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developed dental phobia

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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... :(
 
Hi ouch

[smiley=welcome.gif]

Sorry to hear you're in such pain :(. Most people who are scared of dental treatment/dentists feel that they've got a dumb fear until they read some of the posts on here and then realise that they're not the only one after all. The reasons why people are scared are many and varied, but you've come to the right place for advice/support :).

ouch(Guest) said:
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.

----

I'm scared they will look at my teeth and judge me and be shocked by me...

What's happened to change your mind and lead you to believe that they'll be judgmental? Quite often, the longer you leave it, the more the fear grows. And, the more the fear grows, the less likely you feel able to do something about it. It's a vicious circle - but it can be broken (I haven't managed to sort out my fear yet, but plenty of people on here are making progress with their fears so it is possible :)).

If you read some of the posts on here (particularly the success stories), you'll see that quite a lot of people are worried that their dentist may criticise them or be judgmental about their situation and what led them to it. But, in most cases people are pleasantly surprised at what the dentist says or how they react when they finally do make an appointment. It's not the past that counts, it's the present and the future. So in other words, they won't criticise you for not going before because it's in the past. And if they do... well, you don't have to go back there - you can find someone else who will take your fears seriously :).

ouch(Guest) said:
Or maybe it's just "wisdom teeth removed" and "2 root canals
" sounded like I was being sentenced to something awful.

I'd be seriously scared to the point of having a panic attack right there and then if I was told that I'd need this at an appointment! No way! [smiley=frightened.gif]

Sometimes people find it helpful to identify exactly what it is that scares them about treatment - once you've done that, you can try and figure out what might help to ease the fears :).
 
Hi there [smiley=welcome.gif],

I think Vicki has covered pretty much everything really well (as usual ;)). I'm not sure, but is being scared of being judged for not having gone back earlier your main concern right now? Or is it the actual proposed treatment (you mentioned that wisdom teeth removed and 2 root canals sounded like an awful sentence)? It's understandable that you had a lot of other things to deal with at the time, and in such a situation it's very common to put things off. I think most dentists would understand this.
 
Oh how can i relate to the changes in eating! :'( right now i have finally scheduled a dentist appt after 3 cavities that are just ruining my life [smiley=sick.gif] Then to top it off i'm 24 my insurance company dropped me from my dads insurance and i'm still a full-time student. How in the world am i going to pay for all these root canal(s) with a full-time internship and a pay once a month job with bills,bills,bills [smiley=scared.gif]. I use to have nightmares about that needle in my mouth but the way my teeth have altered my life i'm so ready to go to the dentist i may shake his hand for finally bringing me relief [smiley=jumping.gif]. I say just hang in there and look into all other possibillities. I found a clinic that services low income familiy's and students with no insurance. I qualified for 100% adjustment on my treatment first visit $25 regular dental work and 20% on any other work done (Exp.)$250 for root canal X 20% = my payment $50 but because i automatically pay $25 for regular dental work i only pay another $25 equaling $50 dollars.
 
[quote author=letsconnect link=1132760694/0#2 date=1132881308 Or is it the actual proposed treatment (you mentioned that wisdom teeth removed and 2 root canals sounded like an awful sentence)? [/quote]
Hi Ouch
I think even non-dental phobics would be less than thrilled to hear they needed 2 root canals and 2 wisdom teeth extracted. But the truth is it doesn't have to be such a terrible experience at all.  Sounds to me that maybe the dentist contributed to your anxiety and delay by not offering any information or reassurance about what these procedures would actually involve... both procedures have bad reputations...I've had both and both were okay.
Getting wisdom teeth taken out seems to be some sort of rite of passage that people love scaring you about....I had 3 of mine taken out in Hospital with GA and was expecting to be in horrible pain afterwards based on what everyone said....load of rubbish...meds took care of it all - stitches were annoying (felt tight) but that's it and I enjoyed my rest being off work. If your wisdom teeth are expected to be surgically challenging, you could opt for i/v sedation which would mean you would remember very little if anything about it. Same for the root canals but they should be okay to do just with local anaesthesia depending how nervous you are. Many dentists especially in US have nitrous oxide you can breathe in to relax you during treatment.
As for the finances, it isn't worth putting it off in the long run as the bill just gets higher and higher as time passes but you know this which is why you posted...well done and good luck.
 
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