New here- Very nervous patient.

[Sarahwh]

Hello
Please excuse me if I ask too many questions, but I have reached a point where I really need some help. I have had a phobia of the dentist for as long as I can remember. In the past I have just cried my eyes out in the chair, simply refusing to open my mouth. It is not the needle that scares me but the drilling, the noise, the sensation, the taste...Even thinking of the dentist makes me feel physically ill, I get the shakes and just cry. (I am so glad that you will understand this, in the past dentists have been very unforgiving and judgemental.)

When I was younger I did neglect my teeth but the dentists made me feel so awful for it that I just stopped going. Now in my early twenties I am trying to take much better care of them and want to get them fixed, but I just can't see any light at the end of the 'phobia-tunnel'. I would rather sit in pain than go to the dentist. Even at 22, I need my parents to book any appointments for me as I can't even talk to the dentist on the phone. As terrible as it is I haven't been to the dentist for several years.

How have you been able to get help with being so scared?

Recently I have found out about IV sedation, I have previously tried oral sedation in the form of pills from the doctor, but I don't feel they helped me much.
I would like to know what your experiences of IV sedation have been, is it worth it? How did you feel? Can the amount of sedation be altered throughout the treatment?


Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Lucas phobic]

Hi Sarah!

As I am phobic too, I can understand your feelings. Like you, I didn't open my mouth at the dentist during my childhood... I don't like going to the dentist because I fear judgment and I don't like staying with my mouth opened during a long time with dental tools inside.

My new dentist is very nice and now I am less scared if I need to go only for a filling (but I don't like it). I went to her office for the first time in May and during about 3 months, she filled my 7 cavities (one of the teeth filled need a root canal but I hesitate to make an appointment to have this root canal. Two fillings are in wisdom teeth because I was scared to have these teeth removed). It is important to find a nice dentist who can understand our fear.

What kind of dental works do you need?

 

[Sarahwh]

Hi Sarah!

As I am phobic too, I can understand your feelings. Like you, I didn't open my mouth at the dentist during my childhood... I don't like going to the dentist because I fear judgment and I don't like staying with my mouth opened during a long time with dental tools inside.

My new dentist is very nice and now I am less scared if I need to go only for a filling (but I don't like it). I went to her office for the first time in May and during about 3 months, she filled my 7 cavities (one of the teeth filled need a root canal but I hesitate to make an appointment to have this root canal. Two fillings are in wisdom teeth because I was scared to have these teeth removed). It is important to find a nice dentist who can understand our fear.

What kind of dental works do you need?

Thank you for replying, it is nice when people understand how you feel. As far as I am aware I need a few fillings, possibly my wisdom teeth extracted. (I am terrified of how I will react if I need more work than this.) I just feel so ashamed and embarrassed about the whole thing.

 

[Lucas phobic]

You are welcome.

Your teeth seem to be not so damaged. Are they? When was your last appointment at the dentist? Have you ever had fillings or other dental works?

 

[Dr. Daniel]

Hi Sarahwh,

Welcome to this wonderful forum. I myself a dentist who treats phobic patients. There are dentists who are not suitable for treating phobic patients and some are. The trick (and challenge) is to find the right dentist. You can find some very useful tips in this website on how to find such a dentist as well as references.
I am not a big fan of sedation (neither oral nor IV) because they don't help with the anxiety itself. Sedation can be an option in extreme cases as a last resort. Lucas phobic's story is a wonderful example how having a loving tender dentist has helped him with the dental anxiety. There is no alternative to human relationship. No drug can do better than that.

If you read the posts in this forum you will find how people have managed to overcome the anxiety and get the dental treatment they deserve. These posts will give you inspiration, hope and practical tips.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask

 

[Mugz]

Hi and Welcome Sarah!

I am so sorry as I know how upset you are and how very stressful all of "this" is. In fact, your post is incredibly similar to my first one when I found this site a few months ago. As I have yet to conquer my fear I don't have the answers you are hoping for but I can share with you the wonderful words of comfort and encouragement others have offered me when I was feeling very alone and scared on my Lions, Tigers and Dentists thread. It has gotten very long over the last few months but if you start at the very beginning you will see what I mean. I hope you find something there that you can cling to on your dental journey.

