I'll post about dental phobias.....

14 years ago

I've always been really good at the dentist, not fearful, but the last few years it's been one thing after another.

Fillings, root canals, infections, implant...and this while faithfully going to the dentist twice a year for many years.

I don't want hands in my mouth now. The last procedures they gave me an IV, (oral surgeon) nice, but for routine cleanings, etc.

they don't do that. I thought maybe I could take some pills to relax a bit, make time pass by quicker. My husband said he got nitrous oxide and the time flew by, no matter what they were doing.

So I look on youtube and see people being really goofy and I wonder if I could get a lesser amount just to relax?

Anyway I see a lot more work needing to be done as I age and I want to be comfortable. Just sitting there trying to hold still is getting harder, not easier. I know I am being a big baby about it. Do you have any problems with dental work?

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Comments (8)

heather_on
14 years ago
Oh YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a real hugh phobia about anything to do with my mouth except food! My blood pressure shoots up sky high! If I have any major work needing to be done.....please sedate me.
morz8 - Washington Coast
14 years ago
I don't, which isn't the same as enjoying it. I really don't like having my teeth cleaned, xrayed even, but I do go, lots of time I'm stiff and achy by the time I'm back out of that chair, must be tense. I wonder if your dentist or family doctor couldn't prescribe something mild for anxiety, just a few tablets for the year of something that would take the edge off. I don't think you want real sedation, requiring a driver, but maybe a little help, for a while, would get you past this.
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pekemom
Original Author
14 years ago
Hubby is available (retired) to drive me anyway so type of
sedation is not a problem.
oldgardener_2009
14 years ago
I did when I was a child. I would dread going to the dentist, and I'd actually throw up starting about a week before any dental appointment, I was so scared.

Then when I was 18 and was sitting in the dentist's waiting room, shaking like a leaf, I asked myself what, exactly, am I afraid of? I had never been hurt by a dental procedure. Then I saw that my fear of the dentist was worse than the dentist visit itself. As soon as I realized that, I immediately stopped shaking, finished the appointment with no fear, and I've never been afraid of going to the dentist since.

I even became a dental hygienist and worked in dental offices for years.

Hope you get over your fear.
oldgardener_2009
14 years ago
Oh sorry, I see you said you aren't fearful. Have you tried listening to music while in the chair? Maybe some relaxing music would help the time pass by faster.

I used to provide nitrous oxygen when I worked in dental offices. Some people seem to like having it. Myself, I'd prefer something like relaxing music over pills, etc.
dedtired
14 years ago
My XH is a dentist, so yeah, I have lots of dental phobias.
oldgardener_2009
14 years ago
Dedtired, LOL!

(above, I meant nitrous oxide, not nitrous oxygen, obviously)
sjerin
14 years ago
What a great story, oldgardener! The reason I hate a dental visit is that I'm a gagger--it hardly takes anything to make me gag and I plead with the hygienist to do her thing quickly. I do much better with a filling because when I'm novacained-up, I can't tell what's going on in there and don't feel things flying around my mouth. (Ugh, that last sentence makes me want to throw up.)

I'll post about dental phobias.....

Comments (8)

heather_on

morz8 - Washington Coast

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I'll post about dental phobias.....

Comments (8)

heather_on

morz8 - Washington Coast

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