A
AnxiousAlice
Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2012
- Messages
- 58
- Location
- Florida USA
Hello everyone,
First of all thank you for accepting me to this forum. I have been surfing the internet for gentle dentists for several weeks. In fact it is consuming my time and draining me of energy. In my internet searching, I came upon this forum and after reading many posts from many of you who share my fear and phobia of the Dentist, it appears that this is a safe place to find support. Hopefully I will overcome my fears and be supportive as well as needy in this regard.
What is ironic is that I am in the travel business and I have soothed, supported and help countless hands of fearful fliers, fear in elevators or various other fears, and I am compassionate and understanding even though I don't share many of those other fears. In real life I am a confident person.
BUT when it comes to going to a dentist, I suddenly become a frightened six year old child.
Like several others on this forum; as a child growing up, getting dental care consisted of getting a tooth pulled out once it was absessed and causing me a great deal of pain. By by early 20's I had six teeth extracted (not more than one at any given time, one root canal and one crown. By my 30's I had four more root canals, four more crowns, and one 4 tooth fixed bridge. In my 40's I acquired a good dental insurance policy and had all of my silver amalgam fillings replaced with white bonded fillings. In my 50's I had a toothache and went to the dentist for yet another crown. From then I went 10 years without seeing a dentist.
Three years ago I decided to go to the dentist to have minor repair on my two front teeth that hap chipped. I also had a much needed cleaning. Considering that my teeth have had so much work, my gums are in reasonably good shape.
Shortly after the minor repair and cleaning, I developed an abcess on the tooth immediately to the left of the left front tooth (#10 I believe is how the Dentist referred to it). The dentist referred me out to an endodontist who has good reviews to do a root canal. I have to tell you, I have had a lot of work and since much was done before newer technology, none of it was what I would call pleasant but not overly painful either. But this root canal on this tiny next to the front tooth was the most painful experience I have ever had in my life, including bearing two children.
The endodontist was not very patient and the novacaine shot kept wearing off and he had to keep injecting. More pain, more injections. I left there with a headache, worn out from pain and anxiety and $1,000.00 less in the bank.
About two or three months after that root canal, I developed a pimple in the upper gum in the general area of the tooth. I went back to the dentist (not the endodontist which I don't care to set foot in that office again). My dentist at the time, without bothering to xray or exam said it is "probably" the canine tooth next to the root canal tooth and he could root canal that one by drilling through the crown. The tooth he thought was causing the pimple
next to the root canal tooth is the front anchor to the four tooth bridge that I had done 30 years ago. Since I could not deal with another root canal, and if that bridge gave way, I would likely not have the money to replace it at that time.
So this past three years I have been keeping everything brushed, flossed, water pix, and holistic essential oils that have kept the infection under some control. The pimple comes and goes and when I push against it it will break and release infection, then seem relieved for a while. It can get a little uncomfortable but not really painful.
So here I am three years later, and another dental problem (in addition to the pimple on the gum that comes and goes). Now since I had all first and second year molars extracted when I was in my teens, my wisdom teeth grew in and are not impacted. In fact the lower left has a crown on it. The lower right was filled a while back and that tooth is now problematic. It appears that I have a cavity on that tooth at the gum line which is fairly large and food gets in it. The water pix helps with that to a degree but I have been getting an on and off tooth ache from that tooth.
So about three weeks ago I start surfing the internet for a "gentle" dentist in my area. I watched several videos on this latest waterlase technology where there are no drills and this painless water laser dentistry seems to be the most painless way to go. The problem is that even though the TV videos say this laser is being used for everything from root canals, extraction assistance, filling of cavities and cleanings, it seems that this machine is not being used by dentists in my area for all of these procedures. I don't really understand why because I have contacted several dentists by phone and although they have this equipment they only use it for gums and minor fillings. So sadly the laser dentistry seems not to be available for me.
When calling dentists, one receptionist was very sweet and compassionate and invited me in so the Dentist could just look at the wisdom tooth and try to answer my questions and calm my fears. I was not even charged for this, so I went shaking and panicky just at the thought of walking into the office.
