Filling fear/Nitrous fear

[emeliadell]

(I've already posted this in another forum, but I wanted to get an answer here too.) So basically, I went to the dentist about a month ago and they found a cavity. I have had a fear of cavities for years now and havent had one until now. I was told I will have to get nitrous oxide/laughing gas because I have dental anxiety. I don't want the laughing gas, I am more scared of the laughing gas, not the filling itself. I told the dental assistant this and she told me I didnt have a choice and have to get it so they scheduled my appointment for nitrous oxide, and my dad tells me that "they said i didnt have to get it" even though they did. I'm scared im going to get there and theyre gonna make me get it. It's the last thing I want. I just want them to do the numbing shots and fill the cavity and get it done with. Can they make me get laughing gas? They didn't listen to me the first time I told them. I was given 2 options of sedation or laughing gas. i dont want either i have a fear of nitrous and sedation. I am not scared of the cavity itself.

 

[Milomin]

If your dentist won’t listen to you I suggest changing dentists. My dentist does not use nitrous oxide. It’s 100% up to you if you want it or not. Dentists can’t insist on anything. If you want to stick with this dentist- tell them you aren’t getting the anxiety medication. There are other ways to deal with anxiety. My dentists helps me by taking breaks when I need to, respecting my hand signal, and checking in with me during treatment.

 

[Enarete]

Hi there,

it makes me speachless how some dentist deal with dental anxiety with making people get sedation they do not want to have I totally go with @Milomin. Nobody can force you to do anything, it is your tooth and if you don't want nitrous you don't have to do it. Is your dad on your side? If you get there and they insist on nitrous, will he support you in saying "no thanks" and "goodbye" and finding a dentist who is willing to listen?

 

[emeliadell]

@Enarete , My dad does not want to change my dentist. I have been asking him for a couple of years now, because the dentist office I currently go to is honestly really bad. The dental assistants seem they don't know what they're doing. It makes me more nervous going in. My dad would be on my side I think though, I have told him if they make me, I am denying it. It is honestly so annoying that the dental assistant would not listen to me.

 

[emeliadell]

@Milomin Thank you for this. I was thinking it was definitely like up to me, they can't force me to get it. It did infuriate me that when I tried to explain I had a fear of the nitrous and sedation she just shrugged it off and didn't listen to me. I was given basically an ultimatum of nitrous or sedation. Without even asking me, my appointment was scheduled for nitrous.

 

[geos]

Did you let your dad know that what gets you anxious is more the sedation than anything else? I believe your parent or yourself would need to give consent before getting any sedation, so sharing this to your dad would probably be preferable.

 

[Milomin]

@emeliadell It’s true that you would need consent but in Canada, a parent can’t go against your wishes. You can refuse treatment at any age. But I agree, it is probably a good idea to make sure your dad knows that you won’t be doing sedation or anything else. Also, you can make this explicit at the beginning of your appointment. You can also get up and leave at any time. That is your right.

 

[emeliadell]

@geos I did. He understood that.

 

[emeliadell]

@Milomin Yes. Thank you. I probably just will tell them when I get there that I am not doing the nitrous.

 

[pea_can_pie_tin]

I just wanted to say that I'm sorry your dad won't listen. I had a similar situation when I was just entering my teen years. I saw a pediatric dentist who honestly helped plant this whole phobia/anxiety; he was awful. I wanted to stop seeing him but my mom kept saying no.

I just kept asking every time a dentist appointment started to come up or had just happened. I told her my reasons and gave specific examples of his behavior. Eventually she saw that something just wasn't right and I wasn't just being "difficult" like HE tried to make it seem.

I hope your dad will see your side of things soon. Give specific examples and gather more evidence (in your memory...don't steal stuff obviously!) at your next appointment.

If you walk into that filling and they really try to force you to have laughing gas, refuse! Stomp your foot on the ground and throw a fit if you have to. Because to try and force you to make you "less difficult" or whatever their reasoning might be, by forcing you to use nitrous oxide gas when you've refused it, is downright wrong.