T
tigersangel
Member
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2011
- Messages
- 20
- Location
- New Hampshire, USA
I have been waiting for what seems like FOREVER to be able to write in the "success" part of the forum.
I just got home from my first visit with the dentist after avoiding them for approximately 15 years and I made it through!
I didn't sleep well at all last night, suffered nightmares and general anxiety/panic at the thought of my appointment this afternoon. I got up this morning and was shaking so uncontrollably that I contemplated calling them up and cancelling. I knew I couldn't however. Not just because they required a $50 deposit be made for the first visit, to book the 90mins, that was not refundable if you didn't 2 business days before, but because I wouldn't have been able to live with the disappointment in myself. I'm sorry if this is a little long but I want to give a recount of what happened in hopes it might give someone else the courage to go.
To start I was lucky enough to have my mom go with me. I drove as I needed something to distract me on the way there, made it to the parking lot, sat there for a few and finally got the courage to walk in. The receptionist greeted me by my first name as soon as I walked in. I gave them my paperwork and insurance card and she said I could sit in the waiting room. As I was going to sit down I heard that terrifying familiar sound I remember from my childhood visits. The dreaded high pitch sound of a drill . I immediately said "I hate that noise" and started crying before I could stop myself. The receptionist told me they were working on a partial denture, not actually in anyone's mouth and that's why it sounded that way. She was kind enough to turn the radio up in the waiting room and also told me next time I come in I'm more than welcome to bring an ipod. She came back out a minute or two later and told me Nicole, my hygenist, would come out and get me as soon as they finished working on that partial so I didn't have to hear it while I was in the chair. A few more tense moments of waiting, crying off and on, she (Nicole) came out to get me. The walk back is now kind of a blur as I think I started to panic a little bit, but somehow I managed to get into the chair . We chatted for a few moments, I told her how embarrassed I was, she reassured me over and over again and told me everything they would be doing. First the x-rays. While not the most pleasant experience in the world in wasn't horrific. She even said I was a pro at it and a hygienist's dream when it came to doing xrays LOL. Next I did the panoramic x-ray which was weird, just stood at this machine biting down on this little plastic piece as the machine went around my head. I was there for maybe 2 mins. Piece of cake. Next came the oral cancers screening, which was pretty easy, and finally the exam with the mirror and probe. I backed up a little when she pulled these tools out but she assured me it wouldn't hurt, and it didn't. They even give you sunglasses so the light isn't right in your eyes. They didn't do that when I was a kid! I made it through all this and she told me my mouth wasn't the worst that she had ever seen, which was a HUGE relief. If you have embarrassment of your teeth associated with the dental phobia, you'll understand what I mean.
We talked a little bit more about what my biggest concerns are right now, which of course is my front teeth and wanting a clean healthy mouth. Then came the dreaded moment...... She went to talk to the dentist and he came in to meet me. I almost immediately started crying but he was so calm and reassuring. He asked if he could take a look, just with the mirror, and if I needed him to stop I just needed to put up my hand. No dentist has ever let me feel some control so this was new to me.The bottom line, because I haven't been to a dentist in such a long time there is a lot of buildup on my teeth which is making it hard for them to see everything that is going on, so what they want to do first is have me come in for a full mouth debribement(?) Nicole said it's like a cleaning on steroids. I'm guessing its a deep cleaning but I'm not sure. After that (at the same appointment) I will see Dr. Josh (my new dentist ) and he will take care of the fillings and such that I need done on my front teeth. He told me they would give me some Ativan to take the night before and 1 hour before my appointment and if im still anxious( which he doubts i will be at this point) they will also give me the laughing gas. I go in for all this on March 28th(with Nicole again ) and after I heal up some I will go back in for another full checkup to see what else is going on. The only thing that is partially bothersome right now is that I do have an infection around my wisdom teeth, though I feel no pain. So onto antibiotics I go and have a referral to an oral surgeon so I can have them all removed under IV Sedation. Dr. Josh also let me know this particular oral surgeon deals with phobics all the time. I'm waiting until after my cleaning and such to take that next big step.
So there's my story. I made it through and lived to tell the tale. I know it's been said before but honestly if I can do it, anybody can do it. I was a complete mess! You really just need to take small steps, finding a sympathetic and caring dentist with a team who wants to support you, and then a giant leap of faith by making it to the first appointment.
