G
Guest
Former Member
Hi,
I guess I'll tell you my story and hope for a word of encouragement for someone sad and in pain who has developed a dumb fear.
I was working retail a few years go, and hadn't been to the dentist in a good 5 years. I had noticed in the back of my mouth my teeth had started to developed what were like little black spots over time, and I couldn't tell what they were really from trying to see my own teeth with a flashlight in the mirror. I guess it should be obvious - duh - cavities, tooth decay, go to a dentist, but for some reason I started to assume it was something abnormal... which I guess is where I started to develop anxiety.
Then came a point a tooth developed an actual hole in the top. At some point it just started growing and I was kind of in shock and disgust. It was disturbing and I wanted to go get it fixed. Well, my job was jerking me around big time. I had started working there a year before and was supposed to be classified as full time and get benefits by then, but I was getting the impression they just classify everyone as seasonal until they can get it down to you quitting or they laying you off. So at this point I was between a rock and a hard place of having this dental problem driving me nuts but having to wait, possibly another 6 months to get insurance, which still wasn't a certainty.There was occasional pain, and having to change how I eat around this too.
Well, a few more months went by, things were getting worse, and it was driving me crazy having to wait on my job and them not being any help to me when I busted my butt for them... it eventually led to me quitting, and resolving to just pay out of pocket and move on with my life.
Well, I did finally go to the dentist, and they were supportive and not in the least judgemental. In fact, I should have learned right then that no dentist is going to be rude to a patient these days, and that I can't use that as an excuse. The proposed treatments were expensive but I could afford to cover it on my own, although it would basically eat every bit of savings I had. And here's where things went wrong... for some reason I just couldn't committ to setting a date right then. Maybe I was still sour about how my job had basically used me and spit me out and now I had to give up all I had made from it. That would be frustrating for anyone. Or maybe it's just "wisdom teeth removed" and "2 root canals
" sounded like I was being sentenced to something awful.
Now here comes the real dental phobia, it's a year later and I haven't gotten any treatment, just that examination. There is pain all the time, and it's hard to get to sleep very quickly on some nights. I feel like an idiot. Why can't I just commit and get this done? I'm scared they will look at my teeth and judge me and be shocked by me... but somehow I know that's not realistic. Yet, I'm still in this rut of extreme fear and inability to just get this done. This problem is dragging down my whole life...
I guess I'll tell you my story and hope for a word of encouragement for someone sad and in pain who has developed a dumb fear.
I was working retail a few years go, and hadn't been to the dentist in a good 5 years. I had noticed in the back of my mouth my teeth had started to developed what were like little black spots over time, and I couldn't tell what they were really from trying to see my own teeth with a flashlight in the mirror. I guess it should be obvious - duh - cavities, tooth decay, go to a dentist, but for some reason I started to assume it was something abnormal... which I guess is where I started to develop anxiety.
Then came a point a tooth developed an actual hole in the top. At some point it just started growing and I was kind of in shock and disgust. It was disturbing and I wanted to go get it fixed. Well, my job was jerking me around big time. I had started working there a year before and was supposed to be classified as full time and get benefits by then, but I was getting the impression they just classify everyone as seasonal until they can get it down to you quitting or they laying you off. So at this point I was between a rock and a hard place of having this dental problem driving me nuts but having to wait, possibly another 6 months to get insurance, which still wasn't a certainty.There was occasional pain, and having to change how I eat around this too.
Well, a few more months went by, things were getting worse, and it was driving me crazy having to wait on my job and them not being any help to me when I busted my butt for them... it eventually led to me quitting, and resolving to just pay out of pocket and move on with my life.
Well, I did finally go to the dentist, and they were supportive and not in the least judgemental. In fact, I should have learned right then that no dentist is going to be rude to a patient these days, and that I can't use that as an excuse. The proposed treatments were expensive but I could afford to cover it on my own, although it would basically eat every bit of savings I had. And here's where things went wrong... for some reason I just couldn't committ to setting a date right then. Maybe I was still sour about how my job had basically used me and spit me out and now I had to give up all I had made from it. That would be frustrating for anyone. Or maybe it's just "wisdom teeth removed" and "2 root canals
" sounded like I was being sentenced to something awful.
Now here comes the real dental phobia, it's a year later and I haven't gotten any treatment, just that examination. There is pain all the time, and it's hard to get to sleep very quickly on some nights. I feel like an idiot. Why can't I just commit and get this done? I'm scared they will look at my teeth and judge me and be shocked by me... but somehow I know that's not realistic. Yet, I'm still in this rut of extreme fear and inability to just get this done. This problem is dragging down my whole life...