As for the questions you had regarding medicine, I have been given oral sedation pills for all of my appointments and I have to say they don't do anything for me. I am never "sedated", "sleepy", "tired" or anything that remotely resembles relaxed. I was given IV sedation for my wisdom teeth removal quite a while ago and remember that they injected the medicine and waited for it to work, staring at me the whole time. It didn't do anything. A very panicked me said, "what is wrong, why are you staring at me, shouldn't I be asleep" and got even more worked up than I already was. They said it was okay, not to worry, and gave me another dose of medicine and I was out very quickly but for a VERY short amount of time but I only had two impacted teeth removed. I remember hearing someone crying in the distance - it was me (from fear not pain) and I opened my eyes and started pulling gauze out of my mouth and refused to have any inside at all. You remember random bits and pieces...but feel NO PAIN AT ALL which is the important part. After it was over the surgeon told me I needed "premedication" before any appointments "with valium or something" and had he been more aware of the extent of my fear he'd have been better prepared and done that for this appointment which would have helped with the first dose of IV medicine. Yes, they can adjust the dose and alter it during your treatment too from what I have read. Dr. Kimsey (posts as comfortdentist) offers good information in that department.

Hope this is of some help to you.

 

[gamergirl123]

Hello
Please excuse me if I ask too many questions, but I have reached a point where I really need some help. I have had a phobia of the dentist for as long as I can remember. In the past I have just cried my eyes out in the chair, simply refusing to open my mouth. It is not the needle that scares me but the drilling, the noise, the sensation, the taste...Even thinking of the dentist makes me feel physically ill, I get the shakes and just cry. (I am so glad that you will understand this, in the past dentists have been very unforgiving and judgemental.)

When I was younger I did neglect my teeth but the dentists made me feel so awful for it that I just stopped going. Now in my early twenties I am trying to take much better care of them and want to get them fixed, but I just can't see any light at the end of the 'phobia-tunnel'. I would rather sit in pain than go to the dentist. Even at 22, I need my parents to book any appointments for me as I can't even talk to the dentist on the phone. As terrible as it is I haven't been to the dentist for several years.

How have you been able to get help with being so scared?

Recently I have found out about IV sedation, I have previously tried oral sedation in the form of pills from the doctor, but I don't feel they helped me much.
I would like to know what your experiences of IV sedation have been, is it worth it? How did you feel? Can the amount of sedation be altered throughout the treatment?


Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Honestly I was never really able to do anything about the phobia b4 being dragged into the full out journey. I told mom I just wanted to go in for the INITIAL visit and see from there. Dentist uses the p.d. scare tatic and next thing I know I'm being forced into a deep cleaning, extractions, and 2 fillings. Am currently sitting on partials that are giving me problems, I'm refusimg to go back in for adjustments, and its something like 41 days till the 6 month cleaning and I just don't know if I'll be going. I'm standing at about a 1% chance on a good day.

I recommend you trying to find a dentist who's willing to take things at a slow pace with you and I recommend you reading up on common dental phobias and how to ease them so you can max your chances of a much better outcome then mine. looking back on what I've been through, I can DEFINITELY see where if I would of persued a dentist specializing in dentist phobic people, I could be in a much better position. As far as sounds such as the drill, I recommend something like a personal music player.

 

[Sarahwh]

Hi and Welcome Sarah!

I am so sorry as I know how upset you are and how very stressful all of "this" is. In fact, your post is incredibly similar to my first one when I found this site a few months ago. As I have yet to conquer my fear I don't have the answers you are hoping for but I can share with you the wonderful words of comfort and encouragement others have offered me when I was feeling very alone and scared on my Lions, Tigers and Dentists thread. It has gotten very long over the last few months but if you start at the very beginning you will see what I mean. I hope you find something there that you can cling to on your dental journey.

As for the questions you had regarding medicine, I have been given oral sedation pills for all of my appointments and I have to say they don't do anything for me. I am never "sedated", "sleepy", "tired" or anything that remotely resembles relaxed. I was given IV sedation for my wisdom teeth removal quite a while ago and remember that they injected the medicine and waited for it to work, staring at me the whole time. It didn't do anything. A very panicked me said, "what is wrong, why are you staring at me, shouldn't I be asleep" and got even more worked up than I already was. They said it was okay, not to worry, and gave me another dose of medicine and I was out very quickly but for a VERY short amount of time but I only had two impacted teeth removed. I remember hearing someone crying in the distance - it was me (from fear not pain) and I opened my eyes and started pulling gauze out of my mouth and refused to have any inside at all. You remember random bits and pieces...but feel NO PAIN AT ALL which is the important part. After it was over the surgeon told me I needed "premedication" before any appointments "with valium or something" and had he been more aware of the extent of my fear he'd have been better prepared and done that for this appointment which would have helped with the first dose of IV medicine. Yes, they can adjust the dose and alter it during your treatment too from what I have read. Dr. Kimsey (posts as comfortdentist) offers good information in that department.

Hope this is of some help to you.

Thank you for your comment. It is nice to be in an environment where people know exactly how you are feeling, your thread is certainly something I will take a look at! I know what you mean about oral sedation, I have also tried a couple of different types and didn't feel "more relaxed" at all. I know I need to get sorted but getting over the initial 'hump' is proving difficult.

Thanks again,
Sarah

 

[Sarahwh]

You are welcome.

Your teeth seem to be not so damaged. Are they? When was your last appointment at the dentist? Have you ever had fillings or other dental works?

I think they are in quite bad condition, I predict I will need at least 5 fillings. I have had fillings, a couple when I was younger and can remember how awful the experience was. I last went to the dentist several years ago and just cried in the chair. I just don't know how to conquer these fears.

 

[Lucas phobic]

Hi!

Sorry for my late reply.

Indeed, it is difficult to overcome dental fears. Now, I am less scared before going to the dentist but it is always difficult to go to the dentist.

I have had bad experciences with my fillings when I was younger too (I am 28 now. How old are you?). My old dentist filled my cavities without numbing my mouth and it was painful when he scratched inside cavities with his dental probe or dental scaler and when he cleaned my cavities with the drill. About ten years later, I can remember that the drill was sometimes very painful during few seconds, probably when the drill removed deep parts of the teeth. My new dentist gave me shots before to drill my teeth (except for tiny cavities) and it was almost not painful. It is just always very odd and worrying to see small tooth dust going out the mouth. The noise of the drill is shrill but it is not the worst at the dentist and I don't like having ipod when I am in the chair.

 

[Sarahwh]

Hello,


I'm 22 and have had a few fillings in the past, each was just as bad as I remembered the previous one.


I think a big part of the problem was that the actual dentist couldn't really handle my level of fear. I've reached a point where I desperately want/need to get my teeth fixed but the phobia is completely taking over.

 

[Lucas phobic]

I think it is possible to have a filling without pain (or almost a small pain during few seconds). It was the case for my last fillings with my new dentist. Of course, I was nervous and it was unpleasant but not really painful.

 

[Mugz]

Hi Sarah,

I just had two dentists refer me to a "special needs" dentist as they couldn't handle my level of fear either. When the oral sedation pills didn't work they were done.

Now the doctor they referred me to sees me as a "challenge" which doesn't seem quite fair (or feel very good).

I hope you find someone willing to work with you.

Hang in there.

 

[Spike 1969]

Hi Sarah

I think the key is to find a dentist you can build some rapport and trust with over a period of time (at your own pace). The first thing I would do is to search locally and if you feel able to ask friends for recommendations. it's then a matter of "interviewing" the likely candidate to see if they will be good to work with you.

Its also good to remember that you are the customer (in the nice sense of the word).

Hope this is helpful, please keep us posted as to how you are getting on.

Kind Regards

 

[Yabalka]

Hello,


I'm 22 and have had a few fillings in the past, each was just as bad as I remembered the previous one.


I think a big part of the problem was that the actual dentist couldn't really handle my level of fear. I've reached a point where I desperately want/need to get my teeth fixed but the phobia is completely taking over.

Hey Sarahwh,

I don't know which part of the world you are living in but these days, although not pleasant, dental experience is pain free totally. I am sure you've been told this before but not going to the dentist is going to cause future pain and terrible cosmetic and possibly psychological issues because of inability to smile one day of embarrassment of your own teeth, that any discomfort now is going to feel like a "kids play" compared to what may happen in the future if you don't take your own health in your own hands now. If you have a time machine you may figure it out without me sounding condescending.
But girl, it's going to be ok. Find the dentist that makes you feel at ease and explain your fears prior to any work done. Go ahead if you feel ok with the person that is deciding the future of your own teeth. If not, look for another one until you trust someone. And even then, look for a skilful dentist, not just a nice dentist. At your age you want to stabilise your teeth with the right dentist that has the ability to help you do that, not just be nice and drag you over to them for eternity.

Dental fears happen to all of us, to me, everyone of my friends and family, it's just normal amongst us humans. Unless the reason is something one can not share publicly, it's mostly because of embarrassment when we let our teeth unattended for years and years, plus prior bad experience which most of us old folks had because years ago dentistry was cruel, but not now, no comparison whatsoever.