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Another Filling Tomorrow. So So Scared. HELP!

P

PinkBubbles

Junior member
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
19
Location
England
HELP ME! I've got to go for my fourth filling, I'm extremely scared because I know how painful the needles are and I'm really scared.

Because, I used to go to a dentist near the marketplace. He was my first dentist because I hadn't been to a dentist in 6 years and my teeth were VERY bad. But because I was young I thought he'd clean them and he'd be a miracle worker. But he didn't. I needed my first filling and it was MASSIVE. He put bonjela on my gum and injected the needle but because I didn't know it would hurt I didn't cry. After I needed another, but he didn't give me anything and I broke down crying. Then I needed another, again I SCREAMED. Then I needed another but I was scared so much I changed dentists. My new one said I didn't need any but the first filling. Therefore I do not need another filling. But its been 3 years and now I need it!

I'm scared the needle will hurt as much as the others did. This dentist has numbing gel and thats it. NO WAND AND NO GAS. I'm terrified. He understood that I was extremely scared though and he arranged for a lady to do the treatment (because she specialises in painless dentistry). My old dentist made the needle last half a second and then the pain struck me after. But I dont want it slow either because if it hurts I'l want it to go QUICK!

What can I do to calm myself? My Dad has had treatment their and told me how I get to pick the flavoured numbing gel and I wont feel the needle. But does anybody have anything I could do? Maybe to numb it more before treatment?
I go for treatment on TUESDAY the 31st of MARCH (I think its the 31st...)

HELP!From Holly A.K.A - PinkFruit

(P.S- I have edited this post because I am now a little less scared. I think I can handle it now but I still need techniques and stuff )
 
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Re: Filling + EXTREMELY Painful Injection = AGHHHH HELP!

PLEASESomoneHELP!
 
Re: Filling + EXTREMELY Painful Injection = AGHHHH HELP!

Are you not in a position to switch to a dentist with TheWand or who otherwise tries to give comfortable injections?
The way your old dentist did it is absolutely the worst way i.e. quickly.

The best way in the absence of TheWand is numbing gel left long enough to work and slow delivery with the tissues held taut etc etc.

If you have to stay put, you could look into oral sedation to relax you.
It really doesn't have to be painful at all so I am sorry you are having bad experiences..maybe you need a different dentist or a different method. I don't see how passing you on to another colleague solves the problem unless she has better technique?

You need to relax as you can't be relaxed and anxious at the same time but you also deserve someone who can do it comfortably..but you won't make it easier on yourself if you are 150% wound up as you sound from your post, as that could lower your pain threshold.

Keep your eyes open but look at the ceiling would also be my advice...and agree a stop signal if that's the only way you can contemplate it..'just in case it hurts'...they back off (finished or not)as soon as you give the signal...just knowing you have this degree of control could do the trick for you. Certainly I have never had to use a stop signal when offered one..it really does help.:grouphug:
The palate/roof of the mouth is one of the hardest areas to do comfortably if not using special techniques, maybe that's why you had such a problem...it can still be done painlessly but it's harder for the dentist to achieve.
 
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Re: Filling + EXTREMELY Painful Injection = AGHHHH HELP!

Hello PinkFruit!

Just to let you know - i'll be thinking of you - i go for a filling on 24th March too!
 
Re: Filling + EXTREMELY Painful Injection = AGHHHH HELP!

hello, I also hate the needle, the work doesnt affect me as bad as that needle , i tried sedation a few years back ( i cant use it now as u really need to have a day off work afterwards) it is great!!!!!!! i can handle a needle in my hand which is what they did, and by the time it was working i didnt even notice the needle in my mouth! also the whole appointmet flys over , i was once in there for almost two hours and it felt like 10 mins!!!! you should look into it as it really worked for me.
good luck!
 
Re: Filling + EXTREMELY Painful Injection = AGHHHH HELP!

If you have a dentist with a rubbish injection technique - I doubt they're going to improve overnight so maybe time to find another dentist? Not easy on the NHS but not impossible, either. I have had quite a few dental injections in the past year and those given on teeth with no infection present, have been utterly painless (slower is better, too!)

I can't guess your age but if you're young and at the mercy of your parents' choice of dentist, you need to talk to your family and get them to help you find a better dentist ASAP. Phobia is made worse by a feeling of powerlessness, and you have power here in that you can vote with your feet and find a dentist who can inject you painlessly.

I suspect the fact that English wasn't the dentist's first language has nothing to do with the fact he couldn't inject you comfortably.

No needles should hurt these days. Given your signature, I suspect you'e coming at this from a rather negative place - and almost bringing the pain to the situation - when we are tense and expect pain, we perceive it... or perceive more of it!

I had a needle phobia for years and I had to have an injection of antibiotics before I could even sit in the dentist's chair (heart condition) - til real life too over, put me in situations where I had to have many needles and realised I was just being daft as they don't hurt. And that cured me of needle phobia to the point I'm happy to have them without even bothering with the numbing gel - I think a lot of it is in the mind and when you refuse to eb scared any more, it loses its power. Maybe you're over analysing and thinking about it a bit too much, too!
 
Re: Filling + EXTREMELY Painful Injection = AGHHHH HELP!

So sorry you're feeling like this, - I used to feel the exact same.

What I would suggest is changing dentists. I had one who sounds like the guy who treated you - injected quickly and didn't leave the gel on long enough. The result was I didn't go back for 10 years.

A few months ago I finally found a really great dentist and over two visits had 4 fillings, a cleaning and a root canal all done with just numbing gels and the injections.

