Took the first step - now waiting....

[airyfairy76]

I have been reading all these posts for a few days, and thought I would post my story, hopefully for support and to get it off my own chest.

After years of painful, orthodontic treatments as a teenager, with four teeth removed, night braces, fixed braces, braces tightened so much the wire came out the next day, and gagging horrendously with impressions and feeling like I couldn't breathe, over the years I have avoided the dentist completely and haven't been for 15 years. And of course, the more you avoid it, the worse the fear gets....

From reading the stories on here, I am luckier than most. I have no broken or missing teeth, never had a filling or pain until now, no discolouration, my gums don't bleed etc. I have a little calculus / tartar build up on my lower front teeth which needs looking at, but overall I appreciate I am luckier than most.

And if it hadn't been for mild toothache starting last week, I would probably be happily toddling along in my little world of denial. However, start it did, and however mild it is, as I am a complete wuss about pain, I decided I finally had to face my fear and find a dentist (after spending the first couple of days convincing myself it was sinusitis - patently not).

Finding a dentist in itself has been a struggle, phoning my local one yesterday (which took me half an hour of staring at the phone to pluck up the courage to do so) led to nothing as they are totally at capacity - finally found one near my work that is still taking new NHS patients (amazing!), and went in to register today. And yes, I was very visibly holding back the tears (and not very well) when talking to the receptionist - she has already allocated me to one of their dentists who apparently is fantastic with nervous / anxious patients.

So feeling both happy that I took that step (with the support of a work mate who came with me), but terrified at the same time at what they might find lurking underneath the surface. I now have to wait until my registration details are processed and I can book an appointment - been told that should my ache get worse, I can call NHS 111 to get an emergency appointment, but to keep managing it with anti-inflammatories in the meantime. Luckily it is mild at the moment, with no pain on biting down, nights are pain free (weirdly) and it is more of a hypersensitivity most of the time.

So hello - I am sure I will be back on here when it comes to actually making the appointment

 

[airyfairy76]

Registration took less than 24 hours to go through and just had text confirming can now book appointment.

Cue nervous clammy feelings, shaking and teariness. Just to phone! This is horrible....

 

[Sevena]

Hey, welcome to the forum!

First of all, well done! You've been *so* brave in facing your fear as much as you have and registering with a dentist. Most of us here know how positively terrifying it can be, but you did it!

So it sounds like the practice is already aware of your phobia, which is great. The more aware they are of your specific fears, the better they can help you.

If you could walk into the practice and register, you can pick up the phone. And if you get upset and cry, that's okay. It's totally fine! All you have to do is get over the hurdle, doesn't matter if you do it while crying and shaking the whole time. We're here for you

 

[airyfairy76]

All booked for 9:45 next Tuesday (earliest they had). Only took me an hour and a half to pluck up the courage to make the call, and voice was shaking all over the place

Just have to hope that mild toothache doesn't get worse before then....

And thank you for the welcome and encouraging words

 

[FearfulInMA]

Welcome and congrats on taking the first step! Many of us find that making and going to that first appointment is the most difficult part. I will be sending you lots of good energy from across the Atlantic for Tuesday!

 

[airyfairy76]

I did it!

Appointment was this morning at 9.45. Dentist a lovely guy, who wasn't phased by me nearly bursting into tears on him, wasn't judgemental AT ALL and took the time to examine my fears. He was gentle (although I didn't like the proddy thing pushed down my gums) and took his time when even the air nozzle thing makes me gag (terrible gag reflex).

And the verdict was astonishing! I need a medium to deep filling where I have been having the toothache, and a good clean for some tartar build up. And that's it! All my other teeth are fine, gums are good... you could have knocked me over with a feather! I kept repeating it and saying "So there are no other problems?!".

Filling requires a longer appointment, so booked for next week (still have to get through nine more days of toothache) - he said if I hadn't booked in as soon as it started hurting and left it for a few months, I would be looking at root canal and possibly extraction, but he is pretty sure a filling will sort it.

He asked if I wanted a silver NHS filling, or a white one. I even managed to laugh and say "Well, if I only need the one, I will treat myself to a white one"

For anyone who has read accounts on this forum and not believed it when people say the relief is immense once you get over that first appointment, it really truly is. I am even not dreading the filling being done next week (although I am sure I will become more apprehensive nearer the time), rather more looking forward to the pain going away. And having all that nasty tartar cleaned away by the hygienist! I do however realise I am super lucky with today's verdict, and others have a lot more and scarier treatment to get through.

Just do it - the hardest part is getting into that chair for the first time and waiting to know what needs to be done. Once you break that barrier, you can only go forwards.

 

[Stupiddentalfear]

Hi there,

Well done for getting yourself to the dentist. I am happy for you but also somewhat jealous of your outcome.

I can back up what your dentist told you because when I first got toothache I was heavily pregnant. Again very mild didn't trouble me. I had had a stressful pregnancy and acting upon my mums advice I didn't contact the emergency dentist number and decided to wait. (She told me they would instantly pull the tooth so don't go there. "Find a proper dentist", she said.) Fast forward another two months and I get throbbing toothache. Also having a major pregnancy scare with lots of hospital visits so dental health put on the back burner.Waited another month after birth just because I was so wrapped up in my lil bundle of joy and enjoying visitors (toothache free) and then finally plucked up the courage to find a dentist. Then had a 4-6 week wait for appointment. In the mean time a mirror revealed the extent of the damage. I was super scared and worked out that the tooth had abcessed just before pregnancy (a lodged peanut had made matters worse.) Dentist wanted to pull tooth. Got referred to dental hospital for sedation.Toldcsenor dentist I was suicidal over my stupid actions and my fear of losing tooth She told me she would refer me but if Endodontist said "no to treatment it would have to come out". Then got referred to Endodontist. Treated but can't crown. It took over a year to get that far. Waiting, waiting and more waiting. Basically I'm left with a shell of a tooth that can't function and doesn't look right. (It has a grey line running horizontally across it has a grey hue.)

