• Dental Phobia Support

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Terrified and hopeless

4

4boyzmom

Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2021
Messages
21
Location
New York USA
Hi there everyone ! For years I have been terrified of the dentist , therefore putting my dental care off . Im now 45 and need all my teeth extracted . I finally "womaned up" got dental insurance and made an appt with the dentist . He did xrays and barely touched my teeth when he saw me crying and cringing . He sent me to an oral surgeon who put me under concious sedation this morning . When I "woke up" I was devestated to learn they could not do anything as I was fighting them the entire time . Now they are saying I need to go fully under at an ambulatory center because the iv sedation didnt work . Im so depressed and scared . Anyone else have an issue with iv sedation not working ? or having to go under full sedation ? Experiences welcome and thank you
 
Hi there everyone ! For years I have been terrified of the dentist , therefore putting my dental care off . Im now 45 and need all my teeth extracted . I finally "womaned up" got dental insurance and made an appt with the dentist . He did xrays and barely touched my teeth when he saw me crying and cringing . He sent me to an oral surgeon who put me under concious sedation this morning . When I "woke up" I was devestated to learn they could not do anything as I was fighting them the entire time . Now they are saying I need to go fully under at an ambulatory center because the iv sedation didnt work . Im so depressed and scared . Anyone else have an issue with iv sedation not working ? or having to go under full sedation ? Experiences welcome and thank you

Hi @4boyzmom.

First of all well done for starting your dental journey and facing your fears to make and attend your appointment. You should be really proud of yourself.

Secondly, im sorry to hear things did not go as planned or you’d hoped. So although I don’t remember much I do remember one time I had IV sedation I was told they almost had to stop half way as I was not calm enough
apparently. However the other times I have had it they have completed all the work and it was a good experience .these sedation were even after that appointment so did not put me off to anyone worried about it I have recently had fully GA too. And had this for extractions. I personally found this a good experience too. And the recovery was smooth. Happy to answer more specifically about the experiences.
 
Hi @4boyzmom.

First of all well done for starting your dental journey and facing your fears to make and attend your appointment. You should be really proud of yourself.

Secondly, im sorry to hear things did not go as planned or you’d hoped. So although I don’t remember much I do remember one time I had IV sedation I was told they almost had to stop half way as I was not calm enough
apparently. However the other times I have had it they have completed all the work and it was a good experience .these sedation were even after that appointment so did not put me off to anyone worried about it I have recently had fully GA too. And had this for extractions. I personally found this a good experience too. And the recovery was smooth. Happy to answer more specifically about the experiences.
Thank you for replying . I dont understand I have had iv sedation before and have been fine . How was the GA experience ? Were you completely out ? Did they have to assist your breathing ?
 
Hi, yes I’m not quite sure I think it can just depend maybe on the day or the dose they give. Not sure though. So personally I found the GA experience better for me, I was completely out of it yes! I think they did assist with breathing.

I found the experience quite good, the waking up I felt tired, but, not sick. It was scary for me going to the hospital the first time, but the second I felt more prepared knowing what it would be like. And I knew it had been fine the first experience. Being completely out of it meant I remembered nothing at all and due to the time in recovery I didn’t wake up with blood or gauze in my mouth! Which I would have hated ?
 
Thank you for that !! My dentist is supposed to call me tomorrow and tell me what him and the surgeon have decided .
 
Is everything OK now, @4boyzmom ?❤
I spoke with the dentist on Friday . They are supposed to call me back tomorrow to see if I need another consultation before I have the GA ? I dont know why I would need another consult , I just had one 2 months ago before I tried the iv sedation .
 
Oh my..
What an experience, im sorry you went thru that. I would be devastated to wake up like that too and when you think it should be all over now having to possibly go in for another consultation that is shitty. Hope it gets resolved soon with a quickness. And please take care of yourself. awesome that you were able to find this and hopefully get the support you need .
?
 
Yes , Im so glad I found this site and all you wonderful caring people . I thought I was the only one . I feel like such a failure . How can I be so terrified ? I have tried so hard to just get these teeth out but it doesnt work . The fear and terror takes over . Thank you for your kind words
 
Yes , Im so glad I found this site and all you wonderful caring people . I thought I was the only one . I feel like such a failure . How can I be so terrified ? I have tried so hard to just get these teeth out but it doesnt work . The fear and terror takes over . Thank you for your kind words

You are so not alone ❤️ I feel with you with all my heart. Dental issues is really a shitty thing and we notice it every day because we see it in our mouth, its not just like you can put it behind. But you will be ok SOON❤️ the best thing to do is to think about something else(easy to say, i know) , maybe think that there is stuff in life who is more worse than teeth..
 
