Getting Desperate and Running Out of Options!

[Northants1]

I am a 42 year old normalish guy with a complete and utter terror when it comes to anything dental after having had a bad experience of an extraction of a milk tooth as a child.

I am now in a position where my teeth are really, really bad and have been for anumber of years and I am in almost constant pain and manage to sleep very little and eat even less.

I have not visited a dentist since childhood but the pain level (and I have developed a good tolerance for dental pain over the years) is getting too much and I need to sort something out, but the thought of it fills me with utter dread.

I have been unable to even 'google for help' before today as anything connected with Dentist and teeth makes me almost physically sick.

I have read a few posts and see that I am not alone - never smiling, feeling unworthy, in constant pain, fear ofbeing judged etc.

Appreciate I sound like a bit of a woos - but if anyone has any advice - or has come across a decent and understanding professional who may be able to help in the Kettering area I would be really very grateful of any help. I believe I am at the point where my upper teeth need coomplete extraction - but at the moment I could no more walk into a dentist than walk on water.

Private treatment is beyond my means and time is running out in terms of living witht he constant pain.

Any advice gratefully received.

 

[Deejay]

Hello,
Don't put yourself down because of how you feel about dental work we all have ours
fears some people have many and sometimes there is no logic behind these fears and sometimes it's from a bad experience in the past and we all have these fears to a different level I reckon everybody is scared about something to one degree or other and as you can see from this fantastic forum although we think we are the only one, there is actually more of us than we think .
You may find you will have to register or go on a list for NHS but they will treat emergency pain, do you think you are able to go and sit in the dentist chair and let them look with out any poking? As a first visit will just be a chat and a look and possibly some X-rays nothing painfull or really evasive, if not maybe with help from your GP for some medication to help just get you there and in the chair. It is a big step to take but once done it you will have that 'problem shared is a problem halved' feeling (which believe me is like a ton weight being lifted off your head!!! I have just started a treatment plan on the NHS after decades without a dentist and I am so relieved that I found the strength to attend that initial appointment)
Is there someone who could go with you if you feel that would help?
Your next visit will be a discussion on what the X-rays show and you can make a treatment plan that works best for you, the dentist will not tell you off or judge you he/she will just have a chat about what needs doing and what it will involve and how it can be accomplished,
ring or write ( that's what I did) to get that initial appointment and tell them you have dental phobia and take it from there one step at a time, dentist are there to help us get a healthy smile and they chose to specialise in that because they enjoy helping people, search around the forum there are lots of stories and helpful tips, there is also a link that may show you dentists in your area, the very best of luck to you, please come on and tell us how you are getting on. Xx

 

[brit]

[out-of-date link removed]

The above link implies that you can self-refer in Kettering for the Salaried Dental Services(formerly Community Dental Service). They are the best bit of the NHS to treat you because of your phobia/years of non-attendence.
You can go to any other NHS dentist accepting new patients but you take pot luck when you do so, whereas the salaried dental services know how to treat phobic/special patients appropriately, so is a really safe bet if NHS is your only option.
Good luck.

Since you are in pain there will also be an emergency arrangement in your area somewhere(often called Dental Access Centres) but they might only be able to treat with local anaesthetic whereas Salaried Dental Services could do i/v sedation and even sometimes GA if you wanted/needed that.

Special Needs and Dental Treatment

Where in the UK and the US can you get dental care if you, or your child, has special needs? This may include disabilities, dental phobia and agoraphobia.

www.dentalfearcentral.org

 

[letsconnect]

Hi , just wanted to add to brit's post that it would indeed appear that Northamptonshire has quite a good provision of NHS services for people with dental phobia. There was an article in the Daily Express about it last year.

If you have a good GP you can ask them for a referral to the salaried dental services in Northamptonshire. As brit said, it sounds from the link as if you can self-refer, but it's not entirely clear whether this applies to dental phobia or not. If not, a GP can refer you (as can other health professionals).

