Appointment in a couple weeks- it's on my mind

[shamrockerin]

Hi everyone,

I am back (some of the members who’ve been here a while might recognize me) and in need of just a little support.

I have an appointment coming up in a couple weeks- a cleaning and yearly x-rays. I am always extra nervous about x-rays. The process of getting them done doesn’t bother me, but it seems like whenever I’ve gotten ‘bad news’ it’s always because of something on an x-ray. I’ve rescheduled this appointment twice (not due to avoidance, just a scheduling issue and then a snowstorm) and the extra time has only allowed my anxiety to increase more. Plus, I’ve been having bad dreams about dental stuff for a couple months now, which doesn’t help either.

I have a great dentist, and I like him and the hygienist a lot, but I haven’t needed any treatment/procedures since I started going there. I go for cleanings 4x a year and that includes the annual x-rays, and I bring my son to his appointments, too. I feel pretty comfortable with all that. But I always worry that ‘the other shoe is gonna drop’ and my luck will run out, and one day he is going to tell me I need a filling, or some other procedure, and I will be devastated.

The last time I had a filling (a few years ago, at a different office) I was so anxious and upset, and I started crying during the appointment, which alarmed that dentist, and he recommended that I try sedation dentistry. I was too humiliated to go back there anyway, which is why I ended up at my current office. I just have this terrible idea in my head that at some point, he will have to deliver some bad news to me, and I will start freezing up or crying, and then I will be too embarrassed to go back again. I feel like for the past few years I’ve been in this nice little bubble of having decent teeth and not being a dental phobe (I can actually have nice conversations, and joke around while I’m in the chair for a cleaning) and I am afraid it’s going to pop soon.Since I’ve only needed cleanings the past few years, this office has never really seen much of my phobia, and I really don’t want them to see it after I’ve been able to present myself so nicely and normally. . .

I hope that I’m doing all this worrying for nothing, but it’s been on my mind a lot lately.

 

[Dr. Daniel]

Hi Shamrockerin,

I understand your concern and wariness. You are facing something unknown and this uncertainty is stressful (please correct me if I’m wrong).
Can you see yourself writing an email to your dentist about this? This way not only do you share this with your dentist but also you get to actively do something, rather than thinking about it constantly.
In my view, the number one priority of a patient is their quality of life. After all, the dentists job is to improve their patients quality of life. In other words, even if the dentist makes an x Ray and sees something that might be a cavity, it does not mean you have to have it drilled. Sometimes there are other treatment options that don’t involve drilling.
finally, I am a big fan of mindfulness. I think it can help you because on the one hand you acknowledge your concerns and on the other hand without much emotional affect with it.
hope it makes sense.
cheers,
Daniel.

 

[Jay45169]

Hi everyone,

I am back (some of the members who’ve been here a while might recognize me) and in need of just a little support.

I have an appointment coming up in a couple weeks- a cleaning and yearly x-rays. I am always extra nervous about x-rays. The process of getting them done doesn’t bother me, but it seems like whenever I’ve gotten ‘bad news’ it’s always because of something on an x-ray. I’ve rescheduled this appointment twice (not due to avoidance, just a scheduling issue and then a snowstorm) and the extra time has only allowed my anxiety to increase more. Plus, I’ve been having bad dreams about dental stuff for a couple months now, which doesn’t help either.

I have a great dentist, and I like him and the hygienist a lot, but I haven’t needed any treatment/procedures since I started going there. I go for cleanings 4x a year and that includes the annual x-rays, and I bring my son to his appointments, too. I feel pretty comfortable with all that. But I always worry that ‘the other shoe is gonna drop’ and my luck will run out, and one day he is going to tell me I need a filling, or some other procedure, and I will be devastated.

The last time I had a filling (a few years ago, at a different office) I was so anxious and upset, and I started crying during the appointment, which alarmed that dentist, and he recommended that I try sedation dentistry. I was too humiliated to go back there anyway, which is why I ended up at my current office. I just have this terrible idea in my head that at some point, he will have to deliver some bad news to me, and I will start freezing up or crying, and then I will be too embarrassed to go back again. I feel like for the past few years I’ve been in this nice little bubble of having decent teeth and not being a dental phobe (I can actually have nice conversations, and joke around while I’m in the chair for a cleaning) and I am afraid it’s going to pop soon.Since I’ve only needed cleanings the past few years, this office has never really seen much of my phobia, and I really don’t want them to see it after I’ve been able to present myself so nicely and normally. . .

I hope that I’m doing all this worrying for nothing, but it’s been on my mind a lot lately.

I myself overthink all the time about things especially the dentist that's why I hadn't been to a dentist for 30 years until December there .. I had to because my teeth are not in great condition well terrible I must admit ... The ANXIETY is horrendous but I know I need this work done to improve my life and not to be in constant pain anymore... You sound like you look after your teeth which is fantastic think confidant , you've done everything right ??

I have to go back to the dentist on Wednesday and the anxiety has begun , I don't talk I have a hard time sleeping and don't eat ?...I have to get 2 teeth out and a filling ...had a wisdom tooth took out a week before Xmas and tbh I didn't feel a thing ..tho still have a hole where it was and a dull pain ? hopefully it fades over time
That's just the start ..I need crowns , bridges and a root canal done ? in the near future

So try and be confident you have done really well .. I keep saying this to myself aswell .. it helps ... Let us know how you get on