Dental phobia advice

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

So I literally have the worst fear of dentists since I had a horrific experience around age 10.
Since then I’ve had some dental work done under general anaesthetic but this was about 13 years ago. I take diazepam for routine checks. Then about 3 years ago I had root canal. Lots of diazepam later I barely knew what was happening.
I do apologise for the long post. But to cut a long story short that dentist who was very patient with me has now gone and I lost the filling at the start of lockdown.
Does anyone know what I can do. As I am petrified to the point I have panic attacks thinking about it. How do I get dental work. Can I be referred to a clinic for people with dental phobia?

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

The thing is, this is very common, so for the number of dentists that don’t understand there are (I would hope) more or an equal amount that do. I know it’s a faff signing up to new dentists but honestly I would keep doing it over and over until I found one I was comfortable with. I would find out if I was comfortable with them by having a chat with them first before I even sat in the seat and explaining my fear. If I didn’t feel comfortable I would get up and leave, go home, and move onto the next dentist and set up an appointment and repeat the process.

Or channel your inner Patsy and have several bolly-stollys before you go

I think I’ll just have to go private again (although my original dentist that did this to me was private) but with nhs you get what you are given. I don’t want to generalise but I’ve found it’s mostly male dentists that haven’t understood as their opinion has been once it’s done it’s done. Just be brave. Which obviously is love to do.
I mean you joke, but I have definitely lost a day to vodka and diazepam.. only way I could walk through the door. Patsy would be proud!

you might like to have a look at the forum, dental fear central. it has recommendations for dentists who are good with nervous patients, and you can read other peoples stories. good luck x

Ah brilliant I’ll go look. Thank you!

I have massive dental phobia too so I completely empathise. I went 10 years without seeing a dentist as I was so scared but then ended up needing a root canal what I would say is phone around and look online, there are lots of dentists who specialise in nervous patients. My new dentist is great, still not my favourite place to go but I’m not half as scared now as she knows I am terrified and is just lovely and explains everything. Honestly, I was tearful just having my first check up with her. When it came to my root canal I opted to be sedated and was still in tears but they were just lovely and what was funny was I had to have it done in 2 parts and so enjoyed the first sedation that I quite looked forward to the second one Good luck I’m sure you will be fine x

Thank you. I’m the same I go years. And obviously my teeth suffer for it. X

 

[iloveanimals]

So I literally have the worst fear of dentists since I had a horrific experience around age 10.
Since then I’ve had some dental work done under general anaesthetic but this was about 13 years ago. I take diazepam for routine checks. Then about 3 years ago I had root canal. Lots of diazepam later I barely knew what was happening.
I do apologise for the long post. But to cut a long story short that dentist who was very patient with me has now gone and I lost the filling at the start of lockdown.
Does anyone know what I can do. As I am petrified to the point I have panic attacks thinking about it. How do I get dental work. Can I be referred to a clinic for people with dental phobia?

you might like to have a look at the forum, dental fear central. it has recommendations for dentists who are good with nervous patients, and you can read other peoples stories. good luck x

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

I'm not phobic about the dentist but I do have a really strong gag reflex and was referred by my dentist to the dental hospital for work and also sessions with a psychologist to try and calm the reflex down. Speak to your practice about a referral as they will be able to access your notes and hopefully your previous dentist has documented your fears.

In the interim, you can buy temporary fillings from the chemist, it's a white putty that you squish into the cavity, and that should help until you can get an appt.

Thank you. I’ve had a lot of dentists who really don’t understand sadly. I guess I’ll see who I have next. And go from there.

