Fear of crown

[JAB]

I have a crown scheduled for a front tooth that broke off. I'm really pretty scared. I know how incredibly painful the second appointment can be. I'm always afraid of the pain, but have been told by multiple dentists that there's nothing that can be done to control the pain of having the crown seated. I've tried both with and without anesthesia, but noting controls the pain.

I'm also worried about the first appointment as well. Scheduled to have nitrous for that to help with my anxiety. Experience tells me it does help with the anxiety, but I passed out in the chair the last time and nearly ended up in the hospital. I don't want that to happen again. Is this a common reaction and is there something else I can do to minimize the effects of the nitrous. Maybe I'm overthinking it. I'm just scared.

 

[FrankieDoug]

Hi
I had two crowns fitted to my front teeth about two months ago and was terrified. I only had numbing injections and honestly both appointments were really easy. I felt no pain and I've had a scale and polish which was worse! I asked them to put the TV on so I had something to concentrate on and it really helped.
if it is the second appointment that worries you, mine was over and done with within 30 minutes and that was with two teeth!

Hope this helps - you'll do great

 

[Gordon]

I'm always afraid of the pain, but have been told by multiple dentists that there's nothing that can be done to control the pain of having the crown seated. I've tried both with and without anesthesia, but noting controls the pain.

If anything the second appointment should be far less painful than the first, I can't see why it would hurt so much. I would expect to be able to control any pain with local very easily.

It might help if you ask the dentist to coat the tooth with a desensitising agent before they cement on the temp crown.

I'm also worried about the first appointment as well. Scheduled to have nitrous for that to help with my anxiety. Experience tells me it does help with the anxiety, but I passed out in the chair the last time and nearly ended up in the hospital. I don't want that to happen again. Is this a common reaction and is there something else I can do to minimize the effects of the nitrous.

The amount of nitrous can be continuously varied by the dentist to make sure you're not getting too much or too little. If you feel it's too strong then tell the dentist to turn it down a bit. You'll never get enough nitrous from a sedation machine to cause you to lose consciousness, there are several safety systems in the machine to prevent you getting that high a dose, nitrous is a very weak anaesthetic agent.

It sounds like you fainted rather than anything to do with the nitrous. Best thing is to make sure you've had something to eat before your appointment (just something like tea and toast is fine) and try to wear loose clothing if you can.

 

[JAB]

@FrankieDoug This is so interesting to me. I've had the scaling and polishing done, but that didn't bother me at all. I've had so many people tell me the first appointments for a crown is the hard part, but the second appointment is usually short and easy.

But my experience has been different. The first appointments are definitely longer and definitely now fun. But they typically aren't all that painful. The worst part is the injection that I hate, the numb feeling that seems to last forever, and the grinding and vibration of the drill. All those things do indeed cause some anxiety.

The second appointment is indeed relatively short, but the pain is rather intense. I done them with or without anesthesia, but no difference. The pain, while relatively short lived, was extremely intense regardless of the anesthesia. I've had crowns from two different dentists, and they say there's nothing that can be done to take away the pain of cementing the crown. "It's going to zing for a while." those are the words of my last dentist. I appreciate the honesty, but I'm afraid of the pain.

But this is a different dentist. I've never had any work done with her before. I will express my concerns, but I'm definitely scared. I'm just not sure why everyone seems to say the second appointment is the easy one, but it's always been the one that caused me a great deal of pain. I'm so confused.