Afraid of the Dentist?
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Afraid of the Dentist?
| Thu, 03-23-2006 - 3:57pm |
Afraid of the Dentist?Does thinking about going to the dentist make you break into a cold sweat? You're not alone. But with dentistry's many advances, diagnosis and treatment gets more comfortable all the time.
The American Dental Association offers these suggestions for easing your anxiety:

The American Dental Association offers these suggestions for easing your anxiety:
- If you're tense or anxious, tell your dentist and the dental staff. Getting your concerns out in the open will let your dentist adapt treatment to your needs.
- Try to choose a time for your visit when you're less likely to be rushed or under pressure. For some people, that means a Saturday or an early-morning appointment.
- If the sound of the drill bothers you, bring a portable audio player and headset so you can listen to your favorite music.
- While you're in the dentist's chair, try visualizing yourself relaxing on a warm beach.
– Nancyann Rella, HealthDay News


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Very! It's funny because I just broke a tooth over the weekend and I am terrified to go get it checked out!
Oh, and this is the first post I've made. Hi!
June 20 (iVillage Total Health) -- People who have avoided root canals, teeth cleanings and other dental procedures because of fears and anxiety over dental work may take comfort in the results of a new study: your anxiety levels will decline with time. Read more @: http://www.heartcenteronline-mail.com/sndxdcby_fgrdqqddrj.html
I'm petrified of the dentist and I need some work done in my mouth, been thinking about it but I'm so scared. The last time I went to a dentist, I flipped out and had a panic attack, I was shaking. But when it was all over, I said, it wasnt that bad.
What I'm afraid of is being put under and that laughing gas, freaks me out so bad, and dont know what to do, when the time comes, what going to happen. I want to cry just thinking about it. Everyone will think I'm a nutcase but I guess who cares what people think.
I need to go the dentist, sometime,
Tina
Tina,
I kwym- I found your msg while searching IV for any tips on fear of the dentist..
Nancy- mommy to Kelly & Sydney
((((Tina))))
You sound exactly like me. I too am terrified of the dentist. I have not been back to my dentist for almost two years, the last time I had a root canal done my dentist was a real jerk towards me, I was having a panic attack, and he kept telling me I had to get a grip and calm down, kind of mean like. The nurse just looked at me like I was a real wacko and when it was all over she said that I should go see my doctor and get some nerve pills. What a B**CH!!! (sorry) So I WILL NOT go back, I have three teeth now that are bothering me, I am hurting almost every day and in pain it seems, Motrin is helping it thank goodness but I can't go on like this. I did find a dentist who deals with anxious patients but my stupid Cigna insurance isn't on their provider list :(
I can't go on like this, I can't eat anything cold, I have to use WARM water to brush my teeth, can barely put any milk on my cereal because of the cold sensitivity, it is awful.
I havent read through all of the replies on here but I don't know what to do, I will not go back to the jerk who I went to last time, I don't know where he's coming from and cannot believe he still stays in practice being the way that he is, so insensitive and uncaring.
Sue
Yes, the cost is another scary thing, here is an itemized list of what all scares me about the dentist:
1. First of all, sitting in the dentist's chair - the way that they lean you WAY BACK so that you're almost lying down...helpless feeling. It's surprising that they don't have straps on there to strap you in or better yet - a straightjacket.
2. The BIG SHOT that they give you and the after effect of that stuipid shot that makes your heart race over 100 beats a minute....
3. The drill or whatever instrument that makes an awful noise.
4. and 5. The particles flying around in your mouth and that nasty tube that feels like it's sucking out your entire mouth and brain....
6. The length of time it all takes, seems to go on and on for hours...
7. The numbness that you feel in your mouth, one side of your mouth being numb is bad enough, but then if he works on both sides you feel like your entire mouth, including your tongue is numb or swollen and you can't swallow (that can be quite scary!)
8. The searing pain that comes on after the shot starts to wear off....after my first root canal no sooner than I had gotten out to my car to drive myself home then I started having BAD pain...I had to drive to the nearest CVS and buy some Advil or Aleve or whatever I bought...nope dentist did not prescribe me anything stronger, I just had to "deal with it".
9. Yes, the BIG BILL that you get after insurance supposedly does their part...seems like you still have to pay a huge whopping amount! Like I don't have enough bills already...
Oh and by the way, that dentist did not provide laughing gas...I wouldn't have been able to use it anyways, it makes me too lightheaded and I almost passed out one time and they had to give me regular oxygen when I was getting fillings by my former dentist (5 years ago). Talk about embarrassing...
Sorry this is just one of these days where I am in a self-pity mood...I need to look in the phone book and try to find another dentist and keep trying, eventually I'll find somebody who is covered by my insurance, it's just a real pain (no pun intended).
XOXOXO
Sue
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