Totally irrational but very real....

[Sm1954]

I've made an appointment with a dentist - the first time I will have seen one in over twenty years! I know I will need extensive work and probably dentures I've been too embarrassed to even smile for years. The appointment was made because it was unavoidable - I broke a tooth. I am sitting here in tears just thinking about the appointment - absolutely ridiculous I know but I can't think of anything I dread more than the dentist. Even more ridiculous when I tell you that I am 60 years old. Family are not supportive because they don't understand the level of fear I have which probably dates back it a bad experience with a dentist when I was about eight years old.

 

[carriss]

Hello,
well done on making the appointment. Sometimes that's the hardest thing to do, to take that first step.
If you haven't been to the dentist for 20 years, you'll be pleasantly surprised by how much dental treatment has changed for the better.
It doesn't matter what age you are, if you have the fear, you can't help your irrational feelings. We all feel the same on this forum (or used to feel), so we understand what you're going through.
Best of luck with the appointment. Let us know how you get on.

 

[AndrewPBrin]

I have an appointment today and am scared too so I feel your dread sir

 

[tinytooth]

Not ridiculous at all! I just went to the dentist for the first time in 9 years - here are a couple of tips that helped calm me down:

1) Make the appointment at a good time for you; I went in the afternoon, because I am not a morning person and knew the extra anxiety of rushing around to be on time wouldn't help.

2) Remember that you're in control! You're paying for the service, so if you're not happy with the dentist you see, the office, staff, etc you *can* take your business somewhere else.

3) Dental phobia is a totally normal thing! If you can, call or e-mail in advance to let them know you're feeling anxious. I hate seeing x-rays (the roots of teeth creep me out), so I let the dentist know and he actually looked at them in another room (ha!).

4) These people want to help you; they're not going to shame or judge. It's their job to fix things, all you have to do is show up!

Best of luck -- try and pinpoint what's causing you the most anxiety, and come up with a plan for managing it. You can do it!

 

[ScaredyCat22]

I've made an appointment with a dentist - the first time I will have seen one in over twenty years! I know I will need extensive work and probably dentures I've been too embarrassed to even smile for years. The appointment was made because it was unavoidable - I broke a tooth. I am sitting here in tears just thinking about the appointment - absolutely ridiculous I know but I can't think of anything I dread more than the dentist. Even more ridiculous when I tell you that I am 60 years old. Family are not supportive because they don't understand the level of fear I have which probably dates back it a bad experience with a dentist when I was about eight years old.

Hi Sm1954!

Welcome to the forum
I am sorry about your tooth. I too avoided the dentist for very many years, and was actually surprised that I didn't need a ton of work done. you may not either. The fear and worry over the appointment is usually a hundred times worse than the actual appointment itself. Have you told the dental office that you are very nervous? If not I would suggest you do. When I went for the first time in nearly 20 years I had them prescribe me a valium to take before my appointment so I would be less terrified to get in the chair. that may be something you would like to consider. However if you do you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment.

 

[Sm1954]

Thanks for all your words of encouragement. It helps to realise that I am not alone.
My appointment is just over 24 hours away and I am shaking with fear. Common sense tells me I've got to go through with it but every part of me wants to cancel! I won't because husband is making sure I go.

 

[Sm1954]

I sat in the car before going into the dental surgery today - it was all I could do not to cry. My hands were shaking and I felt sick but having got so far there was no turning back. The waiting room was full of people chatting - you could have been forgiven for thinking it was some sort of social occasion - except I was sat there shaking with my heart pounding.
i thought I'd let you know how it all went. I told the nurse how frightened I was and the dentist was so kind. I do have to go back - probably quite a few times. I suspect that the dentist is dealing with my issues a little at a time and probably hasn't gone into any detail regarding the treatment that will be required so as not to concern me too much.
I will go back and have whatever work needs doing and follow it up with regular check ups because I've realised that a lot of my fear was worrying about what the dentist would say about my teeth and that he'd judge me in some way... Now he knows the worst! I will still be scared at future appointments but I think this one today (the first step) was probably the scariest for me.
Thanks for all the encouragement - I know I've still got quite a long way to go but feel I'm now on the right path!

 

[carriss]

Well done you!

 

[minx]

good job. I totally feel your fear. me too had a bad experience with dentist when I was little. since then I haven't gone to dentist. now im 40 and my teeth was really in bad shape. I finally went to see doctor 3 weeks ago and what do you know I have to get all of my top teeth extracted and get a denture. that news alone almost gave me a heartattack. so I cried for about week and went to dentist and extract all my top teeth 2 weeks ago. im in healing time right now, I got few more weeks to go. even I was scared to death, actual process wasn't bad at all. there was no pain. just annoying scraping and tugging. and just little pinch for injection. im still scared what I have to go through in future. I really hope that you will get through this with ease. so far so good for me.and looks like you got good start. so hang in there. i'll be hanging with you.

 

[ScaredyCat22]

I sat in the car before going into the dental surgery today - it was all I could do not to cry. My hands were shaking and I felt sick but having got so far there was no turning back. The waiting room was full of people chatting - you could have been forgiven for thinking it was some sort of social occasion - except I was sat there shaking with my heart pounding.
i thought I'd let you know how it all went. I told the nurse how frightened I was and the dentist was so kind. I do have to go back - probably quite a few times. I suspect that the dentist is dealing with my issues a little at a time and probably hasn't gone into any detail regarding the treatment that will be required so as not to concern me too much.
I will go back and have whatever work needs doing and follow it up with regular check ups because I've realised that a lot of my fear was worrying about what the dentist would say about my teeth and that he'd judge me in some way... Now he knows the worst! I will still be scared at future appointments but I think this one today (the first step) was probably the scariest for me.
Thanks for all the encouragement - I know I've still got quite a long way to go but feel I'm now on the right path!

Way to go!! you deserve a huge pat on the back for even making yourself show up for the appointment.

 

[Sm1954]

It's me again! I have now had a couple of appointments with the dentist and I'm happy to report that none were quite as bad as I'd feared - certainly not as scary as that first appointment! I'd still rather be somewhere else than in the dentist chair but it's such a relief not to worry about what might be wrong with my teeth!
i know others have said the same but it is amazing how much dentistry has changed in the last twenty years - I had a filling this week and was in and out in not much more than ten minutes - I didn't even need an injection. I couldn't believe that it was that simple!
i really hope that others will take courage - if I can do this than others can too! Believe me, no one was more scared than I was at that first appointment.

 

[Thephilsblogbar]

Well done for going to the dentist