Anxiety and the Dentist :(

[manda266]

It's unavoidable, I am going to have to go to the dentist, which is already making me prepare for a huge panic attack while I'm laying there in the chair with my mouth numb waiting for the dentist to return. Ok, does anyone have any advice for me how to get through this? I'm thinking about bringing an mp3 player or something to listen to while I'm waiting (I know how stupid I would look). I don't know of any reaction between the anesthetic they use and Ativan, but I'm worrying about this as well.  I will have to take the ativan or I definetly won't get through it. The last time I went I started to have a panic attack while I was waiting in the chair and got up and went to the bathroom, splashed my face with water and sat down for a while. I forced myself to go back and my hands and body were shaking the entire time I was getting the cavities filled. I'm just really, really dreading this. Any suggestions?

[CrazyWoman]

Why don't you call your dentist office ahead of time and let them know how you feel?  And the meds you need to take?  That may relieve the problems a bit.

[apple]

Definately call ahead and explain your anxiety and what meds you take.  I did that after 17 years not seeing a dentist.  They were really understanding and tried everything to make me comfortable.  They have MANY patients that have anxiety when seeing them.  They acted like it was common and treated me real good anyway.   Take your MP3 player if it will help you concentrate on something other than whats happening to you.  I think its a good idea.

[NightOwl]

I hated the dentist until I switched to a new one and realized my previous one was a moron.

[duncil]

i found a place that catered to people with fears of dentists, or just plain anxiety from a visit, while i was still nervous, they knew of my difficulties and planned for me to be there extra time, like a double visit, so they could just cater to me, i must say, they were awesome

[mommy_2_4_babies]

I feel that it is almost impossible to go 2 the dentist or the hairdresser for the fear of being trapped

[duncil]

yes, i get the same fear, luckily i have a freind that cuts my hair, i cant do a barber, and thank god i had all my teeth yanked, i knew i couldnt handle getting them worked on and had them put me under, but i trully understand being trapped, anyone can make it as comfortable as they can, yet, its hell

[mommy_2_4_babies]

Too bad we cant all be bald and toothless

[Mairead]

My dentist gives me laughing gas. I don't get panic attacks there, I just love the fuzzy feeling :) I don't care what they're doing in my mouth anymore.

[mommy_2_4_babies]

I would freak out if i got that feeling

[duncil]

heheeehe, toothless has its advantages heheehhe, and atleast if you can take care of your hair you wont get a hair infection hehehehhe

[mommy_2_4_babies]

Yeah lol

[duncil]

hehehehhe

[tigerpaw]

My wife, takes a seditive everytime she goes to the destist or on a plane. She gets it from her therapist, so it can be done.
Let your dentist know what you have been perscribed and just relax.
Or the non med approach of the mp3 player sounds even better.

[NightFox]

Old topic, but don't know if you've gone yet or were still preparing for it.

I had to go three times back in late December, I have Celiac and one of the symptoms is extremely weak tooth enamel, so I'm real prone to cavities/decay.

Anyways, I was fine till I got there, then when I was waiting in the chair for my mouth to go numb, I started to panic a bit.
The anesthetic gave me a very strange feeling, and made my heart race like crazy (forget what it's called that makes your heart race, but you can usually ask for a type of anesthetic that doesn't cause this)
My sister said she felt strange as well when she was on the anesthetic, so it probably happens to most people.
I then started to get the typical shakes, they probably thought they were hurting me or something. I just sucked it up and waited for it to be over. To me, the anesthetic makes time fly by, an hour or so felt like 25 minutes.

[Door]

My wife, takes a seditive everytime she goes to the destist or on a plane. She gets it from her therapist, so it can be done.
Let your dentist know what you have been perscribed and just relax.
Or the non med approach of the mp3 player sounds even better.

One thing I love about going to the dentist and flying on a plane is that "normal" people are nervous about these things too.  If I were to ever get fidgety or panic in either situation, the flight attendants or dental staff probably would think of it as routine and help me calm down or let me take a break from the cleaning or drilling.

[Emily]

Going through this myself! I COMPLETELY understand how you are feeling. I have just gone through the pulling of 6 teeth and 3 root canals. I need much more work done. I put going to the dentist off for many years, due to my anxiety. It only made things worse and now I hardly have enough money to finish the work that needs be done. I am hoping to get braces on also.

The way I dealt with it, was finding a dentist that made me feel comfortable. She let me come in and talk while just sitting in the chair for a few appointments. I explained my Panic condition from day one. I took/take extra ativan everytime and she talks to me about other things while working on my mouth. She lets me hold the sucking instrument while she works on me, which I find if I squeeze something when I start feeling the panic come on, I feel a little better.

She knows what I am going through and is very patient with me. Which I think makes a world of difference, even if I look like a big baby. I have been living with panic for a long time now, so I have looked like just about everything.

Good luck to you.

[DigitalBath971]

Having a strange person pry open your mouth with sharp metal objects while other strange people stare into it with masks on their faces is going to be frightening to anyone, period! I just recently had a hell of a lot of work done because of neglecting it for so long due to anxiety, and it was not fun however it WAS manageable (with full stomach and a small dose of klonopin).

[Horsefreak77]

That happens to me all the time when I go into get dental work done, other than my yearly check-up. I hate the needles! But the dental hygenest, who is a really good friend helps me through it. So does my dentist, he's really understanding. When I get nervous I just close my eyes and pretend I'm riding my horse.

Hope this helps. 

[tmicrowave]

yeah sitting there in that chair with someones hands in your mouth and you can't move is just kind of a bizzare thing in itself!
then us with anxiety
ten times worse!
im still putting off going to the dentist
i agree with everyone else about calling the office
ask em about the ativan and all that.
goodluck

[logansmom]

if it helps i just had a three hour root canal done and i feel if they talk to me while they did it i could feel less trapped and more around friends   and they were very understanding all i had to do was raise my hand and we would take a 15min break  i think the worst we all fear is the numbing   i just wish you could see my dentist  cause he is realy wonderful