flying with very bad teeth and crippling dental phobia :(

[msb3]

Hi everyone
I feel absolutely wracked with anxiety and am so down. I visited my dentist with toothache a while ago and was told I needed 10 extractions. Now, that was enough to have me running away and hiding from any dentist in the country. I have a long standing debilitating fear of the dentist, I've had 2 panic attacks just thinking about going today.
Following my dentist trip I experienced no pain and actually managed to put it to the back of my mind (I was just starting a new job so there was plenty to distract me in my defense). We went and booked a dream holiday and I've been so focused on my new (very stressful!) Job and planning my trip that I didn't give my teeth a second thought. However about 2 days ago I got toothache.
It's not severe but I'm taking painkillers. I stupidly did a Google search re flying with toothache and was horrified by what I read. I had no idea about the impact flying can have on bad teeth. I fly in a weeks time.
I've been in tears all day. I don't know what to do. I have 10 bad teeth, one of which is causing me pain and a terrible fear of the dentist. Plus I may be facing ruining or having to cancel a holiday that my family have been looking forward to for over a year.
I am so scared and so worried. I plan to see my dentist on Monday but can anyone give me any advice. I don't want to have to tell my kids they can't go on holiday ?
sorry this is long. I wish I could be calmer about this but the fear is overwhelming.

 

[carole]

Hi your dentist may be able to do something to relieve the pain for you temporarily so that you can enjoy your holiday. Try not to stress too much as getting all worked up makes things feel much worse.

We all understand how you are feeling and it is a horrible place to be in, but you are not alone. I hope your dentist can offer you a short term solution until you can get the teeth seen to properly.

Hopefully things will look very different on Monday and you will be able to enjoy your holiday

 

[msb3]

Thank you so much for replying. I'm trying not to think the worst but it's so difficult. I'm actually coming round to the way of thinking that I just need to get on with it so I can fly. I know it won't feel that simple on the day. I just keep having horrible waves of panic and keep crying.
Fingers crossed they will sort me out!

 

[carole]

I really hope so

What is it that frightens you at the dentist ?

 

[msb3]

I really hope so

What is it that frightens you at the dentist ?

I had a really horrible experience when I was younger and I can't really pinpoint it. I hate the smell, the sounds and more than anything I'm terrified of extractions. So when they said I need 10 I ran for the hills!
I think u would take an extraction over ruining my children's holiday though ?

 

[carole]

Don't beat yourself up over this, the very nature of a phobia means that we can't see a way through it. I also had bad experiences over my life and have suffered all my life with intense fear to the point that I couldn't even walk past a dental practice without having a near panic attack.

I went to see the dentist shaking, feeling sick, my legs were like jelly, my heart would beat out of my chest, I couldn't breath or talk and really thought I would pass out or have a heart attack. I would get into the chair and shake so bad even if they just wanted to look. I thought I was scared of everything but through a really nice and understanding dentist we discovered that I was afraid of the drill and how it felt, pain when having treatment and a dentist being impatient with me and not feeling in control. These were just some of the problems I had.

I have seen three dentists over the last three years that have been really good and the dentist I see now is wonderful. It is a lady, I explained to her how I felt and she could see how nervous I was, she is constantly asking me if I am okay and she will stop at any time, she takes things slowly and any treatment I have had has been totally pain free.

The extraction of a tooth isn't as bad as you are imagining, they will make sure you are really numb, they have a gel called topical that they can rub on your gums so that you don't feel the injection. If they inject really slowly you don't feel them even without the topical. Once you are numb and they can test the area to make sure for you, they will prepare the tooth and just lift it out, there is no tugging or pulling. They will rock a couple of times left and right you won't even feel it you may feel a bit of pressure and very quickly the tooth is out. You won't know it is out until they say that is it.

Just explain that you are afraid and they are very understanding and want to help us get the treatment we need. They may be able to get you out of pain with the tooth that is hurting you and arrange to sort out the rest in a few visits instead of doing it all at once.

 

[msb3]

Don't beat yourself up over this, the very nature of a phobia means that we can't see a way through it. I also had bad experiences over my life and have suffered all my life with intense fear to the point that I couldn't even walk past a dental practice without having a near panic attack.

I went to see the dentist shaking, feeling sick, my legs were like jelly, my heart would beat out of my chest, I couldn't breath or talk and really thought I would pass out or have a heart attack. I would get into the chair and shake so bad even if they just wanted to look. I thought I was scared of everything but through a really nice and understanding dentist we discovered that I was afraid of the drill and how it felt, pain when having treatment and a dentist being impatient with me and not feeling in control. These were just some of the problems I had.

I have seen three dentists over the last three years that have been really good and the dentist I see now is wonderful. It is a lady, I explained to her how I felt and she could see how nervous I was, she is constantly asking me if I am okay and she will stop at any time, she takes things slowly and any treatment I have had has been totally pain free.

The extraction of a tooth isn't as bad as you are imagining, they will make sure you are really numb, they have a gel called topical that they can rub on your gums so that you don't feel the injection. If they inject really slowly you don't feel them even without the topical. Once you are numb and they can test the area to make sure for you, they will prepare the tooth and just lift it out, there is no tugging or pulling. They will rock a couple of times left and right you won't even feel it you may feel a bit of pressure and very quickly the tooth is out. You won't know it is out until they say that is it.

Just explain that you are afraid and they are very understanding and want to help us get the treatment we need. They may be able to get you out of pain with the tooth that is hurting you and arrange to sort out the rest in a few visits instead of doing it all at once.

Thank you so much for this post Carole. I went to the dentist today and had 2 molars extracted under local with no sedition . It was exactly as you said and not as bad as I thought. I'm sore now and the bleeding hasn't stopped yet but it only happened 4 hours ago!
Thank you for your support

 

[carole]

I am really pleased for you that it went well and good for you for braving it

I hope you are out of pain now, follow the aftercare instructions and give yourself a big pat on the back. I am really pleased to come on tonight and read this. The soreness will go within a few days if not sooner.

Enjoy your holiday now