I hope you'll be out of pain soon and that the horrible childhood experience won't stand in the way of getting the care you deserve

 

[Northants1]

Thank you for the replies - I know it sounds idiotic, but I could not even have sat at a computer and googled the informatin you have provided - I can't even watch a bloody toothpaste ad without shuddering (and if am at home - I switch over).

I have emailed the NHS salaried dental practice - part of me hopes they wont email back and i can stick my head back in the sand, and then again I need to get something sorted as can't afford to maintain this nurofen habit!

thank you again - very much appreciated - cant tell you how much it means to know 'you are not alone'.

 

[Deejay]

We are always here, you will never be on your own with this fantastic forum full of brilliant people drop by at any time, wishing you tons of luck

 

[__Steve__]

There's maybe a year between us (1972), but I know EXACTLY how you feel and why.

If you're anything like me, even though the pain is bad, the feeling of shame is worse.

If that's true, you have nothing to fear from now on. I promise.

Steve.

 

[Northants1]

thank you all for the support - and privage messages of encouragement - and I can say that without the kindness and support of people i have never, and probably will never meet, I managed to register with the salaried service and had first appointment today (thank you brit for the info).

After being so desperate as to try to get an emergency appointment with an Oasis surgery (receptionist was so rude and unhelpful) - I emailed the Salaried Service and they replied within days saying they had a cancellation and that it was mine. The first appointment was about an hour and a half long - they let me try laughing gas - just to test it out - took x-rays and even had a look around and mapped the (remaining) teeth.

Not only the dentist but all ataff at the practice were amazing, lovely, patient, non-judgmental and kind. I now have a treatment plan - which is terrifying - but I will see it through.

I never in a million years thought I would have the gumption to get this sorted - but I have started and I may now start to reclaim a little confidence and my old self back.

But thank you all for your kindness.

i appreciate all dentists are not the same - but anyone who is desperate - do look for the NHS salaried service.

Today is one of the best days in a long time - just feeling that I am addressing the problem is (as Deejay said in an email) a huge weight lifted.

Thank you - Thank you - Thank you

 

[letsconnect]

How brilliant to hear that you were able to get an emergency slot so quickly and that it went so well !!

And of course, congratulations on having the courage to go actually e-mail them and then go in and meet them - that often is the hardest part . Well done you


Thanks so much for the update, it is really really useful for us to know how people rate the services in their local area so we can point others in the right direction .

Would you mind if a made a copy of this thread and put it into the dentist recommendations section so that others in a similar situation know where to turn? thanks

 

[45andAfraid]

Thank you for the replies - I know it sounds idiotic, but I could not even have sat at a computer and googled the informatin you have provided - I can't even watch a bloody toothpaste ad without shuddering (and if am at home - I switch over).

I have emailed the NHS salaried dental practice - part of me hopes they wont email back and i can stick my head back in the sand, and then again I need to get something sorted as can't afford to maintain this nurofen habit!

thank you again - very much appreciated - cant tell you how much it means to know 'you are not alone'.

We have ALL been there... especially me.

I'm gonna be 47 this year and the last dental visit I had had was when I was 24. My teeth were in seriously bad condition with gum lose, bone loss, you name it!

But all was not lost for me and the same should be for you. Your first step was coming here and posting, that is a positive step in the right direction. Keep yourself open about it too, find a good friend who will listen and possibly go with you to appointments.

Gonna follow along, I hope you continue!!

 

[Snowball]

You have come so far, so quickly - to go from not even wanting to Google anything to do with The D Word,to getting your first appointment behind you, and being determined to carry on. From that phrase "I will see it through", I could sense a really impressive courage and determination. The brave and truly courageous person is the one who feels the fear and goes for it anyway. Not the person with not enough imagination even to feel afraid.

I just know you are going to do this. I felt like I'd been re-born when I finally went for it, and already you are feeling the benefit of your bravery and decision to go for it, too. You will come out the other side with a whole new life and - I promise you - also end up thinking "What the hell was all the fuss about?" It's moved on so much in the past few years.

Well done. And I won't even bother to say "Keep going" because it's obvious you will.