Are we ever "cured"?

[biffo1963]

This is an interesting one ! I certainly regard myself as "cured", but reading this thread makes me think that - just maybe - I wasn't particularly phobic in the first place. Why do I say that ? Well, I had a lot ( and I mean a LOT ) of treatment at age 11 without being bothered by it, but then once my teeth started to break up in my teens I avoided going for the next 25 years. Then when I DID finally go to get them sorted out I once again had LOTS of treatment ( 8 or 9 extractions, loads of fillings ) without being fussed once I'd got through the first appointment. Since then I've gone along for my check-ups every six months like we all should. More recently, let's say the last five years or so, I've been unable to last for six months without needing some sort of treatment - in fact some times it feels like I spend half my life in the place ( and half my income )

So at the moment it has all become very routine for me - almost like seeing my GP, except that it's easier to get an appointment with the dentist than it is with him ! Maybe I'm just weird.


John

[Aldridge]

I wouldn't have thought you could say you were "cured" of this phobia unless you could walk into any dental surgery and see any dentist for any procedure anytime without worrying yourself into a lather over it.

this would be dumb and naive.

Yes, sorry, guess that was my passion for all things equestrian kicking in there! ("You can't call yourself a rider until you can ride any horse!" is what I've always been told.) What I was trying to say (and didn't phrase very well) is that being able to relax at one surgery with one dentist wouldn't necessarily mean someone was "cured" of their phobia. I thought I was doing great till we moved 200 miles to a town where I didn't know anyone, let alone any dentists, then it took me years to buck up enough courage to re-register. In a nutshell, no, I don't think MOST phobics are ever completely "cured" but that's only my own humble two pence worth which has somehow rambled up to about ten pounds worth!

[Aldridge]

I've felt the same as your hairdresser about some recent treatment lol. I think your hairdresser was definitely going private and not seeing an NHS dentist! Dental Spa anyone?

Lol, not saying you're "a bit strange"! That was just the general consensus of agreement at the salon. My hairdresser actually goes to a local NHS practice, a very small husband-and-wife practice run from a front-room-of-a-house surgery. Maybe the place for me to try to register with when my current guy retires! Perhaps:D they have Spa facilities in the back room, lol, must ask my hairdresser.

[vicki]

I've felt the same as your hairdresser about some recent treatment lol. I think your hairdresser was definitely going private and not seeing an NHS dentist! Dental Spa anyone?

I agree... This definitely doesn't sound like any NHS dentist I've ever come across (even when I saw my nice NHS dentist who (like they all do) left... ). The time constraints usually mean that, no matter how nice or competent they are, they simply don't have the time to spend on the 'niceties' of the experience such as getting to know you and building trust (which are not actually niceties but essentials - especially if you're scared). The way that the NHS system works means that it doesn't really reward them for spending too much time with patients. I learnt this lesson the hard way unfortunately and ended up going private. There are some exceptions to this and some practices will go out of their way to help and of course it does depend on the individual dentist too, but I think it can be a bit of a lucky (or unlucky!) dip, depending on where you go.

Of course, you're not absolutely guaranteed a perfect experience if you go private either, but the odds are better because you're a paying customer so it's in their interests to treat you properly otherwise they lose business (and possibly their reputation if you were to go round telling everyone how awful they are!). I think one of the biggest differences is the amount of time that they are able to spend with you though. On the NHS, a filling tends to be a quick 15 minute job including any injections (but not including the bit in the middle where they send you back out to the waiting room whilst the anaesthetic takes effect and while they see another patient!). I have an appointment for a filling in a couple of weeks and although I think I went when my dentist said it would be 45 minutes, I think slower and more relaxed is definitely better (if I'm going to have a panic attack, I might as well do it in a more relaxed environment )... although I very much doubt that I'll fall asleep in the chair !!

[Aldridge]

45 minutes! My nerve wouldn't hold for 45 minutes! Best stick with NHS here...

[vicki]

45 minutes! My nerve wouldn't hold for 45 minutes! Best stick with NHS here...

It's a lot better than it sounds... honestly. I used to think that the quick 10 minute checkup, get it over and done with as quickly as possible NHS experience was perfect for me because it cut any time that I spent in the dreaded chair down to an absolute minimum. However, what it also meant (and what I didn't really appreciate at the time) was that there was no time for the trust and rapport building either and no matter what your fears are, that is probably the most important thing which enables everything else to happen.

Yes I was fairly horrified when he said 45 minutes for one filling, followed by another appointment for another filling a week later (which might also be 45 minutes, I don't know ), but now I've had chance to think about it rationally, it means that he will take time to make sure that I'm fully numb (something that I have a problem with sometimes - it either doesn't go fully numb due to anxiety or it wears off half way through) and he won't just carry on regardless if I'm not. I also need to know what's going on throughout any treatment and if they're pressed for time, they don't always remember to explain what they're doing as they're doing it (and I do need to know what's going to happen before it happens otherwise it sends me into a panic).

