G
Guest
Former Member
Yes, it's true...I finally did it...and if I can, so can you...
I went to the dentist this week (never thought I would say that again) for the first time in 25 years. Not only went there, but got out of the car, walked into the surgery and (eventually) sat in the chair. So far I've only had an examination - but hey, not so long ago, certainly before I discovered this site, even that would have been way beyond imagining.
My story isn't as heroic as some you'll read here. But it's a personal triumph just the same.
First off, I haven't been in pain. So there was no urgency. But...I knew it could only be a matter of time. I have two broken teeth, bottom left from where I'm looking. One happened four years ago, the other earlier this year. I have (very) old fillings that don't feel so good any more. I have receding gums, and occasional bleeding. All in all, mouthwise, I'm in pretty poor shape, getting worse and - until now - too phobic to do anything about it.
I couldn't even talk about teeth. Is there a worse phrase in the language than this: "Root Canal Filling"? I couldn't pass the local dental surgery without shuddering. I'm a father and I couldn't even take my two children to the dentist when they were young - that was left to Mum. There was no way I could ever see myself in a dentist's chair ever again. I figured there were two possible outcomes - either I would die before my teeth got really bad, or somehow they would magically heal themselves. I would wake up one morning with the teeth of an 18 year old again.
How did I get to this state? I can't be specific. Somewhere, I must have bad, bad memories of childhood dentistry buried away. Certainly I've had other fears in life and I've been able to control them.
But not my fear of dentists. This fear was controlling me.
With the help of this site, I came to realise I wasn't alone. And what's more, there were dentists who would sympathise. I even had a number to call - it just took me three months to find the courage to do it.
Eleven digits...I'd pick up the phone, dial 10 of them and hang up, palms sweating.
In the end, of course, no-one else can do it for you. I just ran out of excuses for not doing it. I made the call, spoke to the dentist in person (it's a basic one-man one-nurse practice), fixed the time.
He turned out to be an excellent choice - the first half an hour we spent talking in his waiting room. Injections, the drill, fillings, extractions, the clinical environment, the invasion of personal space - I think we agreed I was phobic about everything dentistry could offer. After that - it was my decision to walk thru to the surgery, my decision to get into the chair. Having coming so far, it would have been crazy not to.
The results? Well, amazing...my broken teeth can be repaired (fantastic!!), and my gums can probably be improved by some heavy duty cleaning.
We start that next week...yes, I've already made appointment two...I'm off to see MY dentist!!
I went to the dentist this week (never thought I would say that again) for the first time in 25 years. Not only went there, but got out of the car, walked into the surgery and (eventually) sat in the chair. So far I've only had an examination - but hey, not so long ago, certainly before I discovered this site, even that would have been way beyond imagining.
My story isn't as heroic as some you'll read here. But it's a personal triumph just the same.
First off, I haven't been in pain. So there was no urgency. But...I knew it could only be a matter of time. I have two broken teeth, bottom left from where I'm looking. One happened four years ago, the other earlier this year. I have (very) old fillings that don't feel so good any more. I have receding gums, and occasional bleeding. All in all, mouthwise, I'm in pretty poor shape, getting worse and - until now - too phobic to do anything about it.
I couldn't even talk about teeth. Is there a worse phrase in the language than this: "Root Canal Filling"? I couldn't pass the local dental surgery without shuddering. I'm a father and I couldn't even take my two children to the dentist when they were young - that was left to Mum. There was no way I could ever see myself in a dentist's chair ever again. I figured there were two possible outcomes - either I would die before my teeth got really bad, or somehow they would magically heal themselves. I would wake up one morning with the teeth of an 18 year old again.
How did I get to this state? I can't be specific. Somewhere, I must have bad, bad memories of childhood dentistry buried away. Certainly I've had other fears in life and I've been able to control them.
But not my fear of dentists. This fear was controlling me.
With the help of this site, I came to realise I wasn't alone. And what's more, there were dentists who would sympathise. I even had a number to call - it just took me three months to find the courage to do it.
Eleven digits...I'd pick up the phone, dial 10 of them and hang up, palms sweating.
In the end, of course, no-one else can do it for you. I just ran out of excuses for not doing it. I made the call, spoke to the dentist in person (it's a basic one-man one-nurse practice), fixed the time.
He turned out to be an excellent choice - the first half an hour we spent talking in his waiting room. Injections, the drill, fillings, extractions, the clinical environment, the invasion of personal space - I think we agreed I was phobic about everything dentistry could offer. After that - it was my decision to walk thru to the surgery, my decision to get into the chair. Having coming so far, it would have been crazy not to.
The results? Well, amazing...my broken teeth can be repaired (fantastic!!), and my gums can probably be improved by some heavy duty cleaning.
We start that next week...yes, I've already made appointment two...I'm off to see MY dentist!!
.
!!!
Will be thinking of you next week and sending positive thoughts.