If the dentist injects really REALLY slowly it makes all the difference in the world. As my dentist explained to me, if the liquid in the injection is pushed in too fast, naturally it's going to be uncomfortable, so by going very slow it's freezing the tissues as it's still going in.

Trust me, if you can find someone to just take their time with you you will be fine.

Will be thinking of you on 24th.

You'll do great!
 
Re: Filling + EXTREMELY Painful Injection = AGHHHH HELP!

My previous dentist ( I haven't had an injection with my current dentist yet) always used to get me to concentrate on breathing deeply whilst giving me an injection. I found this helped me a lot, although in general injections don't bother me.
 
Re: Filling + EXTREMELY Painful Injection = AGHHHH HELP!

HI: I find that the more you tense up when receiving the needle the worse it hurts... I had a dentist once that would make us relax so much we almost fell asleep before giving the needle.

MY fear is not the needle it is everything else. Or i think as someone else had suggested maybe you should look into sedation or deep sedation. That is how i get mine done and you will not feel the needle at all.

But the key really is to take a few deep breaths, relax your entire body and mouth as much as humanly possible and the pain will not be as bad..
I hope this helps you.
 
Re: Filling + EXTREMELY Painful Injection = AGHHHH HELP!

In all honesty the injection should not be painful at all, its literally a little pinch for 1-2 Secs from my experience as a patient of 3 different dentists over the past 9 Years. You need to try to relax when you are being given the injection. If it was a unskilled dentist who did you last injections that would explain a lot. :)

Good Luck
 
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Re: Filling + EXTREMELY Painful Injection = AGHHHH HELP!

In all honesty the injection should not be painful at all, its literally a little pinch for 1-2 Secs from my experience as a patient of 3 different dentists over the past 9 Years. You need to try to relax when you are being given the injection. If it was a unskilled dentist who did you last injections that would explain a lot. :)

Good Luck

It would indeed but it is also possible for it to be imperceptible..not even a little pinch.:)
 
He understood i was upset, but he said ''Why are you crying? There is nothing to cry about. I will try and get it done quickly for you''
I said ''It hurts!!''
And he said ''I'll be as gentle as possible''

He didn't understand that I knew it would hurt, he tried to comfort me but It still hurt.

Yes, the language barrier was a little bit of an issue somtimes, but he did understand, language-wise. :thumbsup:
 
Cultural differences have a real role to play as well....some practitioners believe they have a duty to alleviate all pain..others think a small or even large amount is entirely reasonable. Are you talking about administration of the LA solely (you can still be given control which greatly helps you accept a small ampount of pain) or pain during the treatment? There's nothing to cry about is not a comforting empathetic response either, so we're on your side kid ;)..he maybe did his best but it wasn't up to anxious patient standards, so he's not the one for you.
 
Re: Filling + EXTREMELY Painful Injection = AGHHHH HELP!

There's nothing to cry about is not a comforting empathetic response either, so we're on your side kid ;)..he maybe did his best but it wasn't up to anxious patient standards, so he's not the one for you.

Aggghhh!
The Filling Is Tomorrow!
Also, I changed dentists from him to another,
Im just scared this new dentist will hurt me aswell,
Thats all :thumbsup:
Also, afterwards I'll post a success story,
Be sure to read it :jump:
Hopefully, It wont be a bad one! :)
 
Had the filling!
CONQUERED MY FEAR OF DENTAL INJECTIONS, WOOOO!
Read the success story!
:yay::yay::yay::yay::yay:


Read link here:

 
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I know what you're thinking. ''Didn't you already post somthing like this earlier this year?'' Well, Yes. I did. And everythings been fine up untill now. Ive found out I need another filling, and all my confidence has just left me. :cry:

I know I've been very afraid of injections all my life, but last time I seemed to have conquered that fear quite well. I'm not quite sure why I'm so scared. I'm just terrified. I feel no pain on the tooth they want to fill at all. I believe that if I need a filling at all, then it should only be small and I really have no idea why I should be having this done.

If anyone could offer a little bit of support to calm me down then that would be great. Thankyou.

From PinkBubbles (used to be PinkFruit) :p
 
Hello:

This is not uncommon, especially when there is some time space since you last faced the fear. The fear is trying to convince you that somehow this time will be difference despite the last success.

The fix is not difficult. Rehearse success, not potential failure. The overriding belief you need to have is "I can handle whatever comes up." I have been successful with this. I choose not to listen to the fear which wants to rule me. Visualize total success. You cannot fail because you are a successful resourceful person.

This will be easy and you will be fine. Fear only has the power we give it. Without our help it cannot live. Also, deep breathing helps. Use the following technique.

Breathe in through the nose to a slow count of 5, hold the breathe for 1-2 seconds and slowly exhale through the mouth to a count of 7.

This will help to activate the natural calming mechanism.

Blessings :)
 
Ok :hug2: Thankyou! I'll try that :)

My parents are making me feel worse though :( They keep saying if I end up crying like last time, I'll be grounded. Which is making me more upset knowing I'm not allowed to cry D:
 
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Are you seeing Michelle again? Leave your parents outside and feel free to cry if you want to...tell them they make it harder not easier by imposing silly conditions like that. The more relaxed you are the better...releasing emotion with a few tears beforehand will make it easier to relax once you meet her again and she reassures you.

Just concentrate on the fact that she knows how to make it comfortable unlike your other dentist.

:grouphug:
 
Yes, I am seeing Michelle again. Well, we had to cancel the appointment for today because we're snowed in! Instead I'm having it sometime after Christmas. My parents are in a better mood now too ;D

Thanks for your help :)
 
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