[Aldridge]

I think you're very brave. I like to get out of the chair as fast as possible. If leaping out of it was an Olympic sport, I'd be on the top of the podium, clutching a medal and a bouquet, while the orchestra played God Save the Queen and the Union Jack was hoisted. However, I must admit there have been occasions when I would have appreciated more time to ask questions. I've never had a local anaesthetic injection for a filling (the first ones were put in with IV sedation and the recent one using air abrasion) but yes, I can totally see the benefit of a longer appointment there! Still think you're amazing though...

[vicki]

I think you're very brave. I like to get out of the chair as fast as possible. If leaping out of it was an Olympic sport, I'd be on the top of the podium, clutching a medal and a bouquet, while the orchestra played God Save the Queen and the Union Jack was hoisted. However, I must admit there have been occasions when I would have appreciated more time to ask questions. I've never had a local anaesthetic injection for a filling (the first ones were put in with IV sedation and the recent one using air abrasion) but yes, I can totally see the benefit of a longer appointment there! Still think you're amazing though...

Thank you! However, seeing as it's 2012 and we have the Olympics in London this year, if chair leaping were an Olympic sport, I think I'd be right up there with you, singing along whilst they awarded me a medal and the crowd cheered my amazing performance! In order of speed and distance run, my chair leaping attempts are as follows (and no I'm not joking here !)...

GOLD MEDAL...

When I was 15, during a routine checkup appointment, the dentist said that I needed a filling. I thought that he would tell me to go back for another appointment, but he didn't. The next thing I knew, he had started drilling a hole in my tooth (without any local anaesthetic) and wouldn't stop when I asked him to. He carried on, even though it became very painful and he told me to stop being stupid. As soon as he took the drill out of my mouth, I peered round the back of the chair, saw that he had his back to me, so I leapt out of the chair, ran out of the room, down the hallway, out of the front door and away down the road. I didn't go back!

SILVER MEDAL (Although it could qualify for a gold medal!)...

A few years ago, again during a routine checkup (with a nice NHS dentist), I was told that I needed a filling. Again, I thought that I'd have to go back for another appointment for it to be done, but then I heard him rummaging around in a drawer, so I decided to turn around and see what he was doing (what a mistake!) and saw that he had the syringe for the local anaesthetic in his hand! He was busy assembling the contraption and wasn't watching me, so I slid off the chair, crept over to the chair in the corner where my bag was and was going to try and sneak out without being noticed. Unfortunately he saw me.... The rest of this experience is described in the Funny happenings at the dentist thread!

BRONZE MEDAL (There have been a few of these...)

If I hear anything that I'm not expecting to or something unexpected happens, I have been known to suddenly sit bolt upright, turn round and go at my dentist...


Actually, I think it's probably my dentist who deserves a medal for putting up with me!

[kitkat]

If I hear anything that I'm not expecting to or something unexpected happens, I have been known to suddenly sit bolt upright, turn round and go at my dentist...

Actually, I think it's probably my dentist who deserves a medal for putting up with me!

You just described my appointment last week perfectly!!!! So glad I'm not the only one! I must be spoiled...I have never had a filling under 45 minutes, no matter how small . The last time I had 2 taken care of in one appointment it was 90 min. I was a bit spent at the end and won't do that again but I think 45 min is a good duration. It gives me time to have a panic attack and recover if need be and the dentist can go slowly and explain everything she's doing and talk with me a bit beforehand. We usually have a little small talk and then ease into treatment once my initial jitters have gotten out of my system. I could never fall asleep in the chair...unless heavily sedated! I'm not familiar with waiting in the waiting room to get numb either..that must be a UK thing. Once I'm in the chair, I'm always there for the rest of the appointment...thank goodness because I could not handle leaving the environment and being reintroduced all over again only to jump right into drilling. My dentist normally sits and talks with me while I wait to get numb which helps me relax more and "get used to her" if that makes any sense. Build rapport I guess you could say.

Funny about the chiropractor thing Brit-I've never really thought about it that way! I was really scared the 1st time (I even screamed once when he cracked my neck ) but after I knew what to expect I was fine. I actually quite look forward to them now.

I really like what Carole said about your dentist knowing you. I think this is true. They get to know your triggers and how to manage your anxiety and can catch it early before it gets out of control. Likewise, you get used to the way they work and their nuances that might send another patient straight into panic. Plus, trust isn't built in a day and you can't go into an appointment trusting someone you have never met...or I can't. I have only had 1 dentist put me at ease during the very 1st appointment and sadly, that was the only time I ever saw him because they stopped taking my insurance after that appointment ! I can't even point out what he did...just had a calm and confident demeanor...his hygienist was amazing too! Perhaps I'll check back with them if my dentist ever leaves or retires!

Aldridge has got me really thinking now...just because you are comfortable with your dentist, your fear of dentistry in general is a separate thing and may still exist...as many of us have said, we are back to square one with a new dentist... I liken this to speech therapy (I'm a speech therapy student). We teach strategies and skills in treatment but if they don't generalize or carry over to other environments/contexts (i.e. new dental offices) than the problem still exists...hmm...I need to ponder this for awhile.

[brit]

a local NHS practice, a very small husband-and-wife practice run from a front-room-of-a-house surgery. .

He probably just knows them really well - they are the owners of the practice - they likely give him a personalised service and make him feel welcome, rather than just 'next!'. Small is often beautiful dental practice wise.