• Dental Phobia Support

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scared to visit dentist

R

romebelshaw

Junior member
Joined
Oct 26, 2021
Messages
1
Location
UK
The last time i visited the dentist i was younger and had multiple teeth very painfully removed. my parents never booked me another appointment. now at 20 i’m in desperate need of a hygienist appointment and also have had what feels like a bit of one of my molars fall off (painless and i didn’t notice until i happened to run my tongue over the tooth), so i’m guessing i have some decay. However i feel ive left it too long and i’m so scared of being judged by the dentists. NHS dentists aren’t accepting patients in my area so i’m gonna have to go private which will have to come out of my savings which is why it’s taken so long to get to this point. I just feel like they’re going to be as disgusted by my teeth as i am. any advice on how to push myself to book an appointment?
 
Hi romebelshaw:welcome:,

if you‘re scared to go but considering doing it anyway, you‘re doing it right ? I‘m really sorry about your last experience, it sounds very traumatic and obviously you never had a chance to have a good experience afterwards. The good news: there is no such thing as having left it too long and you are now already on your journey. The second good news: dentists are not disgusted by your teeth. They did not train to look at perfect teeth all day long and that‘s also not how most people‘s teeth look like. Going private may be connected to more cost, but it will also make the dentist able to give you enough time to talk about your fears, put you at ease and just make sure that you will be comfortable before anything happens. I know this is all scary right now, but you got this.

Many people find it very helpful, to find few practices that claim to be happy to treat nervous patients and then to contact them to explain their situation and fears. Is there any practice in you area that you feel may be good?
 
They're more likely to be interested, than disgusted.

And want to help, too.

I don't have a lot of money but went private years ago - Denplan - because the NHS dentist my kids then went to was very overt about not wanting phobic/nervous patients and I also saw how pushed for time they were, etc. Going private, you're a customer as well as a patient. Businesses want to keep customers.

If you can't get a personal recommendation of a good local dentist, start looking online, at local practices - search for terms like "gentle dentistry" or "anxious patients". Online reviews are everywhere now, so they may help you work up the courage, too. There may be someone good in your area listed here on this site, too. It's how I originally found my dentist - who was at that time a specialist in gentle dentistry but have since moved on to other areas of specialisation but I stayed with them as they've been great with me.

I went 20 years without going to the dentist and finally worked up the courage - exactly like you, being concerned the dentist would be disgusted/judgemental. She just wasn't. In fact she reassured me mine weren't even the "worst" teeth she'd seen that day let alone in her career! You will surprise yourself, probabl.

One step at a time. Use your Google-fu to find someone who sounds good. Tell yourself you're just going to check them out. Go and check them out. If you don't like them, keep looking. We forget easily that we're in charge, in this process.
 
Hi,

I think it is a good idea to say beforehand (either via email or at the beginning of the appointment) that you don't want to be talked down. Even if a dentist thinks a tooth needs to be extracted, there are thousands of way to say that. If a dentist will share bad news in an offending way, this is the best sign that this dentist is simply not for you and it is better to see another.
Please allow me to share with you a video I made which might be useful:
 
They wont judge! They LOVE fixing teeth. I see it as the more dental issues you have, the more excited the dentist is to help hehe. Just read reviews for each dentist-thats how i found mine! Shes so nice and calm, and patient!
 
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