Morning hun
I can only really compare Lincoln to three other dentists I have ever seen in all my years, and two of them were when I started on my 'journey'. The dentist I had as a child was a nightmare, not a friendly approachable person, and one who poo poo'd me when I told him he was hurting me.
The other two that I went to prior to finding Lincoln. The first a very loud NHS dentist who has been in practice for years. He was fully aware of my absolute 'petrifiedness' (I know it is not a proper word, but hey ho, says what I want it to
) but didn't stop him bellowing out my name in the waiting room, telling me he knew all about me (one of my friends has a friend who is the manager of the surgery, hence knowing all about little old me)! And stomping up the stairs to the surgery with a big 'satellite receiver' strapped to his head while I almost fell back down the stairs quivering so much. Getting in the chair and almost immediately 'going at me' with the 'picky' thing, only to be told that I couldn't have that touch me.
Second dentist - said all the things I 'wanted' to hear in a calmer way, but something just didn't sit right with both the practice, him and his nurse, and then I found Lincoln.
He rang me, and believe me I was as nervous as could be. He chatted, I listened. I don't even know how or who made the appointment. All I know is that it was made and I went. He talks in a very calming manner, didn't make my first 'stop' in
thechair, and just went through everything with a fine tooth comb -sorry for the pun
.
Prior to going to him, he sent me a questionnaire and asked me to fill it in. He had that to look through and it was in black and white as to how I felt about everything. After some time, Lincoln asked if I felt ready to sit in the chair, although he had made it quite clear that this didn't need to happen on this visit, but by this stage, I had already had a rude introduction to it, so this was a bit of a doddle.
He told me that there was no need to use the 'pokey' thing, and all he did was look and take loads of x-rays. He also told me that he fully believed in telling you what to expect at each and every visit, and that the next time we would meet, there would be no treatment, just discussion as to how we went forward, and believe you me, that in itself took a whole load of pressure off.
Now, the surgery itself. It is a fair sized reception area. You walk in the door and the receptionists are in front of you a bit to your left. Chairs are all around the surgery. It is not 'flash or fancy' and certainly not intimidating. There is a door to your right when you walk in and that is where the surgeries are. Lincoln's - unless he has changed it, is the first door on your left as you go through the initial door. Lincoln's surgery itself is bright and compact, with a whole wall full of thank you cards. It of course does have 'dentisty' things on show - wouldn't not be able to, but the warmth and kindness of both Lincoln and Jean take your mind off of all that as much as is possible.
I so fully understand where you are coming from with having been dealt a lot throughout your life and the fragility you are left with. Lincoln absolutely loves his job. And along with his passion for his job, goes such a caring side to help us phobics along.
If it helps, you can park in the car park at the back of the surgery if you can't face sitting in the waiting room and either Jean or Lincoln will come and get you.
I don't know how else I can try to get across that Lincoln and Jean will do all they can to get you through all of this. They both know their stuff, so be guided by what they say and reassured by the help they are able to offer.
I don't know if you have anyone to go with you, and I know on all but one of my appointments, I had company with me, but I did even manage one on my own which was an enormous mountain I climbed, but I did it, and felt better for it.
I am hopeful you will get to your appointment, and in the meantime, am again more than happy to answer any questions you have if I possibly can.
Now, that's me rambling...... famous for it
Big hugs hunni xoxoxo
after yrs of being a full on phobic, I managed to get treatment, get my phobia under control and sort all my tooth problems out. I vowed to never go back to suffering tooth ache, abcsess's and all the worry that goes with it. I was very nearly a success story and yet here I am again, in pain. I have an abcsess, pain, a clicky crown and all fear is back. I also used to suffer bad ocd and depression...these have returned too. I don't want to see anyone, talk to anyone, I just want to sleep. My business is suffering, my partner feels like I've withdrawn....I just can't cope with all the worry again. I have an appointment with Lincoln Hirst, but due to my job its not until april and I just don't know if I can deal with the anxiety in the meantime 
his praises 
