Afraid of the Dentist!!
By tlb0822
@tlb0822 (1410)
United States
April 18, 2011 1:03am CST
I have this horrible fear of the dentist. When I was younger I could go without a problem and didn't have any fear of the dentist at all. When I was pregnant with my second daughter I went to the dentist to have some work done on my teeth. They weren't able to use novocaine since I was pregnant and used some other stuff that was suppose to numb my mouth. Here my face got numb but my teeth did now so when they started drilling it was painful and now I have the fear of going to the dentist. I need to get my front teeth worked on soon, and I just am worried it is going to hurt again. I am thinking about getting sedation dentistry done where they put you to sleep so I don't feel any pain, but that makes me nervous to.
Do you have a fear of the dentist? Do you have a dentist horror story or have you always had a positive experience at the dentist? Would you do sedation dentistry or have you already?
3 people like this
11 responses
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
18 Apr 11
Oh my heavens, I think the dentist is next to the devil!!! I can't stand that loud whining drill and the feeling of the vibration on my teeth, and I always do require more freezing than usual. I tense right up in the chair, it feels akin to a torture chair. I'm not exaggerating, I just get right uptight for some reason :-s
This might help here, it addresses the issue of dental phobia. http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/
I think there's an option that some dentists give for patients who have an overwhelming fear, and that's general sedation. It's not exactly as strong as being put under in the ordinary operating room, but it makes you drowsy/want to sleep and very relaxed. They do that for multiple teeth extraction nowadays, done at the patient's local hospital.
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
18 Apr 11
Thank you for sharing Masihi. That is exactly the way I feel as soon as I sit down in the chair. My hands start sweating and I feel like I am going to pass out. I am defaintly thinking baout the general sedation because I just can't imagine going back and trying the regular novocaine thing all over again. thank you very much for the info I will check it out.
1 person likes this
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
18 Apr 11
I think my fear started with not only the whining and vibration, but the pain where the drill got a bit deeper. I would cry out and signal to the dentist and he would give me another shot of freezing in me, then there's no pain after that. Still, the psychological effect...
Now, to help ease my fear, I tell the dentist up front to give me extra freezing and give a brief history of my experience in the past, I just try to be calm and articulate as I can. Also, knowing what causes the fear, and exactly what is happening to you will help alleiviate some of the fear or anxiety of any kind. I have anxiety disorder, and have found that education helps a lot in dealing with certain situations.
@hish101 (103)
• India
18 Apr 11
Hi,
today i am going to the dentist to do a test where they r going to tear the upper skin and take out the fluid for test. I am not scared, i dont know why? And after this i am going to have a major operation too...
Anyway...remember, WHAT U NEED TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF!!!!
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
20 Apr 11
Hello hish101. You are very brave. I get a lot of anxiety when it comes to the dentist and possibly having an operation. I think it just the fear of pain and the unknown of everything. I wish you the best of luck with your operation. Thank you for your thoughts.
@azuncionne (74)
• Philippines
18 Apr 11
Hi hish101! You are so brave! I know this is somewhat psychological. When one is scared, you think ahead of what might happen and you think of its effect on you.
That creates fear. I'm trying my best to combat fear as it hinders me from having frequent visits to the dentist especially when I want my teeth aligned.
@cream97 (29086)
• United States
21 Apr 11
Hi. tlb0822. If I had to get sedation dentistry, I will do so. At least I will be asleep when it is done. But this scares me in a way too. Last year, my husband got surgery done to his gum and he was placed under a sleeping mask while this procedure was performed. He was in so much of pain too afterward! I have a horror story every time that I go to the dentist, because I don't like for my teeth or mouth to be pulled and tugged over and over so that I can get my dental work or general cleaning done.
@marapplestiffy (2182)
• Philippines
18 Apr 11
You are so like my fiancée!!! He dreads going to the dentist, I never thought that there are people who fear them but until my fiancée. His brave in everything but this, I guess some people just have this kind of fear. I don't like having my teeth done that much either but I have no horror stories to tell, I just make myself think of how much my teeth would look look or feel better later on...
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
20 Apr 11
That is what I keep telling myself, that my teeth will feel better, and look better once they are done. Plus I need to get them done before my insurance runs out so I am going to suck it up and get them done. I am making my husband go with me though for some extra encouragement, even though he will probably just laugh the whole time lol. He'll bring some humor to it, and hopefully make me less anxious.
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
18 Apr 11
Ughh I hate dentist!! Morelike afraid :D.. I have always feared being in a dentist coz I had problems with my teeth when I was a kid. I'm glad I don't have any now. Anywya they scare me. And even while I go for monthly check ups I freak out. Whatever they do it hurts :( I would skip but my mom wouldn't allow that.
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
20 Apr 11
It does suck that girl13. I wish I didn't have to go but I do need them fixed and see no other way around it, so I guess we will see how it goes. I never realized that there were more people out there with the same type of fears. Thank you for sharing your fear of the dentist as well.
@youless (112586)
• Guangzhou, China
18 Apr 11
I am also afraid to go to see the dentist. As most of the time it won't give me a good news. Besides, it seems my dental problem won't be fixed immediately. I have to go there for a few times to solve the dental problem. So I am nervous to see the dentist. This is why today I pay attention to my dental health. I brush my teeth well. And then I will use water pick. After that, I will use the mouth rinse. I hope it can make my teeth to be better.
I love China
@sender621 (14893)
• United States
18 Apr 11
I think we can all get a little it of that dental fear inside us. Not knowing what the dentist may have to do or how uncomfortable or painful it is going to be that discourages our visits.
@pogi253 (1596)
• Philippines
18 Apr 11
A lot of people have a fear of being in the dentist chair even to get their teeth cleaning. Lots of people experience fear because of an earlier occurrence during a dentist visit which caused pain or a problem; sufficient for that person to clearly remember and not want to go through it again. ?
@azuncionne (74)
• Philippines
18 Apr 11
Absolutely! I have been afraid of dentist ever since I was a kid. Whenever I visit one, I would usually ask the dentist what's the instrument he or she is holding for. I remember when I was in my teens, I had a terrible toothache and so my mom brought me to the dentist. I was scheduled for an extraction after the pain had subsided and when it did, I visited the dentist again. However, when the dentist started to extract my tooth, I could still feel the pain, in spite of the anesthesia. I was very scared and refused to continue with the extraction. And so, I was rescheduled to another date. But guess what? I never went back! That tooth was extracted when I was already 27 years old since I had no choice anymore. The job that I was applying for required a dental exam, and after some serious thinking, I finally got rid of my tooth!