 

[MaxieMoo]

I suffer the exact same thing. Agree finding the right dentist is key. I literally dint know what I'll do when my dentist retires. I moved away and still travel 50 miles each way to still go there. Covid has made this even worse. I'm due a check up in 3 weeks and the thought of standing outside til I'm called / no toilet facilities and all the PPE just makes it 100 times worse. I know that prevention is the best thing. I had a really bad experience when I was early twenties and so went private and ended up having to have thousands of pounds of corrective work done. My dentist lodged a complaint with my previous dentist he was so appalled by the treatment I had. I think search around for a dentist that can help with anxious patients and fingers crossed you find the right one. Can't wait until I'm old and have dentures

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

I've had a lot of tooth decay and consequent dental work and I think the key is going to a decent dentist and going private. I pay £14.00 per month in a dentists plan and I get 2 free dental appointments, x rays and 2 hygienists visits per year. The dentist is so kind and patient and they will see you as an emergency on the day if needed as many times as you need to come in no quibbling.
I've had not a dental phobia as such but fear of ever suffering severe toothache again. I once had 2 teeth abscesses at once and the pain, fuck me I never knew pain like this existed. The thing with a descent private dentist is that they have time to spend on you. The NHS ones dont in my experience.
Also if you need work doing they can totally numb the gum with a gel before you have the injection, this is helpful because you don't feel much apart from a light scratch.

I’ve had an abscess and Jesus Christ the pain.

Unfortunately it’s just not as simple as that. As much as my phobia does actually stem from a horrible experience. Even a lovely patient dentist doesn’t always help because phobia’s tend to be something you can rationalise.

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

Thank you for that. When I can pluck up the courage, I will have a look at that forum.

Best of luck x

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

I would have to disagree with this point (but its just my experience!) I'm an NHS patient and I found that I was able to choose who I saw. I didn't go for 10 years due to awful phobia and ended up needing a lot of work done. I have a male dentist who really puts me at ease, he is brilliant with nervous patients and I get sedated for any work. However he is so good I can now go for check ups by myself, and can manage through a scale and polish!
I had to get some work done a couple of years ago, and had to have a different dentist do the work, and he was just as lovely and calming.

I think it depends where you are. Or when you first went. As so few are taking Anymore NHS patients on. So you struggle to get an appointment and obviously I tend to leave off seeing a dentist till I actually have an issue.
I have had some really nice dentists. A lot being European men. But they just haven’t understood why I can’t just get it done and over with.

 

[Raininvain]

They don’t, I have been referred and sedated. It’s not an easy process. But potentially my only option.
Sadly one of the main reasons they aren’t allowed to anymore is a lot of dentists were caught out for molesting patients under sedation.

Blimey!, they usually have the dental nurse in with them nowadays though.

 

[Kthxbye]

They don’t, I have been referred and sedated. It’s not an easy process. But potentially my only option.
Sadly one of the main reasons they aren’t allowed to anymore is a lot of dentists were caught out for molesting patients under sedation.

I get sedated at my normal dentists, but only a couple of dentists at the practice are qualified to do sedation.

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

I suffer the exact same thing. Agree finding the right dentist is key. I literally dint know what I'll do when my dentist retires. I moved away and still travel 50 miles each way to still go there. Covid has made this even worse. I'm due a check up in 3 weeks and the thought of standing outside til I'm called / no toilet facilities and all the PPE just makes it 100 times worse. I know that prevention is the best thing. I had a really bad experience when I was early twenties and so went private and ended up having to have thousands of pounds of corrective work done. My dentist lodged a complaint with my previous dentist he was so appalled by the treatment I had. I think search around for a dentist that can help with anxious patients and fingers crossed you find the right one. Can't wait until I'm old and have dentures

Sounds like lots of research is needed on my part. Good job it’s such a good time for it..
can’t tell you how often I’ve dreamt of dentures

The key is generally to go to younger dentists (i.e 35 or younger) as they have actually been taught about dealing with phobic patients and gentle dentistry, and using more of a phased approach. The older generation (and I'm massively generalising here BTW) were more about the whole get in, get done, drill and fill type mantra.

