Great site - i need some help & advice please

OK i am really pleased to have stumbled upon this site - i am really scared of the dentist, my phobia stems from a childhood visit to a really bad dentist - i was given the old style gas and reacted badly to it - i was also left in agony and from what i remember lost a fair bit of blood ! Anyway, it is well over 10 years since i last visited a dentist, i have done my best to keep my teeth clean etc but i know i need to visit a dentist soon. I have wisdom teeth that in the past year or so have started to cause crowding on my other teeth - it isn't too noticeable at the moment, but i know it needs sorting - i only ever had 1 filling and the tooth that was filled is no longer there -- it is basically like an hole with part of the old tooth still in - i am getting constant pain here and i think this is caused by the pressure from the wisdom tooth ... maybe pushing tooth into the gum etc etc - i would imagine i need quite a bit of work and i really don't have a clue how to address these issues - i have no fear of doctors or operations - i have had surgery a few times and it doesn't bother me at all - but the dentist scares the hell out of me

So any help advice appreciated - i am also worried and embarrased about asking friends/family for help so this place is a lifeline

Hello and a friendly to this forum.

There are so many dentists out there who understand dental phobia.
Check on the link on this site to see if there are any in your area.

I consider posting on this site the first step so a big congradulations is in order
I stayed away from the dentist for 12 years but the pain made me realize I had to go and after posting a hole bunch on here I went and it wasen't bad at all(nothing like I had pictured in my mind)

also the first appointment is just a friendly chat with the dentist and then if you like him/her and r comfortable then a little looksy....then you go from there.

I have a huge fear of dentist and dentist related and I did it(thanx to this forum)and I know that you can do it to.

Thanks Mary i have checked a few of the dentists out already and i am going to try and call a few up as soon as i can - i am just worried by the full process but i know that i can do this (i have to !!) It really does feel good to be able to come here and talk - reading peoples stories and journals is like listening to my own thoughts & fears ! It feels good to know i'm not on my own

That's how I felt when I found this site.
About 13 years ago I had all my front teeth crowned then after that I diden't go back....the crowns broke and being they we're in the front I knew I had to go.

Just remember to take your time ...it isen't a race.
I went through so many dentists befor I found the right one.

Your in my thoughts.

I have tried to open the sample letter which is meant to be used as a template when contacting dentists initially but it doesn't work ?

Can anyone help me here please ?

So far i have gathered 4 telephone numbers from this site and i have promised myself i will make all the calls before the weekend - but i wouldn't mind making a few emails today to see how that goes !!

Does anyone have a set template i can use ?

Many thanks

Ok my quest as begun .... i just called up 3 different dentists to get an initial overview on where i go from here

Greater Manchester Dental Hospital passed me from pillar to post but i eventually got through to a lady who told me i will need a referral from my GP if i want to utilise their service. My GP is aware of my worries so he may be able to help me here - getting my emergency work done here would be ideal and would hopefully set me up to beat my fears - so it sounds promising if i can get that referral.

The other 2 calls i made were to dentists recommended on the sites

The first one was a lady who told me the dentist mentioned in the site is on holiday but they are phobia friendly and use sedation ..... and intial chat and consultation is free - brilliant - i can check them out free of charge !!

The second one said they were not specifically specialising in dental phobia but were sympathetic - i asked to speak to a dentist and have a chat but they were both busy - the receptionist wasn't the best but perhaps she was having a bad day (we all have them !!) so i am going to maybe write them a mail or try again because they have a very good review

Anyway i know it isn't a big deal ... but it is to me and i feel so much better already -

Congratulations - you've made great progress! Do you know what kind of clinic at the dental hospital your GP is supposed to be referring you to? Being treated by dental students (if that is what is involved) is not always ideal for phobics. In your other thread I assumed you meant a Community Dental Service referral. Best of luck in your quest.

Done some more googling - apologies if you have already found this.
[broken link removed] this page has the pdf for the referral your GP would complete...they have to have a consultant/clinic in mind and have to state what they want the dental hospital to do...your GP may well know where in your area dental phobics are supposed to be directed.

brit said:

Congratulations - you've made great progress! Do you know what kind of clinic at the dental hospital your GP is supposed to be referring you to? Being treated by dental students (if that is what is involved) is not always ideal for phobics. In your other thread I assumed you meant a Community Dental Service referral. Best of luck in your quest.

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Brit i am not too sure about the hospital thing to be honest - the referral programme is for problem patients and i may or may not fall into that category, my GP is aware of some issues i have had and he is pretty good at getting things done so maybe he can help. I would agree that having a group of students looking into my mouth would be the worst case scenario from my point of view, but i'll do my homework.

The other dentist was www.kissdental.co.uk which was recommended on this site ..... it looks really good and the initial consultation is free. So if anyone wants to take a look and offer some advice on what they think that would be great. I have a feeling they may be expensive but at the moment although i am not working due to some serious injuries i received, that isn't bothering me too much. I will be back in work in 3-4 months time and i'm pretty sure a close family member will help me cover whatever i need ..... it's got to be done

I've honestly never been this optimistic for a long time

They may well be at the higher price end of things - it looks like the sort of place I would probably choose myself if moving to Manchester...my main reservation is that restorative dentistry (fillings etc) is not mentioned once on the website but they must do it, as Denplan is available (Denplan could be good for you). Hygienist is available which is what you want.