I will say that the dentist and his assistant were very informative and accomodating and tried to put me at ease. He did an xray on the wisdom tooth and also one on the area where the pimple comes and goes and both areas are apparently infected. The good news is that he does not this that the tooth causing the pimple is the tooth anchoring the bridge, rather a failed root canal on that nightmare root canal tooth. Options of that tooth are 1. have the root canal redone and the tooth crowned. 2. Have the tooth extracted and either an implant which is very expensive, or a cantilever bridge which would involve crowns on the two front teeth which have no current problems but both have fillings from being chipped in the past.
As for the wisdom tooth it is recommended that the size of the cavity, the position of how far back the tooth is and the infection mean it should be extracted. This would mean I would have no bottom molars on the right bottom.
So I have an appointment on Tuesday for a full exam and full digital xrays and a cleaning on a special they are having. From there I will have to deal with the dental work and the costs. No dental insurance so this will be a drain on my savings. But that is not the big stressor for me.
In surfing the internet I have read all the horror stories, pain, dry sockets, nerve damage, my memory of that bad r
root canal three years ago. So I am beyond anxious, I would call it terrified and now I'm on the brink of tears.
My biggest fears:
The sound, smell, grinding and all that has to do with a drill.
The shot, not so much the shot but the thought of all this medication going into my body, side effects etc:
The length of time with my mouth open. I have some jaw clicking which is not painful normally but causes me worry in a dentists chair.
And to top it off:
I have BPPV which stands for Benign Proxymal Positional Vertigo. Terrible dizziness and loss of equalibrium happen suddenly and is especially brought on when my head is laid back flat. (I sleep propped on two pillows). Needless to say vibration of a dental drill, laying back flat and such can cause terrible vertigo, and when I loose my sense of balance and feel like falling the auto reaction is to reach out and grab anything for stability (hopefully not while a dentist has a drill or needle in his hand). So I fear having a vertigo attack in a dentists chair.
Second of all I have long suffered from generalized anxiety and panic disorder. Not of a specific fear, rather something that feels like horrible physical symptoms including rapid heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, trembling, sweating. I fear having a panic attack in the dentists chair.
I know I will be ok through xrays and a cleaning, but once we are talking anesthesia, drilling, extractions etc: I'm a basket case.
Also worry that the extraction will break and I think of a number of scary things that just add to my anxiety.
I have actually thought of seeing a psychiatrist on how to cope with these fears because all I can seem to think about as the dentist and my fears of up coming dental work.
Also I have chronic very stuffy nose and sinus issues and afrin nasal spray helps somewhat, but I worry about not being able to breathe through my nose and all the work going on my mouth seems suffocating.
As for anesthesia, I am looking at options.
I have so many fears about anesthesia alone.
IV sedation scares the wits out of me because I know there has to be risk in being put out. I imagine not being able to wake up, or wind up with brain damage. Crazy phobia I know but a real fear to me.
Nitrous Oxide people say they get tingly and feel weird which anything that makes me feel weird makes me feel panicky. Not sure I could deal with a mask on my face either.
Although numbing is necessary the needle and the numb feeling is unnerving. Also being fully aware make a long procedure seem forever.
Oral sedation or oral anti anxiety drugs may help but not sure about doses. And the fact that I take Ambien at night for sleep not sure how other drugs will mix with that.
So meanwhile I am worrying and obsessing and just wish I did not have to deal with any oth this. But I know that an ongoing infection can be trouble as well.
Any suggestions, or any support, compassion and encouragement would be very helpful.
Thanks so much in advance for your time and any help you can offer.
Alice
First of all thank you for accepting me to this forum. I have been surfing the internet for gentle dentists for several weeks. In fact it is consuming my time and draining me of energy. In my internet searching, I came upon this forum and after reading many posts from many of you who share my fear and phobia of the Dentist, it appears that this is a safe place to find support. Hopefully I will overcome my fears and be supportive as well as needy in this regard.
