S
Shakinginmyboots
Member
- Joined
- May 7, 2019
- Messages
- 40
- Location
- New Jersey
I don’t even know when my phobia kicked in, but it did. I came from a big Irish family and dental visits were for those with toothaches only. I made my first appointment at age 19. When I went to work and got dental insurance I went regularly. I always dreaded it, but I went.
Fast forward and I am married with children, we moved to a new town and I went to a new dentist. They were impossible to get appointments so I changed. This second place hygienist would hound me every time to get X-rays from previous dentist. I kept putting it off, and decided to find yet another dentist rather than deal with her. Months turned to years. I was paying tuitions, working, etc and kept putting it off.
Years and years pass.i worry constantly about the state of my teeth and gums. I am embarrassed when people talk about going to the dentist, can they tell I don’t go?
I say enough is enough, but the thought of picking up the phone paralyzes me. I can’t do it. I can’t tell anybody.
I just can’t imagine walking in the door and going to the chair.
So last month I have pain in my ear, jaw. I call this place that people in my town rave about in the town Facebook page.
All those years of dreading this moment and it is here. I told the woman on the phone I was embarrassed and she was kind. I went in for toothache so they took me for that the next day. Ends up it was not a toothache, I had shingles and sores were forming in the 24 hours since I made the appointment. So they said come back for cleaning and exam in 3 weeks, after shingles go away.
So just that 10 minutes there let me know they were nice people.
Today was the appointment, first one in maybe 15 years. I was pretty calm on the outside but my Fitbit was registering 115 beats per minute. My teeth were badly stained and the hygienist was a lady I know from church. I wanted to die. She was super nice and did a great job. It was not bad at all. I told her I was nervous and she kept talking .she said you don’t seem nervous, are you zoning out? Yes, I was zoning out! The dentist was a young woman , very nice. I grind teeth and need 3 fillings replaced and a night guard. I was thrilled. Was positive I needed much more work!
I think in my case it was just a matter of walking in the door. I could not imagine walking in, can’t even stand commercials for tooth paste. Am so glad I did it and wish I had saved myself years of worry. Just make the call, you will be glad you did!
Fast forward and I am married with children, we moved to a new town and I went to a new dentist. They were impossible to get appointments so I changed. This second place hygienist would hound me every time to get X-rays from previous dentist. I kept putting it off, and decided to find yet another dentist rather than deal with her. Months turned to years. I was paying tuitions, working, etc and kept putting it off.
Years and years pass.i worry constantly about the state of my teeth and gums. I am embarrassed when people talk about going to the dentist, can they tell I don’t go?
I say enough is enough, but the thought of picking up the phone paralyzes me. I can’t do it. I can’t tell anybody.
I just can’t imagine walking in the door and going to the chair.
So last month I have pain in my ear, jaw. I call this place that people in my town rave about in the town Facebook page.
All those years of dreading this moment and it is here. I told the woman on the phone I was embarrassed and she was kind. I went in for toothache so they took me for that the next day. Ends up it was not a toothache, I had shingles and sores were forming in the 24 hours since I made the appointment. So they said come back for cleaning and exam in 3 weeks, after shingles go away.
So just that 10 minutes there let me know they were nice people.
Today was the appointment, first one in maybe 15 years. I was pretty calm on the outside but my Fitbit was registering 115 beats per minute. My teeth were badly stained and the hygienist was a lady I know from church. I wanted to die. She was super nice and did a great job. It was not bad at all. I told her I was nervous and she kept talking .she said you don’t seem nervous, are you zoning out? Yes, I was zoning out! The dentist was a young woman , very nice. I grind teeth and need 3 fillings replaced and a night guard. I was thrilled. Was positive I needed much more work!
I think in my case it was just a matter of walking in the door. I could not imagine walking in, can’t even stand commercials for tooth paste. Am so glad I did it and wish I had saved myself years of worry. Just make the call, you will be glad you did!