Dentist anxiety!!!

[luvmyhalo]

Anyone else get soooo anxious about going to the dentist?

I HAAAATE going, hate having them poke my teeth and gums with sharp metal objects, hate everything about it. Even if it''s just for a cleaning, I get myself so worked up with worry that they''ll find something bad and I''ll need like 4 root canals or something! I find myself procrastinating on making routine visits, which makes things worse, I know.

Anyone else terrified?

 

[4ever]

Not of the dentist but of going to the doctors. Even if it''s just to ask for a repeat perscription or somthing I will have anxiety about everything from making an apointment to paying the bill. I don''t know why, it''s totally irrational but there is still nothing I can do to stop my heart racing 100mph when it comes to doctors visits.

 

[monarch64]

I have heard people say they have an irrational fear of the dentist many times. I do not suffer from that at all...in fact I absolutely love going to the dentist! I love getting my teeth cleaned the most!

 

[Cehrabehra]

I was...

My mom stopped having dental insurance when I was 13 and I never had it as a young adult, I refused to use it when dh was military, and by the time he had a good civi job, I was scared to death... in all I hadn''t gone to the dentist in 27 years!! Believe me, I was freaking out. I had lost a filling back in 1989, and about 3 years ago I would have sworn I cracked a tooth on a cherry pit. Plus, I still had my wisdom teeth.

But, as it turns out they couldn''t find any cavities. They used a special machine to xray the way back and they found one cavity on the back side of one of my wisdom teeth. How lucky is that? No gum damage either. A lot of tartar on the inside of the lower teeth so it took 2 times of scraping to get it off - but I consider myself so dang lucky! I think it''s because I like to floss my teeth.

Now I have no more fear!!

 

[Hera]

I totally do considering I had an extremely traumatic episode with a root canal at the age of 10. The Novocain did not work on me. My mom told me she could hear me screaming from the dentist room and they had to have several nurses hold me down.
The next time I went to the dentists office, which was years later, I passed out in the lobby and they had to use smelling salts to wake me.
I went to therapy and I had some PTSD therapy done and it helps marginally so I can get cleanings.
I actually have to have the tooth they did the root canal removed (my front tooth) and I've been avoiding it as I can't even touch my tooth without feeling anxiety.
You can ask for anti anxiety medication and they will let you have some. I can't even imagine any kind of anxiety medicine helping for when they remove my front tooth eventually.
Even this thread make me nervous.

 

[ksinger]

Date: 3/10/2010 7:41:09 PM
Author: Cehrabehra
I was...

My mom stopped having dental insurance when I was 13 and I never had it as a young adult, I refused to use it when dh was military, and by the time he had a good civi job, I was scared to death... in all I hadn''t gone to the dentist in 27 years!! Believe me, I was freaking out. I had lost a filling back in 1989, and about 3 years ago I would have sworn I cracked a tooth on a cherry pit. Plus, I still had my wisdom teeth.

But, as it turns out they couldn''t find any cavities. They used a special machine to xray the way back and they found one cavity on the back side of one of my wisdom teeth. How lucky is that? No gum damage either. A lot of tartar on the inside of the lower teeth so it took 2 times of scraping to get it off - but I consider myself so dang lucky! I think it''s because I like to floss my teeth.

Now I have no more fear!!

Very similar story for me. I hadn''t been in about 20 years, and when I finally went in at 40, I didn''t have any cavities, and not that much more than the usual amount of tartar. Compulsive tooth brusher, I''ve been told.

HOWEVER, I am home today (and the last 2) from ....DENTAL WORK. One of the 3 baby teeth I have(now had) left, finally started giving up the ghost about a year ago. I''d be ashamed if not for the fact that I''d kept it about 40 years longer than normal. Even the dentist was pretty impressed and I DO still have 2 left. (2 of them are genetic things - no permanent tooth above). Anyway, the tooth they removed was ankylosed, meaning no socket anymore, just fused to the bone. So, I chose to be knocked out because he was going to have to chisel/drill the tooth - and BONE - out of the jaw to get that tooth out. Um....I think I''ll be knocked out for that, thanks. After seeing how much he took,and how many stitches there are ( honestly, it feels like there is a little iron maiden in my mouth - sharp ends of stitches all over the durn place: OUCH!) I made the right call being knocked out for that. I wish these stitches would hurry up and GO though.... I just love the proper pain meds though. Makes life bearable when they do mean things to you...

