T
tzer
Junior member
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2009
- Messages
- 1
- Location
- St. Charles, MO, USA
I, like many (apparently) have a deep fear of the dentist. I am male and 41 years old.
My story in a nutshell; My birth mother (I am adopted) apparently took tetracycline while carrying me which I'm told resulted in weak enamel. Each and every visit to the dentist as a child resulted in a new filling, sometimes multiple fillings in spite of meticulous brushing and flossing. I just couldn't win. No matter how hard I tried, cavities were inevitable so every visit meant pain from poking, scraping, injections, drilling and for me, feeling like a 'bad person' for having bad teeth. I know it's 'not my fault' - but that doesn't change the deep seated anxiety that I have for dental visits.
Although - the very best (funny to use that term here...) experience was actually having two of my wisdom teeth extracted. I was given pills before hand, nitrous during the procedure - and ultimately, the entire experience was VERY tolerable. I am sure it was due to the anti-anxiety meds and the nitrous.
About 13 years ago a molar broke when I bit into an extra crunchy bit of food - so I bit the bullet (bad pun) and went to the dentist to deal with it. That resulted in a crown - and I had to have an old crown replaced. The experience was significantly less traumatic than my childhood experiences but I was still VERY anxious and even though it was 'better', I still couldn't bring myself to go for regular visits afterward.
Even cleanings, especially having the dentist poke my teeth during regular visits, and the Novocaine injections (shudder) for more intensive procedures cause me great discomfort and anxiety both during and prior to visits. I guess my phobia has taken root and regardless of how much I know it's not 'that bad', I still opt to avoid regular visits. Hell, for me regular visits simply means needles, poking, scraping, pain and scorn...
It's been at least 13 years since my last visit. Now I've got a nagging ache in a lower, rear molar and a few other teeth are getting sensitive and I need to go. I know this - and I am taking steps to get the appointment made - my wife is super when it comes to being sympathetic and is helping me with this - but the anxiety of my situation is almost unbearable.
So I'd like to hear about how people have managed their anxiety when confronting fear of the dentist. I personally think I am going to need a pharmacological solution and would like to know what has worked for others - upsides, downsides, insides and outsides.
Thanks!
My story in a nutshell; My birth mother (I am adopted) apparently took tetracycline while carrying me which I'm told resulted in weak enamel. Each and every visit to the dentist as a child resulted in a new filling, sometimes multiple fillings in spite of meticulous brushing and flossing. I just couldn't win. No matter how hard I tried, cavities were inevitable so every visit meant pain from poking, scraping, injections, drilling and for me, feeling like a 'bad person' for having bad teeth. I know it's 'not my fault' - but that doesn't change the deep seated anxiety that I have for dental visits.
Although - the very best (funny to use that term here...) experience was actually having two of my wisdom teeth extracted. I was given pills before hand, nitrous during the procedure - and ultimately, the entire experience was VERY tolerable. I am sure it was due to the anti-anxiety meds and the nitrous.
About 13 years ago a molar broke when I bit into an extra crunchy bit of food - so I bit the bullet (bad pun) and went to the dentist to deal with it. That resulted in a crown - and I had to have an old crown replaced. The experience was significantly less traumatic than my childhood experiences but I was still VERY anxious and even though it was 'better', I still couldn't bring myself to go for regular visits afterward.
Even cleanings, especially having the dentist poke my teeth during regular visits, and the Novocaine injections (shudder) for more intensive procedures cause me great discomfort and anxiety both during and prior to visits. I guess my phobia has taken root and regardless of how much I know it's not 'that bad', I still opt to avoid regular visits. Hell, for me regular visits simply means needles, poking, scraping, pain and scorn...
It's been at least 13 years since my last visit. Now I've got a nagging ache in a lower, rear molar and a few other teeth are getting sensitive and I need to go. I know this - and I am taking steps to get the appointment made - my wife is super when it comes to being sympathetic and is helping me with this - but the anxiety of my situation is almost unbearable.
So I'd like to hear about how people have managed their anxiety when confronting fear of the dentist. I personally think I am going to need a pharmacological solution and would like to know what has worked for others - upsides, downsides, insides and outsides.
Thanks!