Dental Phobia

[letsconnect]

I used to suffer from pretty extreme dental phobia (as in, freaking out at the sight of words starting with de- or similar), and I could never in a million years have contemplated seeing a dentist some day. I would have much preferred World War III, and that's by no means an understatement!! The story had a happy ending and by sheer luck I did find a dentist who was absolutely fantastic in the psychology of dental fear department...

When it comes to phobias, I feel that dental phobia is not always representative of other phobias, because it's not always an "irrational" fear. Very often, the fear is rational! Dental phobia is a very diverse subject and encompasses many different fears and conditions, including PTSD, GAD, childhood abuse, needle phobia, etc. to name but a few. Oftentimes, the origin of the fear is pain coupled with unsympathetic and cold treatment, but that's just one type of dental phobia. Fear of gagging, drowning, wrong treatment, pain and so on are all dental phobias in their own right. The diversity of fears is what makes the topic so interesting, and that's why I started my own site about it! For example, some people have a specific fear of certain dental procedures, whereas other people have a fear of "dentists" as people, and it's not always possible to tell them apart at first glance.

[GreyGoose]

Welcome to the forums letsconnect

I've had a few teeth pulled over the years and I think what scared me the most was the dentist standing over me with a syringe and knowing what he was about to do with it. Of course,  once the procedure was underway my mind shifted to other thoughts. I know a lot of people out there dread going to the dentist so I'm sure your information will prove very helpful :).

- GreyGoose 

[twodogs]

For me, it was always the fear of developing "dry socket" and then counting down each day until I reached the point where I was no longer at risk. I have a habit of sticking the tip of my tongue up in there and fiddling around whenever I have an extraction which I think is a definate no-no!.

[sheknits]

I've had a lot of dental work done when i was in high school. I had one tooth that each dentist i went to kept messing it up so i had to keep going to have my cap and post reset.

It got tothe point where i would walk into the dentists office and the smell would trigger a panic attack/crying spell. Yeah, nobody likes the dentist, but i believe it can be a major phobia.

[jane]

Here - Here! Finally Someone else that has the same problem I do. I have a bad case of dental phobia. Let me just say My teeth are genetically horrible. I have spent over $18,000 fixing my teeth these past two years and having this phobia did not make it very pleasant. I have have fillings, root canals, bridges, & deep cleaning. I have to get IV Seditation because the anxiety is so bad the novicane shots do nothing for me. I was sent from my family dentist to a specialist and finally to a denist who does sedation. I have nightmares, night sweats, panic attacks weeks before an appointment. The only security I have that allows me to walk in the dentist ofice is the comfort of sedation. I had left my previous dentist for another because the fact he kept on finding more problems in my mouth which I thought was total bullcrap- so I found this other dentist who did the sedation and took my insurance. Turns out now I need a damn root canal. (yippie) So I scheadule the apt. THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER. Turns out there are different ways of giving the IV sedation. My first dentist knocked me out- this past one I was awake but not. He had to keep inducing the levels so I did not feel the pain. What a joke. I thought sedation meant that- Sedated. So make sure you ask this question if you are having the same thing done. Make sure you are not getting the so called, "dream like state" sedation- but the totally out cold.

[Linda45]

Hi all, nice to have found this site! I have a weird one for you about dental stuff, well maybe not, let's see if I get some replies! First of all I have panic disorder with agoraphobia (yipee!) and while I am functional and the panic attacks are somewhat under control, I am not where I want to be with this crap...I'm sure many of you can relate.
Anyway here's a quirky one for you. One of my big problems is getting in the dentist chair. I am afraid of the novicane. I'm not afraid of the needle, I'm afraid of the feeling that happens when injected...I don't like that not being able to feel my face, nose, numb throat etc. It's bad enough that it keeps me out of the chair when I need to be in the chair. I am in need of a top denture which is already finished...I just can't get myself to the oral surgeon to get the teeth extracted because of this fear (finances are playing a role as well) I can get through it if I have someone close to me go with me, but it's still very scary for me and I feel like a 2 year old having to have someone hold my hand. It's also embarrasing having to explain it to the dentists I've seen. Anyone else out there with this quirky one and if so any suggestions? I've been reading up on laser dentistry but I don't think that's an option for extractions. If they could make novicane that ONLY numbed the area that they're working on I would be fine. When the numbness spreads the panic rises...it sucks...bigtime...hope to see some responses from others that experience this and maybe some suggestions as well. Thanks!

[lee]

Please help me.  This morning, as I was cleaning my teeth, I noticed what I think is a small cavity in one of my teeth, and now I can't stop worrying.  It's very silly, but i'm now fearing having to go to the dentist.  Going to the barber is bad enough, so going to the dentist, where I already have a fear of, is an awful thought.  The hypocondriac in me also knows if I don't get it done quick, then it may have to come out.  I'm worrying about making an appointment, then having to sit in the waiting room, sitting in the chair with no escape, and then of course the procedure itself.  I haven't been to dentist in over a year now due to my anxiety disorder, and I don't know what to do.  I have a really good GP (doctor) who helps me out whenever I need it, but how can he help here.

If anyone has any advice, it would be much appreciated.  Cheers.

[michelle]

ooh boy like I say we are pretty much all alike.  I haven't been in 2 years.  I hate it.  Then again who likes it?  I let my cavities go so long they decayed town to my jaw bone and they  had no choice than to pull them.  This has been going on since childhood with the dentist.  I mean I had braces and stuff.  I hate the smell of the office, the sound of the drill, the smell of the flouride.  When they take films of the teeth they used to always slice my gums.  I can get needles at the doctors and not think anything of it.  But one in my gums ooooh!  I cry like a baby when I get out of there.  Speaking of I am going next week wish me luck.

[aorta]

I also can relate to this and someone above mentioned a key factor for me. Being held captive in the chair. With your mouth open no less. What could be more vulnerable. I have a problem with anything like this that requires me to sit there and take it. The time factor is a big thing for me as well. If i could sit in the chair open my mouth and know it would be over in less than a minute, i would be much better.
Im also terrified of mris and im avoiding one right now. Now if that was as quick as xrays, id do it in a heartbeat, but tell me i have to lay there restrained for twenty minutes or longer, and i start to panic just thinking of it.
In the dentist scene i will usually have a very upset stomach, diarhea and i think things like im going to vomit or crap while im in that chair. Yeesh.
But as someone also pointed out, if you enjoy it, something isnt quite right also. There are a lot of things about the dentist to logically dislike a great deal.
But what i really need is technology to save me. How about a dentist drive through. Total time drill and fill a cavity, 2 minutes and you dont even have to leave your car.
Walk through MRI like a luggage xray at the airport.

[kiara]

oh i ave a bad fear of the dentist last time i went i had a very bad panic attack she couldnt even do the filling my mum had to pick me up  i ave an appt for this sat morning i m so scared