I just got home from my first visit with the dentist after avoiding them for approximately 15 years and I made it through!
I didn't sleep well at all last night, suffered nightmares and general anxiety/panic at the thought of my appointment this afternoon. I got up this morning and was shaking so uncontrollably that I contemplated calling them up and cancelling. I knew I couldn't however. Not just because they required a $50 deposit be made for the first visit, to book the 90mins, that was not refundable if you didn't 2 business days before, but because I wouldn't have been able to live with the disappointment in myself. I'm sorry if this is a little long but I want to give a recount of what happened in hopes it might give someone else the courage to go.
To start I was lucky enough to have my mom go with me. I drove as I needed something to distract me on the way there, made it to the parking lot, sat there for a few and finally got the courage to walk in. The receptionist greeted me by my first name as soon as I walked in. I gave them my paperwork and insurance card and she said I could sit in the waiting room. As I was going to sit down I heard that terrifying familiar sound I remember from my childhood visits. The dreaded high pitch sound of a drill . I immediately said "I hate that noise" and started crying before I could stop myself. The receptionist told me they were working on a partial denture, not actually in anyone's mouth and that's why it sounded that way. She was kind enough to turn the radio up in the waiting room and also told me next time I come in I'm more than welcome to bring an ipod. She came back out a minute or two later and told me Nicole, my hygenist, would come out and get me as soon as they finished working on that partial so I didn't have to hear it while I was in the chair. A few more tense moments of waiting, crying off and on, she (Nicole) came out to get me. The walk back is now kind of a blur as I think I started to panic a little bit, but somehow I managed to get into the chair . We chatted for a few moments, I told her how embarrassed I was, she reassured me over and over again and told me everything they would be doing. First the x-rays. While not the most pleasant experience in the world in wasn't horrific. She even said I was a pro at it and a hygienist's dream when it came to doing xrays LOL. Next I did the panoramic x-ray which was weird, just stood at this machine biting down on this little plastic piece as the machine went around my head. I was there for maybe 2 mins. Piece of cake. Next came the oral cancers screening, which was pretty easy, and finally the exam with the mirror and probe. I backed up a little when she pulled these tools out but she assured me it wouldn't hurt, and it didn't. They even give you sunglasses so the light isn't right in your eyes. They didn't do that when I was a kid! I made it through all this and she told me my mouth wasn't the worst that she had ever seen, which was a HUGE relief. If you have embarrassment of your teeth associated with the dental phobia, you'll understand what I mean.
We talked a little bit more about what my biggest concerns are right now, which of course is my front teeth and wanting a clean healthy mouth. Then came the dreaded moment...... She went to talk to the dentist and he came in to meet me. I almost immediately started crying but he was so calm and reassuring. He asked if he could take a look, just with the mirror, and if I needed him to stop I just needed to put up my hand. No dentist has ever let me feel some control so this was new to me.The bottom line, because I haven't been to a dentist in such a long time there is a lot of buildup on my teeth which is making it hard for them to see everything that is going on, so what they want to do first is have me come in for a full mouth debribement(?) Nicole said it's like a cleaning on steroids. I'm guessing its a deep cleaning but I'm not sure. After that (at the same appointment) I will see Dr. Josh (my new dentist ) and he will take care of the fillings and such that I need done on my front teeth. He told me they would give me some Ativan to take the night before and 1 hour before my appointment and if im still anxious( which he doubts i will be at this point) they will also give me the laughing gas. I go in for all this on March 28th(with Nicole again ) and after I heal up some I will go back in for another full checkup to see what else is going on. The only thing that is partially bothersome right now is that I do have an infection around my wisdom teeth, though I feel no pain. So onto antibiotics I go and have a referral to an oral surgeon so I can have them all removed under IV Sedation. Dr. Josh also let me know this particular oral surgeon deals with phobics all the time. I'm waiting until after my cleaning and such to take that next big step.
So there's my story. I made it through and lived to tell the tale. I know it's been said before but honestly if I can do it, anybody can do it. I was a complete mess! You really just need to take small steps, finding a sympathetic and caring dentist with a team who wants to support you, and then a giant leap of faith by making it to the first appointment.