H
Heather97615
Junior member
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2006
- Messages
- 8
I am 23 and today was my first day at the dentist's office in over six years. I heard a lot of remarks, like, "where have you been all these years," or, "I can't believe you've been avoiding us for so long," or, "haven't your parents been ready to drag you in here themselves?" However, these remarks weren't meant in a mean way; they were stated sort of as jokes. I'm sure my dentist gets this all the time--people skipping years of dental work for financial or phobic reasons.
I had to go to the dentist because my insurance is running out in 8 months. I'm going to graduate from college in 10 months then hopefully get a job w/ dental insurance. But in the meantime, I finally came to the realization that no matter how unpleasant it might be, I needed to get my teeth fixed.
When I was 20 months old, I had to have all my teeth capped. Thank God I don't remember that! I was put under general anesthesia. There really wasn't a reason for my teeth to decay to the extent that they did: my parents were taking good care of my teeth and my visits to the dentist were regular.
Once my adult teeth came in, I started getting cavity after cavity. I remember the agony of having my teeth cleaned because my teeth and gums are very sensitive. The flouride treatment also made me very nauseous. I'd average 2-3 cavities a year. And I did brush my teeth, but being so young, I may have been brushing them incompletely or incorrectly. And it hurt to floss, so I rarely did that. The shots always hurt a lot and I had a fear of needles, but I never had any problems with the actual procedures themselves. But when I was 14 I got braces, and that's when my teeth really started going downhill. I had around 18 cavities five years later when my braces were removed. I had brushed my teeth multiple times each day, but my dentist told me that the brackets cause decalcification in some people which leads to decay and cavities. I am one of those unfortunate people who will get cavities no matter how much I brush and floss, I suppose. I went in on two separate occasions to have fillings done. Note that my old dentist had since retired and two new dentists opened up shop in the same building, so I became their patient. They're good dentists, especially when it comes to giving the shots--they are MUCH less painful with these doctors. They kind of jiggle your cheek while putting the needle in so you really don't feel it too much. And they go much more slowly, which I've read causes less discomfort.
On the second appointment, the lower and upper left jaws, something happened. My lower jaw didn't get completely numb and I could feel the drilling. It wasn't too bad (not too good either, but bearable) but then the drill must've hit a nerve because I literally came flying out of that chair. The dentist asked me if it hurt or if it was just a reflex (??) and when I explained to him that it was very painful, he did more local. After the local was administered, within 60 seconds my heart was racing. I panicked. I'd not been warned that in some people the adrenaline causes this. The dentist told me it was normal, but then when he started drilling again it still hurt, so he just did the filling without drilling any more into my tooth. That was the last time I went to the dentist.
In 2000, about 6 months after my filling-fiasco, I made an appointment to get my wisdom teeth out with my dentist. But after careful consideration, I opted for an oral surgeon to do the procedure because my upper wisdom teeth were impacted and had to be cut out. I wanted to be asleep, and my dentist couldn't do general anesthesia. I am so happy that I elected for the general anesthesia--I do not remember anything about the surgery. I was given Valium before I was knocked out, and I went to sleep and woke up laughing. I came home with 12 stitches in my mouth but also with an excellent pain medication, so my recovery was relatively painless. For people who have experienced dental phobia, I highly recommend a maxillofacial surgeon for extraction of impacted wisdom teeth.
After the last experience I'd had with my dentist, I stopped going for my 6-month exams and cleanings. I also went off to college and did not even look for a dentist in my new town. But my parents have been hounding me about it for the past 5 years. I wasn't going to let them influence me--they haven't had negative experiences like I have, so they can't understand what I'm going through.
But a couple months ago, I lost a filling. Then another, then another. One is on one of the teeth close to the front of my mouth, so it can be seen when I smile. I am careful to smile with my lips sealed. There is another hole in another tooth on my upper right jaw-it bothers me and I constantly feel it with my tongue. Thankfully, none of these areas with lost fillings hurt, but I know that eventually they will. So today I went to my old dentist for a cleaning. Thank God I didn't get the dental hygienist who was so rough with my mouth when I was younger. There was only slight discomfort today, no real pain.
Melissa, the hygienist, asked me if I drink a lot of sweet soft drinks. I said yes and explained to her that I'm addicted to Diet Coke. She shook her head and said that it would be a regular soda, not diet, that caused the problems because diet sodas don't contain sugar. So I said there was nothing else I drank that had high sugar contents. She went over my records, and then after cleaning my teeth she said she could tell that I always brush and floss my teeth--a compliment from the dentist office, for once!! She said that some people are just born with soft teeth. And that's what she says I have: soft teeth. She said I have a lot of decalcified areas which need fillings. Then the dentist, Dr. Louis came in to go over my X-Rays. I wasn't even sure at first if this was my dentist--they are identical twins who have a practice together, and that in itself sometimes creeps me out--I'll see one and think he's my dentist but it turns out that the other one is! Anyway it was Dr. Louis. I can't remember if he did those last awful fillings or if it was his twin Thomas. I told him how afraid I am, and he said, "Don't worry. We'll give you the laughing gas and it'll be just like last time!!!!
Obviously he doesn't remember "last time" for me. But I think he is a kind person, and I like him so hopefully that will help me to overcome my fears. When I told him how much I didn't want to be there, he said he didn't want to be there either! A comedian, this dentist.
Anyway my first appointment is next Wednesday at 10:30 and I am seriously stressing about it. It's the right side--the side needing the most work. I think there are 6 or 8 places where he's going to do fillings, and I am really scared. I wanted to ask if he does oral sedation, but then I was too embarrassed to ask because I don't want to seem like a sissy or a junkie! I hope the laughing gas works for me this time around. I had it last time, and it worked the first appointment, but it wasn't enough during that horrible second appointment. I have an appointment for the following Wednesday as well for my left side--the same tooth where the nerve was hit last time. I dread that moment when he drills into that tooth!!!