Yes , Im so glad I found this site and all you wonderful caring people . I thought I was the only one . I feel like such a failure . How can I be so terrified ? I have tried so hard to just get these teeth out but it doesnt work . The fear and terror takes over . Thank you for your kind words


Talk down that voice that tells you youre a failure or your fault!! We're humans doing the best we can with what we're given and we learn from it and adapt as necessary. Not always that easy but i have that internalized voice that tells me im a failure as well. But have to constantly reaffirm that there is room for mistakes in this messy life. Aint no perfect fit. And idk the answer to your question of why am i so terrified.
But for me,i return to a very dissociated child like state of vulnerability and that brings out all the reactions in a threatened childs arsenal:
For me its tears/whimpering/heavy breathing
And ive noticed my feet start moving as if theyre walking
In a flight response.
Sounds like you may have been trying to fight your way out even in a sedated state.
I hope that theyre able to get you in a relaxed enough state to do what needs to be done and that you have peace about it..
For me also theres more to it than the 'local anesthetics' i have to prepare in other ways..
Making a playlist and bringing headphones
Having someone with me
Weed lol (being honest)
Talking to the assistants about my past experience seemed to help too.
And a pre procedure pep talk even night before i start getting extreme anxiety.
Anyways i hope this message finds you well and you're a strong ass person who can and will get thru this!
Tap into your warrior spirit and do it for that little inner child, say things to yourself you might say to them or a little one in your life if they were having the dental issues you face.
I believe in you 4boyzmom!!
 
Talk down that voice that tells you youre a failure or your fault!! We're humans doing the best we can with what we're given and we learn from it and adapt as necessary. Not always that easy but i have that internalized voice that tells me im a failure as well. But have to constantly reaffirm that there is room for mistakes in this messy life. Aint no perfect fit. And idk the answer to your question of why am i so terrified.
But for me,i return to a very dissociated child like state of vulnerability and that brings out all the reactions in a threatened childs arsenal:
For me its tears/whimpering/heavy breathing
And ive noticed my feet start moving as if theyre walking
In a flight response.
Sounds like you may have been trying to fight your way out even in a sedated state.
I hope that theyre able to get you in a relaxed enough state to do what needs to be done and that you have peace about it..
For me also theres more to it than the 'local anesthetics' i have to prepare in other ways..
Making a playlist and bringing headphones
Having someone with me
Weed lol (being honest)
Talking to the assistants about my past experience seemed to help too.
And a pre procedure pep talk even night before i start getting extreme anxiety.
Anyways i hope this message finds you well and you're a strong ass person who can and will get thru this!
Tap into your warrior spirit and do it for that little inner child, say things to yourself you might say to them or a little one in your life if they were having the dental issues you face.
I believe in you 4boyzmom!!
Thank you so much , that means the world to me
 
Thank you so much , that means the world to me
I think what happened was nothing personally to me but I remember I was 4 maybe 5 and my mom had gingavitis and was going for some kind of gum treatments . I remember I went in the room with mom and was playing with my dolls on the floor and she let out the most horrid scream I have ever heard and the dentist walked behind her and grabbed her neck and was holding her head in place as she wailed and I was so scared . I jumped up and grabbed his coat in hysterics and said "stop killing my mommy" the nurse came in and took me out and I could still hear her screaming . I was petrified . I will never forget that , it has stuck with me all my life . I remember exactly what we were wearing , the song that was playing in the room , the dentist name , the name of my dolls , everything . I remember how much pain she was in when she got home and she called her regular dentist saying the specialist she went to see did something very wrong , she couldnt stand the pain and she would never go back . From there I have always been scared to death
 
Oh my..
That sounds like a terrifying experience for a young one to be in the room for. Seeing someone you love be in so much pain i can imagine that stuck with you!
So sorry to hear this is all reignited by dental visits still. .
Any news on your situation?
I hope you can get some answers and reassurance from the oral surgeons to make it feel like a more safe scenario.
Sending love!!!
 
Hi there , no nothing yet . I called yesterday like they said and they told me the surgeon would not be back in until Wednesday ?? So I will call back tomorrow and see whats up . I will keep you posted . Thank you for caring my friend
 
Bummer.. And no problem. Reach out if you need more support and let us know how it goes!!
Best of luck.
 
Im going for a full mouth extraction on Thursday under general anesthesia at a surgery center . IM TERRIFIED !!

Good luck today! :clover: Let us know how it went!
 
Im going for a full mouth extraction on Thursday under general anesthesia at a surgery center . IM TERRIFIED !!
It's Friday and i hope that your dental journey with full mouth extraction has gone well. Sending good wishes and positive vibes from across the world in the UK.
 
It's Friday and i hope that your dental journey with full mouth extraction has gone well. Sending good wishes and positive vibes from across the world in the UK.
very swollen , pain not as bad as I thought so far , lots of ice and pain meds . thank you
 

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