N
needlephobe
Member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2014
- Messages
- 29
Hi
Wish I'd found this forum sooner, it's great
OK so my main problem is massively severe needle phobia, though this has kind of become generalized to dental phobia too. Had several awful needle experiences as a kid (not dental). I've had dental treatment as an adult - once went to a dentist which offered sedation with gaseous induction, think they then gave IV once I was out though I believe I was conscious and cooperative but unable to remember anything about it afterwards - think the drug might've been xanax?? Anyway this worked great, but next time I went back to the same place a couple of years later for the same thing, once I was in the chair they said they were no longer able to give gaseous induction and I'd have to have a needle in the back of my hand. So I left. Next time I needed treatment my dentist offered me relative analgesia - so gas to the point of being almost unconscious then a local anaesthetic. Even though I was nearly unconcious I was still petrified and just remember screaming like a crazy lady - and still huge pain - to be fair, it was a wisdom tooth that had cracked in half and had to be extracted, probably doesn't get much hurtier.
Next thing was for a couple more extractions which weren't causing me pain at the time. I was sent to a Dental Institute but they could only offer IV sedation, I fainted in the chair during the consult. They then referred me on to a hospital where, months later, I had a gas-induced GA and the extractions. That was pretty good! Currently would be my preferred option in future if possible.
Thing now is that the NHS dentist who sorted out all these referrals etc is no longer working in my area and last time I went for a check-up the new dentist just tried to give me a filling by local but of course I couldn't handle it. Since then (about 5 years ago) I've not been back anywhere. Just before that I'd had a course of CBT (psychotherapy) for the needle phobia in general, which helped somewhat but I still could not manage the local. I didn't feel v comfortable with the new dentist either even for check-ups. Luckily I've had no problems since - I do look after my teeth pretty obsessively!! But would like to make a plan in case of future problems. I'm thinking of trying a private dentist. I'm also going to have some more CBT to try help with more with the needle phobia and would like to aim for one day being able to cope with IV sedation, BUT ... if I can't get there I still need a plan. So, from a private dentist, can they still refer for hospital treatment on the NHS? Or private treatment under gas-induced GA? (Guessing it would be for extraction at that point) and does anyone have an idea of costs if that were possible? I'm guessing a lot? Never had anything outside of the NHS before and would prefer not to but am terrified of getting to a place where I desperately need treatment and am unable to access it so would like to think about it in advance whilst my teeth are relatively well.
So sorry that's v rambling.
Hugs to all with similar problems x
Wish I'd found this forum sooner, it's great
OK so my main problem is massively severe needle phobia, though this has kind of become generalized to dental phobia too. Had several awful needle experiences as a kid (not dental). I've had dental treatment as an adult - once went to a dentist which offered sedation with gaseous induction, think they then gave IV once I was out though I believe I was conscious and cooperative but unable to remember anything about it afterwards - think the drug might've been xanax?? Anyway this worked great, but next time I went back to the same place a couple of years later for the same thing, once I was in the chair they said they were no longer able to give gaseous induction and I'd have to have a needle in the back of my hand. So I left. Next time I needed treatment my dentist offered me relative analgesia - so gas to the point of being almost unconscious then a local anaesthetic. Even though I was nearly unconcious I was still petrified and just remember screaming like a crazy lady - and still huge pain - to be fair, it was a wisdom tooth that had cracked in half and had to be extracted, probably doesn't get much hurtier.
Next thing was for a couple more extractions which weren't causing me pain at the time. I was sent to a Dental Institute but they could only offer IV sedation, I fainted in the chair during the consult. They then referred me on to a hospital where, months later, I had a gas-induced GA and the extractions. That was pretty good! Currently would be my preferred option in future if possible.
Thing now is that the NHS dentist who sorted out all these referrals etc is no longer working in my area and last time I went for a check-up the new dentist just tried to give me a filling by local but of course I couldn't handle it. Since then (about 5 years ago) I've not been back anywhere. Just before that I'd had a course of CBT (psychotherapy) for the needle phobia in general, which helped somewhat but I still could not manage the local. I didn't feel v comfortable with the new dentist either even for check-ups. Luckily I've had no problems since - I do look after my teeth pretty obsessively!! But would like to make a plan in case of future problems. I'm thinking of trying a private dentist. I'm also going to have some more CBT to try help with more with the needle phobia and would like to aim for one day being able to cope with IV sedation, BUT ... if I can't get there I still need a plan. So, from a private dentist, can they still refer for hospital treatment on the NHS? Or private treatment under gas-induced GA? (Guessing it would be for extraction at that point) and does anyone have an idea of costs if that were possible? I'm guessing a lot? Never had anything outside of the NHS before and would prefer not to but am terrified of getting to a place where I desperately need treatment and am unable to access it so would like to think about it in advance whilst my teeth are relatively well.
So sorry that's v rambling.
Hugs to all with similar problems x
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