I havn't been to the dentist for 10 years as I am extremely phobic of going, I can't even walk into the dentist with someone else as the smell makes me feel sick and I start to have panic attacks. I am sure I need at least one filling, but I can't go, how can I overcome this phobia?
2006-12-15 05:17:03 · 16 answers · asked by eeore 2 in Health ➔ Dental
I agree with the person who suggested calling a dentist to discuss your problem.
There are some dentists who specialise in treating people who have the sort of feelings you have.
Call any dentist and they will tell you whether they are able to help. And if not, who in your area has this sort of expertise.
Don't worry about looking foolish: LOADS of people are terrified of dentists. In fact, my dentist thinks I'm a bit strange because it doesn't bother me at all (showing off: I have fillings without anaesthetic, but I'm a weirdo).
Any dentist you call will have heard lots of stories just like yours and will try to help you.
Good luck :-)
2006-12-15 05:29:32 · answer #1 · answered by mcfifi 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know exactly how you feel and I went through the same thing. In the end I had to go because I had raging toothache. I went to the doctor and asked for a pill to make me relax a bit. It did help, but I didn't sleep for a whole week before I went. The whole experience was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. When I eventually got to the dentist I actually told him how I felt and he was very understanding. Whenever I have treatment now I have a gas called something like relative analgesia. It is sort of a laughing gas and its 'g r e a t'. You feel really relaxed and so h a p p y. You are awake the whole time and you get no sickness afterwards and can even drive. You still need the anaesthetic injection which my dentist administers when I'm in the h a p p y state. I suggest you find a dentist that will administer this gas. Best of luck.
2006-12-15 05:27:13 · answer #2 · answered by JillPinky 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't panic, I hadn't been since i was 19 and i am 34 now, a root-canal and a broken wisdom tooth needed pulling. I did go private and I had a light sedation this morning although afterwards the dentist said next time I wouldn't need that as I handled it well. Once your face is numbed up you will relax and lie there for a short time, I was there 2 hours but it felt much shorter, nothing else you can do but lay back and let them do their job!
Take it from me it is not as bad as people or your own fear make out and far less painful than the toothache that we suffer beforehand, and I for one will return without hesitation if needed. NOW GO!
2006-12-15 06:46:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used to be like this and wouldnt go to the dentist for about 15years.When I did eventually go[out of necessity] the first thing I did was tell him I was petrified. He talked me through exactly what he would do, rubbed a gel on my gums to numb them[believe me it works] before giving an injection, all the while talking to me. I've been every 6months since and that was about 10 years ago.I feel silly now having been afraid in the first place and although I cant say I like going it doesnt fill me with dread.
Puck up the courage and go.
2006-12-15 05:26:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My recommendation is to find an NLP Master Practitioner.
I'm an NLP Practitioner and used the techniques to overcome a lifelong and severe phobia of spiders. Just this week I was sat on the floor when a spider ran up to me and I was absolutely fine about it. A few months ago I'd have been leaping about the place screaming and crying.
Good luck whatever you decide to do.
2006-12-15 06:00:09 · answer #5 · answered by Bev H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well the thing i did was i went to the dentist and told him about my situation. He talked to me and helped me overcome my fears of the dentist...that was about 2 years ago and since then i have had braces and a filling....my doctor was very nice to me when he did all of this becuz i was very scared.. try finding a very nice dentist who understands...
2006-12-15 05:24:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
phone your dentist and talk to them about it, if you can get into the dentists they can sedate you and you will not no a thing about it. if you go to th dentists enough then you will gt to know that there is nothing to fear and your phobia will hopefully be over. its just that first few steps that are the worst.
2006-12-15 06:03:33 · answer #7 · answered by tmswainyboy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are dentists out there that cater to people just like you. Look in your yellow pages and see if you have one in your area. They will state in their ad that they cater to people with phobias to dentists and are excellent at calming and making your experience as pleasant as possible. Good Luck.
2006-12-15 05:28:10 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Many people suffer from this same phobia, you are not alone!
I think the best way for you to get over it would be to imagine the alternative. Have you ever known anyone with dentures? Both of my grandparents had them, and it scared the living daylights out of me! Tooth and gum maintenance is more important than just keeping your smile nice. Gum disease can also aggravate many heart conditions, as well as causing discomfort to yourself, and others (who smell your breath).
Just think of it as one more thing that you must do to keep your body happy and healthy!
GOOD LUCK! I know you can do it!
2006-12-15 05:28:04 · answer #9 · answered by purplepartygirrl 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I know you may not want to hear this because most people are phobic about the use of drugs as well but this is not a strange phenomenon and a lot of psychiatrists will prescribe low doses of anxiolytics for this very purpose.
Dental hygiene is an important issue and certainly worth taking 0.25mg of alprazolam twice a year for.
"Your teeth are the best friends you've got, take care of them and they'll take care of you."
2006-12-15 05:20:56 · answer #10 · answered by tomaso4 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