Also I hope that I don't have to use that X-ray thing like when I went a few years ago. It was like a thing you had to bite on that almost went to the back on my thoat, I almost threw up when they used it. That is also why I am going to try and go to a more small town dentist that won't have all of those weird devices.
 
Also I plan to call and make the appointment Monday, just thinking about it makes me sick. I just hope the dentist doesn't think I am a baby. It's the weirdest thing I'm not afraid of the needles, I just don't like people in my mouth.
 
Hi :)

You are young and have such a nice life aheah of you. Please take care of yourself, your health, your teeth and enjoy life. Dont wait to be like some of us stuck with fears and anxiety.

I can see that you are afraid too. My advide would be to talk openly with the staff and dentist. When you call to make your appointment, if they fail to listen to you on phone, I would recommand to call another dentist. If they have compassion, they will listen. So tell them... tell them your concerns.

I am unsure about the Xrays your are talking about, but the last time I went (october 2010) to see my dental specialist, he took lots of xrays, many were ok. Only 2 were just a little uneasy to do, but it was du to a tooth that was hurting.

They now used lots of things (laughing gaz, different types of pills, Iv sedation, etc.) to help people feel at ease.

Good luck and let us know how you are.
 
I made the appointment for thursday. I foundout that I will need to get my teeth cleaned no exceptions, which bothers me. I hope they don't use one of those blocks because my last dentist made me use one while she cleaned them. Does every dentist use those?
 
I made the appointment for thursday. I foundout that I will need to get my teeth cleaned no exceptions, which bothers me. I hope they don't use one of those blocks because my last dentist made me use one while she cleaned them. Does every dentist use those?

No, have never had one offered for cleaning. You should have some say in this sort of thing anyway. You must be in USA to be told you have to have a cleaning before you see the dentist. I suppose at least it means you see the dentist with clean teeth...less embarrassment maybe? If you told them you are phobic, it is a very bad sign that they are not willing to be flexible re format...it's quite common though and sometimes works out ok.
 
No, have never had one offered for cleaning. You should have some say in this sort of thing anyway. You must be in USA to be told you have to have a cleaning before you see the dentist. I suppose at least it means you see the dentist with clean teeth...less embarrassment maybe? If you told them you are phobic, it is a very bad sign that they are not willing to be flexible re format...it's quite common though and sometimes works out ok.

Yeah I am in the U.S. I think they want to clean them to make sure they don't miss anything. It annoys me because I am alway afrai that they mess up my teeth while cleaning them and of course I want the appointment to be fast as possible. I really hope I do not have to use a block, I absolutely hate those things. Also hope the X-rays aren't to bad, I hope they are pretty easy to do. Last time I had one they had a thing that you had to bite on that almost went to the back of your thoat and I kept gaging on it. I hope that it will only take 1 appointment to fix everything (of course not including the first visit).
 
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No one can force you to have a mouth prop/block..if you are happy to keep your mouth open yourself, that's your choice...especially for a cleaning lol...I mean it's just a cleaning.

Don't let them bully you...go to a different dentist if they are not customer focussed....you are paying - you are the customer.

I think sometimes, they have 'preferred ways of doing things' usually based on what is fastest for them....it is up to you to question anything you are not sure about or would prefer not to have.

The x-ray holders shouldn't go to the back of your mouth - they should remain at the sides - try breathing through your nose when it is in.
 
Don't get too worried about the xrays until you know what type they are using. My dentist uses digtal xrays and all you do is simply rest your front teeth on a little bar. Nothing goes into your mouth at all. The machine revolves around your head and it takes less then 60 seconds. :)
 
Going in tomorrow, wish me luck. I will update you guys.
 
when i go i use the childrens block...its much smaller and hurts my jaw less than the adult block.
 
So far I'm alive lol! I made it through the X-rays and cleaning. No block but, the X-rays weren't to fun. I powered through it all though. Any way I need to get 6 teeth fixed. On Tuesday I will get all on the top jaw fixed and 5 of them are at the top. They said it will take about 2 hours tops. They prescribed me a valum 10 mg, and said that it might be all I need although they will have the gass ready if needed. Has anyone had a valum before? Is it strong enough? Also the bottom tooth will need a root canal but they said it won't get worse and I can wait a few years to fix it. I will probably just get it pulled and maybe get a false one in it's place. One more thing they were kinda freaked out my my blood pressure and heart rate. I don't remember how much it was but it was just because I was nervous. I could believe couldn't tell because I was trembling. Can't wait to be done on Tuesday although I am nervous about it.
 
If you've never had Valium before, yeah 10mg is plenty. You'll probably be really happy. It'll also lower your BP and your heart rate, because you won't be nervous. At all.

The first time I had a panic attack, many moons and years past, they gave me my first ever Valium in the ER and I was trying to make friends with everyone in less than five minutes. Everything was also hilarious. At that point I probably would have let a dentist have his way with my teeth.
 
I would have 5mg valium 1 hour before my appointments. By the time I got to the dentist, I would be soo sleepy and almost look forward to having a lie down in the chair (dare I say that!). It really is a wonder drug and especially since you are having 10mg, it will just takes your nerves away. You can understand whats going on but you just dont care as much. Its great! Will make the appointment (and pre appointment) really soothing.
You'll be fine!!
 
I'm alive! I made it though and I am very proud of myself. I am very sore but that will go away soon.
 
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