Tired of being in pain

[SarahM]

I've got several missing teeth, a cracked one and a broken one which is nearly all gone. I do want to get my teeth sorted but I can't. I am sitting here in tears, just as much from the pain as from having to go to the dentist. I have left it for years because I can't do it. I just can't. I've tried and each time I've failed and my dentist asked me to leave because I was screaming and crying. The injections don't work, sedation doesn't work and nobody is willing to do the work under GA so I'm stuck. I don't know what to do. I can't keep failing. I'm so tired of being pain all the time.

 

[brit]

I've got several missing teeth, a cracked one and a broken one which is nearly all gone. I do want to get my teeth sorted but I can't. I am sitting here in tears, just as much from the pain as from having to go to the dentist. I have left it for years because I can't do it. I just can't. I've tried and each time I've failed and my dentist asked me to leave because I was screaming and crying. The injections don't work, sedation doesn't work and nobody is willing to do the work under GA so I'm stuck. I don't know what to do. I can't keep failing. I'm so tired of being pain all the time.

What do you mean by......injections don't work, sedation doesn't work.....exactly?
What type of sedation did you try?
Are you in UK or USA? It affects the advice a bit.

 

[SarahM]

What do you mean by......injections don't work, sedation doesn't work.....exactly?
What type of sedation did you try?
Are you in UK or USA? It affects the advice a bit.

I'm in UK. The injections to alledgedly numb the jaw don't work, the dentist I went to injected me 5 times and I could still feel everything. I've tried sedation twice and I could still feel everything. I don't know what kind of sedation, it was an injection in my arm. If I could just get GA then I'd go tomorrow. Knock me out and then do what you want.

 

[brit]

You have my total sympathy. Your fear if caused by failure to get numb is 100% logical because after all it is not supposed to hurt.

You probably need a dentist with knowledge of advanced injection techniques. It could be that you have anatomic variation which means that your nerves are in a slightly different place to most people. This is usually the case with lowers rather than uppers. Other causes of numbing problems are here:

Can't Get Numb

Find out why you may not get numb enough, what dentists can do to get you numb, and how to ensure your treatment is painless.

www.dentalfearcentral.org

Since you are in the UK, have you tried the Community Dental Service yet? They do have access to GA and if their dentists can't get you numb (they probably can) then that would then be an option. The trouble is GA is best only for extractions. It is very hard to do complex restorative dentistry under GA.

If you have only tried one dentist re numbing, then all is not lost as failure to get numb is often the dentist's fault (operator error reason). Injecting in the same place 5 times will not work if your nerve is in a different place.

Are you able to go private, then you can handpick a dentist with knowledge of advanced local anaesthetic technique. A poster called bluestringpudding had a similar problem and found a dentist in London who helped her. Mike Gow in Scotland could help you.

It is also a good idea to do an x-ray/CBCT scan to see exactly where your nerves do run. If they can get the LA near enough your nerve, you will go numb. Everyone can be got numb but not all dentists can get all patients numb.
Do you have red hair at all?

 

[SarahM]

Thank you Brit. I don't have red hair and I've never heard of Community Dental Service, can they give me GA? Have you got contact details, a google search didn't give me anything. I don't even want to try injections again, I have to be knocked out. I need to get the roots of the teeth that have fallen out removed so GA would fit in with what you've said.

The other big problem is the cost, I can't afford private or even NHS. The work I need doing is going to cost hundreds of pounds which I don't have.

 

[brit]

Special Needs and Dental Treatment

Where in the UK and the US can you get dental care if you, or your child, has special needs? This may include disabilities, dental phobia and agoraphobia.

www.dentalfearcentral.org

Or you could ask your medical GP to refer you to the Oral Surgery department at your local NHS hospital for treatment under GA on the grounds you can't be adequately numbed. Sometimes you have to be assertive to get your rights in the NHS and not take no for an answer or allow yourself to be easily fobbed off.
NHS hospital treatment should be free at point of use.

 

[SarahM]

Thank you again Brit, you've been really helpful