• Dental Phobia Support

    Welcome! This is an online support group for anyone who is has a severe fear of the dentist or dental treatment. Please note that this is NOT a general dental problems or health anxiety forum! You can find a list of them here.

    Register now to access all the features of the forum.

Please complete the survey!!

Name: Alex
Age: 13
Location:

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear.

5 I don't hate the dentist just dislike it.

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? Hate the smell
Noise? Hate the noise
Other: Hate having something poking around my mouth

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......
None Thankfully:jump::jump::jump::jump:

4) How often do you visit your dentist?
Every 6 months or so

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist?
No I wouldn't dream of it

6) Why would you book a dental appointment?
Just to make shure I my teeth are in good condition

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation
b) general anaesthetic- no
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air)- no
d) Hypnosis- no
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc)- yes heavy music
other....

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition?
Yes
 
Name:
Age: 29

Location: UK

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear. 7-8 (after 2 years regular treatment)

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? _____________________ Yes.
Noise?____________________Yes.
Other: Pain, fear of pain and/or the unknown, needles, lack of control, dislike lying down/feeling vunerable, fear that the dentist will laugh or be impatient with me, the waiting room experience – hearing other patients discussing their treatment or actually having treatment, feeling jumpy every time a nurse comes out to call someone’s name…


3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate:

Yes – as a child I witnessed my mother having a filling without anaesthetic, which appeared to be a painful and disturbing process. Not long after I ended up being witness to a friend having a tooth extracted and was scared by the perceived violence, pain and blood involved, the dentist on this occasion used the event to lecture me and scare me into taking care of my teeth. More recently I have had a dentist refuse to stop working on my teeth when I started to panic and cry – even though I had first used the pre-organised signal or raising my hand and ended up screaming in the chair for him to stop. On this occasion I became panicked and could not breathe properly.

4) How often do you visit your dentist? Nowadays I go every 6 months without fail (this is down to finding a very good, patient and sympathetic dentist)

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist? Yes – until 3 years ago, I had not visited a dentist for 12 years.

6) Why would you book a dental appointment? Outwith routine check-ups, only if extreme pain or visible damage to teeth.


7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation NO
b) general anaesthetic Yes
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) No
d) Hypnosis NO
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc) No
other. Breathing/relaxation exercises.

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition? Yes and should be recognised as such.

 
Name: LeBeau
Age:40
Location: Montana

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear.

8 to 9

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? _____________________
Noise?____________________
Other:Everything associated with the dentist's office causes me anxiety

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......
When I was about 8 or 9, I needed a filling and the dentist did not stop working when I told him I could feel the drill- he just kept going and told me to stop being a baby..... years later, while getting x-rays done, the assistant bullied me about biting down and would not let me tell her that the frame around the film was digging into the roof of my mouth and the gums of my lower teeth- there was bleeding for nearly a week from the roof of my mouth and a sore spot on the gum for even longer. Not sure why I didn't just spit the damn thing out.


4) How often do you visit your dentist?
Until recently, it was only when pain overrode my fear- every 3 or 4 years... Now that I have decent insurance and have found an office that deals kindly with my fears, I'm undoing the damage of 25 years of neglect and going about once a month.

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist?
yes

6) Why would you book a dental appointment?
See answer to #4

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation
b) general anaesthetic
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air)
d) Hypnosis
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc)
other....

All of the above, plus visualization, breathing excercises and mauling my little Tigger doll when my anxiety peaks.

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition?

Yes- I'm an intelligent, well educated, full grown woman who knows that dental care is an important part of overall health care but would sooner neglect my mouth than face my fear? Yeah, I call that serious.... The work I'm now having done involves a lot of talking to myself and scheduling appointments around my husband's calender because no power on earth could make me drive myself to a dentist's office.
 
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Name: LittleS
Age: 44
Location: UK

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear.
6-7. Down from about an 8.

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? _____________________ Yes, as most dentists smell the same and I associate that smell with bad feelings.
Noise?____________________ Doesn't bother me/don't notice any noise.
Other: __________________ I know it's likely I'll be in a situation where I'm out of total control.

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......
I once had a matrix band left on a filling which was being worked on while the dentist answered the phone. It was too long for me to wait and I panicked.

