Update! Took the first step :)

[Anxious Kitty]

I posted on here several months ago. My original topic: https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/f...art-severe-anxiety-dental-problems-etc.21893/

Now it took me a while (I had some other medical things to attend to as well) but I finally went in to the dentist Here's what happened:

My mom actually made my appointment and didnt tell me when itd be, as per my request. However the dentist called me on Wednesday to let me know an earlier appointment was available if I wanted to come in Thursday instead of the 8th... whoops.

I went ahead and took the appointment, figuring it'd just be an exam anyway. Besides they already goofed up by telling me my appointment date so if I kept it for the 8th, I'd just be stressing all the way til then whereas going in the next day meant I just had to stress til the next morning. (This is pretty much why I didnt wanna know when itd be so itd be less time spent dreading it)

Anyways, when I got there Thursday morning, I was in for a surprise! Turns out my appointment was not for an exam but to get three teeth filled, including a front tooth that had been plaguing me with insecurities for a long time.

Okay so, I started panicking. Even though I took my Xanax before coming in, I wasn't prepared for dental work. They told me I didn't have to do anything I wasn't comfortable with that day but encouraged me to get it done. So I agreed we could at least give it a shot (hah) as long as I could opt out if I got too uncomfortable.

The dentist assistant was very nice and tried to help me get comfortable in the chair. They have a TV you can watch while laying back so she turned on Animal Planet for me and started asking me about my pets. Then she got the nitrous stuff on me and this is where it got kinda weird...

The stuff actually started to make me feel MORE anxious and like I couldn't breath right? Not sure if this is normal or not??? But I asked if she could take it off after about 2 minutes. Nonetheless, I let them carry on.

We ended up trying an alternative method that I use anytime I need to get a needle like for blood tests and helps keep me calmed down. I use a cold rag on my forehead and keep my legs elevated. Soo she brought me an ice pack and a lavender scented towel for my head and put a blanket under my feet.

She numbed up my gums with some topical stuff and kept talking to me. I explained my past bad experience with the dentist and she even said she passed out after an extraction once too so she understood.

Then the dentist came in and he was so chill and nice. I expressed my fear of the shot cuz previous dentists never took much care with that and he said he's not like that! So he did the shot and I honestly barely felt a thing. He went slowly and gently and I'm not even sure if he did one or two shots? That's how much I did not feel it. I only had like a tiny pinch and the hard part was over.

So after I was nice and numb, he got to work drilling at my teeth. This part was pretty breezy, I just kept my eyes closed and tried to think of calming things to distract me. It helped that they were discussing things unrelated to the dental work with eachother too. I appreciated that.

Pretty soon, he put the fillings on my teeth and it was all done! Honestly the worst parts were just the drilling noises and bright light (even with my eyes closed, its annoying). But those are all more of a nuisance than anything. Nothing to be scared of...

My dad helped me out of the office afterwards to make sure I didnt pass out or something. I made it safely to the car and got a milkshake on the way home. I spent the rest of the day feeling pretty good, just so happy and confident I got it done.

I've had a little sensitivity cuz the fillings were pretty deep and they said I'd probably feel that for the next week but its nothing too bad. I'm just feeling a lot less scared and more ready to tackle the rest of my work now!

I still have a lot to go but this is really good and huge first step for me and I'm happy for that and that they are so nice and not judgy here! I go back on Monday for my actual exam and a cleaning so I can get the rest of my care plan together. And I don't even feel worried about going back so soon.

This isnt to say my phobia is all gone. I will still need my Xanax (gonna take more next time when I actually know I'm getting work done) and those acommodations they gave me but... I think I can really do this now.

My biggest remaining fear is the extractions cuz I've heard horror stories of the bad things that have happened after one, even as serious as death But I'm hoping those are extremely rare and only happen if someone has an underlying health problem?

I'm also not sure if my dentist can do the extractions or if I have to go to an oral surgeon. I don't like the thought of going to anyone else...
A past extraction is also what led to my extreme fear so I would like any encouraging words here!

So anyways this is my first success story. Thanks for reading and to everyone who encouraged me in my last thread!

 

[Suzannah99]

You have seriously found a great dentist with a great dental nurse too!

I very recently found a great dentist too - more than anything he listens, understands and it's what makes all the difference.

I feel proud of you for not running out of the appointment when you realised what was going to happen!

More than that though - the absolute best thing you have done for yourself is speak up.
You told them about the needles issue, you told them what would help and they listened and acted upon it.

Don't try to stop taking the Xanac for your appointments yet - be kind to yourself. I take an anti-anxiety drug for appointments - and even to collect a prescription from the dentist building! I have no shame about this - it gets me there.
I even start shaking if people ask me if I am now better and what I had done - or make any comment about my teeth and I have to ask for the conversation to stop.

About extractions - if your Mum is willing to help again then get her to ask the dentist if he is able to do these for you rather than see an oral surgeon.
If you need to see an oral surgeon then I believe your Mum will speak with them prior - this is clearly what she has done with your dental appointment and that was great of her to do that.

I had 2 extraction appointments in the last month.
One for my upper front tooth which had broken away inside the gum and had become infected. It also had a cavity at the back.
The dentist gave me 6 injections to remove this one tooth and I said I would rather have a lot of injections and be very numb than feel any pain when he took the tooth out.
So he did his 6 injections and then prodded around and I felt a tiny twinge of pain - I told him and he gave me one more injection.
I felt absolutely nothing when he removed the tooth.
He glued the tooth back onto it's buddies so that I wouldn't have a gap.

A couple of weeks later I went to have my other 3 front uppers out.
I reminded him about needles versus pain and again he gave me a load of injections. He was working and I said 'so - we're one down?' He said nope - all done!
So again I felt nothing - I was amazed!

I had to have my lowers cleaned up at another appointment - reminded him again that I needed/wanted injections - and he numbed me.
While he was cleaning there was one little spot that I felt pain in when he worked - I winced and moved - he read my body language and moved away from that spot and slowly worked back to it.
Basically he knew I would be able to stand the little bit of pain for what he needed to finish up.
He was so gentle and reacted and moved away 4 times from the sore spot - but he got it done!

I only ever had one filling back as a child some 40 years ago and recalling that versus the recent tooth extractions I would rather have teeth extracted! Of course drills are no doubt much better and more refined these days but even so...

Honestly I think providing you speak up again, you also now know the numbing was good and the first one of those is the worst. I think you will breeze through the extractions.
Just keep reminding and speaking up.

I bet you already feel so much better sensitivity or not!
Well done!!!