X-rays on upper front teeth - scared of something as simple as this

[sharon]

Hi, I just posted a question in the "your dentistry questions answered" part of this forum about injuring 2 teeth today, needless to say I am very upset about this. I assume the dentist is going to want to x-ray my front teeth and I am petrified of this. Bite-wings I can usually handle but when they have to get a picture of the root I have a big problem, especially in the upper teeth. I am very much afraid of gagging/vomiting so when they start putting xrays half way down my throat I panic. The old fashioned kind of xrays were very rarely a problem but these big gigantic digital ones are horrible. And I have a very tiny mouth as every dentist who has worked on me loves to tell me.

If I asked them to numb me before the x-rays would that take away any feeling? I'm just dreading this so much. Also dreading the fact that I will probably need an impression somewhere along the line.

Sharon

 

[sunflower32]

When I started going back to the dentist a few months ago, I also wasn't looking forward to the x-rays. I remembered the ones from almost 20 years ago that used to make me gag. I was actually pleasantly surprised that the bite-wings didn't make me gag. It wasn't exactly a comfortable experience, but it was better than I thought and there was no gagging involved! I didn't feel like they were "halfway down my throat". Also, they were able to use a smaller bite-wing for some of the x-rays, since the larger one was uncomfortable, and I think it was for my front teeth. Not positive about that though.

Good luck!

 

[carole]

I also have a small mouth and I have had the digital x rays, I find these much better than the old fashioned ones as well. They have different sizes of plates that they can use and if they put them in at different angles it shouldn't hurt your mouth. I also had impressions taken about a year ago and was dreading them for the same reasons as you and didn't find them bad at all. Have a word with the dentist and explain how you are feeling and why and I am sure they will do all they can to make sure you are comfortable whilst these things are being done.

I try to think to myself that it isn't for long, try to breath out of your nose I find trying to do my times tables distracts my mind. I say try because although usually I know my tables when I am in the chair I struggle to concentrate on the lower ones.

All the best to you, I am sure you will be fine, Good luck

 

[littlething]

I also have a small mouth, and I did start gagging on the plastic things. It had been 20+ years since my last dental visit, and I was so young back then that I can't remember how the old ones compare to the digital ones. But the assistant saw that I was struggling, and immediately asked me if I wanted her to use a spray to help me out. It ended up being a numbing spray, and that did help tremendously, so maybe they can do something similar?

Also, when I had to get impressions for my braces, I started gagging in the trays, and they told me to breathe it of my nose and concentrate on slowly raising one leg at a time, and that helped too.

 

[sharon]

Littlething, hi and thank you. I hope they can do something similar with me as they did with you with the numbing spray. With all the problems i've had with xrays I don't know why they never offered to do this before. Maybe it isn't available in my dental office. I am dreading this so much, especially the impressions. I don't know how I will ever be able to do it. My dental phobia and fear of gagging has gotten so much worse over the years.

Things like raising my leg unfortunately won't help me, that I know. But thank you for suggesting that. These kind of things are used for distractions - my fears are way beyond that.

 

[sharon]

Carole - it's not the pain I am worried about, it is the gagging sensation. I'll take pain over gagging anyday. My dentist knows how much I hate xrays (especially in the roof of the mouth) and impressions and unfortunately there isn't anything he can do to make me comfortable except IV valium (which won't happen for a mere xray or impression). You are very fortunate that the digital xrays are more comfortable than the old fashioned kind. For me it's just the opposite as the digital ones are so much bigger and bulkier.