New Here Thought I would Share my story

[DavidsGem]

First off thank you to the creators of this site..OMG where have you been all my life LOL.

I am Gem and I am scared paralyzed of dentists, and anything to do with teeth. Oh and sorry for any spelling mistakes I don't have a auto correct and can't spell...hopefully it will not be to bad

Where to start the begining I suppose

I am a army brat, so when we had dental issues we went to a military dentist. When I was very young ( I have blocked out the age sorry) I needed a root canal done ( damage from playing hockey...oh yes I am Canadian by birth/raising)....wow even avoiding here....on with it woman LOL

So my Da took me to the dentist who we called the Tooth Fairy ( ok how messed up is that for a child's mind)..long story short before I lose my courage....they the adults and professional decided I was tough enough to get by with no Novicane or numbing of any kind while the Tooth Fairy did a root canal upon my front tooth.....and because I cowboy'd up on with that...( I was raised in a world where you flinched it hurt worse so you learned very early not to flinch or show pain)...every filling, or dental need was done without any sort of numbing relief.



Fast forward I am 38 ( and I had not been to a dentist since I was 16) and my front tooth next to the original RC was giving me a lot of trouble. I am in the US by this time married to a wonderful caring man, who reassured me that the dentist would be caring and a long way from the Tooth fairy of my youth....How WRONG he was!!!!

The dentist decided that the tooth needed to be pulled, then a titanium peg placed in, and then the fake tooth placed on that peg.......I don't think I can relive it even in writing it down...let's just say the dentist was neither kind nor compassionate...nor real great with making sure the patient ( me) was numb and or out of it....I felt everything, including 3 hours of her pounding into my mouth a peg.

After that ordeal I told my husband that he best like toothless women because I would never enter another dentist office again, I was going to let every tooth in my head fall out.

Having my Da's teeth, which are soft and I just find out every sibling and grandparent had false teeth by the time they were 45 ( I am 44) I discovered how painful it is when teeth crack and break off....

My husband called a dentist he had met a few years back and knew personally to be kind, compassionate, knowing I would never make the call, and he can not stand to see me suffering...I went last week and he is indeed kind, caring and compassionate....My appointment lasted 3 hours, and he only did two fillings...he took his time, explained everything, warmed up the numbing stuff, and made sure I could not feel any part of my face LOL. He is talking cleaning once he fixes what he can....the last cleaning I had was from the one who did the front tooth...and since my teeth are uber sensitive and I told them that, and they did not care in fact I was crying hysterically at the end of it and in so much pain I wanted to cut my head off...not sure I can trust to get that done.

Tomorrow I go again to have one tooth pulled because it is far to broken to fix or rebuild....I am still scared stiff thinking about what has to happen, but think I can trust Dr. Mike....at least he is not called the Tooth Fairy LOL. I will let everybody know how it goes.

Oh and I am not completely cured of my phobia....because one of the broken teeth is a wisdom tooth that a dental surgeon has to take out.....and I am thinking it can just stay there, what's the harm now that Dr. Mike ground off the sharp edges.

I hope this ramble makes sense and folks can read it...I am so grateful to have found this site, and others out there who understand that it is not a "oh I am nervous about the dentist" but a I can't move for the fear.

Have a great day everybody

Gem

[DavidsGem]

Well today is the day I get the broke tooth pulled...I did not sleep last night and my jaw is aching so much from clenching it I have caused myself a tension headache.

I know the dentist and he is compassionate and caring but he does not use sedation so I am going to hear/smell and be awake knowing what is happening so have that phantom feeling.....plus there is very little of the tooth left so what is he going to grab to pull it.....

[Sparkles]

Hi Gem,

Just wanted to wish you all the best for today I'm sure everything will be fine and you will find it goes much better than you expect.

The important thing is that you are in control, don't let the dentist do anything your not happy with and if you can feel anything let them know so they can top up the LA.

Best of luck and let us know how it goes.

[bisja]

I hope all goes well for you, I know the fear you feel and it just makes it so hard to try to get the things done we need to. Good luck and let us know how is.

[DavidsGem]

I am back...both sides of my mouth are numbed up, and I am missing two teeth, and another one was filled.

I have to say while not completely over my phobia and will still have nightmares, and the fear will always live with me.....I love my dentist, he made everything so easy, so right for me. He is working very hard to erase all the bad that was done to me, one tooth at a time

I hope everybody finds a lovely dentist like him....and thank you for the encouraging words bisja and Sparkles it helped me get to his office today.

I am heading to bed for a wee nap.

Gem

[bisja]

Oh I am so glad it went so well for you! It sounds like you have a really great dentist!

Have a great nap!

[Sparkles]

Well done, so pleased to hear everything went well. It sounds like you have a great dentist who will work with you to make things easier.

[Carys]

.....I love my dentist, he made everything so easy, so right for me. He is working very hard to erase all the bad that was done to me, one tooth at a time

That is just fantastic to hear ! I am so very pleased for you.

Your childhood experience though - wow - the stuff of nightmares.

[DavidsGem]

Thank you everybody . This morning my jaw is aching like crazy, (are we allowed to mention the dentists name here) anyway Doc decided he was not leaving the wisdom tooth to a surgeon and took it out yesterday, that is why the pain today ....He looked after me and made sure no other dentist could hurt me I am in love LOLOL

Next week I get another filling...and we are going to tackle the cleaning issue.....I am scared but know Doc will go slow and protect me.

I wish ever dentist was like him, and that everybody could experince a great Doc. Oh and his assitant was tops too...the dentists get all the glory or horror, but the assitants are a core part of the office and helping the patient.

[letsconnect]

(are we allowed to mention the dentists name here)

Hi Gem

yes we have a section where you can add your recommendations! Go here: http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/for...ecommendations and then click on the country/area where the dentist you are recommending is located, and leave your review. It is best if you can say how the dentist has helped you (because different things work for different people), and what their personality is like .

Alternatively, you can send an e-mail with your recommendation here: http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/forum/sendmessage.php

And of course, congratulations - how great to hear that you've found a kind and compassionate dentist at last !!!