My only other reservation would be that they are all fairly fresh out of dental school (I think 2003 ish?)..but the main dentist certainly sems to have made a name for himself both winning prizes at dental school, the practice recently coming first in the Private Dentistry Awards and lecturing on Cerec to other dentists.........judging from the website and the recommendation we hold, you can probably guarantee going there that everyone will be 'very nice' and that you will be treated like a customer rather than a patient....it will probably have quite a relaxing atmosphere (which many people find makes an enormous difference to their level of nervousness). I'd be amazed if anyone made you feel uncomfortable....you may need to make it clear you are only interested in restoring your dental health...you do not want a smile makeover (assuming this is true - you may do). Certainly worth a visit - especially if it's free to chat.

I'm no expert but the gallery before and afters look good and in most cases veneers were used rather than crowns plus some amazing implant stuff for one phobic patient with very few teeth left. I hate cosmetic dentistry websites (usually US ones) where the before teeth look just as perfect as the after ones .

Cheers for all the help Brit - and thanks for giving that practice the once over for me ..... i would also appreciate any of the dentists that come on here to advise me on that surgery and any others also in Manchester which may be good ..... just happy that i've at least made some inroads this week !!

red7 said:

Cheers for all the help Brit - and thanks for giving that practice the once over for me ..... i would also appreciate any of the dentists that come on here to advise me on that surgery and any others also in Manchester which may be good ..... just happy that i've at least made some inroads this week !!

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My comments are based purely on the impression the website gives....I have no other experience of them. This time you spend now researching and drawing up a shortlist is probably the most important bit in the process although some people do strike lucky with just their local practice.

Hi Red,

I can't really add too much to what others have already said. Maybe when I'm more awake I'll have something more pertinent to add.

Right now, I'm just so excited for you that you've made such great progress this week. You should be very proud of yourself.

Cheers people - just a quick update the pain i have been suffering this week is quite bad today - it isn't toothache as such i don't think but it feels just as bad ! The problem i have is that i have a gap in my upper teeth (the big first tooth you chew on) years ago i had it filled - the filling failed and over the years lost the tooth - but the actual casing of the tooth remains and is obviously bad - now my upper wisdom tooth is forcing my upper teeth to push together and this food casing and bits of tooth are obviously getting forced and pushed - which is what is giving me pain and a really painful gum/cheek ..... i can only compare the pain to that of an abcess but their is no visible sign of any abcess yet apart from the tightness and pain in my cheek. I have been using strong painkillers - corsydyl rinse and also saltwater rinsing -- as well as brushing the areas on a regular basis - the pain today is settling with painkillers but i am going to see my GP this morning to try and get his referral backing for the dental hospital - so what sort of drugs should i be asking him for ? i believe i need a painkiller and anti-inflamms but is there anything else which is available which is very very good ? if i ask him he is usually really great and will probably sort me out .... so if anyone can give me some great ideas i can maybe give this pain a bit of a holiday

Quick update ..... attended my doctors surgery today and got the necessary referall to visit the NHS dental hospital who can help me - i was also prescribed some co-codamol painkillers and some amoxicillin anti-biotics to help with my current problem - the appointment is for the 23rd June which is quite a while away but it's all they had so i just need to try and manage the pain until then if possible.

Also i am due to speak to my sister tomorrow and hopefully i can get this problem shared with someone close to me and who i trust 100% - she will probably come to appointments with me and hopefully help me out with some private treatment costs after i get my initial treatment sorted.

So overall (pain aside) things are looking up

Well done red7! Hope your treatment goes well!! Our probs sound exactly the same - strange!! Even the first date i had of my dentist was the 24th june (close enoug) lol. But i managed to blag an earlier appointment.

Like i said in my last post, when your in the chair, just think of this site and the support you get!! It's fantastic!

Good Luck!

Great to hear about your progress !!
Salaried NHS dentists are not as limited in what they can offer as "normal" NHS dentists, so you may find (if you're eligible) that you may be able to get all your treatment there. The waiting times also don't seem too bad compared to other areas (even if the 23rd may seem far away now ).

letsconnect said:

Great to hear about your progress !!
Salaried NHS dentists are not as limited in what they can offer as "normal" NHS dentists, so you may find (if you're eligible) that you may be able to get all your treatment there. The waiting times also don't seem too bad compared to other areas (even if the 23rd may seem far away now ).

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Yes the doctor as put me forward as a special case due to my fear and also because he knows what i have been through this past 12 months - i was badly assaulted and am still recovering so he's been great - getting this problem solved will go a long way to getting back to where i want to be in a few months !!

Also - does anyone know if this NHS hospital will be able to do certain work ? i obviously need the emergency work taking care of initially but i also want a couple of crooked teeth fixed and a chipped tooth fixed too