Bad experiences?

Cookie46 said:

Hi everyone

I hope you are all doing well!

Out of pure curiosity- does any one else find that their dental fear hasn't sparked from a bad experience as a child? Growing up, I did have multiple fillings, but none painful- and I had a good dentist who I trusted! I also had good oral hygiene and went to the dentist regularly.

However, as I reached 13/14 I suddenly got more and more scared of going to the dentist; It wasn't really caused by a bad experience as such- just a realisation? I became more aware of the things I didn't like about going to the dentist- and therefore got more and more anxiety ever since!

I also believe I have developed a fear of, 'not being in control' more as I have grown older. For example, one reason I have fears of the dentist is because I feel like I am not in control when they are in my mouth and being really close to me. (Which is why having a stop signal helps!) However, looking back into my younger years, I can see aspects of this!

The fear of dentists hasn't been provoked by a bad experience, but just, the things I didn't like- becoming the things I am now scared of.

Just to create a bit of discussion, did anyone else find themselves like this? I am very fortunate to not have had a bad experience I hope this makes sense to someone?! I found it quite difficult to word

Cookie46

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DisneyMom said:

Cookie, you bring up a very valid point. Albeit fear, I never had a bad experience, other than the unknown. I have had extractions, root canals, root planing and veneers. The worse part of any visit, was the novacaine shot, and that lasts maybe 5 seconds! LOL I can honestly say, any dental procedure I have ever had was painless, compared to an abscess or a toothache. No, the numbing shot is no picnic, but honestly, is nothing in the long run. I think alot of *what if* thoughts run through our minds.... and what we all fear most, never happens. Any step towards good dental health, is a very, very good thing

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Cookie46 said:

Thankyou!
I have never had a shot, too scared!
Plenty of 'what if' thoughts run through my mind That is very relatable
However you are right! What we fear most never does happen
The unknown scares me a great deal, and I get more anxious for check ups than I do treatments!

Hope you're keeping well

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Cat12 said:

I am exactly the same in that I have never had a bad experience. I think I was just a stubborn/scared child who refused to cooperate. I guess this is fairly normal for children but I never grew out of it. Some of the things I fear are having people in my personal space as well as the general awkwardness of lying down/ not being in control.

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ACNLGal2013 said:

for me, the whole "having to get silver caps and being papoosed" thing when I was younger is part of my case but I think that the current "fear of pain" and "fear of the what will happens" and "hate people in my personal space AND the "fear of needles" factors are more prominent in my case.

Been an uphill battle but I am making progress. Got the deep cleaning and molds done last week and now am doing the waiting game for extractions/fillings/getting my partials day.

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