B
Bunny9
Junior member
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2025
- Messages
- 8
- Location
- Australia
Hi!
Glad to see iam definitely not alone here!
My problems started when I was about 7 and iam now 40!!
A millennial with dental fear/anxiety how unusual it seems
I have never “cured” my fear/anxiety. The only thing that gets me in that chair is I know if I leave it or ignore the problem, it will get worse.
This doesn’t stop me sweating, heart palpitating, frequent toielt trips, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation!
We used to get visits by the dental van sometimes in school. One time she was quite rough and had me tipped so far back I could feel myself sliding out. She referred me to a specialist orthodontist for my “severe problems “
This is when it all started, I was 12.
The specialist said I had severe over crowding, a number of baby teeth that hadn’t fallen out yet and super numerey teeth (extra/double set of random adult teeth).
Over two years I had multiple extractions (at least 12 teeth). My dentist wasn’t a patient woman. Multiple injections, lots of pressure on my jaw when she was pulling the teeth. I remember crying and screaming.
One of my teeth was cut out of the gum.
Orthodontic treatment started and went for years (until I was 17).
I was just as terrified of my orthodontic specialist as I was my dentist.
Mutilple procedures to expand my upper jaw and separate teeth. Braces commenced. Thought I was heading towards not needing braces anymore at one point but instead after the examination he placed a facemask on me that was attached to my top row of braces. It had a forehead rest, a metal frame and a chin cup, also a black strap that held it on around my head.I had to wear it 16-18hrs per day for 1 year (should have been 6 months but I was non compliant). I refused to wear it to school but I had to wear it after school, at night and when I slept and when ever I was home.
It was harder and harder to sit in the chair because of all the “surprise” treatments I was receiving (I.e my parents not telling me what was about to happen in each appointment) so I developed mistrust. Lying flat started making me whimper in the chair as well because I would have flash backs of my childhood dentist pushing down on my extracting my teeth.
When I was an adult I stopped seeing my childhood dentist and researched my own! I found one who was very patient with me and would give me gas every appointment. She asked about all my trauma so not to exacerbate any by accident.
Problem was she was making me receive a lot of treatment that was unnecessary. She removed my fillings and redid them. Tried to upsell and make me buy special water to rinse my mouth with, vitamins, wanted to perform multiple sessions of laser treatment on my gums etc. so I had to stop going! My next dentist was lovely and I asked him if I needed laser, he said no!and so far I’m still fine lol!
I’m still terrified and haunted by all of this.
I don’t think I’ll get over it honestly
Glad to see iam definitely not alone here!
My problems started when I was about 7 and iam now 40!!
A millennial with dental fear/anxiety how unusual it seems
I have never “cured” my fear/anxiety. The only thing that gets me in that chair is I know if I leave it or ignore the problem, it will get worse.
This doesn’t stop me sweating, heart palpitating, frequent toielt trips, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation!
We used to get visits by the dental van sometimes in school. One time she was quite rough and had me tipped so far back I could feel myself sliding out. She referred me to a specialist orthodontist for my “severe problems “
This is when it all started, I was 12.
The specialist said I had severe over crowding, a number of baby teeth that hadn’t fallen out yet and super numerey teeth (extra/double set of random adult teeth).
Over two years I had multiple extractions (at least 12 teeth). My dentist wasn’t a patient woman. Multiple injections, lots of pressure on my jaw when she was pulling the teeth. I remember crying and screaming.
One of my teeth was cut out of the gum.
Orthodontic treatment started and went for years (until I was 17).
I was just as terrified of my orthodontic specialist as I was my dentist.
Mutilple procedures to expand my upper jaw and separate teeth. Braces commenced. Thought I was heading towards not needing braces anymore at one point but instead after the examination he placed a facemask on me that was attached to my top row of braces. It had a forehead rest, a metal frame and a chin cup, also a black strap that held it on around my head.I had to wear it 16-18hrs per day for 1 year (should have been 6 months but I was non compliant). I refused to wear it to school but I had to wear it after school, at night and when I slept and when ever I was home.
It was harder and harder to sit in the chair because of all the “surprise” treatments I was receiving (I.e my parents not telling me what was about to happen in each appointment) so I developed mistrust. Lying flat started making me whimper in the chair as well because I would have flash backs of my childhood dentist pushing down on my extracting my teeth.
When I was an adult I stopped seeing my childhood dentist and researched my own! I found one who was very patient with me and would give me gas every appointment. She asked about all my trauma so not to exacerbate any by accident.
Problem was she was making me receive a lot of treatment that was unnecessary. She removed my fillings and redid them. Tried to upsell and make me buy special water to rinse my mouth with, vitamins, wanted to perform multiple sessions of laser treatment on my gums etc. so I had to stop going! My next dentist was lovely and I asked him if I needed laser, he said no!and so far I’m still fine lol!
I’m still terrified and haunted by all of this.
I don’t think I’ll get over it honestly
