I did it 6 months ago, so why can't I do it now?

[jen2605]

So 6 months ago, having not seen a dentist for many years, a molar broke and I forced myself to go to the dentist. I needed 2 fillings, which I had done. The injection hurt a lot, and I needed 3 injections before I was numb enough for her to start drilling.

A few days ago I got a text message telling me it's time to have another check up, to phone and make an appointment, and it's thrown me into total panic, I just can't seem to do it. I'm terrified that I'll need more work done, but even the thought of her looking in my mouth makes me feel physically sick. I don't know what to do.

 

[carole]

I hope you can work up the courage to phone and make an appointment. The 6 month break does a lot of us in but the longer you leave it the worse it will get.

The chances are you won't need anything doing now, and if you do it may well be something very small.

It is hard but you can face it again, nothing will happen at this check up appointment other than them having a look, which I know you are dreading. If the treatment seems too much if you need any then you can arrange to go back when you feel you can face it. Explain that you are terrified of the injections, and that they really hurt last time and is there anything she can do to help you.

They can use a gel called topical to rub on your gums before they inject, or they can inject really slowly then you don't feel it, my dentist is very good and her injections are pain free.

All the best to you

 

[kitkat]

It's a lot easier to cope with things when we are forced into a situation when we feel that we "have" to such as an emergency because we are stronger than we think we are and we tend to get in our own way. It doesn't sound like your last experience was all that positive. Would it help to try again with another dentist? When we wait til emergencies it often adds to the trauma of the whole situation and creates a vicious cycle. It would be good for you to attend a "routine" appointment where no actual work is required so that dentistry is not always associated with really stressful appointments and to serve as a positive reinforcement. As Carole said, if anything is needed it would likely be very minor since you took care of everything 6 months ago. Sorry to hear you had such a difficult time last time! Speaking from lots of experience with dental work, it is not typical to require so many injections and for the injections to be so painful. I would consider searching around to see if there is a dentist out there that you feel more comfortable with. It does get easier eventually. Persistence is the key! One thing I always do is make sure that I have scheduled the next appointment before I leave the office so that I don't have to push myself to make that call later even if the appointment is 6 months away. I can always reschedule but I need to get myself on the schedule at all and committed to going back.

 

[jen2605]

I was surprised how painful the injections were to be honest, because I've read so much on here about how injections these days aren't painful, and they use topical anaesthetic gel before the needle etc - to be honest, I wasn't really anxious about the injection when I went to the appointment, I was anxious about everything else, especially the drill.

The 2 fillings I had were on teeth next to each other on the lower left side, the two teeth nearest the back. So, having read up on things, I thought it would be one injection right at the back of the mouth that would make the whole left side of my jaw numb, but it didn't - if I remember correctly, it made my cheek and part of my lip numb, but not enough. She then gave me injections next to each tooth, and seemed surprised that those two further injections were also painful...........

I still haven't phoned to make another appointment, I still get really panicky when I even think about it. I don't know if another dentist would be any easier, and it's difficult to find NHS dentists in my area.

 

[norwegianchick]

Hi!

If you haven't been to the dentist for a while and end up going back and needing work done, it's normal that you aren't keen on going back. You dreaded going there in the first place, and only got your fears confirmed when you needed treatment. It's not just the pain, there may be embarrassment, cost and other issues as well.

Even though there is a background of anxiety, you should try to make sure you get a good experience this time. Maybe this isn't the right dentist for you, or maybe you can make your experience better by making them do what you want:

Were they nice to you? This is important, I value this a lot, and my dental team consists of people who are consistently nice to me, and whom I even laugh with. I'm nice to them in return.

Could you talk with them about your previous experience? I've had a lot of injections for dental work, without problems, but dentists are different, patients are different, and some injections are less comfortable than others. In my experience, it helps to tell the dentist that you are afraid, and what you are worried about. Then it's easier for them to help you, and they don't have to guess.

It's also a good idea to have your teeth checked at regular interval, regardless if you want to stay at that practice or not. Make an appointment, either there or with another dentist. You don't have to have treatment, and if you have several problems, you don't have to have everything done at once, but it's good to know what's going on. Of course, if there's nothing wrong, it's nice to have your teeth cleaned.

Oh, yes, not being able to pick up the phone and make an appointment. Ask me about it, I know how it feels. I would sit and look at the phone, going I really need to call the dentist, and would keep looking at it until I had made that call. You can do it!

 

[jen2605]

Oh my goodness, I just phoned and made an appointment for 14th November - I feel physically sick, I've got palpitations and I can't stop shaking...........

 

[lizzieboo]

Well done you!! SO hard to pick up that phone....but you've done it!! Hold on in there....you can do this!!