• Dental Phobia Support

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My Little Story

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
 
First of all, Welcome :)


All the people I have talked to have said their root canals were completely painless. They said it was just like a normal filling but took a bit longer. I have confidence that you will make it through fine.:cheers:
 
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

If you're having your first root canal and your 51 , I say good job caring for your teeth, and good genes. I'm 51 next month and except for my bottom front teeth I don't think many of my teeth have not had a root canal. You'll breeze through.
 
Thank to those who responded with supportive words. As I sit here typing my eyes are filling with tears just thinking about having this procedure done and my appointment is still 6 days away. I called my PCP's office today and requested some Xanax just to get me through it because I'm so fearful. And he hasn't even looked at the rest of my teeth yet...just addressing the ones that the fillings fell out of. I'm hoping and praying that he doesn't have more bad news for me.

I'm bringing my MP3 player with me to drown out the sound of the drill.

I don't really have a lot of pain now but occasionally get some dull aching from that tooth and once in a while a sharp pain. Alleve or Tylenol takes care of that or a few glasses of Pinot Noir! I'm ready to be done with it.

Maybe if I had taken better care of my teeth and gone for regular checkups I might not be in this situation. So I'm the only once to blame along with my anxiety.

Thanks again and I'll write more later.

TT in Phoenix
 
I'm obsessing tonight and am so fearful of my appointment on Thursday my hands are shaking, I'm crying, have diarrhea (I know that way too much information) and my blood pressure is 160/94. I have high blood pressure anyway and this is way too high for me on medication. My appointment is still 6 days out and I'm wondering if I'm going to stroke out before then.

:cry:
 
Hi Phxcrybaby:

First, Happy belated birthday.:sleepyjuice:

I have read all your posts. Anxiety can certainly cause problems and pain.

I will do what I can to help.

First, If you want a good anti-anxiety medication I recommend Ativan over Xanax. Ativan is a pre-anesthetic and a sedative. It has fewer drug interactions and does not cause the hangover you get from Xanax. A dose of 1mg taken about 1.5-2 hours before the appointment should work well. It lasts about 8 hours.

Root canals are as easy as fillings. They only got a bad reputation from their early day when they were exotic and the techniques were not refined. Most of the time in the procedure is spent waiting for things.

I also had an unsympathetic dentist in my youth and understand where you are coming from. However, that was in the past. You are a different person and this is a different circumstance with a caring dentist. The anxiety is trying to convince you history will repeat itself, which will not happen.

The anxiety causes you to feel hopeless and helpless, you are not either. You have taken very good care of your teeth, things happen, just part of life.

You can do this. I am an anxiety specialist. I would be happy to give you the techniques I have used with my patients. Send me a PM and we can chat. You do not have to spend the next week living in terror. You are going to be OK, I promise.

Blessings and Peace :)
 
I'm obsessing tonight and am so fearful of my appointment on Thursday my hands are shaking, I'm crying, have diarrhea (I know that way too much information) and my blood pressure is 160/94. I have high blood pressure anyway and this is way too high for me on medication. My appointment is still 6 days out and I'm wondering if I'm going to stroke out before then.

:cry:

Hi
I can empathise with ALL that ! ;)

I have just completed my treatments having not been to a dentist for 30 years! - caused, the same as yourself by uncaring dentists!

I have had extractions and fillings.

Nervous was an understatement for me!

But I PROMISE YOU, you will not feel a thing.
My tip, deep breaths as often as you can during treatments.

You'll be ok, and on this site we're all WITH you..:)
 
I'd like to thank the members of this site who have posted their success stories and positive experiences with facing their dental phobias and fears. A BIG special thanks to STRESS DOC who spent time and energy providing me with wonderful articles and techniques to de-stress and provide myself with tools I needed to accomplish this. Dr. Rich...you helped me more than you could ever realize. My root canal is on Thursday and my mantra EVERY DAY this week has been "You CAN face this, You CAN do this, You CAN conquer this". I'm feeling much less anxiety than I was last week because I'm realizing that it's probably not as bad as I'm building it up to be and I'm just doing that in my mind. I haven't had an anxiety/panic attack since this weekend and have resigned myself to the fact that "It is what it is" and found some steely determination within myself somewhere to just do it.

So while I still have some apprehension, I'm going to DO IT and hopefully without tears and panic. I will repeat my mantra 20 times tomorrow and 40 times on Thursday. Will post after that to let all you caring people know how I did. I'm thinking maybe if I have a tear or two...that's OK too!
 
Hi Phxcrybaby:

Thank you for the kind words. I am very proud of you.:respect:

You are changing you life and finding if you believe in yourself, you can do anything. You will do great and your success will inspire and empower others. This new found strength will improve your life in more ways and areas than you can imagine.

I love this quote

"Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless your scared" Eddie Rickenbacker

You are demonstrating real courage. Taking action in the face of fear is the stuff heroes are made of.

You will do great!

Blessings and Peace :)
 
Please see the rest of my story under the SUCCESS thread!

WOO HOO! I DID IT!

:yay:
 
Second root canal scheduled for next week and I'm no longer afraid of the dentist. I've been practicing my MANTRA...."you can do this, you can control this fear, you can conquer this." Deep breathing and TM...soothing music when I start feeling fearful. NO PANIC attacks. I want my pearly whites back!

I CAN DO THIS!!! ;D
 
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