Having an impression for a crown made me gag and panic so much I almost fainted.

I also had a bad experience having a filling in which I panicked so much I bit the dentist at one stage - a bad experience for her as well!

4) How often do you visit your dentist?
I have six monthly checkups and hygienist appointments. But it's rare for me to go the whole six months without needing to go again. In the past three months I've been five times and am back in a fortnight!

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist?
No. However, I have had two or three extractions because I find them easier than crowns.

6) Why would you book a dental appointment?
Regular check-ups or treatment needed such as a filling falling out or crown coming off (this only happened once) or an infection.

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation
b) general anaesthetic
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air)
d) Hypnosis
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc)
other....
I had hypnotherapy for my dental phobia. The hypnotherapy sessions (I think I had four) were pleasant experiences, but they didn't really make any significant difference.

I've tried listing things in my head like my favourite football players; lifting my legs in the air; breathing through my nose - various distraction techniques.

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition?
Yes - although my personal phobia is not that serious. It's often on my mind when I've got an upcoming appointment, but outside of that it doesn't dominate my life. But I understand how it can do.
 
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Name: Rich
Age: 51
Location: Chico, CA

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear.
1

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell?
No
Noise? No
Other: Cost

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......Had a dentist when I was young that was a substance abuser. Very abusive and low tolerance. Frequently repaired broken equipment during visit. Believed in restraint and proceeding despite pain.

4) How often do you visit your dentist? 3 times per month. I work in the office.

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist?
Yes, for years until adulthood.

6) Why would you book a dental appointment? Checkup

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation No
b) general anaesthetic No
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) No
d) Hypnosis: Yes, I use it on myself and patients
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc) yes
other....


8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition? Yes. It is very debilitating and under-treated.


Please contact me. I would like to talk with you about working with dental anxiety/phobia. I work with my dentist addressing these issues. Thanks for designing this survey, it was great.
 
Name:
Age: 30
Location: Australia

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear.

Currently about a 4 - until a few months ago about an 8.

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? __No___________________
Noise?____No________________
Other: __Perceived potential for pain, fear of being told something is terribly wrong that can't be fixed________________

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate...... No

4) How often do you visit your dentist? Until recently - hadn't been for over 10 years. My next cleaning/check-up is scheduled for four months from my previous one and I have every intention of keeping the appointment.

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist? Yes, definitely.

6) Why would you book a dental appointment? Previously - only because my partner convinced me how important it was after trying for about two years, and then had to ring up and make the appointment for me. I have recently made appointments as I have been in pain after treatment, but I did put off making those appointments longer than I should have, even though my fear is much less and I like and trust my dentist.

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation - no
b) general anaesthetic - no
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) - yes
d) Hypnosis - no
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc) - no
other....

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition? Yes
 
Hello, I am a student completing a research project and my chosen topic is dental phobia. I would like to accumulate a broad range of opinions and thoughts about the dentist, so please complete the survey below. Many thanks for your time!

Name: Graham Dee
Age: 47
Location: Hampshire, England

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear.

Depends on what I'm having done. Checkups - 2, Fillings - 4, Extractions - 11!

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? Yes
Noise? Yes
Other: Fear of pain and the dentist saying "Looks like its going to have to come out..."

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......

When I was small, being shouted at by dentist, being held down and gassed and having fillings without LA. Being humiliated by receptionist about my teeth in front of parents & room full of other patients.

4) How often do you visit your dentist?

As required for checkups etc.

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist?

Yes. I went without any treatment for years due to point 3.

6) Why would you book a dental appointment?

To prevent any more extractions!!

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation No - but I am due for this.
b) general anaesthetic No - but this would be my preferred choice.
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) No - But I would love to try this if offered
d) Hypnosis No. Sceptical it would work
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc) No
other....

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition?

Yes. It can ruin a persons life. But these type of phobias (IMO) are rooted in bad abusive dental treatment. In my case, extractions.

Many thanks for taking the time to complete the survey!:)
 
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Name: April
Age: 45
Location: Dubai UAE (UK until 15 years ago)

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear.
Until 8 months ago 10
Now about a 4 and thankfully decreasing

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? Yes
Noise? Yes
Other: Just about everything

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......
Being held down for gas and for treatment. Being told that I would loose part of the roof of my mouth due to severe over crowding

4) How often do you visit your dentist?
Didn't visit for 31 years but since Last July have been going weekly/monthly because of treatment

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist?
Oh yes!