I''m a big fan of being knocked out. I''m an admitted wuss.

 

[HVVS]

Terrified? No, no way. I have had two root canals and two crowns, even. It didn't hurt a bit but that smell of burning flesh was a little repulsive, I'll admit. Not scary or anything. But if they offered me nitrous, I never said no.

I had 4 impacted wisdom teeth taken out at the same time. That's the way to do it. That hurt afterward. If I'd just have had two done, they'd have never gotten me back into the chair for the other two.

The worst thing I ever had was an extremely klutzy dental hygienist. She beat on my mouth, like she was using a chisel. Seriously. Then she put that xray film holder thing in my mouth and proceeded to klutzily whack the end of it so hard with her elbow so that it cranked my head around 90 degrees (I'm exaggerating!) and almost dislocated my jaw. I almost slugged her. I told the dentist "If I ever even come back to this office, make sure that woman does not come near me!" Other patients complained, too, and he fired her.

 

[yssie]

I''m always scared too, even if I never have anything to be scared about - compulsive brusher and flosser. Those things that pry your mouth open and hold your lips back hurt!

 

[somethingshiny]

I''m not scared of the dentist, although after all the work I''ve had I could be! What I despise is the SOUND of the cleaning, drilling, etc. I always bring an ipod and turn it way up to drown out the noise. Then I look at the dentist or hygenist and tell them I hope they enjoy country music because it will be loud enough for them to hear. They have to tap me on the shoulder so I can turn down the volume if they want to tell me something or ask me to turn a bit.

 

[isaku5]

I had so many traumatic experiences with dentists both as a child and a teen! I found one dentist in another town and went to him until he retired. Then, back to square one. I first tried the dentist that DH goes to and he was fine, but too many times he didn''t show up for my app''t.

. I now have a dentist just a few streets from where we live and he''s great. BUT, when I was filling in the new patient application, I wrote at the top of the page in huge letters: EXTREMELY DENTAL PHOBIC!!!!!

 

[PumpkinPie]

my dad was my dentist and my mom the assistant - I LOVED going to the dentist as a child because I got to see my parents during the day - and play with the water and air squirty tools and the chair controls
Since he retired and I moved away, it's not quite as enjoyable anymore

 

[Kaleigh]

ME!!!! I had a terrrible time getting my veneers done, and a root canal... I really have to be in great pain , to see my dentist. He''s such a great guy, and gives me laughing gas. I am not a big baby.. I did have some bad things happen, so my fear is justified. Luckily my Dentist knows that and is very gentle on me..

Good luck!!!!

 

[luvmyhalo]

Holy crap, this thread is like immersion therapy for me.

4ever – My heart races like crazy too. I had a similar experience at my doctor’s office. They did routine blood work and had me come in to review the results. (I hate when they won’t tell you anything over the phone.) For 2 weeks, I thought I had some type of cancer. Turned out I had borderline high cholesterol. Geeeezzz, couldn’t they have just told me on the phone to eat better and exercise more instead of raising my blood pressure waiting for the results!!

Monarch – That’s awesome that you love getting your teeth cleaned. Even that is extremely unpleasant for me

The scraping and having my mouth pried open for so long is just so dang uncomfortable.

Cehra – 27 years and only ONE cavity. That''s so awesome! I think part of the anxiety is the guilt trip I get from the hygienist and dentist for not going for so long. Maybe it’s my own guilt, but I still feel like a little kid being scolded.

Hera – Oh. My. God. That’s horrible. I cannot imagine how terrible that was for you at such a young age. I had a root canal around the same age and it was BAD but if I had gone through what you did, I might have never gone back! I would have needed therapy too for sure.

Ksinger - Knocked out for sure!!! You are in NO way a wuss. No person in their right mind should be awake for that. Eeeek, I’m cringing at the thought of them drilling your BONE. I hope your pain meds are working nicely and everything heals fast!

HVVS – Oh my word, I hope that woman isn’t working in anywhere near a dental office!!

Somethingshiny – YES!!!!! The sound and smell is enough to send me running out the door. I think I’ll bring my Ipod next time and blast it!

Isabel, that’s a good idea, maybe I should write that on my chart so they’ll take it easy on me. At my appt last week, I was literally in tears as the hygienist was describing the “deep cleaning” they were going to do. It’s a combination of fear of pain and being ashamed for not going for so long.

 

[luvmyhalo]

Date: 3/10/2010 10:35:38 PM
Author: Kaleigh
ME!!!! I had a terrrible time getting my veneers done, and a root canal... I really have to be in great pain , to see my dentist. He''s such a great guy, and gives me laughing gas. I am not a big baby.. I did have some bad things happen, so my fear is justified. Luckily my Dentist knows that and is very gentle on me..

Good luck!!!!

You know, I had veneers done too. My 6 front teeth are all cosmetic veneers. That wasn''t exactly pleasant but since it was cosmetic and I chose to do it, it was an entirely diffent experience. Now what does that say about me???!!!

I''ve never asked to have laughing gas, what does it feel like?

 

[kenny]

Well, I don't love going and I don't hate it.
I take super good care of my teeth and, equally and perhaps more importantly, my gums.

Most tooth loss later in life is not from tooth decay; it's from gum problems.
Gums gradually recede and loose their grip on the teeth if you don't floss daily.

I have flossed at least once a day every day religiously since I was 18.
I've gone to the dentist for deep cleaning and a check up twice a year.

So I don't like it but it is a top priority to me.

Also I do HATE being drilled on.
I insist on a valium Rx prior to such appointments.
Why suffer?

 

[Callisto]

I totally agree, I hate the dentist. Combination of a lot of reasons but mainly just always scared they''ll find cavities. I take very good care of my teeth and eat well and still have had a lot of cavities as an adult (they said i could just be predisposed to getting them).

I had to get a bunch filled a few years ago and cried through the ENTIRE thing. But oddly the main source of my tears was just feeling so guilty that my parents would have to pay for this to be done. I cried a few years later too from just a single filling, I think I was mainly just reliving the time before. I joke that they hate when I''m there because I just start crying and they don''t know what to do. I made it through the last visit tear free though! (But i also didn''t have to have any fillings)

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

Date: 3/10/2010 11:49:28 PM
Author: kenny
Well, I don''t love going and I don''t hate it.
I take super good care of my teeth and, equally and perhaps more importantly, my gums.

Most tooth loss later in life is not from tooth decay; it''s from gum problems.
Gums gradually recede and loose their grip on the teeth if you don''t floss daily.

I have flossed at least once a day every day religiously since I was 18.
I''ve gone to the dentist for deep cleaning and a check up twice a year.

So I don''t like it but it is a top priority to me.

Also I do HATE being drilled on.
I insist on a valium Rx prior to such appointments.
Why suffer?

This is how I feel about it .....now.

It''s taken me 30 years to get over an experience similar to the one heranderson described.

Later today, I''m having two root canals done and an abcess under a crown treated. Can''t wait.

I can cope with check ups, cleaning and minor work ok, but for today''s treatment, I''ll be having IV sedation to go with my valium. I quite like that, it''s a nice floaty feeling and you don''t remember anything afterwards.

It is a priority, because I want to keep my teeth (they are soft and they crumble) but no way do I want to be mentally present while they''re being drilled.

 

[ksinger]

Date: 3/11/2010 3:38:02 AM
Author: Mrs Mitchell

Date: 3/10/2010 11:49:28 PM
Author: kenny
Well, I don''t love going and I don''t hate it.
I take super good care of my teeth and, equally and perhaps more importantly, my gums.

Most tooth loss later in life is not from tooth decay; it''s from gum problems.
Gums gradually recede and loose their grip on the teeth if you don''t floss daily.

I have flossed at least once a day every day religiously since I was 18.
I''ve gone to the dentist for deep cleaning and a check up twice a year.

So I don''t like it but it is a top priority to me.

Also I do HATE being drilled on.
I insist on a valium Rx prior to such appointments.
Why suffer?

This is how I feel about it .....now.

It''s taken me 30 years to get over an experience similar to the one heranderson described.

Later today, I''m having two root canals done and an abcess under a crown treated. Can''t wait.

I can cope with check ups, cleaning and minor work ok, but for today''s treatment, I''ll be having IV sedation to go with my valium. I quite like that, it''s a nice floaty feeling and you don''t remember anything afterwards.

It is a priority, because I want to keep my teeth (they are soft and they crumble) but no way do I want to be mentally present while they''re being drilled.

Yeah! Smart girl! I''m a big fan of sedation for EVERYTHING! Ok...that may be overstating a bit.

I know I''ve taken relentless care of my teeth over the years, and as I said, I was chagrined that I lost this one. But it WAS a baby molar...the one right in front of the molar? You can''t see it even though it''s gone. It was so tiny and pulled up into the bone, you could hardly see it if I pointed it OUT. But it got a lot of use, and trapped much food for all that I flossed more than any normal person should. After 40 years it said byebye.

NOW, of course, I get to think about doing the bridge thing. Apparently due to where it was in the first place (upper jaw at the thinnest part near the sinus) and the fact that he had to take bone, AND the fact that you have to have 10mm mininum, of bone to do an implant, I''m NOT a good candidate for an implant. Unless of course, I''d consider bone grafts in the sinus. Um.....NO???

So, unfortunately, I''m not done with the dental work thing just yet...

I''m supposed to go in today to get my "flipper" bridge...a single temp tooth that hooks onto each adjacent tooth. But I''m not sure I can stand it...all that swelling still there and all those stitches everywhere.

I''m NOT ready for this day....

 

[Sabine]

YES! I''m one of the people with the irrational fears. I really hate anything having to do with my mouth. I''ve always been this way, but faithfully went twice a year until I was in college and didn''t have insurance for a few years. When I finally went back, I did/do have gum disease (just gums receding, and the process has stopped but not reversed totally at this point), which sucks. I brushed my teeth a lot and probably too vigorously when I wasn''t going to the dentist.

Of course, it doesn''t help that when I finally started going again, I picked the WRONG dentist and they were horrible there. At one point I had a dentist filling a cavity while taking cell phone calls!

I moved again though and now I found a dentist I really like, which does help a little bit.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I wouldn''t say I''m terrified of the dentist, but I hate going with a passion. It''s not so much anxiety, I just don''t like being poked, prodded and judged for my inability to floss on a regular basis.

Interesting and horrifying story. My childhood dentist is a close family friend and neighbor to my Aunt and Uncle. At my cousin''s wedding last summer, when I introduced him to my husband he grabbed his chin, pulled up his lip and started checking his teeth. My husband was mortified and so was I!

 

[Miss Sparkly]

I used to be so scared of the dentist that I would have major panic attacks where I couldn''t breathe and would almost pass out. As soon as I moved out of the house I stopped going, which is NOT a good idea for somebody who is prone to teeth problems. After two years I was forced to go back to fix a cavity. The dentist put a rubber dam, bite block, some metal thing around my teeth, a sucker hose, spray hose and his tools all in my mouth at the same time! I was shaking, crying and scared out of my mind the entire time.

Finally, a year after that brought me to my current dentist. Once again I had a cavity that I couldn''t ignore. He is the BEST denstist I have ever met! He listened to me, showed me all the tools he uses and explained how they work and asked what I would like to not be used on me. As he was filling my tooth he noticed that I need a much higher level of anesthetic then most people due to a nerve that runs through your lower jaw bone. He said that my teeth are closer to the bone then most people''s and that the nerve in the jaw also runs longer (towards the chin) in me meaning that I need more and and need a couple boosters during the process.

The results of my bad teeth care are two crowns and several surface fillings on EVERY SINGLE tooth (my teeth are nice white and pretty, the only way to see these cavitys is on an x-ray). We''ve been taking it slow, one to two teeth per month. Last month I went to him crying, asking if I would even have teeth by the time I am 40 (I''m 23). He said that is a good question, and that if I take excellent care of my teeth and make sure to visit on time that I will have my teeth for a long time to come.

Please learn from me that taking care of your teeth is very important. I know how scary it can be to see the dentist! Sadly, I also know how scary it is to know that your teeth will probably not last as long as you do

Guess that''s what crowns are for

 

[geckodani]

Yes. I'm one of the 25% of the population with a resistance to the caine family (Novicaine, Lydicaine etc.) Much like heraanderson, I had several things done with no numbing (apparantly they decided not to believe me that I could feel EVERYTHING).

In early college, I finally got them to adequately numb me, but it wore off halfway through. When he finished with the tooth he was on, and went to go to the next (refusing to believe that I was no longer numb). I got out of the chair, walked out of the office and didn't go back to the dentist for almost 8 years, and only then because that cavity that had been sitting there unfilled for 8 years was causing me major issues.

I have a great dentist now. She gives me valium to get me in the door, and nitrous to keep me in the chair.

That said, for anything more serious than a filling, I will need to be knocked out.

Totally irrational, and not a damn thing I can do about it.

ETA: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/the-pain-of-being-a-redhead/?emc=eta1&apage=3 Sucks to be redheaded or fair skinned.

