Irrational Fear of the Dentist

[Kolt!]

I don't know why I'm so afraid of the Dentist but I always have been. I go to the Doctors for annual check-ups and same with the Eye Doctor. I keep up on both and never skip out of these two health needs. Yet, when it comes to the Dentist I have...I haven't been in TEN years. Ten. 

The reason? Every time I try to make an appointment I begin to hyperventilate or cry. My parents also don't really go and I can't remember the last time they have. I brush my teeth 2-3 times a day, and use mouthwash daily, along with flossing 2-5 days a week YES I'm well aware you need to floss more than that. >.> My top teeth are straight and they don't look dirty but I know... I know in my heart of heart not going to the Dentist for that long something is bound to be wrong with them.

For one, my bottom wisdom teeth grew in. My jaw cracks. And I get tonsil stones. I've been fortunate that my teeth never hurt me but I also know that just because your teeth don't hurt and they're white that doesn't mean they're healthy. 

I know there's tools Dentist use that you just simply can't do at home to keep them healthy including plaque build-up and help in preventing gum disease. 

I wish it was as simple for me as saying "Grow up." "You're being a baby" "Everyone needs to do this" but it never calmed down my nerves before. Then I started avoiding the Dentist not because of my fear of being hurt, or finding out something is wrong with my teeth but because of how long it'd been sense I last went that and the cost.

I finally made an appointment and it's tomorrow and today I've been sick with worry and fear and I don't know how to settle myself down. I know when tomorrow roles around it's only going to be worse. :/

The reason I finally made an appointment is because a top wisdom tooth is growing in and I'm like...I don't want to risk my teeth not being straight. 

So I'm sure I can already except wisdom teeth removal, and they'll probably talk about removing my tonsils because I get tonsil stones. And now I'm thinking that they'll probably tell me I have a cavity. I'm assuming anything that someone deals with once in their lifetime I'm going to be dealing with all right now. I never had a cavity before and I can't imagine not having one now even though none of my teeth hurt. Heck! Even my wisdom teeth growing in never hurt me. The only thing that ever worried me was my jaw cracking which I just assumed was TMJ. 

I think the only reason i'm trying to go through with this fear is because I can't stand the idea of having crooked teeth. :x

--

Has anyone not been to a Dentist in a long time? How did it go? I hear they're going to put me in a lot of pain because I haven't been in such a long time. If they start to hurt me can I make them stop? Can I leave if it gets to be too much? Am I legally obligated to stay? >.> 

Has anybody been able to conquer one of their fears? I hate that my biggest fear in this world is something that is so important. Heights? Darkness? Spiders? Nah, not afraid of any of those things but I can turn into a complete mess just at the idea of going to the Dentist... 

[saveinla]

In one period in my life I did not go to the dentist for 5 years. I had a lot of other health issues at that time, so going to the dentist was not a priority.

But I am blessed with very good teeth from my dad's side and I did not have any cavities prior to that, so I was good. She took an hour for cleaning since there was a slight buildup, but overall it was not bad. Still don't have cavities or other problems (knock on wood).

Good luck with your visit - dont be afraid.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

You have taken perfect care of your mouth so don't be afraid of going. I regret not taking care of my teeth. So I have filings and crowns. Last summer a cavity came out and I had the tooth pulled since it was cracked and had a cavity. I'm so glad I did that because it was causing me gum problems I ignored. Bottom line is everything is fixed and my 6 month cleanings go great. I think you'll be please with what he/she tells you. 

[billisonboard]

Jan 4, 2017 15:52:47 GMT -5 Kolt! said:

...

Has anybody been able to conquer one of their fears? ...

I like the concept in this song:

Quieting the fear

[Tennesseer]

I dislike going to the doctor.  My blood pressure goes up just being there.  So when the nurse technician takes my blood pressure it's high.  My doctor knows this so when he then enters the room we talk about everything but being at his office.  He then takes my blood pressure and it's normal.

As for fear of the dentist, my father, uncle and grandfather were dentists.  Was quite normal for me.  Never feared having my dad work on my teeth nor fear my current dentist.  

