I need some help!!! Serious answers pleaseeee!!!

[Biker Babe]

Don't know if anyone else has this fear but I am TOTALLY & UTTERLY s**t scared of the dentist..... :B I'm talking real fear here and I just don't know what to do? :h

Iv been in absolute misery since Tuesday, I did get the courage to go to the dentist but only cos I was in absolute misery & thought it might just be an infection and he wouldn't have to do anything.

so he took some x-rays and said he couldn't see anything, but he wanted to remove my cap, drill through the tooth to the root canal and kill the nerve he "thinks" could be causing the pain, I was shaking violently and was almost physically sick and couldn't let him near me.

so he gave me some strong pain killers and antibiotics & said if theres no change then thats what he wants to do........ :B

but nothings changed, (I'm still in agony)

As your probably aware we're going on holiday in two weeks and I don't wanna spoil our holiday by being in pain and misery, but I can't even think about going to the dentist without feeling sick, especially knowing what he wants to do, so my question is this:-

Has anyone else felt like this before/or still does? if so, did you overcome your fears & if so how?

Please help? :h :cry:

 

[Codbasher]

A friend of mine needed a triple by-pass, he was told he had to stop smoking, but he could not, so he went to a Hypnotist, ?50 for 2 sessions, and he has not smoked since, he cant really describe how she 'put him under' but she told him when he came too, it would be like taking a big breath of air after being under water, yet he stayed awake, when she told him to come too, sure enough he took a big breath of air.

May be worth thinking about. :dunno:

 

[R2B2]

Fortunately Trace, I don't suffer the fear you do but I do understand it's reality.

If it's any help, I had a nerve removed from one of my front teeth about 25 years ago. It sounds like a nightmare, but once it's anesth... aneath... numbed up you have no idea of what the dentist is doing anyway..!

Ok, the anesth... anes... the freezing application is not to behold, but it's never as bad as you think it's gonna be... and the long term benifits are WELL worth it. Don't forget the bone like material that makes up a tooth has no feeling... the anesth (abreviated from now on!) just acts as a blocker further up.

Having that nerve removed gave me approx 25 years more without a plate to contend with... that's gotta be worth a visit to the man to have it put right. Honest Trace... have a go and I challenge you to tell me after it's done that you WERN'T surprised to know when he finished!!

Remember... it's only a worry before you go... it's so nice to discover it's all over.... and you didn't really expect it to be more that half way through.

Tell me otherwise afterwards and I'll arrange for you to get your money back!!

(ps... they can also arrange sedatives to ease anxiety, but ya won't need that).

 

[Centaur]

You are not alone

Biker Babe, I have been terrified of the dentist since school days in the 50's. We queued up for a check-up at school and someone at the front of the queue started crying so by the time it was my turn I was ready to have a heart attack. Then I went into the RAF at 15 in 1957 and the dentists all were partners in a practice in the local town so if there were a few in the sick parade in the morning then all the RAF dentist wanted to do was "take it out " because that was quickest and he could get to his first appointment down town. So I have several gaps and have never had a tooth out since 1972 when I left the RAF. Speaks volumes, doesn't it. Since then, I have had several fillings, Two root canals, a bridge and four post caps, where the front teeth are cut away and a steel post inserted and then capped. Modern dentists are BLOODY GOOD and DON'T HURT. Try him? with the old adage. Hold his b*lls in your right hand and tell him;"If you hurt me I'll hurt you".If it's a lady dentist you are safe as hell. Look, if it's at the back ,tell him to take the f8cker out and be done with it. If it's at the front think of snogging and go with what he advises. YOU CAN DO IT.YOU CAN DO IT.YOU CAN DO IT.

 

[Biker Babe]

Thanx guys,

I think the main problem is, is that its my top front tooth, when i had the cap put on (about 4 years ago) I remember it was misery, even after having 4 injections it was still hell, I think id be a little more incline to go if it was a back tooth but I swore id never have anything done to me front teeth again, especially the top ones :cry: :cry:

So iv been told if the dentist agrees I can be referred to another surgery and be put out while its done, the only problem with that is A. the dentist has to agree and B. it might take 3 weeks for the appointment, which normally wouldn't be a problem but as iv explained I'm going on holiday soon.