6) Why would you book a dental appointment?
Only when I could stand the pain no more

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation No
b) general anaesthetic Yes - fabulous!
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) No (goes back to that big black smelly rubber mask over my face)
d) Hypnosis Yes
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc) Yes
other....

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition?
Definately, it has ruled my life for ever, I couldn't even watch toothpaste adverts on the TV. It was the last thing on my mind before I went to sleep, the first thing I thought about when I woke up, everytime I ate or drank anything I would think about my teeth, never have a photo taken, try not to smile without a hand in front of my mouth. Never being able to take my children to the dentist or comfort them when they had been - not that they had a problem with it at all (I usually made sure I was out when my husband brought them back because I could smell the dentist on them). If I ever lost a filing or a bit of a tooth blind panic would set in and I would faint, even is it was a bit of crunchy food that I didn't expect I would faint thinking it was a bit of tooth.
Now I am getting better the relief is simply amazing ;D
 
Name: Ryan Williams
Age: 28
Location: Plymouth

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear. 4

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?

going to the dentish full stop, i hate it, had the needle for the first time yesterday and didnt feel a thing but today im suffering

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......- nope no bad experience

4) How often do you visit your dentist?

Every 6 Months

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist?

Nope

6) Why would you book a dental appointment?

For Regular check ups or if im in pain with my teeth

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation - no
b) general anaesthetic - yes
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) - no
d) Hypnosis - no
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc)
other.... - no

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition? - nope
 
Name: k.man.
Age: 20
Location: NH

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear. 10

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?

everything.

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......-

yeah, bad experience when i was a kid.

4) How often do you visit your dentist?

i don't. i haven't in 4 years.

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist?

yup

6) Why would you book a dental appointment?

well i booked one for this month so i can start the journey to getting my teeth fixed and getting over my fear!

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation - i dont know what that is
b) general anaesthetic - idk
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) - i think so
d) Hypnosis - no
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc)
other.... nope

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition? -

absolutely. its something that has completely taken over my life, and i think about it everyday...
 
Name: Jayne
Age: 40
Location: Derby UK

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear. 5 ordinarily, but 9 or 10 if having a procedure

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Everything, but the anticipation of treatment is a killer for me.


3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......

I had a procedure 14 years ago where I was anaesthetized several times but could still feel the dentist digging out the nerve!

4) How often do you visit your dentist? Every 6 months

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist? Yes

6) Why would you book a dental appointment? Routine check up/intense pain

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation No
b) general anaesthetic No
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) No
d) Hypnosis No
e) Distraction techniques (music, pictures etc) No
other....

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition?

It is debilitating and confidence crushing.
 
Name: Anya
Age: 35
Location: UK

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear. 7 normally (used to be worse but a kind dentist helped with that) - 9 for procedure.

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Mostly the worrying beforehand. Hate injections. Hate the feeling of being out of control and unable to run.

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......

Yes, not as bad as some but had painful braces as a child which included having something spilt on my lip which burned and blistered - the dentist laughed and told me that would teach me to keep still. Most of my fear comes from seeing the terrible treatments my mum had at the dentist including one procedure which caused her to vomit blood (I was about 4 or 5 at the time).

4) How often do you visit your dentist? Every 6 months

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist? Yes

6) Why would you book a dental appointment? Routine check up/intense pain

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation No
b) general anaesthetic Yes
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) Yes (brilliant!!!)
d) Hypnosis No
e) Distraction techniques (music, pictures etc) Yes - ipod
other....

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition?

Absolutely. It can reduce me to tears and I am normally a strong person.
 
Name: Emma
Age:25
Location: Notts England

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear. 5 now before 10

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? ___yes usually my dentists doesnt smell now though
Noise?_____yes_______________
Other: Fear of pain, drill, being told off, feeling trapped, outnumbered by dentist and assistant, fear of suction tube choking me, fear of procedure going wrong i could continue !!!!

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......
As a child I had a horrible dentist with black teeth he never spoke to children except to yell at them for having bad teeth he rarely used la and pain was always a possibility with him then he did a filling a big one using la that didnt work and i ended up in agony crying but the nurse held me in the chair and he said it was my imagination i never returned to him more recently a bad sedation experience again was in agony .

4) How often do you visit your dentist? now every 3 months before not for 10 yrs

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist?
yes for 10 yrs

6) Why would you book a dental appointment?
before finding my nice dentist nothing other than extreme pain would make me book an appointment now its to keep my newly repaired teeth healthy !!!

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation yes horrible
b) general anaesthetic no
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) no
d) Hypnosis no
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc)
other.... other than my dentists jokes no !!

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition? yes most definately it should be recognized by all dentists and healthcare professionals without the right help more people will suffer from it
 
Name: Prefer not to say
Age: 17 almost 18!
Location: UK

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear.

9

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? Didnt notice a smell on my most recent visit but yes i used to hate the smell! and it used to make me panic.
Noise? Maybe of drill dont know im get to try having a filling.
Other: Feeling out of control, fear of pain.

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......

Yes when I was about 5 I had 8 baby teeth out and was put to sleep with a mask and gas ever since I have been terrified of the dentist.

4) How often do you visit your dentist?

Last week I had my 1st appointment in 7 years

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist?

Yes

6) Why would you book a dental appointment?

I decided to book an appointment cause I want to get my dental health back on track before it gets any worse


7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation Not yet but its likely I will
b) general anaesthetic No
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) Yes and I hated it so much
d) Hypnosis no
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc) No but I plan to use my Ipod when i go for my filling
other....

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition?

Yes because even thought I havnt been able to eact comfortable for a number of years I still didnt go to the dentist and also I have lost confidence when smiling.
 
Name: Clem
Age: 57
Location: Nebraska, USA

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear. 1 for cleanings (unless I get Rock-Hammer Mary, then 8), 9-10 for anything else, 11 if it involves that ghastly huge needle

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? a little
Noise? Hate the drill noises, the slurpy spit sucker device that never really works
Other: Seeing the needle, sitting in the chair, having other people's hands in my mouth, feeling trapped, having local anesthesia, feeling claustrophobic because of people close to me on each side, having local anesthesia, chirpy overly-cutsey assistants.

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......As a kid, went to a jerk who insulted and humiliated my sister and me when Mom was out of the room.

4) How often do you visit your dentist? twice a year

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist? Yes, during college years. Had impacted wisdom teeth and got a dry socket after the first one was hammered/chiseled out, so went out of my way to avoid them for years after that.

6) Why would you book a dental appointment? preventive care, broken tooth, toothache

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation Yes, for final wisdom tooth, wonderful experience--you wake up and it's done. No mental trauma, you heal faster, no gory memories to haunt you later.
b) general anaesthetic No
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) Yes, once. Wonderful. Too bad my regular dentist doesn't use it!
d) Hypnosis: No, absolutely don't trust that it would work from beginning to end.
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc) No, I get too freaked out to be distracted.
other.... Valium, Xanax

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition? In many ways I consider fear of the dentist to be a perfectly normal reaction to a stressful situation. The chair, the tools, the tight/claustrophobic positioning, the feet in the air/turtle position--all of it is stressful and scary.
 
Name: Michelle
Age:19
Location:illinois
1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear. 7
2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? a little
Noise? the drill is scary
Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......no
4) How often do you visit your dentist? once a year
5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist? no
6) Why would you book a dental appointment?toothache
7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation no
b) general anaesthetic No
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) no
d) Hypnosis: No
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc) No
other....

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition?no
 
Name: Louise
Age: 17
Location: North Lincolnshire, England

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear. - 7

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? Not so much..
Noise? Most definatley!
Other: ...

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? No

4) How often do you visit your dentist? Regulary

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist? No, although at times i would like to have..

6) Why would you book a dental appointment? Checkup, tooth ache, Abscess... etc

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.
a) Intravenous sedation - Nope
b) general anaesthetic - Yes
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) - Yes
d) Hypnosis - Nope
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc) - Yes
other....

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition?
- Yes! I don't think people realise how scared you can truely be! its a phobia which has the potential (and does!!) ruin your life!
 