I had to go to the dentist because my insurance is running out in 8 months. I'm going to graduate from college in 10 months then hopefully get a job w/ dental insurance. But in the meantime, I finally came to the realization that no matter how unpleasant it might be, I needed to get my teeth fixed.
When I was 20 months old, I had to have all my teeth capped. Thank God I don't remember that! I was put under general anesthesia. There really wasn't a reason for my teeth to decay to the extent that they did: my parents were taking good care of my teeth and my visits to the dentist were regular.
Once my adult teeth came in, I started getting cavity after cavity. I remember the agony of having my teeth cleaned because my teeth and gums are very sensitive. The flouride treatment also made me very nauseous. I'd average 2-3 cavities a year. And I did brush my teeth, but being so young, I may have been brushing them incompletely or incorrectly. And it hurt to floss, so I rarely did that. The shots always hurt a lot and I had a fear of needles, but I never had any problems with the actual procedures themselves. But when I was 14 I got braces, and that's when my teeth really started going downhill. I had around 18 cavities five years later when my braces were removed. I had brushed my teeth multiple times each day, but my dentist told me that the brackets cause decalcification in some people which leads to decay and cavities. I am one of those unfortunate people who will get cavities no matter how much I brush and floss, I suppose. I went in on two separate occasions to have fillings done. Note that my old dentist had since retired and two new dentists opened up shop in the same building, so I became their patient. They're good dentists, especially when it comes to giving the shots--they are MUCH less painful with these doctors. They kind of jiggle your cheek while putting the needle in so you really don't feel it too much. And they go much more slowly, which I've read causes less discomfort.
On the second appointment, the lower and upper left jaws, something happened. My lower jaw didn't get completely numb and I could feel the drilling. It wasn't too bad (not too good either, but bearable) but then the drill must've hit a nerve because I literally came flying out of that chair. The dentist asked me if it hurt or if it was just a reflex (??) and when I explained to him that it was very painful, he did more local. After the local was administered, within 60 seconds my heart was racing. I panicked. I'd not been warned that in some people the adrenaline causes this. The dentist told me it was normal, but then when he started drilling again it still hurt, so he just did the filling without drilling any more into my tooth. That was the last time I went to the dentist.
In 2000, about 6 months after my filling-fiasco, I made an appointment to get my wisdom teeth out with my dentist. But after careful consideration, I opted for an oral surgeon to do the procedure because my upper wisdom teeth were impacted and had to be cut out. I wanted to be asleep, and my dentist couldn't do general anesthesia. I am so happy that I elected for the general anesthesia--I do not remember anything about the surgery. I was given Valium before I was knocked out, and I went to sleep and woke up laughing. I came home with 12 stitches in my mouth but also with an excellent pain medication, so my recovery was relatively painless. For people who have experienced dental phobia, I highly recommend a maxillofacial surgeon for extraction of impacted wisdom teeth.
After the last experience I'd had with my dentist, I stopped going for my 6-month exams and cleanings. I also went off to college and did not even look for a dentist in my new town. But my parents have been hounding me about it for the past 5 years. I wasn't going to let them influence me--they haven't had negative experiences like I have, so they can't understand what I'm going through.
But a couple months ago, I lost a filling. Then another, then another. One is on one of the teeth close to the front of my mouth, so it can be seen when I smile. I am careful to smile with my lips sealed. There is another hole in another tooth on my upper right jaw-it bothers me and I constantly feel it with my tongue. Thankfully, none of these areas with lost fillings hurt, but I know that eventually they will. So today I went to my old dentist for a cleaning. Thank God I didn't get the dental hygienist who was so rough with my mouth when I was younger. There was only slight discomfort today, no real pain.
Melissa, the hygienist, asked me if I drink a lot of sweet soft drinks. I said yes and explained to her that I'm addicted to Diet Coke. She shook her head and said that it would be a regular soda, not diet, that caused the problems because diet sodas don't contain sugar. So I said there was nothing else I drank that had high sugar contents. She went over my records, and then after cleaning my teeth she said she could tell that I always brush and floss my teeth--a compliment from the dentist office, for once!! She said that some people are just born with soft teeth. And that's what she says I have: soft teeth. She said I have a lot of decalcified areas which need fillings. Then the dentist, Dr. Louis came in to go over my X-Rays. I wasn't even sure at first if this was my dentist--they are identical twins who have a practice together, and that in itself sometimes creeps me out--I'll see one and think he's my dentist but it turns out that the other one is! Anyway it was Dr. Louis. I can't remember if he did those last awful fillings or if it was his twin Thomas. I told him how afraid I am, and he said, "Don't worry. We'll give you the laughing gas and it'll be just like last time!!!!
Obviously he doesn't remember "last time" for me. But I think he is a kind person, and I like him so hopefully that will help me to overcome my fears. When I told him how much I didn't want to be there, he said he didn't want to be there either! A comedian, this dentist.
Anyway my first appointment is next Wednesday at 10:30 and I am seriously stressing about it. It's the right side--the side needing the most work. I think there are 6 or 8 places where he's going to do fillings, and I am really scared. I wanted to ask if he does oral sedation, but then I was too embarrassed to ask because I don't want to seem like a sissy or a junkie! I hope the laughing gas works for me this time around. I had it last time, and it worked the first appointment, but it wasn't enough during that horrible second appointment. I have an appointment for the following Wednesday as well for my left side--the same tooth where the nerve was hit last time. I dread that moment when he drills into that tooth!!!