I still feel suicidal. I hate the fact that I didn't get myself to the dentist earlier after making several promises to myself. I hate the fact that it declined so quickly and I'm the unlucky one. I have so much anxiety that the tooth is going to have to be extracted and at the same time anxiety that it looks horrid. It's ruined the little confidence I had and makes me feel ugly. It has ruined my life.

Please people go to the dentist as soon as you have started to acknowledge that you need to go. You really could enjoy the outcome that airyfairy achieved. Think how happy you will be. Please don't wait too long and experience my heartache. Please people - I can't bear the thought of other phobics feeling the way I do.

I wish you all luck...and beautiful smiles x

 

[Stupiddentalfear]

P.S. Sorry for the long reply (and typos.) I am just trying to get my message across that a tooth with toothache needs to be treated a.s.a.p in order to get a good outcome. (I know this now!!) Plus, treating things early is always so much easier and almost hassle free. Our fears are exagerated, irrational and often illogical. Believe me, there is nothing to fear but our own heads. NOW GO! Please =)

 

[airyfairy76]

Couldn't agree more about not ignoring symptoms, and I'm so sorry that you have gone through all that

I have to be grateful that I am as much of a wuss with pain as I am fearful with the dentist - if I hadn't gone and just put up with the pain (and that wasn't an option for me), I would be looking at root canal or even extraction down the road, and not that far down the road either.

I readily admit I have been hugely lucky, and have made a promise to myself that I will, regardless of my fears, go regularly for checkups. I must say I am scared about my treatment on Thursday - although it is only a filling, it is fear of the unknown for me. I will probably be quite apprehensive about the hygienist the week after too.

But I will repeat myself - the hardest bit is walking through the door and admitting your vulnerability, because at the end of the day, we all share feeling vulnerable. Make that appointment, go - you don't have to do anything, just talk. And if that dentist isn't for you, there will be another one out there who is willing to work with you and encourage you every step of the way. And if you shake, tremble, cry, it doesn't matter - I was very visibly close to tears with the receptionist, let alone the dentist, and she didn't bat an eyelid

 

[Pippa]

I am another that ignored my teeth for too long and have had lots of work done ....and after losing confidence again I left it three years since I last went and now have an appt on Weds(7th) for a clean.I tend to get a lot of tartar unfortunately so am not looking forward to it at all. So embarrassing as it looks as if I never clean my teeth but I do 3 times a day.
When the teeth are clean he will look to see what else needs to be done...oh oh....
At least I managed to have the first look-see done and get an appt for the clean. I was so pleased with myself but that wore off and now I am dreading the next lot of work.

It IS a relief to get started and I really agree it is best to go regularly for check ups to avoid these awful fear situations building up. Reading this forum each day is helpful,and good to see we are not alone

 

[Stupiddentalfear]

Good luck airyfairy76 & Pippa with your next appointments.

P.S. I find flossing with Oral.B dental floss to work wonders on preventing tartar build up. I even got a "keep up the good work" on last dentist appointment. Plus everyone is commenting on how white my teeth look!

 

[airyfairy76]

So, actual appointment to have my first ever filling in just over twelve hours and getting a little a stressed, although nothing like the thought of my first appointment in over ten years last week. Trying not to tihimk about it too much, but easier said than done. I'm just glad it's at the beginning of the day, rather than the end.

Any tips for getting through my first actual treatment?

 

[Sevena]

Tips: don't forget to breathe properly. Slow and easy does it. Hyperventilating can make anxiety feel worse, so if you catch yourself doing that, try holding your breath for a few seconds and exhaling nice and slow.

Lift your hand up if you need a little break during the treatment.

Try to think about that glorious time after the appointment. Focus on how good that'll feel, and how you're gonna relax and take care of yourself afterwards.

You've got this

 

[airyfairy76]

I made it through - in fact in and out in about 40 minutes. I can't say it's the most fun thing I've ever done, but my dentist took quite a lot of care in making sure I was okay. I was worried about the injections, so he put a little numbing gel on first which didn't remove the sensation completely, but made it certainly bearable, he told me to signal should I want him to stop at any time, and talked through what he was doing at each stage. The numbness has now wore off, and although it is a little achey still when I bite down, it's a different kind of achey (I have quite a small mouth, so it's been stretched about a bit as well!).

Fairly shattered now as didn't sleep well last night worrying about it, but super glad it is finished. I have been a good girl and already booked my next appointment in six months - he did say it was quite a big filling, and that hopefully it won't require a root canal (eek!) but I asked him how confident he was, and he said "Pretty confident".

Super proud of myself - I know it's only a filling, but fear of the unknown was a big thing with me as well, as well as a fear of pain. No pain felt, apart from a little soreness on my gum at the end when he used an interdental strip to smooth the filling. And I managed not to gag this time, by deep breathing through my nose.

Just have the hygienist to get through next week now!!!

Thank you to everyone for your positive words! And to anyone who is hesitating over making that call - it took me an hour and a half to be brave enough to pick up the phone. Although the dentist is never going to be like a spa day, the fear of the unknown is far worse than the actuality. So deep breath, and make that appointment today