Broken teeth, extreme phobia

[stephaniewalker1995]

First time ever posting on something like this so please go easy on me.

After a bad experience at the dentist my already fear now has gone to an extreme phobia. All my front teeth are either broken or gone.
My dad originally paid for me to attend dentist appointments in an effort to help me get my teeth sorted out. It was decided that I would be given medazorlam because I first needed extractions before I could have any fillings or teeth being fixed. At the time I needed five taken out and was told they would do that first before fillings so I would have to wait a month to heal. When I went to the dentist for my extractions it was during Covid and I wasn’t allowed anyone in with me. I was given 4X the amount of medazorlam and was still screaming for my partner and aware of everything that was happening even though I was assured the medicine would make me unaware. I had two people holding me down while the dentist removed my teeth. I already had a fear of dentists but I now am terrified after that. When I went back the following month for my fillings, I was told to go home because they couldn’t treat me and risk me moving while having fillings and whatever else. I live over an hour away from this dentist and had worked myself up to go through with it one more time.
I’m in the uk, I need to be put to sleep I need to be completely unconscious but I was told that I would only be able to do that if I went privately. I’m a disabled person on benefits and can’t afford the amount I was told it would roughly cost.

It’s been a couple of years now since that happened and I’ve since lost more of my front teeth. There broken and disgusting I don’t know what to do because I’m risking infections because I can’t go through with that again. I have two children that I need to be around for and I don’t want my teeth to be what does it for me. It’s affecting my mental health I feel disgusting all the time I’m and embarrassment to my dad and his family.
I dont know what to do. Help.

 

[Enarete]

Hi Stephanie ,

first of all rest assured that this is the safest place to be if you are scared of the dentist and we will never judge you or make you feel bad about your fear. I am so sorry to read about what happened to you. What the last dentist did sounds horrible and I see how it turned your phobia into not being able to go at all. I do not understand how the practice could go on with the procedure instead of interrupting and thinking about a strategy that would work better for you. It must have been so hard not being able to take anyone with you I was also wondering whether it may be helpful to understand your reaction to the drug before making any other attempt. Some people can react in an unexpected way to such drugs. Does not happen too often but can be the case so before making any further attempt, it would be good to have a plan in check to make sure it will be a good experience.

You are not an embarrassment to anyone. You are someone who has been extremely unlucky and has been hurt by providers who were supposed to help and encourage. It is not your fault and it is extremely unfair it breaks my heart for you how you have been treated. You are so brave to even be thinking of tackling your fear again and we appreciate the trust you put into this forum by posting here. I am sure it was not easy.

I am posting here something that may be helpful, it is about dentistry for special needs and you would need to contact community services for that. I am hopeful that that may be something that could bring you closer to the treatment you need, on terms that are okay for you:

Special Needs and Dental Treatment

Where in the UK and the US can you get dental care if you, or your child, has special needs? This may include disabilities, dental phobia and agoraphobia.

www.dentalfearcentral.org

 

[stephaniewalker1995]

@Enarete thank you so much for your kind words I have already now phoned the community dental service I’ve been told I need to be referred by my doctor as I no longer have a dentist after they don’t no longer treat NHS patients.

I’m not sure why I reacted that way when I last went, it could be because I already have to take medication for my arthritis and fibromyalgia or I’m just the rare exception.
I wasn’t sure either how they could go on the way they did, and then to refuse me the next month I was flabbergasted. It just felt like I didn’t matter and I still don’t to be honest even on the phone just now the lady cut me off when I went to explain why I was calling and just told me a health care professional had to refer me.

I don’t feel brave I just feel terrified even just phoning them I went into a panick and started to cry immediately. I will contact my gp but I already feel like it’s a lost cause

 

[Natzuk]

@stephaniewalker1995 hello . Wow am sorry you got treated like that from the dentist. I am autistic and have a extremely difficult time attending main stream dentist due to the horrible treatment I have also had from
Them including them making a mockery of my fillings . I am now under a special care dentist and honestly they are absolutely fantastic! Also you will be allowed a GA I did and I am also waiting for another one to have a tooth removed and a deep clean . Please message me if you want . I’m also in the UK and if I can be of any help
I will try my best .

 

[stephaniewalker1995]

@Natzuk hi there I have to be honest it’s so nice knowing I am not the only one suffering and that other people get how I feel.
I spoke to the community dental thing a little while ago and I was told I would have to get my gp to refer me.
Did you mean you was able to go to sleep? I was refused treatment because my phobia is that bad and I know the only way I’ll ever be able to do it is if I can just go to sleep and wake up with it all done. Probably a pipe dream because I was told the only way I could get that done was if I paid up to £10,000 if not more and that was before all my front teeth broke.
How do I get the GA? Will they do proper treatment for me while I’m under? From what I can tell I need at least 8 of my teeth taken out which means I won’t have front teeth I don’t know how to do any of this to be honest
I’m sorry to hear of your treatment that’s horrid that they’ve done that about fillings. Makes me wonder what they will think of me if and when I can finally do this

 

[Natzuk]