What is ironic is that I am in the travel business and I have soothed, supported and help countless hands of fearful fliers, fear in elevators or various other fears, and I am compassionate and understanding even though I don't share many of those other fears. In real life I am a confident person.
BUT when it comes to going to a dentist, I suddenly become a frightened six year old child.
Like several others on this forum; as a child growing up, getting dental care consisted of getting a tooth pulled out once it was absessed and causing me a great deal of pain. By by early 20's I had six teeth extracted (not more than one at any given time, one root canal and one crown. By my 30's I had four more root canals, four more crowns, and one 4 tooth fixed bridge. In my 40's I acquired a good dental insurance policy and had all of my silver amalgam fillings replaced with white bonded fillings. In my 50's I had a toothache and went to the dentist for yet another crown. From then I went 10 years without seeing a dentist.
Three years ago I decided to go to the dentist to have minor repair on my two front teeth that hap chipped. I also had a much needed cleaning. Considering that my teeth have had so much work, my gums are in reasonably good shape.
Shortly after the minor repair and cleaning, I developed an abcess on the tooth immediately to the left of the left front tooth (#10 I believe is how the Dentist referred to it). The dentist referred me out to an endodontist who has good reviews to do a root canal. I have to tell you, I have had a lot of work and since much was done before newer technology, none of it was what I would call pleasant but not overly painful either. But this root canal on this tiny next to the front tooth was the most painful experience I have ever had in my life, including bearing two children.
The endodontist was not very patient and the novacaine shot kept wearing off and he had to keep injecting. More pain, more injections. I left there with a headache, worn out from pain and anxiety and $1,000.00 less in the bank.
About two or three months after that root canal, I developed a pimple in the upper gum in the general area of the tooth. I went back to the dentist (not the endodontist which I don't care to set foot in that office again). My dentist at the time, without bothering to xray or exam said it is "probably" the canine tooth next to the root canal tooth and he could root canal that one by drilling through the crown. The tooth he thought was causing the pimple
next to the root canal tooth is the front anchor to the four tooth bridge that I had done 30 years ago. Since I could not deal with another root canal, and if that bridge gave way, I would likely not have the money to replace it at that time.
So this past three years I have been keeping everything brushed, flossed, water pix, and holistic essential oils that have kept the infection under some control. The pimple comes and goes and when I push against it it will break and release infection, then seem relieved for a while. It can get a little uncomfortable but not really painful.
So here I am three years later, and another dental problem (in addition to the pimple on the gum that comes and goes). Now since I had all first and second year molars extracted when I was in my teens, my wisdom teeth grew in and are not impacted. In fact the lower left has a crown on it. The lower right was filled a while back and that tooth is now problematic. It appears that I have a cavity on that tooth at the gum line which is fairly large and food gets in it. The water pix helps with that to a degree but I have been getting an on and off tooth ache from that tooth.
So about three weeks ago I start surfing the internet for a "gentle" dentist in my area. I watched several videos on this latest waterlase technology where there are no drills and this painless water laser dentistry seems to be the most painless way to go. The problem is that even though the TV videos say this laser is being used for everything from root canals, extraction assistance, filling of cavities and cleanings, it seems that this machine is not being used by dentists in my area for all of these procedures. I don't really understand why because I have contacted several dentists by phone and although they have this equipment they only use it for gums and minor fillings. So sadly the laser dentistry seems not to be available for me.
When calling dentists, one receptionist was very sweet and compassionate and invited me in so the Dentist could just look at the wisdom tooth and try to answer my questions and calm my fears. I was not even charged for this, so I went shaking and panicky just at the thought of walking into the office.
I will say that the dentist and his assistant were very informative and accomodating and tried to put me at ease. He did an xray on the wisdom tooth and also one on the area where the pimple comes and goes and both areas are apparently infected. The good news is that he does not this that the tooth causing the pimple is the tooth anchoring the bridge, rather a failed root canal on that nightmare root canal tooth. Options of that tooth are 1. have the root canal redone and the tooth crowned. 2. Have the tooth extracted and either an implant which is very expensive, or a cantilever bridge which would involve crowns on the two front teeth which have no current problems but both have fillings from being chipped in the past.
