• Dental Phobia Support

    Welcome! This is an online support group for anyone who is has a severe fear of the dentist or dental treatment. Please note that this is NOT a general dental problems or health anxiety forum! You can find a list of them here.

    Register now to access all the features of the forum.

Actually made 1st appointment!! but..

U

unhappyscared

Junior member
Joined
Nov 4, 2007
Messages
10
Found a dentist got appointment tommorrow at 10am!

But i hope the dentist is a little more caring than the receptionist i spoke to! only went with them cos they could hook me up tommorrow and gives me less time to chicken out!

Im so worried, got horrid calculus build up which has turned black on lower front teeth, aside from embarrassment im scared cos its been on there for so long once they start getting it off that my teeth will start falling apart cos they been this way for so long! Maybe this is what is holding them together?

I know i have to go but maybe i should cancel and find another dentist that actually specialises in phobic patients, these dont she told me!

Damn i think im going to go i dont know....... help me
 
Hi,

Do they offer nitrous oxide/ laughing gas? That should calm your nerves down enough to let them work.

ill post more later
-mikey
 
You say they don't deal specifically with phobic patients, but the fact that you asked the question has alerted them to the fact that you are nervous so hopefully they should treat you gently, with compassion and be non-judgmental. This first appointment should however be just a consultation letting you know what has to be done. If you feel in any way uncomfortable, you need not make another appointment with them, but you are in control of which dentist you go to. Even if you arrive and when you meet the actual dentist him/herself, if you feel that this is not the one for you, then again, its up to you. Hopefully your instinct will kick in and on meeting the dentist you will feel that this is the one for you. I know when I met my dentist for the first time, (a lady) when she came out of her surgery to greet me, as soon as I saw her and she smiled I knew I had found my perfect dentist and would be safe in her hands. It didn't quell the fear, but I knew I was in the best of hands. I am sure it will be the same for you. You don't say how long it has been since you last saw a dentist but I am sure a little bit of cleaning will get your teeth up to scratch and they won't tell you off. Rather, dentists today are happy that their patients have been sensible enough to consult them and realising how important tooth care is.
So please, dont think of cancelling, you know you have to go sometime, so give this one a try. If they're not right for you, then at least you've made a step in the right direction and can start looking for another one. Let's all hope though that this one will be right for you. Do keep us posted and let us know how you get on. We shall all be thinking of you tomorrow morning. :grouphug:
 
I second SS above on how dentists now are NOT judmental about patients' self care and the end results of staying away from the dentist for so long. I work in a building that the majority tenant is a dental office. I *know* for a fact that the dentists would rather see someone and repair damage, get a mouth healthy, and the person subsequently healthy, than berate them for not going in the first place.

There's a team of about 10 or so dentist in the practice in my building. Only one of them prefers NOT to deal with phobic/nervious patients, but he's good with consults, and initial exams. He's really REALLY pleasant to anyone who sees him - does NOT make anyone feel lost, or ashamed, or alone.
 
Hi there,
Well I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.I'll be in the chair at 8:30.Don't cancel.You've come this far and are to be commended!!!If they offer sedation and you have someone with you then take it.if it's just nitrous that's fine too.You can usually drive home after wards.That's what I'll have tomorrow without the valium cuz I hafta drive myself.Hopefully the dentist will be able to crank yp the gas if need be :)Let's share stories tomorrow ;D
 
Thanks everyone!

Sorry for late reply had busy day at work....... Im going to go i cant bottle it again!
By the way its the first time i will have seen a dentist for 14 years :redface:
I did tell the receptionist my fears but unfortunatly they got a reception full and asked if could call back and when i did it was another (grumpy) lady who registered me....
I figure though ill be better discussing my fears with the dentist anyway, hopefully she will be gentle..
Gonna be embarrassed though it looks pretty manky in my mouth and smells awfull :censored:
But what the hell im going to have to go in the end when they start getting really painfull etc so going to just go see what they say....

Dont think they will do anything tommorrow but if they do i might ask about that gas....

Ill post tommorrow hopefully to say it went ok!!! Cheers all :hug2:
 
Unhappy scared, I think what we all share before we pluck up that courage to get to the dentist, is the shame and embarrassment. In my case, that I think was more intense than the actual fear but in my case I hadn't been for 40 years (I'm pretty old!!) So, don't worry about that aspect of it, they have always seen much worse - even in my case I wasn't the worst they had seen because although the time of not going had been decades, fortunately I had always had a healthy diet and basically healthy teeth - it was just my neglect that did for me! I am sure though you are going to be perfectly allright and as soon as you start speaking to your dentist and voice your fears, and he has that first look, you will feel so unburdened, the worry of embarrassment will go and you will feel only pride that you have made it so far. Best of luck, we're all with you. :grouphug:
 
Back
Top