 

[elrohwen]

I''m not afraid or anxious about it, but I don''t really like it either!

My new dentist uses this ultrasonic water-pic type thing. Now, most people can''t hear in the ultrasonic range, but unfortunately for me, I can. The darn thing sounds like 100 nails scratching a chalkboard. At one point I lost all hearing in my left ear and could only hear ringing. Ugh. My dentist said that I don''t have to get that part of the cleaning if it really bothers me, but it''s so good for my gums that she really recommends I just tough it out. As people age they lose the ability to hear in the ultrasonic range, so every time I go I pray that I can''t hear it anymore - no luck so far! I think I''m going to bring ear plugs on my next visit.

 

[Pandora II]

Petrified.

I have finally found a dentist who does sedation near me and I am going to get an appointment soon. It has taken me years just to get up the courage to walk through the door and ask for the registration papers.

I feel sick just thinking about it.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I haven''t any fear of the dentist. . .once though, my DH made a joke about me asking for nitrous oxide when getting my teeth cleaned and I asked the dentist and he said okay. He gave me WAY too much and I freaked out. . .that was my only bad experience.

There is a kids'' dentist my son use to go to and he said he gives *valium* to kids who have anxiety over dental visits. Valium to little kids?!

 

[kenny]

Date: 3/11/2010 10:13:12 AM
Author: elrohwen
I'm not afraid or anxious about it, but I don't really like it either!


My new dentist uses this ultrasonic water-pic type thing. Now, most people can't hear in the ultrasonic range, but unfortunately for me, I can. The darn thing sounds like 100 nails scratching a chalkboard. At one point I lost all hearing in my left ear and could only hear ringing. Ugh. My dentist said that I don't have to get that part of the cleaning if it really bothers me, but it's so good for my gums that she really recommends I just tough it out. As people age they lose the ability to hear in the ultrasonic range, so every time I go I pray that I can't hear it anymore - no luck so far! I think I'm going to bring ear plugs on my next visit.

Earplugs may not help.
There is a direct path from the throat to the ear, the Eustachian tube.
It is why yawning helps us equalize pressure underwater or at high altitudes.

Sound in the mouth can travel to the ear through this tube.
BTW, this is one reason teaching singing is difficult.
We hear our own voices primarily from the sound that arrived via these tubes.
We have to be trained to improve what we sound like out in the room.
Have you ever heard a recording of your voice?
It sounds different than you thought, and this is why.

 

[luvmyhalo]

Date: 3/11/2010 4:33:51 PM
Author: MC
I haven''t any fear of the dentist. . .once though, my DH made a joke about me asking for nitrous oxide when getting my teeth cleaned and I asked the dentist and he said okay. He gave me WAY too much and I freaked out. . .that was my only bad experience.

There is a kids'' dentist my son use to go to and he said he gives *valium* to kids who have anxiety over dental visits. Valium to little kids?!

This is CRAZY!

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

Pandora, the sedation makes it all absolutely lovely. I was sick (literally) with fear before my first go at sedation, but after that, I was (and am) fine. I can''t convince you with just words, but once you''ve had it done that way, you''ll see what I mean. Honestly, it''s just so easy and so pleasant. Give it a go!

Ksinger, I had the bonegraft / implant done, it was fine (and I''m a hopeless dental phobic). As with all things dental, the secret is sedation. Once you''re sedated, it doesn''t matter at all what they actually do. Filling, clean and polish, bone graft, implant - it''s all one. Honestly!

Jen

 

[honey22]

Yep, stone cold terrified. I get myself into such a state just for a teeth clean. To be honest, I had laser surgery on my eyes, awake and all, and I would rather do that again than see the dentist. Urghh, my skin crawls just the thought of it!!

 

[Clio]

Normally, I don''t have anything more than a mild concern that they might find problems. We moved a few years ago, though, and while I set up a new pediatric dentist for the kids right away, I just never got my act together to find a new dentist for myself. The longer I waited, the more anxious I became because it had been so long, and I was sure my teeth were all about to fall out! And that the dentist would yell at me for not going for so long. I finally made myself make an appointment last fall. The dentist was nice, my teeth are just fine, and I''m back on track.

I actually have more anxiety about my kids than myself. I''m convinced that if my kids get cavities, the dentist will be judging me harshly for being a bad parent. That''s why my husband takes them to all of their dental appointments.