F
Flamingor78
Junior member
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2022
- Messages
- 9
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- NOT STATED
Hi everyone.. I’m 39 years old woman who have always been afraid of the dentist, like major PHOBIA.. i even remembered lurking in beyondfear website 20 years ago..
Anyway, I have always had trouble with my teeth maybe due to lack of care when I was a child. My teeth front and molars started decaying when I was a teenager. Back then, the only dentist I had access to was the school dentist who preferred teeth extraction rather than treatments such as RCT. So I developed phobia since I needed so much treatment early on. The condition of my teeth has caused me so much shame and self hate which drove me into deep depression.
I struggled with depression and dental phobia all through college. Once I started working and earning my own money, I tried to take care of my teeth. At 22, I was already missing 8 teeth, few rootcanals and few fillings. Years goes on, I sometimes skipped few years of dental visit, and triggered my fear again. I didn’t get my missing teeth replaced so the teeth shifted and I could feel my bite is off.
Two years ago, a crown on my lateral incisor ( with rootcanal from 2003) started becoming loose, and fell off Leaving just the roots. The dentist said it couldnt be saved anymore and gave me few options. I opted for denture on top of the bad root thinking I could buy some time before deciding to go for implant route. I cried so hard after getting the denture blaming myself that it was my fault things turned this way.
Then, this year another lateral incisor crown came loose so I put back the crown with some polident because going to the dentist was just such a nightmare. But deep down, I knew I couldn‘t avoid it forever. I started looking around at local dentists, and sending them messages because calling was just so scary. Finally, I got an appt in January for implant consultation. The dentist mentioned that my bones were sufficient and perfect for implant. So, the priority was the front teeth. The two root stumps gotta go, and I had to wait for 2 months for healing and get implants done.
I went in yesterday for the extractions. I was super nervous, and even prepared a meditation relaxation audio for me to listen at the waiting room. When they called my name , I sat on the dental chair, I felt I was 14 again. I was nervous and felt very helpless. The extractions weren’t easy, the dentist said. I‘m guessing I’ve always having trouble getting numbed. Even after lots of shots, as the dentist started poking, I still felt pain something sharp pinching my gums. I raised my hand and she gave me more shots, like lots more. The tugging and pulling was tough for me to handle, I wished I didn’t have to go through that… i also feel like anaesthesia wears off faster on me because when she put the bone graft and stitching my gums, I felt the pinching needle on my gums.
Today is day 2, my mouth is still sore, and I feel like my whole mouth is painful. I had new immediate denture, and the dentist said to leave it on for whole 2 days. My mouth is painful, the denture feels too tight and uncomfortable and bulky, also my bite feels off. I can’t even chew or bite food properly. I just feel like crying right now. Eventhough I am one step ahead in my dental journey, I‘m just demotivated with the pain and not being able to chew food.
My next appointment is on 21 march to take off the stitches. I am so scared thinking about implant day, could it be more painful than this, I dont know what to expect. The dentist said taking the teeth out is more painful than putting implants in, but with my pain tolerance I’m not so sure. I just needed some supports because I am afraid I might bail halfway, and probably regret it later. thanks for reading this.
Anyway, I have always had trouble with my teeth maybe due to lack of care when I was a child. My teeth front and molars started decaying when I was a teenager. Back then, the only dentist I had access to was the school dentist who preferred teeth extraction rather than treatments such as RCT. So I developed phobia since I needed so much treatment early on. The condition of my teeth has caused me so much shame and self hate which drove me into deep depression.
I struggled with depression and dental phobia all through college. Once I started working and earning my own money, I tried to take care of my teeth. At 22, I was already missing 8 teeth, few rootcanals and few fillings. Years goes on, I sometimes skipped few years of dental visit, and triggered my fear again. I didn’t get my missing teeth replaced so the teeth shifted and I could feel my bite is off.
Two years ago, a crown on my lateral incisor ( with rootcanal from 2003) started becoming loose, and fell off Leaving just the roots. The dentist said it couldnt be saved anymore and gave me few options. I opted for denture on top of the bad root thinking I could buy some time before deciding to go for implant route. I cried so hard after getting the denture blaming myself that it was my fault things turned this way.
Then, this year another lateral incisor crown came loose so I put back the crown with some polident because going to the dentist was just such a nightmare. But deep down, I knew I couldn‘t avoid it forever. I started looking around at local dentists, and sending them messages because calling was just so scary. Finally, I got an appt in January for implant consultation. The dentist mentioned that my bones were sufficient and perfect for implant. So, the priority was the front teeth. The two root stumps gotta go, and I had to wait for 2 months for healing and get implants done.
I went in yesterday for the extractions. I was super nervous, and even prepared a meditation relaxation audio for me to listen at the waiting room. When they called my name , I sat on the dental chair, I felt I was 14 again. I was nervous and felt very helpless. The extractions weren’t easy, the dentist said. I‘m guessing I’ve always having trouble getting numbed. Even after lots of shots, as the dentist started poking, I still felt pain something sharp pinching my gums. I raised my hand and she gave me more shots, like lots more. The tugging and pulling was tough for me to handle, I wished I didn’t have to go through that… i also feel like anaesthesia wears off faster on me because when she put the bone graft and stitching my gums, I felt the pinching needle on my gums.
Today is day 2, my mouth is still sore, and I feel like my whole mouth is painful. I had new immediate denture, and the dentist said to leave it on for whole 2 days. My mouth is painful, the denture feels too tight and uncomfortable and bulky, also my bite feels off. I can’t even chew or bite food properly. I just feel like crying right now. Eventhough I am one step ahead in my dental journey, I‘m just demotivated with the pain and not being able to chew food.
My next appointment is on 21 march to take off the stitches. I am so scared thinking about implant day, could it be more painful than this, I dont know what to expect. The dentist said taking the teeth out is more painful than putting implants in, but with my pain tolerance I’m not so sure. I just needed some supports because I am afraid I might bail halfway, and probably regret it later. thanks for reading this.
