i need some help its really important!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?

Question

hi i have a really bad phobia of needles. until recently i usually only fainted with them but in the last 6 months i have fitted twice when i have had to have a needle. i am meant to be having 2 teeth out and i have been told that i will have to have a needle no matter what.
what i want to know is:
if you have a fear/phobia of needles would you have the teeth out or would you just leave them.
the teeth are causeing no problems to me its just that i have braces and the orthodontist wants them out because there stoping my braces from working properly as they are in the way but im seriousely considering just telling him i cant have them out and to take the braces off as he cant do anything else now.
what would you do? by the way im 16.

having gas still involves a needle as they have to put 1 in my arm and also the waiting list at the hospital is more than 5months long.

Kango Man I AM ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i never actually decided to have braces i was forced to by my parents and my dentist at the time but now i have changed dentists and moved out of my parents house so thats why im not being forced by them.

Answer 1

If the teeth are sound (in good health) and you need them out for Orthodontic reasons it's a tough decision to make. Some options open to you are: ask your Dentist about oral sedation prior to the extraction appointment, this would mean taking a tablet (such as diazepam) to totally relax you before you have any injections. This does work very well. Another option would be talking to your Orthodontist about non extraction treatment, which is in fact favoured by many Orthodontists, but it is not always suitable for all cases and as I have not seen you myself I cannot diagnose over the Internet, if needles actually make you have fits, then your Dentist really should be sympathetic about this and tell you all about the options and finally, if your don't want to have braces then ask the Orthodontist to take them off, but beware of this decision, I did the same thing at your age and ended up having braces anyway when I was 21, which was much more difficult socially and pain wise than it would have been if I had kept going at your age. Good luck, I hope that this has helped a little. Take care x

Answer 2

Until a few months ago I had the same phobia. It is so easy to say:"Just do it." It simply doesn't work that way. If your teeth are ok, then leave them. It is much worse to face a phobia when you are not ready. The more negative experiences (panic attacks) you have, the worse the phobia gets. I only fought it, because I thought a lot about health recently and wanted a baby and suddenly I was able to take a needle, because it was for a new life. I think when you are ready, then you will fight it, just don't rush things. You cold try a psychologist or a hypnotherapist, at least they could give you one positive experience that you can build on.
Good luck, whatever you decide, I know how hard it is to be a slave to something so irrational.

Answer 3

I have a phobia of teeth, which impacts on going to the dentist. From what you are saying you have a genuine phobia, not just a fear, of needles and it sounds like you need help in overcoming this. People who don't have phobias often can't understand the impact they have and how its not just a case of getting on with it.

For this situation, I would consider going to your gp and explaining the situation. S/he should be able to refer you to a counsellor or even better for cognitive behaviour therapy. It's a long process but hopefully will rid you of your phobia. However there are long waiting lists.

If you have the funds available it might be worth trying hypnotherapy, or having CBT privately.

Other than this, the gas route someone mentioned might work. There have been times I've needed a general anaesthetic but the aneathatist (sorry for my dodgy spelling!) hasn't been able to find a vein so they've put me under using gas delivered via a face mask. It's not very pleasent but does work, then they can put a needle in you whilst you are asleep.

I would also suggest you need to see a doctor about the fact you have had fits as this is potentially dangerous and your doc will want to look into it. I'm sure you've already done this but wanted to be sure!

Good luck.

Answer 4

O.K., First it doesn't matter how old you are. :-) I am 32 and hate needles, but I have gotten better at dealing with them. For me, it always helps if I feel comfortable with the person using the needle on me.

If I have to have blood drawn, I try to have the same person do it and talk to them a bunch and get to know them a little and I tend to trust them more.

Having the orthodintist give you some gas before they administer the shot would definately help- if they are willing to do it.

Before I had my wisdom teeth taken out, I found out I had to have an IV to put me under since there was no way I wanted to be awake for having my teeth pulled! So, the doctor prescribed valium for me to take before going in. Imagine- I was more afraid of the IV than having my wisdom teeth pulled! The valium made a BIG difference and I wasn't scared. It took the edge off.

Also, I have a dentist who had to give me an oral shot once and I totally freaked at the idea of a needle in my mouth! So, he said I promise it won't hurt if you will trust me- when he gave me the shots, he immediately rubbed the area to help me shake off the feeling. It helped.

If you have a good doctor- they should be experts at dealing with anyone who doesn't like needles! Those are the best docs hands down and they DO exsist!

Good luck. Don't sweat it! Taje the gas/get some valium- you'll be fine! ;-)

Answer 5

There are a couple of strategies to tackle your dilemma.

I'll mention only one, hypnotherapy, because I am a hypnotherapist and know more about that method.

A hypnotherapist would likely be able to help you in two ways. Firstly, they could work with you to condition your mind so that you would not require any needles at the dentist. You simply would not feel any pain.

Secondly, and probably more importantly, they could help you remove your fear of needles. This could take some time however. A good therapist would need to access your subconscious in order to find the cause of your fear -- and there certainly will be one. A not so good therapist will just try to remove your fear without understanding and dealing with the root cause of it.

Answer 6

i have an intense fear of needles. what it comes down to is you are going to have to steel your nerves and deal. do you want kids? you will have to have an iv. i found that one out the hard way. Just tell the nurse or whoever does the needle that you have a fear of needles and you are going to close your eyes. ask her to talk to you while she's doing her needle thing. it can be embarassing, but not as embarassing as falling over face first in the hosptial from having a little blood drawn. i did that. this is a phobia that you have no choice but deal with. you can not avoid needles forever. maybe get a friend or someone to go with you to hold yoru hand, give moral support. good luck.

Answer 7

I have to be sedated at the dentist, cuz im terrified of the drill, so i sympathize totally. It took me eight years, even at that, to even try the sedation, and by that time i had lost seven molars, i can hardly chew and im only 26. If you need the teeth out for the braces, you'll probably need them out generally because like me, you must have close contact with your teeth, which means you'll be prone to cavaties and stuff. I didnt care about my teeth at 16, but at 26 i realize that the first things about your appearance to "age" you as such. And hey, some peeps dont care about their teeth, and thats cool for them. I however, didnt want a mouth full of gnarley nasty teeth. So i bit the bullet and dealt with it. I wish i would have earlier. I dont know how dentists work in england, maybe its not so bad here in n. ireland, but my dentist does the sedation in the office, its 50 quid. It requires a needle, but once its in you immediately cease to care about anything. It sucks you're afraid of needles, but if you can try to put it into perspective? Its a momentary pain, and a minor one at that. And you'll be facing them your entire life. Hypnosis does work, and failing all that, try diazepam:0

Answer 8

Ask to be referred to your local hospital for the removal of the teeth. My husband has a phobia also and he went into hospital for the day for wisdom teeth removal and they removed them under general. He was fine and out by the end of the day. Have a word with your dentist and ask what he can do to help.

Answer 9

oh I really feel for you! I have a terrible needle phobia like you and also used to faint! If they inject you in the arm now you can ask them to use a numbing cream which really works and you dont feel it, but in the gum its just a case of close your eyes and it only lasts a second.I hate it too hun but I always think to myself "right it wont take long and it will be worth it" think of that lovely smile, good luck

Answer 10

My mum has the same problem. She had a drill held to her face by a dentist when she was 16. It took her 20yrs to go back. She goes to a special dentist, that specialises in people who have phobias. Call 118 and ask if they have any listed.