Same thing about going for a colonoscopy. I put it off for 15 years (you should get your first one at age 50). As a kid, I was put under ether several times and it made me sick to my stomach upon wakening. So I loathed the idea of going for a colonoscopy because they put you under to perform the procedure. I know they don't use ether any more but still didn't want to be put under. Finally went for a colonoscopy this past spring and it was a piece of cake. Kind of nice being knocked out for a few minutes since I haven't drank booze or done drugs for over thirty years.

[weltschmerz]

Jan 4, 2017 15:52:47 GMT -5 Kolt! said:

I don't know why I'm so afraid of the Dentist but I always have been. I go to the Doctors for annual check-ups and same with the Eye Doctor. I keep up on both and never skip out of these two health needs. Yet, when it comes to the Dentist I have...I haven't been in TEN years. Ten. 

The reason? Every time I try to make an appointment I begin to hyperventilate or cry. My parents also don't really go and I can't remember the last time they have. I brush my teeth 2-3 times a day, and use mouthwash daily, along with flossing 2-5 days a week YES I'm well aware you need to floss more than that. >.> My top teeth are straight and they don't look dirty but I know... I know in my heart of heart not going to the Dentist for that long something is bound to be wrong with them.

For one, my bottom wisdom teeth grew in. My jaw cracks. And I get tonsil stones. I've been fortunate that my teeth never hurt me but I also know that just because your teeth don't hurt and they're white that doesn't mean they're healthy. 

I know there's tools Dentist use that you just simply can't do at home to keep them healthy including plaque build-up and help in preventing gum disease. 

I wish it was as simple for me as saying "Grow up." "You're being a baby" "Everyone needs to do this" but it never calmed down my nerves before. Then I started avoiding the Dentist not because of my fear of being hurt, or finding out something is wrong with my teeth but because of how long it'd been sense I last went that and the cost.

I finally made an appointment and it's tomorrow and today I've been sick with worry and fear and I don't know how to settle myself down. I know when tomorrow roles around it's only going to be worse. :/

The reason I finally made an appointment is because a top wisdom tooth is growing in and I'm like...I don't want to risk my teeth not being straight. 

So I'm sure I can already except wisdom teeth removal, and they'll probably talk about removing my tonsils because I get tonsil stones. And now I'm thinking that they'll probably tell me I have a cavity. I'm assuming anything that someone deals with once in their lifetime I'm going to be dealing with all right now. I never had a cavity before and I can't imagine not having one now even though none of my teeth hurt. Heck! Even my wisdom teeth growing in never hurt me. The only thing that ever worried me was my jaw cracking which I just assumed was TMJ. 

I think the only reason i'm trying to go through with this fear is because I can't stand the idea of having crooked teeth. :x

--

Has anyone not been to a Dentist in a long time? How did it go? I hear they're going to put me in a lot of pain because I haven't been in such a long time. If they start to hurt me can I make them stop? Can I leave if it gets to be too much? Am I legally obligated to stay? >.> 

Has anybody been able to conquer one of their fears? I hate that my biggest fear in this world is something that is so important. Heights? Darkness? Spiders? Nah, not afraid of any of those things but I can turn into a complete mess just at the idea of going to the Dentist... 

You've never gone in for a cleaning??

[chiver78]

Jan 4, 2017 18:04:16 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I dislike going to the doctor.  My blood pressure goes up just being there.  So when the nurse technician takes my blood pressure it's high.  My doctor knows this so when he then enters the room we talk about everything but being at his office.  He then takes my blood pressure and it's normal.

I'm the same way. the intake nurses at my Dr's office now know to put that initial BP reading on a post-it note. we record the one my Dr takes right before we're done. 

