Mega scared! Need support

[pi-ko]

First of all hi everyone.
I am so scared of the dentist that even thought of it makes me tremble of fear. But I really have to see a dentist or my teeth are going to rot completely.
I think I need at least 10 of my teeth getting fixed. I have two broken teeth. The upper first broke up vertically in a half and the other one broke on the side and I don't know how broken teeth are being repaired. Also I have a lot of cavity on almost every of my teeth. I am really scared of feeling of the drill drilling through my teeth. The truth is I wasn't really scared of the dentist like 3-4 years ago. But 2 years ago I had an infection and I had to do a root canal. The dentist said that I cannot be given anesthesia since I have an infection so I had to do root canal without anesthesia. Actually, the root canal treatment wasn't painful but after the treatment the dentist started to cut my gum above the tooth so the yellow liquid (I don't know the name for it) can get out. That was the probably strongest pain I've ever felt, I was screaming out of pain and it was done to me in 2 treatments. After that I really started being terrified of a dentist and I cannot get my self to see one. I don't know what to do :/

 

[chickenjen]

Hi and !!
I think that is a bunch of bullsh$t about not being able to have anesthetic while having an infection.
I had an impacted, infected wisdom tooth pulled WITH Novacaine when I was 22 years old. It seemed like I needed a little more Novacaine than usual (maybe the infection DOES have some effect on the Novacaine), but the dentist was able to get the tooth out with a minimum of discomfort.
I just think you had a bad dentist.
There are good ones out there, you just need to start looking.
Ask family or friends about their dentists. Or Google "gentle dentists" in your area and some suggestions should pop up.
Take care,
's,
Jen

 

[sparrow13501]

I agree with Jen. My dentist gave me strong antibiotics prior to tomorrows - gulp - extractions. He said that if the infection was bad then the novacain would not work properly -- however doing a root canal is very painful and without the proper medication is cruel -- I would find a new dentist. hope you are well -- lots of love and my prayers

 

[brit]

I agree with Jen. My dentist gave me strong antibiotics prior to tomorrows - gulp - extractions. He said that if the infection was bad then the novacain would not work properly -- however doing a root canal is very painful and without the proper medication is cruel -- I would find a new dentist. hope you are well -- lots of love and my prayers

Happily it is not strictly true that a root canal is very painful....and ridiculous that OP was denied anaesthetic ...your phobia is entirely logical, having been treated so badly.

Whereabouts are you?, you don't sound like a native English speaker. Some countries do have different cultural ideas about pain control for various procedures.

 

[viv1969]

I too find it odd regarding LA and infection.
I had an infection some years ago that was SO painful the dentist injected novocain specifically to relieve the pain for a while (it was bliss).

 

[ZeldaLover]

Oh my lord, i feel so sorry for you having to do that without any pain relief. I'm so sorry to hear you suffered.
I myself HATE that drill, even when i was sedated i hated it, also numbing injections don't work well on me either so i understand everything you are going through. My mother has alot of dental issues too, and most of her back teeth have now broken and rotted, and shes too terrified to get it fixed herself, So i do understand you.

 

[callaphera]

I was told the same thing about my extraction, which is booked for Wednesday. They sent me home with antibiotics to take over eight days, because the infection is so bad, and told me that because of the infection being so strong, the freezing would take longer, need more, or not be as effective. If I remember right, in my pain and panic driven haze, it has something do with a pH balance in the tissue? But I was desperate for more pain killers, which were at home, so I may have misheard the last part wrong.

You can try what I did. Mine was an emergency case, and at 27, I had to take my mom with me (of course, she's paying for my appointment, so she kinda had to be there lol). I went through the Yellow Pages and called dentists from home, where I was in a safe place, and explained to them not only what was going on, but mentioning that I had an extreme phobia of dentists. The places that weren't sounding too friendly about it, I thanked them and hung up. And then I called one that told me that the phobia wasn't my fault, explained to me that I could come in and just look around at first and have a chat, right down to giving me explicit instructions on how to get there. I think it was a bit easier, for me, to do it that way, because I was at home, in a comfortable place, and was in control.

It was still scary, I won't deny that. But as everyone keeps telling me, you're in control. They're working for you, not the other way around. Best of luck to you! That first step is always the hardest, but you feel sooo much better and empowered once you get through that first bit.

 

[K-Bird]

PiKo-I am so sorry you had to go thru that...There really are good dentists out there who care about you. I had to search online for a dentist who specifically mentioned being there for the phobic patient. And that they don't believe that anyone should have a bad dental experience.

My new dentist didn't lie...she is fantastic...I hope you can find one that
will treat you the way that you the way that they would want to be treated.

Good luck!

 

[sparrow13501]

I really emphasize with the root canal story. I had a dentist years ago that i thought I had a working relationship with. He agreed to tell me ahead of each appointment what he was going to do and I would take ativan for anxiety relief according to the need. This was working good -- then wham - i go in for what I thought was just a look see to determine the next action -- he launched right into doing major surgery on my front tooth -- root canal and sliceing over the gum with a knife -- i was going through the roof -- no medication -- no warning - -- I felt so betrayed. i was really angry but could not even talk when he got done I was in so much pain --- butcher geez --

anyway --- such dentists should be strapped down and subjected to the same as far as i am concerned -- -but there are good ones out there I am sure --- i will let you know after today actually

lots of prayers for your journey -- and i hope you find gentle compassionate care always darlene

 

[pi-ko]

Okay, thanks guys, I'm going to make an appointment today so wish me luck...

 

[kathy1]

good luck.

 

[pi-ko]

Aah I still haven't managed to visit a dentist. I've caught a cold and have a strong throat ache. I hope next week I'll be able to do it! Also, (after some googleing) I have noticed that I have an operculum and I've become more scared. Is operculectomy painful?