As for the wisdom tooth it is recommended that the size of the cavity, the position of how far back the tooth is and the infection mean it should be extracted. This would mean I would have no bottom molars on the right bottom.
So I have an appointment on Tuesday for a full exam and full digital xrays and a cleaning on a special they are having. From there I will have to deal with the dental work and the costs. No dental insurance so this will be a drain on my savings. But that is not the big stressor for me.
In surfing the internet I have read all the horror stories, pain, dry sockets, nerve damage, my memory of that bad r
root canal three years ago. So I am beyond anxious, I would call it terrified and now I'm on the brink of tears.
My biggest fears:
The sound, smell, grinding and all that has to do with a drill.
The shot, not so much the shot but the thought of all this medication going into my body, side effects etc:
The length of time with my mouth open. I have some jaw clicking which is not painful normally but causes me worry in a dentists chair.
And to top it off:
I have BPPV which stands for Benign Proxymal Positional Vertigo. Terrible dizziness and loss of equalibrium happen suddenly and is especially brought on when my head is laid back flat. (I sleep propped on two pillows). Needless to say vibration of a dental drill, laying back flat and such can cause terrible vertigo, and when I loose my sense of balance and feel like falling the auto reaction is to reach out and grab anything for stability (hopefully not while a dentist has a drill or needle in his hand). So I fear having a vertigo attack in a dentists chair.
Second of all I have long suffered from generalized anxiety and panic disorder. Not of a specific fear, rather something that feels like horrible physical symptoms including rapid heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, trembling, sweating. I fear having a panic attack in the dentists chair.
I know I will be ok through xrays and a cleaning, but once we are talking anesthesia, drilling, extractions etc: I'm a basket case.
Also worry that the extraction will break and I think of a number of scary things that just add to my anxiety.
I have actually thought of seeing a psychiatrist on how to cope with these fears because all I can seem to think about as the dentist and my fears of up coming dental work.
Also I have chronic very stuffy nose and sinus issues and afrin nasal spray helps somewhat, but I worry about not being able to breathe through my nose and all the work going on my mouth seems suffocating.
As for anesthesia, I am looking at options.
I have so many fears about anesthesia alone.
IV sedation scares the wits out of me because I know there has to be risk in being put out. I imagine not being able to wake up, or wind up with brain damage. Crazy phobia I know but a real fear to me.
Nitrous Oxide people say they get tingly and feel weird which anything that makes me feel weird makes me feel panicky. Not sure I could deal with a mask on my face either.
Although numbing is necessary the needle and the numb feeling is unnerving. Also being fully aware make a long procedure seem forever.
Oral sedation or oral anti anxiety drugs may help but not sure about doses. And the fact that I take Ambien at night for sleep not sure how other drugs will mix with that.
So meanwhile I am worrying and obsessing and just wish I did not have to deal with any oth this. But I know that an ongoing infection can be trouble as well.
Any suggestions, or any support, compassion and encouragement would be very helpful.
Thanks so much in advance for your time and any help you can offer.
Alice
I understand how you feel. The dentist that you have seen sounds really caring and understanding. If you think you could work with this dentist I would go for the rct redoing, he must think it will be a success to suggest it. Ask what he would do and what does he advice you to do. If you decide to do the re-rct don't let them touch you unless you feel really numb, they can do these pain free. If there is infection present would you be better having some antibiotic before works starts on the tooth. I had a rct recently and there was very little drilling most of the work was done by hand which I was pleased about as I hate the drill, and everything that goes with it. 
. Alice I can only have treatment using IV sedation, i cant do it any other way. You mention being afraid of not waking up, well you are not actually 'put out' you are just very relaxed and dont really know whats happening, when its over you feel like you must have been asleep because you cant remember anything. Its the only thing that works for me. I can just about cope with examination and x-rays, but i still cry through this! Remember you are in charge, you are in control and ultimately you want to get the problem sorted. Hugs coming you way hunni 