Name: Anonymous
Age: 38
Location: Arizona

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear.

6

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? N/A
Noise? Low RPM handpeice use, caries scraping
Other: Dislike that many in our profession are more interested in being a business as opposed to a practice. Lack of attention when administering and ensuring proper anasthetic delivery, assembly line proliferation.

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate.

1997, I was given a filling without proper cooling while the dentist was drilling at high speed. Caused thermal trauma to pulp chamber and intense pain. I eventually lost the tooth due to this and it was the start of my dental phobia.

2002, while under IV sedation I had teeth 6,7,8,9, and 10 teeth extracted. Sedation failed and OMS did not apply local, opting instead to go streight to work on these complex extractions.

2009, Went to a dentist on the recomendation of another dentist. Worst mistake of my life as appearently he slept through the part of school where they tell you it is important to keep the tooth cool and your handpeice burs cool to avoid trauma to teeth and make your work easier. As a result of his poor work his license was revoked by the BoA, but the damage was done and I just finished fighting of a 9 day long infection thats pain made repeated interpulpal injections seem like they would be better than sex.

4) How often do you visit your dentist?
Once per quarter for checkups and as much as needed for proceedures.

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist?
Yes

6) Why would you book a dental appointment?
To avoid continued degradation of teeth, gums, etc.

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation - Yes
b) general anaesthetic - Yes
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) - Yes
d) Hypnosis - No
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc)
other.... - No

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition?
Yes
 
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Name: Drummerwife
Age:48
Location: Omaha, Nebraska, USA

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear. A year aho I was off the scale. Today I am about a 2 or 3

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? yes_____
Noise?_yes_
Other:_puttung things in my mouth

Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate...... oh, yes very very bad prefer not to give the gory details

4) How often do you visit your dentist?
Now, frequently. Until this last year, not at all.
5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist?
Oh, yes for 15 years
6) Why would you book a dental appointment?
Because my husband out his foot down and said "You are going"
7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation Yes
b) general anaesthetic No
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air) yes
d) Hypnosis No
e) Distraction techniqes (music, pictures etc) Yes
other.... Oral sedatives ie: Valium

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition?
Absolutely! I am not one to neglect my health and yet my terror was so overwhelming I could not go to the dentist. The health implications of dental phobia are enormous. This condition needs to be taken seriously
Many thanks for taking the time to complete the survey!:)[/quote]
 
Hello, I am a student completing a research project and my chosen topic is dental phobia. I would like to accumulate a broad range of opinions and thoughts about the dentist, so please complete the survey below. Many thanks for your time!

Name: anonymous
Age: 43
Location: OR, USA

1) How would you rate your dislike of the dentist on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being absolute fear.

10

2) What do you dislike about visiting the dentist?
Smell? bothersome
Noise? causes extreme anxiety/ panic attack
Other: dentist not believing I am feeling pain !

3) Have you ever had a bad experience at the dentist which has left a lasting negative impression? If so, please elaborate......

Almost without exception, every visit has been unpleasant at best, and horrifying most times. THe worst was being told that I could not be feeling any pain after two doses of LA, and having the dentist go to work drilling anyway, causing intense pain, screaming, and struggling on my part. Then Orthodontic work that was pure torture every minute that the fixtures were in place, for four years constantly, and then the work did not stay in place, and my teeth all shifted back to their original crooked positions. I could go on, but for this survey, will leave my remarks as stated.

4) How often do you visit your dentist?

Only in extreme emergency.

5) Have you ever ignored your dental health due to fear of the dentist?

YES !

6) Why would you book a dental appointment?

For intense pain issues only.

7) Have you ever tried any of the following approaches during dental treatment.

a) Intravenous sedation-no
b) general anaesthetic-oral tablets
c) inhaled sedation (gas and air)-yes
d) Hypnosis-no
e) Distraction techniques (music, pictures etc)-yes ineffective
other....

8) Do you consider dental phobia a serious condition?

Yes, it is real, and is a serious condition which I experience regularly. I fit the description for dental PTSD, and dental phobic, to the letter.

Many thanks for taking the time to complete the survey!:)

I hope that this helps in your studies, and in your future practice.
<KZ>
 
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