@stephaniewalker1995 GP doesn’t refer you to. It’s the dentist who put in a form for you . Also they will do anything for you not to have the treatment you deserve. You know I have made myself so poorly because of how dentist or any professional healthcare provider will constantly tell you things don’t hurt or it’s just a little discomfort! Well I feel pain a lot !!! So I had a bad meltdown and begged the community dentist service to take me on as I don’t just have anxiety I have fear , overwhelming, sensory issues , lack of understanding from dentist etc and they eventually accepted me . Yes I was allowed to be put asleep I was referred to the university dental service then they did the referral from there . What area are you in ? Please don’t let them fob you off . Since I’ve been under special care , community service, I’ve been put asleep to have two teeth out and detained toots . I’ve also managed to have a filling done , had my partial dentures actually made to fit me , as while I was with mainstream dentist they just made them and didn’t really help me after that so I sat and cried as they were so painful and didn’t fit right . Now they do and I can eat and drink with them in. Anyway I was at the special care dentist last week and managed a filling they were amazing with me ! I just have to wait now till the 12th of February to sign the paperwork to be put asleep again to have this dreadful tooth out and a deep clean and another filling .

The thing is when we are disabled or have mental health issues quite bad ones sometimes the system works against you because you have nothing left in you and I make myself poorly so I can actually be treated the way I need and deserve and also
My daughter helps me so much with these things .

Don’t give up at all . You deserve to be seen by the community dentist . What area are you in?

 

[stephaniewalker1995]

I can absolutely relate to what your saying just phoning them caused me to go into panic mode the problem is I don’t have a dentist anymore as they stopped treating nhs patients so I haven’t got a dentist to be able to refer me.
I’m in Suffolk, I don’t know how to get them to refer me I have severe mental health issues along with my anxiety and depression that’s not including my arthritis and fibromyalgia I’m in pain all the time and my teeth are causing me pain now too I can’t smile anymore I’m only 29 and I look disgusting the looks I get as soon as I open my mouth makes me feel like I’m scum.
I need help my mental health issues cause me to withdraw and now I could get an infection at any time I can’t eat properly even my children have said they don’t want to look like me I know they didn’t mean it horribly but it just made me feel that much more disgusting.
I’m glad you have support from your daughter it sounds like she’s a great person to be by your side.
Unfortunately my partner doesn’t understand why I can’t just get over it and my bio dad thinks the same thing. I don’t get invited to family functions because of everyone looking down on me the way I look and the fact that I have to be on benefits there all very much in the mindset that people should get over things there’s no such thing as mental health etc etc they don’t understand why I can’t go to work.
I hate this i just want to wake up and there all fixed but I don’t think it will be that easy will it

 

[letsconnect]

Hi @stephaniewalker1995 so sorry to hear about what you're going through and not having much support from the people closest to you . You've definitely come to right place - people here do understand what it's like to be terrified of seeing a dentist.

I've had a quick Google and it looks like in Suffolk, referrals need to be made by a GDP (General Dental Practitioner). They don't have to be an NHS one, any private dentist can also do this I think. Here is some more info:

Special Care Referrals Suffolk - Dental HealthCare

Referrals can only be made by a GDP for patients in the following broadly defined categories: Referrals can be made for patients aged 16 – 60 for IV sedation for patients too anxious to be treated at a GDP. You must have completed a full examination prior to referral. Please make clear on your...

www.dentalhealthcareeoe.nhs.uk

Once you are in the special care system, they can then refer you on for general anaesthesia if necessary. Though my suspicion is that the last dentist you saw maybe just wasn't very experienced with sedation and either didn't put the midazolam in the right place or didn't give enough. In any event, they should not have pushed on once it became clear that you were in distress - that's a big no-no.

Do you know of any dentist you could visit for a consultation and a referral?

 

[stephaniewalker1995]

@letsconnect hi there it has been really nice to have support there from others who have been through the same or similar.
I don’t have a dentist, the one I was with originally doesn’t treat nhs patients anymore and I don’t have the money to go private my dad won’t pay for me anymore either after the last time, he felt he has wasted his money.
Suffolk is also one of the worst places to try get appointments on the nhs too. I had to visit multiple dentists some of them judged me others just didn’t have the time for me or my phobia.
As for the dentist that held me down they told me that I wasn’t allowed more midazolam as I had already been given a lot. And after that experience I know I can’t go through that again GA will be the only way I get this sorted and every time I asked about it they told me I could only do it privately and would cost up to £10,000 if not more £2500 just for the medicine another £2500 for the anesthesiest it’s an absolute joke

 

[letsconnect]

When you feel ready, could you ring or email Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board? They should be able to tell you how to go about getting a referral, given the circumstances. Their telephone number is 0800 389 6819, or you can email them via [email protected].

Are you getting any help with your mental health issues at the moment? It sounds as if you could do with as much support as you can possibly get right now

 

[stephaniewalker1995]

I will contact them soon I’m just working up the courage I tried the last week to just enquire and I went instantly into a panic I honestly don’t know how to do this

 

[letsconnect]

I know what you mean... do you think it would be easier to contact them via email?

 

[stephaniewalker1995]

@letsconnect yes I have emailed a few and rung around absolutely nothing