Sadly that’s been my experience

 

[toffeejelly]

I had a horrific experience with root canal where the trainee guy broke the tool in my mouth. Not going to go into detail if you are already scared . It made me terrified of dentists for years. Unfortunately, by the time I paid a visit to another dentist, I needed more root canal work. I honestly felt so sick, but my new denist compltely put me at ease. She spoke me through every single thing she was doing and in all honesty, it wasn't that bad at all. I do think you need to look at changing to another dentist, until you find someone that you click with.

 

[AnythingButVanilla]

I'm not phobic about the dentist but I do have a really strong gag reflex and was referred by my dentist to the dental hospital for work and also sessions with a psychologist to try and calm the reflex down. Speak to your practice about a referral as they will be able to access your notes and hopefully your previous dentist has documented your fears.

In the interim, you can buy temporary fillings from the chemist, it's a white putty that you squish into the cavity, and that should help until you can get an appt.

 

[Gembo]

I have massive dental phobia too so I completely empathise. I went 10 years without seeing a dentist as I was so scared but then ended up needing a root canal what I would say is phone around and look online, there are lots of dentists who specialise in nervous patients. My new dentist is great, still not my favourite place to go but I’m not half as scared now as she knows I am terrified and is just lovely and explains everything. Honestly, I was tearful just having my first check up with her. When it came to my root canal I opted to be sedated and was still in tears but they were just lovely and what was funny was I had to have it done in 2 parts and so enjoyed the first sedation that I quite looked forward to the second one Good luck I’m sure you will be fine x

 

[Sw4]

The key is generally to go to younger dentists (i.e 35 or younger) as they have actually been taught about dealing with phobic patients and gentle dentistry, and using more of a phased approach. The older generation (and I'm massively generalising here BTW) were more about the whole get in, get done, drill and fill type mantra.

 

[Rockin' Robin]

I fully sympathise, people can’t quite seem to wrap their heads around how bad it is. And the consequences really are a nightmare. I don’t know if you saw but someone suggested a forum for dental fear which I am going to go and have a look at.


I’ve had bad experience with both.. and good with both. The main problem is I find a good one and they move.

Thank you for that. When I can pluck up the courage, I will have a look at that forum.

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

Blimey!, they usually have the dental nurse in with them nowadays though.

Oh yeah this isn’t a recent thing. But years ago they’d knock you out a lot.

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

If your as bad as that then asked to be referred to the dental hospital for sedation.I dont think they do this now at normal dentists because people have died in the past under general anaesthetic. I'd get your dental practice to refer you and ask them how long the waiting list is as well. Things have changed with all this covid crap as well. x

They don’t, I have been referred and sedated. It’s not an easy process. But potentially my only option.
Sadly one of the main reasons they aren’t allowed to anymore is a lot of dentists were caught out for molesting patients under sedation.

 

[HockyRorror]

Thank you. I’ve had a lot of dentists who really don’t understand sadly. I guess I’ll see who I have next. And go from there.

The thing is, this is very common, so for the number of dentists that don’t understand there are (I would hope) more or an equal amount that do. I know it’s a faff signing up to new dentists but honestly I would keep doing it over and over until I found one I was comfortable with. I would find out if I was comfortable with them by having a chat with them first before I even sat in the seat and explaining my fear. If I didn’t feel comfortable I would get up and leave, go home, and move onto the next dentist and set up an appointment and repeat the process.

Or channel your inner Patsy and have several bolly-stollys before you go

 

[Kthxbye]

I think I’ll just have to go private again (although my original dentist that did this to me was private) but with nhs you get what you are given. I don’t want to generalise but I’ve found it’s mostly male dentists that haven’t understood as their opinion has been once it’s done it’s done.

I would have to disagree with this point (but its just my experience!) I'm an NHS patient and I found that I was able to choose who I saw. I didn't go for 10 years due to awful phobia and ended up needing a lot of work done. I have a male dentist who really puts me at ease, he is brilliant with nervous patients and I get sedated for any work. However he is so good I can now go for check ups by myself, and can manage through a scale and polish!
I had to get some work done a couple of years ago, and had to have a different dentist do the work, and he was just as lovely and calming.