I just don't know what to do, I don't want the pain anymore but every time I think about going to the dentist I just wanna uke:

 

[R2B2]

Not an easy one Trace... but the holiday must rule here. You really don't wanna go on that hol with fecking raging toothache do ya..?

... And because last time was not nice... doesn't mean this time will have probs! Go for it and let us know how it really wasn't a big deal, (- and I'm not being flippant or a smartass!).

 

[robbo25]

trace the best way to conquer your fears is to face them, i do if im scared of anything i drop my shoulders, hold my head up and think right you bas...d i cando this. when you are in the chair stare at a certain spot on the light and focus hard, your lying on that beach feel the sun on your face forget what the dentists doing, hes making this the best holiday you will ever have. sun sea sand and sex. plenty of it. dont think pain, you can turn it off. posititivity. you can do it

 

[robbo25]

sorry trace its bev, just done about 200 burgers plus. wainfleet weekend, head gone

 

[Biker Babe]

Well iv got till tuesday to get brave as thats when iv gotta go back to the den den dentist........ or chicken out big time........... time will tell I guess :dunno:

 

[Nick Brett]

Is it the same dentist that hurt you before? If so, go to another, ask friends to recommend one, some are definately better than others. Pay and go private if you have to. When I was a nipper my dentist hurt me and i wouldnt go for years, till i, like you had raging toothache and had to bite the bullet (sorry). I was crapping myself but could'nt stand any more pain. This guy was brilliant, I kept my eyes closed the whole time so i did'nt see any hardware and really didnt feel a thing. Go for it girl, you will be so glad you did cos your hols are going to be crap otherwize.

 

[robbo25]

another way to do it trace is lay in the chair grab his boll...s and say we are not going to hurt each other ARE WE luv

 

[Centaur]

Real World

Biker Babe, What if we all virtually (or really if you prefer it) come with you. I'll go for it either way! Bill. :yo:

 

[Artemis]

Trace, you're a woman, of course you can do it.

I know a big strong fireman who was just the same and ended up taking a woman with him to hold his hand. He's still nervous before a visit, but can do it alone now.

Not easy, I know, that kind of fear is difficult to understand unless you suffer from it. My own phobia is bridges and other man-made heights by, or over water. Yet I will quite happily climb up scree-slopes and cliffs which are infinitely more dangerous. Completely illogical c7u8

The tranquilisers or the hypnotist sound like good solutions though.

Can't offer any other suggestions, but best of luck. Get it done, then enjoy that sunshine.

 

[Jaws]

Tracey, things have changed a lot in recent years mate..
Like you I was scared out of my wits to go to the dentist, but after putting up with all sorts of agony I decided I had to go.
I insisted I would ONLY be happy with gas.
He said that if I felt anything at all he would do the job with gas for free..
Now that was a deal I could not turn down !
So its open wide and I notice the pic on the ceiling.. One of the BMP posters !
I point and make noises to the effect I am in to bikes.. He chats away about his gixer and makes reference to bits of the poster..
Right he says, pop out side and let the juice do its job.. Yup, he had injected the gum with such a fine wire needle and with such care I honestly did not know he had done it.. Couple of minutes later I am back in the chair with the gum numb enough for me to get the real injection ( which of course I never felt )
After the job was done ( a top rear one had to come out ) I left the place with zero pain.
For the rest of the day I was thinking 'any minute now,,, its gonna hurt like hell' !
Nope, not a sausage !
Since then I have never worried about going there

 

[DB on CBR1100XX]

Tracey...........

............it sounds like you need the root fill. The AB's will only treat the symptoms ie. the infection, not the cause: the dead/dying nerve. Pain may or may not subside, but if your dentist is correct an abscess will form and recur until the root is treated. The abscess may find a track to the surface and appear as a pimple that discharges on the gum. In this case as the infection is self draining, you are unlikely to get much in the way of pain. However, a chronic infection is not a good idea............

