Phobia worsening - support welcome

[Featherblade2007]

Hello folks. I’ve posted here a couple of times before and have received helpful responses. I’m currently suffering from depression and anxiety, sparked by a never ending dental ‘journey.’ I’ve been seen by a tonne of different specialists, the latest an endontist who began confidently yet admitted today that she wouldn’t be able to resolve an infection in my tooth. This is after 3 appointments over 3 months. The practice is refunding me but I feel weirdly abandoned and let down, particularly as one of my big fears is being left worse off after treatment. On a practical level I know what I need to do- begin the hunt for an endontist to take over and begin the laborious process of sending over notes and X-rays, attending consultations and explaining my history again. However, on an emotional level, I feel tearful and drained, like I have been hit by a truck. My notes are now littered with the opinion of around 10 dentists because I am often bounced from one to another. I’m sure it looks to an outsider like I enjoy shopping around but the opposite is true - I hate that I don’t have any one dentist responsible for my care. I won’t be able to find that either as I need endontist and periodontist treatment and these specialisms tend not to liaise, except through me via endless assessments and reassessments…. Urgh. Anyway I just wondered if anyone’s mental health is going downhill the more contact they have with dentists? I feel like I’m a shadow of my former self and each encounter makes things worse. No dentist seems to understand this either. I feel like there’s a lot of emphasis on making treatment less traumatic (which is great) but much less thought given to phobia based on lack of trust/fear of long term harm. Can anyone relate? Thanks for listening

 

[Natzuk]

@Featherblade2007 hi .
I am the same regarding teeth and mental health , . I’m 40 now and have quite a few missing teeth mostly at the back and sides . I hate myself and my mouth so much I’ve never smiled , and I know that when guys meet me they are definitely out off because of my teeth which makes me sad because I know I’ll never be able too have good teeth as am not working and struggle with my mental health and life .
I’m autistic and also have difficulty with dentists as I feel like they think am
Silly because I cry when they go near my mouth or want to give me a filling I literally shake .
I’ve had dentist tell me how bad my teeth are which is devastating as I know !
I floss use an electric toothbrush brush and stopped drinking and smoking years ago which I know hasn’t helped at all .

I’ve often thought off doing a go fund me but I don’t have many friends/ family, I’ve been tempted too gamble .

It would be a dream too have good teeth.

I’m hopefully going to be joining a NHS practice tomorrow so I hope they will do partial dentures for me at least .
That’s when they take me on as the waiting list is extremely long .

I don’t think Im pretty at all but when guys say I am I know that would/will scan he when they see my teeth.

I sometimes cry because of it . Im devastated.

Im due too have two bad infected teeth out on the 23rd and detained roots under general anaesthetic so that’s more teeth gone .

I suffer a lot with how I look and don’t think I’ll ever be able too fix my teeth actually makes me feel more useless than I do .

I hope you manage too find some success with a dentist. Your always welcome too message me