Journey to pain-free mouth

[VirginiaNurse]

You would think that as an OR nurse, that i've seen what happens when dental issues are allowed to progress, and how it affects the overall health, that it would motivate me more to get to the dentist. But it doesn't. That's how bad my fear is.

It all started when i was 17 years old and went to a dentist for a filling. He was in a rushed, crabby mood anyway, i know for a fact he overbooked himself, and this was the way every visit was. He injected the numbing med, then came back an HOUR later to start the filling. Well i found out i wasn't numb anymore when he reached the root, and i screamed, almost jumping out of the chair. He let out a big sigh, rolled his eyes and snapped "You need nitrous, you're just too jumpy for me to work on." Well, that wouldn't be a problem in the future as far as i was concerned, and luckily my parents weren't wild about him, so we went to another dentist in town after that. He was a nice guy, patient, caring, gave me extra numbing stuff for my own piece of mind.

But after i was 18 and moved out, i didn't have any sort of insurance, so i didn't go to the dentist, couldn't afford it making less than 10 grand a year. And of course my teeth started going downhill. At age 25 i was able to get wisdom teeth pulled and all of my teeth fixed under general anesthesia, which was great since my anxiety was at full tilt by then, but it was also over 4 grad to get.

And here i am again, needing teeth fixed, knowing that 2 need pulled, waiting for dental insurance to kick in, and even though i'm a nurse, i don't have the money either. I have an abcess that has my left cheek looking like a hamster who stuffed his jaw, it hurts so bad, yet the fear and the money prevent me from going back. This is a miserable way to live.

 

[letsconnect]

Hi VirginiaNurse and ,

as you probably know yourself (working in the medical field), there are still some doctors (and dentists) out there who operate in a "doctor-knows-best" mode . Thankfully, there are also plenty of dentists around like the one you described who was kind and caring. Personally I think that the internet is currently playing a major role in changing the way doctors and dentists relate to their patients - more and more people like to read up on health info themselves and play a more active role in their care, and expect to be treated as equals. When people view themselves as consumers who can pick and choose their practitioners, rather than "be subjected to treatment", this greatly improves things for all of us on this forum !

I'm probably digressing here, but the point is that we all have the power to vote with our feet and reject those practitioners who make us feel uncomfortable, embarrassed or stupid - and choose the kind, caring, gentle and skilled ones instead. You probably know a lot about financing options already, but here is a link to some of the options:

How to Pay for Dental Treatment in the U.S.

Are you worried about not being able to afford dental treatment you desperately need? This page explains the options available in the US.

www.dentalfearcentral.org

Seeing how you're in acute pain at the moment, have you got any recommendations from co-workers, acquaintances, friends or family for a dentist who matches your criteria of a good dentist? You may also be able to cross-check their recommendations with recommendations on the internet.

Are you currently taking antibiotics for the abscess?

Hope you're ok