major denist anxiety...help please!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
major denist anxiety...help please!
4
Thu, 02-07-2008 - 5:21pm

Hi ladies (and of course, any gentlemen),


I am so nervous right now because tomorrow morning, we have a dental appointment.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Thu, 02-07-2008 - 6:38pm

Irene,


I have been lucky in that I have a really great Pediatric dentist, and the kid who has needed the most work done, was the kid who is not afraid of needles. She doesn't see the needle

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-03-2006
Thu, 02-07-2008 - 6:52pm

when our great dentist left the area, we found one that use hypnosis. son is very comfortable with him.


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2008
Fri, 02-08-2008 - 4:57am

You have my sympathy because I am a complete dental phobe myself, although the kids are fine. I would suggest that the most important thing is that *you* stay calm because DS will pick up the anxiety from you. The other thing I have found with my own Aspie is that I can use his curiosity and intelligence to my advantage in these situations, and have the dentist explain absolutely everything to him in mind-numbing detail (how the anaesthetic works, what the numbing cream does, where the cavity is, how they are going to fill it). This freaks me out completely (I'd rather just pass out and wake up when it's done) but perversely calms my Aspie down, because he understands all the processes and I think therefore feels he has some kind of control, or at least, he uses his mind to start processing all this information and forgets to be anxious. It's worked in hospitals where's he's freaked out at having a drip in or having x-rays, and it's worked when he needed some repair work done at the dentist.


Good luck. I don't know if this will help!


Kirsty, mum to Euan (9, Aspergers) Rohan (4, NT) and Maeve (2, NT)


"My definition of housework is to sweep the room with a glance"


Follow my blog on http://mumsnet.com/blogs/kirsteinr/


 

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Fri, 02-08-2008 - 12:47pm

Hi,


My son has a phoebia with needles and the problem for him is even when they numb the area, he can still feel the needle.