Sooo embarrassed,am i mad?

[Scaredandsilly]

Hi everyone, this is my first time posting. I've been terrified of the dentist since I was about 10 and nothing has changed at the ripe old age of 35. I didn't go for a check up for years but have forced myself to go every 6 months for the last 3 years or so. My reason for posting is that I've just made an appointment as I'm having problems with my teeth but it's my third 'in between' check up appointments in a row and I feel like they think I'm a weirdo adtge previous times there has been nothing wrong with my teeth. Imsuch a worrier that I think I might be grinding my teeth in the night, whi h is making things worse and if I dont get it checked it will only get worse. Am I mad for calling them? I feel so embarrassed to go tomorrow! Help! x

 

[Angeldove]

Better safe than sorry If you feel there is something wrong, then go to the dentist to make sure everything is okay or if there's something that needs to be fixed.

For me, if I found myself attempting to go once every 2-3 weeks and my dentist kept finding nothing wrong with my teeth, then I might try to do some counseling to help alleviate the concerns I have about my mouth. I've been a lot better about going to the dentist, but I don't actively seek out going - even though I know my mouth needs a lot more work until my treatment plan is finished.

A good dentist will make sure your mouth is doing well and should encourage you about that. I know some dentists are out to make a buck on a patient and will prescribe unnecessary treatments or do unnecessary treatments because the patient feels the need to have them. I watched this show once with a person who had a dental phobia - had to go every few days and spent hours working on their mouth at home - she had to do some intensive therapy to help calm her fears that something was wrong. She shared that she used to go to a dentist who would do whatever she wanted in her mouth - she has a new dentist who better understands her phobia and is able to talk her out (or refuse to do) any treatment he doesn't think is necessary.

I think good dentists understand that when a person has a dental phobia it can go both ways: the patient might want to avoid the dentist at all costs or the patient might need to dentist's expertise and reassurance that everything is okay in their mouth.

 

[JJones86]

Hi.

I agree with Angeldove. There's nothing wrong with going to the dentist even if they find there's nothing wrong.

Are you having pain or anything? Or you're just worried?

I can relate. I've had times when I went to my previous dentist and I thought there was an actual problem, but he'd say there's nothing wrong. Sometimes I think we can makes ourselves sick even if we aren't.

Go to the appointment and find out one way or another if there really is a problem. If there isn't, that's good, but if there is than the doctor can propose a treatment plan to fix it.

I think sometimes our anxiety just gets the better of us. I hope your appointment goes well.

JJ