• Dental Phobia Support

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15mths, 24appts and £3,500 and no further forward!

M

Mercedes

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2009
Messages
112
Location
SW Herts
I started my treatment plan back in October 2009 full of hope that my dentist would be able to sort out the problems I had with my upper teeth and partial denture.

Now after 15mths and 24 appts, some of which were 2hrs long each, plus the £3,500 I have spent I feel I am going round in circles.

I have posted previously about having to see an Endodontist to have a failed root canal redone and that I was told I had a fungal infection where my partial plate was.

Last week I went back to the Endodontist for a follow up, only to be told that although the fungal infection has nearly gone, I need to see a Periodontal Specialist as I need 'deep root cleaning' and possibly surgery on my gums too before I can have the crown that I only had done last year replaced.

I am now at the stage where I am thinking 'enough is enough' and really don't know where to turn.

I have really severe agoraphobia and have had to plan all my appointments around being able to go when it's dark. Unfortunately the Dental Specialists I have been referred to do not work late and it's quite obvious that they are not able to meet my needs to go there later in the day.

So my only choices now are to see what I can get done between now and the end of March and then wait till the Autumn to get my crown replaced, or to just call it quits and get an upper denture.

I only have 7 of my own upper teeth left, 2 of those have had root canal treatment on them and I have been told one was unsuccessful and the other has a 78% chance of success if I get my gums sorted out and also the crown replaced.

My fears all revolve around my inability to get around in the daytime and I worry endlessly about dental problems during the Summer months or when it's a Bank Holiday. I spent all of Christmas and the New Year in a state of anxiety because I was anxious about my teeth playing up.

I know it's always good to hang onto teeth for as long as one can, but at what stage does a dentist admit defeat and recommend you have teeth removed :confused:
 
Hi Mercedes!

It sounds like you've moved forward a lot. Instead of general problems, you now have a good plan of attack. You know what you need to get done to finish up, which, I'm guessing, is a HUGE step forward from where you were 15 months ago.

I can't offer much support on the agoraphobia, other than sending my best wishes. Are you seeing anyone for the fear? That's kind of a tricky one to get treated, from what I've heard.
 
Thanks for your reply Altari, no I am not getting any help for my agoraphobia other than taking medication for it. I've had it for so many years that I think my GP has given up on me :shame:
 
Hi Mercedes,

would it be possible to get a referral from your GP to see a clinical psychologist to help you with the agoraphobia? If your GP is unsympathetic, are there any other GPs in the same practice that you can see?

MIND may also be able to help you with getting help.

There are also some very good self-help books available, e.g. the Panic Attacks Workbook by David Carbonell.

Wishing you all the best :grouphug:
 
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I've seen so many specialists that I have given up on treatment for this problem and just live with it, which isn't easy. The last time I saw a GP at my practice, when I was suffering with some really bad depression due to my anxiety, she just told me I was "unbelievably insensitive" because I keep a parrot and have a daughter in law who is phobic about birds. I was really upset and made to feel like an awful person, really didn't help my depression at all.

On a dental note I have seen the Periodontal Surgeon and need to go back next week and have some surgery on my gums, really not looking forward to that :o
 
I suppose GPs and psychologists are the same as dentists - there's great ones, so-so ones and awful ones. And of course they have to be the right fit for you! It would be kind of sad to give up on finding help entirely :(.

Sounds like that GP has a bird phobia herself, hence her silly remark.

Wishing you all the best for your appointment next week :grouphug:
 
Thanks for the good wishes :)

Yes my GP did have a bird phobia, although she is now cured. So yes I guess that did have some bearing on how she spoke to me, but really she should have been more professional I think :confused:
 
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