Just booked my first appointment in 3 years...already want to cancel!

[sabrinaxo10]

I'm 21 years old and I haven't been to the dentist since I was 18 because I moved out of the house so now my parents couldn't force me to go anymore. I have always had an extreme fear of the dentist, but over the years I have developed extreme anxiety and the thought of going to the dentist sends me into a panic. Well, I just booked my first checkup appointment in 3 years and I'm already a nervous wreck and thinking about just calling them back and canceling it. It's not for another 3 weeks so I have some time to think about it. I just know that the longer I wait, the more painful it's going to be once I do go, so I might as well get it over with now. I chose a dentist that specializes in sedation therapy so I know if I get too anxious or uncomfortable then I have that option, which is why I chose this dentist. Oh yeah, I'm also having to go to a new dentist because I moved to a new state, so that's a whole other thing that I'm nervous about. Oy, I'm just so scared that I'm going to have a million cavities and tons of plaque that's going to take forever and be painful to clean off. I'm dreading it...

 

[FearfulInMA]

Welcome! And congrats for making the appt! That's often the most difficult part. It's honestly pretty common for people to not go to the dentist during young adult years - many young adults are in college or don't have insurance. Most people I know did not go while they were in college. I did not go from 17 until about 23 and when I went at 23, my teeth were actually fine. They did need a good cleaning, but nothing major. I had another 'break' from the dentist from about 24 to 30 and that one did much more damage, but, at 37 I still have all my teeth.

Congrats again for making an appt!!! If you see a doctor for your anxiety, you might ask her/him if you can get a prescription for an oral anxiety medication to help with anxiety at the first appt. Best of luck and please let us know how it goes!

 

[Afaridnomore]

I'm 21 years old and I haven't been to the dentist since I was 18 because I moved out of the house so now my parents couldn't force me to go anymore. I have always had an extreme fear of the dentist, but over the years I have developed extreme anxiety and the thought of going to the dentist sends me into a panic. Well, I just booked my first checkup appointment in 3 years and I'm already a nervous wreck and thinking about just calling them back and canceling it. It's not for another 3 weeks so I have some time to think about it. I just know that the longer I wait, the more painful it's going to be once I do go, so I might as well get it over with now. I chose a dentist that specializes in sedation therapy so I know if I get too anxious or uncomfortable then I have that option, which is why I chose this dentist. Oh yeah, I'm also having to go to a new dentist because I moved to a new state, so that's a whole other thing that I'm nervous about. Oy, I'm just so scared that I'm going to have a million cavities and tons of plaque that's going to take forever and be painful to clean off. I'm dreading it...

Hi,
Welcome, I feel your pain too. I am terrified of the dentist however a few weeks ago now I was in so much pain. I rang a new dentist and I got in straight away within the hour. It was actually better that I didn't have time to think about it. Anyway I went in got a X-ray and then I had to get it out. I was glad I could get it out their and then as at least I didn't have to think about it. It was my first one ever to get removed. Honestly it's not as bad as you think. I had to go back for fillings even though I am terrified it's over now.

You will be glad you did it.

I hope it all goes well for you.

 

[Snowy]

I sympathise with you and know exactly how you feel. I agree, that you should go to your GP and ask him for something to help you with the anticipatory anxiety. My GP prescribed Xanax which I took the night before my appointment and then an hour before my appointment. This does not make you sleepy but takes away the anxiety and gives you a I don't care feeling. A week ago I had an extraction and was lucky that my Dentist asked me to go straight to see him as I was in pain, so actually had no time to take tablets and was absolutely fine. As we all know, it is the thinking beforehand rather than the actual doing. Your dentist is there to help you and he is after all, a human being just like the rest of us. I suffer with panic attacks, but when you are actually having treatment, time passes and it is never ever as bad as you thought. However, I do know the anticipatory anxiety is the worse thing, and it may be that you need to see if you can have another sort of sedation or GA?
dont give up on your quest to be dentally fit, and I do hope you can find a way forward.

 

[sooooooscared]

I'm 21 years old and I haven't been to the dentist since I was 18 because I moved out of the house so now my parents couldn't force me to go anymore. I have always had an extreme fear of the dentist, but over the years I have developed extreme anxiety and the thought of going to the dentist sends me into a panic. Well, I just booked my first checkup appointment in 3 years and I'm already a nervous wreck and thinking about just calling them back and canceling it. It's not for another 3 weeks so I have some time to think about it. I just know that the longer I wait, the more painful it's going to be once I do go, so I might as well get it over with now. I chose a dentist that specializes in sedation therapy so I know if I get too anxious or uncomfortable then I have that option, which is why I chose this dentist. Oh yeah, I'm also having to go to a new dentist because I moved to a new state, so that's a whole other thing that I'm nervous about. Oy, I'm just so scared that I'm going to have a million cavities and tons of plaque that's going to take forever and be painful to clean off. I'm dreading it...

Believe me, the wait and the thinking about it is far worse than the reality.
I've just driven myself mad for 3 weeks while waiting to have a broken wisdom tooth removed - now it's over, I'm laughing and actually looking forward to my next appointment
The main trick is to find a dentist you FULLY trust and feel comfortable with - after that it's easy.
I wish you well - you too will soon feel as good as I do

 

[gamergirl123]

Trust me. Don't put it off! I avoided the dentist for roughly 17 years due to severe dental phobia and finally went in last year. Instead of going in back when the problems would of been tiny, I put it off for longer and longer. End result? I am now a 26 year old with upper and lower partials that I can barely tolerate wearing once a week and if I wear it more then that, its that I need the lower to help provide pain relief from a filling that's causing issues from time to time. I have days I'm haunted so bad by by memories of the work and the mistakes I've made, that I can barely function. Recently fought off a bad day episode for well over 2 weeks just to be back to fighting off things again today.

I'm trapped between the line of wanting to go back to a dental phob where at least I was HAPPY and the line of trying to go in for Cleaning so I don't get screwed worse then I am.