B
Bambi88
Junior member
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2025
- Messages
- 1
- Location
- UK
I have a big dentist phobia. Had lots of work done as a kid and had nothing but bad experiences.
Didn't go for years. Developed TMJ in my mid 20's and jaw has never got better. I have a lot of tension and get a lot of headaches. I can't open my mouth very wide or for very long without it hurting for days, which adds to my anxiety.
Over the years I have had a couple of check ups, told I need fillings etc and never go back because I am scared. A week ago I put on my big girl pants and decided to sort my mouth out. Have to go private as no NHS dentists taking new patients....and all of my bad experiences have been with NHS dentists. Including local anaesthetic injections not working prior to drilling, rude and rough dentists. One told me they would need to dislocate my jaw to get my wisdom teeth out!
Was told I need 5 fillings and 1 wisdom tooth out. The wisdom tooth has damaged the tooth in front to such an extent, that it will require a root canal and crown. He performed x-rays and a jaw ct scan. I can have some of the treatment under sedation.
This is his plan:
Session 1 with sedation: remove wisdom tooth and 2 fillings.
Session 2 with sedation: 3 fillings on other side.
Session 3: root canal and crown on damaged molar (may require up to 3 sessions so sedation not really an option).
OR....because I am so scared, limit the treatment required and just get the damaged molar removed +/- wisdom tooth (leaving it is an option, but the wisdom tooth is only partially errupted, there's no garuntees that it won't cause more problems in the future if left).
I am 36 years old and I am hesitant to loose any of my teeth yet. I had a lot of teeth removed when I was young in order to fit braces, so I do have a few less teeth than I should. But equally, the sooner I can get it all done and over the better. However, removing it is very permanent in my mind. I have had a root canal before without sedation, but it's in a front tooth.
I have also read so many nightmare experiences about wisdom tooth removal! Dry socket, permanent nerve paralysis etc. My other 3 are fully erupted and not causing issues.
Any reassurance would be greatly appreciated!
And those with TMJ, how to you cope with dental visits? I have tried facial massage, paracetomol & ibuprofen, heat packs etc nothing seems to help. I took a lorazepam before the hygienist visit to see if it helped me relax my muscles, but all it did was make me sleepy!
Didn't go for years. Developed TMJ in my mid 20's and jaw has never got better. I have a lot of tension and get a lot of headaches. I can't open my mouth very wide or for very long without it hurting for days, which adds to my anxiety.
Over the years I have had a couple of check ups, told I need fillings etc and never go back because I am scared. A week ago I put on my big girl pants and decided to sort my mouth out. Have to go private as no NHS dentists taking new patients....and all of my bad experiences have been with NHS dentists. Including local anaesthetic injections not working prior to drilling, rude and rough dentists. One told me they would need to dislocate my jaw to get my wisdom teeth out!
Was told I need 5 fillings and 1 wisdom tooth out. The wisdom tooth has damaged the tooth in front to such an extent, that it will require a root canal and crown. He performed x-rays and a jaw ct scan. I can have some of the treatment under sedation.
This is his plan:
Session 1 with sedation: remove wisdom tooth and 2 fillings.
Session 2 with sedation: 3 fillings on other side.
Session 3: root canal and crown on damaged molar (may require up to 3 sessions so sedation not really an option).
OR....because I am so scared, limit the treatment required and just get the damaged molar removed +/- wisdom tooth (leaving it is an option, but the wisdom tooth is only partially errupted, there's no garuntees that it won't cause more problems in the future if left).
I am 36 years old and I am hesitant to loose any of my teeth yet. I had a lot of teeth removed when I was young in order to fit braces, so I do have a few less teeth than I should. But equally, the sooner I can get it all done and over the better. However, removing it is very permanent in my mind. I have had a root canal before without sedation, but it's in a front tooth.
I have also read so many nightmare experiences about wisdom tooth removal! Dry socket, permanent nerve paralysis etc. My other 3 are fully erupted and not causing issues.
Any reassurance would be greatly appreciated!
And those with TMJ, how to you cope with dental visits? I have tried facial massage, paracetomol & ibuprofen, heat packs etc nothing seems to help. I took a lorazepam before the hygienist visit to see if it helped me relax my muscles, but all it did was make me sleepy!
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