I
Ilovemydentistreally
Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2019
- Messages
- 89
- Location
- United Kingdom
Hi any and all,
I just joined this forum and am just back under the good care of a brilliant dentist. Avoidance for 23 years due to anxiety and then shame that I had let my mouth go to ruin. But so glad now that I have started the journey back to dental health. I hope to chew a decent meal soon, instead of nibbling on my main meal when the rest of the family are finishing their dessert. lol.
I'm really ashamed to say how bad I got with my mouth care. 2 home wisdom tooth-extractions and filing down jagged, broken teeth until they were, some of them, under the actual gum line! I just kept burying my head in the sand. I don't actually know what I was thinking. It still exasperates me!
The fear is very much still there. I even need to use diazepam to leave the house most days and am addicted to it but also fairly tolerant to many of its original effects. And I have been using over double my regular dose to make each appointment so far. Of course this cannot continue indefinitely as I really need to get off the medication soon. I am open to any small tips that people have to offer on how to cope with the anxiety. But I am aware this has be my journey, ultimately.
Anyway, 4 appointments since October and weekly ones lined up for the rest of this year at least. I am fearful yet relieved to have begun. So very grateful for a gentle and non-judgemental dentist too. It really is the crucial factor.
One plus side to this story is that I have 3 kids who all take their dental care very seriously. Another, I guess, is that my diet has had to improve over the years to avoid total damage. It is some compensation at least...
Thank-you to anyone who is listening. I hope not to bore and don't really see how I can possibly assure or inspire anyone. But I do want to say, it does appear that it is never too late and none of us should give up. (Getting a little sore now as the novocaine wears off and I think I may manage a small snack...of something very soft!) Good night.
I just joined this forum and am just back under the good care of a brilliant dentist. Avoidance for 23 years due to anxiety and then shame that I had let my mouth go to ruin. But so glad now that I have started the journey back to dental health. I hope to chew a decent meal soon, instead of nibbling on my main meal when the rest of the family are finishing their dessert. lol.
I'm really ashamed to say how bad I got with my mouth care. 2 home wisdom tooth-extractions and filing down jagged, broken teeth until they were, some of them, under the actual gum line! I just kept burying my head in the sand. I don't actually know what I was thinking. It still exasperates me!
The fear is very much still there. I even need to use diazepam to leave the house most days and am addicted to it but also fairly tolerant to many of its original effects. And I have been using over double my regular dose to make each appointment so far. Of course this cannot continue indefinitely as I really need to get off the medication soon. I am open to any small tips that people have to offer on how to cope with the anxiety. But I am aware this has be my journey, ultimately.
Anyway, 4 appointments since October and weekly ones lined up for the rest of this year at least. I am fearful yet relieved to have begun. So very grateful for a gentle and non-judgemental dentist too. It really is the crucial factor.
One plus side to this story is that I have 3 kids who all take their dental care very seriously. Another, I guess, is that my diet has had to improve over the years to avoid total damage. It is some compensation at least...
Thank-you to anyone who is listening. I hope not to bore and don't really see how I can possibly assure or inspire anyone. But I do want to say, it does appear that it is never too late and none of us should give up. (Getting a little sore now as the novocaine wears off and I think I may manage a small snack...of something very soft!) Good night.