Kolt, I used to be the same way about the dentist, but I found that as I was going every 6 weeks during my course of Invisalign treatments that I just got used to it and it wasn't a huge deal for me anymore. part of my own anxiety about going was also the reason I needed the Invisalign - that my teeth were so crowded. you almost couldn't get floss through my teeth in some spots! as my teeth straightened out, flossing became much easier and I no longer stressed out about going in for cleanings. that said, I still freaked myself out the last time I went in because I needed them to remove a little piece of glue that had been missed when the "buttons" got taken off at the end of Invisalign treatments. I had always figured the tooth had gotten nicked, but apparently it was actually a deposit that none of us had realized. the circular scraper came out and....ugh. but I survived. you will, too.

[Sharon]

My sis has troubles going to the dentist and she now goes to a dentist where they sedate her if necessary.  It started out she even needed to be sedated for cleanings but she has slowly gotten better and can now get her teeth cleaned but anything beyond that they sedate her.

Good luck tomorrow and do go back and take care of anything else that needs to be done. 

[wvugurl26]

I was going to recommend the same thing as Sharon. Look around for a dentist like that.

[grumpyhermit]

I brush twice a day, I floss daily, I go to the dentist every six months for a cleaning - I still get cavities. 

They can't make you stay. My dentist/dental hygienist is always asking if I'm okay, in pain, etc. There is nothing that should hurt overmuch during a cleaning. I do have some gum recession, so the high pressure water pic thing can sometimes cause a twinge or two. For a cleaning, there is also nothing that they are going to start, that they can't stop, so walking out shouldn't be an issue (though I'm sure they will still make you pay for the whole visit).

If you have to have a filling/root canal, or some other procedure, that will be a different story. Once they start, it really wouldn't be feasible to stop, though if you are getting pain, they should be able to administer more Novocain.  When I had a root canal they shot me up with so much I swear it was almost a day before I could feel my face again (the procedure itself didn't hurt though). 

[Kolt!]

I should have thought about sedation. I'm just hoping I can make it through it. But, sometimes that cost a lot of money. 

And, no not even for a cleaning. Like my fear is immense. 

Ugh.

I think I'm mainly just worried about my jaw pain right now because of the clicking and it hurts but yeah. If this is still awful the next time I go I may have to think about trying to find a Dentist that sedates me. I know I need to find a way over the fear or find something that doesn't make it so rough on me because going to the Dentist is important. :x

[alabamagal]

Good luck. Just make sure and let the dentist and hygienist about your fears, they should help you deal with it.

I have always had bad teeth despite brushing and flossing. I don't mind the dentist, but I absolutely hate the eye doctor. Not for the pain, I just hate trying to get the prescription correct. I am both very near sighted and have bad astigmatism and now have old age farsightedness. I just hate where they do the lenses and swap and ask you which is better. It is like a test and I always worry about giving the wrong answer.

[Tennesseer]

Jan 4, 2017 21:12:59 GMT -5 alabamagal said:

Good luck. Just make sure and let the dentist and hygienist about your fears, they should help you deal with it.

I have always had bad teeth despite brushing and flossing. I don't mind the dentist, but I absolutely hate the eye doctor. Not for the pain, I just hate trying to get the prescription correct. I am both very near sighted and have bad astigmatism and now have old age farsightedness. I just hate where they do the lenses and swap and ask you which is better. It is like a test and I always worry about giving the wrong answer.

"This...or this...how about this...is this better...how about now...."


ETA: I've been wearing glasses for sixty years. I know the drill.

[Kolt!]

:x I don't know why I was so scared it wasn't really bad at all. 

After ten years of not going to the Dentist I didn't have a cavity and I've actually never had a cavity in my entire life, haha. The Dentist said my teeth were really healthy looking too. I honestly thought after not going for ten years I was BOUND to have something wrong with them. I mean I had some plaque build up on my bottom teeth but the Dentist said that was a really fast cleaning for someone that hadn't been to the Dentist in so long because it was about average for a cleaning. 

I guess not drinking caffeine often and when I do drinking it with a straw must have done me well. =P

The only thing is I need to get my wisdom teeth out which I kinda already knew.

[Happy prose]

Yay Kolt!!! We knew you could do it. Now just think of all the thinks you can tackle now.