Keep putting off appointment because I’m horrified by the whole dental visit experience.

[ScaredAf]

I’ve been putting off my dental appointment for weeks because I’m horrified by the thought of going. I’ve had past experiences where I’ve felt extreme pain, felt like I was being judged and it’s a very embarrassing experience . Not to mention the cost of what I need done is thousands of dollars even with my insurance. It’s a problem I’ve been dealing with most of my life and when I started taking medication for opiate addiction it made things a lot worse. So I don’t know how to overcome my fear of this the whole situation. I don’t want my teeth to kill me.

 

[oneby]

No easy answer but you're far from alone in these fears. Having the right dentist is hugely important here. Someone you know, like, and trust and who will be considerate and respectful. If you don't have such a dentist doing some research, reading reviews and such can help you find someone. Even then, no guarantees of course. But at some point facing the dentist just has to be done and things will be far worse if you don't. Here's hoping it works out for you.

 

[letsconnect]

Hi @ScaredAf, working up the courage to see a dentist is by no means an easy feat, especially if you've had bad experiences with them in the past.

You can find a guide to overcoming dental phobia here which may be useful:

An Easy Guide to Overcoming a Fear of the Dentist

Are you terrified of the dentist but need to go? Follow our step-by-step guide to tackling dental phobia and anxiety!

www.dentalfearcentral.org

There is also a step-by-step guide here:

Dental Fears - The Basics

If you suffer with dental phobia, it can be impossible to see a way forward. This page explains how to identify your fears and provides useful downloads.

www.dentalfearcentral.org

As @oneby has said, finding the right dentist is absolutely paramount, and the information above does give a lot of tips on how to go about finding someone who treats you with care and respect. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!