P
Phxcrybaby
Member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2009
- Messages
- 55
- Location
- Phoenix, Arizona
Hello all,
I'm new to this forum and have found great comfort in those of you who have already posted with your personal experiences. My story seems to be a repeat of many who have posted before me...fear of the dentist, feeling like you have no control and most certainly anxiety and OCD related.
My story is this: I have always been very fortunate and not only had good teeth as a child, but my parents were able to afford to take me for regular checkups. I didn't have my first cavity until I was almost 21. Then I went to the family dentist I had seen for those first 21 years. He proceeded to drill me with NO novacaine and I started to cry. He looked at me with disdain and told me to "stop being such a crybaby" and refused to give me novacaine although I begged for it. I made it through this session but did not return to the dentist for another 6 or 7 years. When I did find another dentist and went for my visit, I had 6 or 7 cavities which he filled and DID give me novacaine and went for my cleanings every 6 months. My teeth and I were HAPPY! Then I moved across the country and years passed.....my teeth have always been good, right? I floss every day and brush after every meal. I don't need to see a dentist! 10 years passed and I haven't seen a dentist and even when my fillings started falling out I convinced myself that it would be OK...I don't have to see a dentist until my teeth start bothering me. Well that day finally came. I was scared and thought back to my first bad experience and expected to be treated with disdain and given the "lecture" about taking care of my teeth. I'd lost two very big fillings and was starting to have sharp, shooting pains on one side of my jaw. Even then, my fear of the dentist was alleviated as I used salt water rinses and the pain went away. But one day, I realized I couldn't chew my food without discomfort and food was getting stuck in the holes left in my teeth from the missing fillings. I knew I had to see a dentist and have my teeth looked at so I asked around my office and got the name of someone that they recommended as a compassionate and caring dentist who "caters to cowards". I was very anxious, scared and had a full blown panic attack the day before my appointment but I kept the appointment and explained all of this to my new dentist. He was very understanding and didn't chastise me for my fear which I fully expressed to him. They took xrays and he did an exam and told me those dreaded words......root canal and not just one but two!!! One for molar #30 and one for bicuspid #20. I started to cry. I also have some decay under another filling which he is taking care of next week when I have my first root canal done. He was great with me and reassured me that I wouldn't feel any pain what so ever and that he can save my teeth. So I'm going in for my first root canal next week at age 51. My birthday is tomorrow and I kidded around with him and said that my biggest wish EVER for my birthday was having a root canal done.
Am I scared?.....YOU BET I AM!!! I'm still having lots of anxiety about this. But I made the first step and saw a dentist. I'm going to call my primary care physician tomorrow and see if he will prescribe me a couple of Xanax to relieve the anxiety prior to my dentist appointment.
Wish me luck everyone and I will let you know what happens.
TT in Phoenix, Arizona USA
I'm new to this forum and have found great comfort in those of you who have already posted with your personal experiences. My story seems to be a repeat of many who have posted before me...fear of the dentist, feeling like you have no control and most certainly anxiety and OCD related.
My story is this: I have always been very fortunate and not only had good teeth as a child, but my parents were able to afford to take me for regular checkups. I didn't have my first cavity until I was almost 21. Then I went to the family dentist I had seen for those first 21 years. He proceeded to drill me with NO novacaine and I started to cry. He looked at me with disdain and told me to "stop being such a crybaby" and refused to give me novacaine although I begged for it. I made it through this session but did not return to the dentist for another 6 or 7 years. When I did find another dentist and went for my visit, I had 6 or 7 cavities which he filled and DID give me novacaine and went for my cleanings every 6 months. My teeth and I were HAPPY! Then I moved across the country and years passed.....my teeth have always been good, right? I floss every day and brush after every meal. I don't need to see a dentist! 10 years passed and I haven't seen a dentist and even when my fillings started falling out I convinced myself that it would be OK...I don't have to see a dentist until my teeth start bothering me. Well that day finally came. I was scared and thought back to my first bad experience and expected to be treated with disdain and given the "lecture" about taking care of my teeth. I'd lost two very big fillings and was starting to have sharp, shooting pains on one side of my jaw. Even then, my fear of the dentist was alleviated as I used salt water rinses and the pain went away. But one day, I realized I couldn't chew my food without discomfort and food was getting stuck in the holes left in my teeth from the missing fillings. I knew I had to see a dentist and have my teeth looked at so I asked around my office and got the name of someone that they recommended as a compassionate and caring dentist who "caters to cowards". I was very anxious, scared and had a full blown panic attack the day before my appointment but I kept the appointment and explained all of this to my new dentist. He was very understanding and didn't chastise me for my fear which I fully expressed to him. They took xrays and he did an exam and told me those dreaded words......root canal and not just one but two!!! One for molar #30 and one for bicuspid #20. I started to cry. I also have some decay under another filling which he is taking care of next week when I have my first root canal done. He was great with me and reassured me that I wouldn't feel any pain what so ever and that he can save my teeth. So I'm going in for my first root canal next week at age 51. My birthday is tomorrow and I kidded around with him and said that my biggest wish EVER for my birthday was having a root canal done.
Am I scared?.....YOU BET I AM!!! I'm still having lots of anxiety about this. But I made the first step and saw a dentist. I'm going to call my primary care physician tomorrow and see if he will prescribe me a couple of Xanax to relieve the anxiety prior to my dentist appointment.
Wish me luck everyone and I will let you know what happens.
TT in Phoenix, Arizona USA