Dental work on mentally ill and extremely fearful patients... are dentists typically sympathetic?

Question

21yrs old,I haven't been to the dentist in about 5 years.I am petrified of going, cause I know that I am going to need a lot of work done.Besides having a normal, general fear of the dentist, I have MajorDepression,BorderlinePersonalityDisorder,dissociation, and GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder.I am on 5 perscriptions for them, with one of them being Xanax for anxiety.I know that I could take one before going to the dentist,but I really don't want to be awake AT ALL.What determines wether a patient needs to have actual dental surgery done,or if they get a root canal or a regular extraction?these are the problems I am aware of:my very last tooth on the bottom right is gone(by me) But before I took it out,it was only less then half of a tooth for about 2 years.Now,I'm not sure if I didn't get it all out, or if a wisdom tooth is growing but there is a piece of tooth in there.2 other teeth have holes and hurt, and are following the pattern of the first tooth.I'minlots of pain:( [e-mail]

Ha, I didn't know I could add on...
So the one tooth that I pulled (about 3 months ago) is either not fully gone, or a wisdom tooth is comming in. It's very sore. The tooth directly next to that one (where the gap is now) is also bad. A few days ago a piece of it came out and I can feel the big hole with my tounge. It's on the outside at the bottom of the tooth, so there is the gum, then a big hole, then the tooth (which has already had a filling). The nerve is exposed and it hurts ALOT. On the other side of my mouth, the very last tooth on the bottom left is basically only one side of a tooth.It bothers me sometimes... What I want is to have both of the bad teeth taken out, and whatever is in where the gap is to be taken out also. But I am soo scared. Can I get it done in a hospital setting (as actual surgery) so I can be put to sleep?
If you can help at all or make any suggestions, I would be very greatful. I live in northern New Jersey.

Ohh and an important thing I failed to mention, is that I'm on disability and the only insurance I have is Medicade. Which in this area, I don't know of any dentists who will take it. The ones I have called have reffered me to a local clinic :-/

Answer 1

Oh, you poor thing. Lots of sympathy for you, I can't stand the dentist, it's like being abducted by aliens. The bright light in your face and the chair that just shouldn't move into those positions, yuck.
There are dentists out there that will put you under. Call around. Ask your regular doctor, or psychiatrist to recommend one. They treat other folks just like you and probably know of someone that will work out for you.
Be very, very careful with sedation drugs, you don't want interactions with anything you already take, or to overdose by accident.
Good Luck from someone that also hates the dentist.

Answer 2

I didn't go to the dentist for over 10 years cuz I was so scared, but I've done a lot a research on the subject and now go regularly. Call a dental hotline (something like 1-800-DENTIST) and tell them your issues. They'll hook you up with a dentist that can knock you out to get the work done. Being in constant pain and discomfort is only adding to your anxiety. Good luck to you.

Answer 3

Talk with people, call dentists, get recommendations. I have trigeminal neuralgia, before i was diagnosed with it, I had to one dentist, a flaming ***hole, when I told him I could not stand the pain, he told me I was fine and to suck it up. I woke up after he was done and sat in the parking lot in tears for over an hour after.

I went to a different dentist the next time, he went slow and waited for me until I was ready to go on (regular anesthesia does not work with TN). My visits were still painful and stressful, but due to a better dentist, much more tolerable. I had a root canal done this year and with the aid of drugs, I did ok.

I understand how you feel, the thought of going to the dentist makes me cry and my stomach knots up and I get very sick, but it can be done. Maybe you can find one who will use Nitrous Oxide, I have not been able to.

Good Luck. I understand how you feel 100%

Answer 4

Some dentists now have something they can give you if you're anxious...kind of like a tranquilizer. Of course, if you have to have something like a root canal or extraction, they'll give you novacaine and you won't feel it. I know you might be nervous, but if you're in pain, it's best to go ahead and go because tooth pain is not likely to get any better.

Answer 5

Way too much to read...........nice dentists give generic
valium.....I always ask for it.They should give it to you before you go in(a day ahead)and ask you to take it about 1 hr before coming in.NOW...you could either ask a friend to drive you OR drive yourself,by pass the dentist and just keep
gooooooooooiiiinnnnnngggggggggggggggggg
la la lalalalalala

Answer 6

Call a dentist in advance and speak to him or his assistants to see if he works well with fearful patients. I had one dentist that worked alot with little kids, and he was great. He told me I could pinch him as hard as he was hurting me, because he hated hurting his patients. He was SO gentle, I never had to pinch him!

Answer 7

if nothing else they don;t want to deal with your fear and will knock you out. They will knock you completely out for extractions without too much convincing.