i need help - UK resources ?

[cloudsinviolet]

hi there, i have posted here a few times, and i am sadly still a work in progress, i still haven't gone to the dentist even though i had planned to go in june. i have two extractions, two fillings and one cleaning that i am planned to do under iv sedation and i have met with the private dentists who have been lovely.

my problem is how heavily suicidal i get when i think of making that booking. i have severe trauma that developed this, and i can't put logic on it. i know its as easy as booking it and wait, and then brave through until the iv is in your arm. but i dont know how i will keep myself alive when that booking is done.

my gp doesn't offer any anxiety medication for dentist phobias, and i wish i could safely test out what iv feels like or hell even work at a dentist for a while to safely expose myself to the environment and help the fear go away - but thats not something i can do ...

is there anything in the UK i can look for, any resource of any kind, that can help my head be stable enough to book the appointment and keep me okay until the day? i genuinely want this behind me ..

one of my cavities is starting to give me very mild pain sometimes, and one of the teeth that needs extracting has a lil white dot on my gums (i have had this on the opposite tooth which became an abcess) so i am scared i wont have time , and my head is a mess ...

if you know of anything i can do to help, please share it with me (if you have done iv sedation id love to hear your experience, those help too)

 

[nutzforcats]

i had the iv sedation done 11 years ago, i was also scared about it but the good thing was i still don't remember getting that tooth out! It's like they put in the iv line and then you weren't even there and they say you are done! i felt okay after as well so didn't feel spacey or anything. Just follow their instructions and things will be okay. I just had a tooth out with local and that went easier than i thought, i didn't want to do iv because of the cost and the extra instructions plus didn't have a drive home, had to take the public bus. You could ask your dentist about anxiety drugs, in Canada they can prescribe them, if that is what you need to go through with it. I would start with the cleaning first but if a tooth is bothering you, that may need to get done first, check with your dentist. It's never as bad as it is in our head and try to find something that will calm you like music or doing something fun to get you through it. I promise you you can do this and your teeth will thank you. Maybe talk to someone, there are free resources out there if you are feeling suicidal about it.

 

[letsconnect]

@cloudsinviolet you've probably come across this before, but just in case you haven't, you can find lots of personal stories of IV sedation experiences here:

IV Sedation Experiences

Read about IV sedation experiences which people have shared on Dental Fear Central over the years!

www.dentalfearcentral.org

You could also try this free UK suicide prevention app:

StayAlive | Essential suicide prevention for every day life

The StayAlive app is a suicide prevention resource for the UK, packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis.

www.stayalive.app

I don't know what it's like, but it's recommended on the NHS website. Definitely worth a look though (if you do try it, please let me know what you think of it).

You could also see if there's a local MIND office and see what support they might be able to provide.

If you'd like to access talking therapies and your GP is not being helpful, you can self-refer - this page explains how:

Find NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression

If you live in England and are aged 18 or over, you can access NHS talking therapies services for anxiety and depression.

www.nhs.uk

(you'll need to click on the green "Start Now" button at the bottom of the page to be guided through the process)

Hopefully some of these links are of use, keeping my fingers crossed that you can get help soon - you've already won half the battle by finding a lovely dentist

 

[cloudsinviolet]

@nutzforcats thank you for telling me about your experience ! i am going to try and get some anxiety meds for it, hopefully it will help me get closer to booking that appointment.

i hope to have a positive experience like that too. thankfully they said my two extractions, two fillings and a cleaning can be done in one session, so it may be long but it would be done and over with.. just need the guts to actually book it and go through with it

 

[cloudsinviolet]

@letsconnect i will look into these thank you !