Just joined here, think I have a real reaason to be afraid.....

[slkmommy43]

First off, I don't think I'm stupid, nor do I feel like I am non-caring about my health. I am diabetic and insulin dependent.

I DESPERATELY need to get to a dentist, and I am terrified....okay beyond terrified....I have a horrible phobia of spiders, and yet I'd rather have ten of them crawling on me than go into a dental office.

Here's why.......The last dental procedure I had done was a root canal in which the dentist from out of sightline said, "Oops" and "I'm sorry, the tool broke off in your tooth and I'm going to have to extract the tooth"....

That was when my oldest was in first grade....he'll be a junior in college this year.

Since then I have had not one, not two, but THREE teeth break off....I'm terrified of having to have the rest pulled and I'm terrified of sitting through procedures that may not work to save the rest of my teeth. IN short, the terrified word has just become the word of the day.

I am adamant that I overcome it - I can't keep watching every bite I take....I can't worry that I'll be out and have a piece of tooth break off in front of people......

Talk me off the ceiling?

 

[carole]

Hi to the forum.

Nobody on here would think that you are stupid or non caring about your dental hygiene. There are no stupid people on here just people with different fears and phobia's about seeing a dentist. We all come on here thinking that we are the only one and that no one understands then after a while we realise that all we get on here is comfort and support, never judged or scolded.

I understand how you feel it is terrible to be so afraid of going to the dentist and yet afraid of not going too. I have fought my fear all my life. I have had good dentists and some horrible ones too.

If you could bring yourself to have a look for dentists and maybe email a few, explain how you feel and why how you have done on here see what answers you get back and try one that you like the sound of you could either email for an appointment or phone and speak to the receptionist.

You will find that things have changed a lot since you last went. Dentists today understand that we have had previous bad experiences and feel nervous. They take things at a slow pace and do their best to help us to get treatment.

There is a find a dentist section if you click on the LINKS tab at the top of the page, or you can go onto the nhs choices website and put in your postcode also tick for it to show dentists that are accepting new patients. The first visit is like a meet and greet and if you feel up to it you can discuss your worries and let the dentist have a look with just a mirror if you don't like the probe, if you feel you can manage an x ray they can also tell what is happening under the gums too.

You only agree to what you feel you can cope with and you have to give consent for them to even have a look, they will always ask you if it is okay that they have a look. They should always explain what treatment you need and why.

Just remember YOU ARE IN CHARGE