If you are flying on holiday, you really need the root fill. barodontalgia [pressure induced dental pain] is not funny and as commercial cabins are not fully pressurised to atmospheric pressure this means the reduced pressure allows already inflammed tissue to swell further. This is bad news.

The good news is..........The moment your dentist drills and opens the pulp chamber there's a good chance that pain relief will be immediate as the pressure of infection is released and the infection drained. RCT done properly with rubber dam and canals irrigated with hypochlorite soln and properly filled has a long term success rate in the high 90's per cent wise.


Unfortunately, most dental phobics delay treatment. This reinforces their fear as they only go when they reach the end of their endurance and treatment is more complex and uncomfortable. Once treated, they leave until next time sometimes only having problems treated temporarily and so the cycle begins again. In your case, treatment is relatively straightforward and you should get quick pain relief. The treatment will be nowhere near as bad as what you have suffered to date. I presume the present guy/girl isn't the one who upset you before. You need to find a clinician you can trust - dental treatment IS a parnership. That's our philosophy anyway.

Get all the info you can - knowledge dispels fear. Ask exactly what he's going to do and how he'll do it. If you haven't been for a few years, things have changed. Procedures are better, anaesthetics are better, kit and materiel are better..............in short you may be pleasantly surprised.

If you are really worked up. Ask about RA [laughing gas] this will relax you with no long lasting effects and is used in conjuction with local anaesthetic. General practices are not allowed to use intravenous valium anymore and your timeframe doesn't permit referral to a clinic that could. The other option may well be to get your GP to give you some oral temazepam to take before the appointment. You'll need someone to watch you afterwards until the tablet wears off as you will be a little wobbly.

PM me if you want more advice. I don't mind chatting on the phone if you'd rather. I work as a hygienist in a practice that does a lot of endodontics[root treatment] to what we feel is a high standard. We see a lot of dental phobics and have helped many through quite intensive courses of treatment. Once straightened out, they return on a regular basis for exams and hyg treatment to maintain them: they often require much less treatment in the future to keep themelves healthy. Most care should take place at home........................It all comes back to trust and partnership.

Hope this helps and best wishes

 

[Pugwash]

I had caps on my front two teeth since the age of 7. They remove them pretty easily and without pain. They have to clean the tooth and they usually freeze my jaw to do it and it vibrates. They veneered them when I was about 17 and they look better, apart from where one broke 5 years ago and I'm too scared of dentists to go and get it replaced. :blush:

 

[XX-Simon]

Just had Root canal treatment a few months ago.
The only pain i got was holding my jwa open so fooking long.
Your not going to die on the table girl so relax and think of somthing nice R#?

 

[BraXX]

you have to face it

I have this kind of panic and think can give some advice
You have to face it and can't count on anyone to help.
Think its goin to end, dont expect it to end short and that at the end you are not going to be dead you are going to be cured.
Find a dentist you trust and one you feel loves his work as much you love biking believe a dentist must have small hands.
Most important : I keep my eyes close and try not to know what is going to happen next
Have patience and faith

 

[Crozzers]

Do it

I had a toothache a few years ago, and headed off to Greece thinking it would be alright as i was too scared to go to the dentist.
But, alas, 3 days into the holiday, i was in absolute agony. It totally ruined the holiday. I was running around the hotel at 5am screaming the place down. I had to go and get myself extremely strong painkillers which just didn`t even touch it. I was climbing the walls and would have rather gone through labour again. So, go and get it done, you will regret it big time otherwise.

 

[Supabird1100]

Trace was last seen trying to hide under the bed so as to avoid the dreaded dentist trip. But the plan was foiled thanks to our faithful dog who sniffed her out !!!! :} Appointment booked for tomorrow morning !!!!

We leave for Turkey in less than a fortnight and with the year we've had so far it would be a pity to have anything spoiling it.

Do I go along with her to offer moral support and to hold her hand ??? :dunno:

Thanks everone !!!!! :beer: