Can anybody spare some encouragement?

[speccy1]

I think I posted about this subject once before.......DENTISTS!!

I haven`t been in regular treatment for about 10/12 years now because I`m seriously scared of these "people"!! I`ve now bitten the bullet and have an appointment with an NHS dentist on Monday afternoon, trouble is, I`m already lining up clean underwear to change into and I`m cr*pping myself. I think it`s the first visit and walking into the unknown that`s doing it.

Can anybody please spare a few words of encouragement to a wimp?!! I will be seriously happy to get everything sorted and eventually get the all clear, just need to get over this hurdle and not bottle out on Monday.

 

[Banjo]

i am a complete coward with Dentists as well. Tell the dentist before and hopefully he/she will take the time to relax you a bit.

since I have being going regullarilly i get a bit more confident each time.Still nervous but not terrified.Usually after the treatment is over you wonder why you were so nervous about going.

Good luck on monday.

 

[Fran143]

It's just like you say....bite the bullet and get on with it. They terrify me to but it'll be a lot worse if you don't go. Take some calms or rescue remedey beforehand and take a stress ball or elastic band to keep your hands and mind occupied. DO NOT bite the dentists fingers. Good luck!!

 

[speccy1]

Thanks Banjo

I think once this one`s out of the way it`ll be a lot easier....I hope!!

 

[speccy1]

It's just like you say....bite the bullet and get on with it. They terrify me to but it'll be a lot worse if you don't go. Take some calms or rescue remedey beforehand and take a stress ball or elastic band to keep your hands and mind occupied. DO NOT bite the dentists fingers. Good luck!!

Thanks, do those calms work??

 

[Spinney]

Ring up before you go to tell them you are nervous, if you can. Then you don't have to come out with it in front of other patients etc (if this is likely to embarrass you).

The first visit will just be a check-up - although my dentist offers to do small fillings on the spot if you need one. If so, getting it done on the spot will get it all over with.

The check-up involves prodding some of your teeth with a spiky thing, but techniques seem to change. I remember thinking in the past that if I didn't already have a hole, the force they were using would make one. But they don't do it like that any more.

If it's been a while they may give you an X-ray. You just hold a bit of card between your teeth while they bugger off out of the room for a minute and the machine buzzes.

That's it!


For fillings, my dentist gives me a jab and then sends me back to the waiting room until the anaesthetic is working properly. The jab hurts a bit (it feels like the needle is going right through your face, but that is something to do with the effect of the stuff in the needle on your flesh). BUT I think they can just put a tiny weenie little bit in ('you'll just feel a little prick' ), wait a minute and then put the rest in and you won't feel it. So it really is important to tell them that you are nervous!

Good luck.

Just do it... (it's never as bad as you think it is going to be!)

 

[Fran143]

I find that they do although it may be psychological but what the hell. Best to get them soon and start taking them for a few days. Without putting you off I had a really bad experience in last year through no fault of the dentist and really struggle to go, however I manage with calms.

 

[NormanD]

Pop round to mine, I've a hammer and a blunt chisel here, few whacks and it'll all be over .... I'll soon cure your fear 

 

[dan_bo]

Bite the bullet 'cos otherwise you'll be sucking it!

 

[Jaguar]

Encouragement? I can't say it won't hurt a bit, cos it might. (I've had major surgery on my mouth, so I know). It's better than not going though and leaving your teeth to rot

 

[E11a]

Bite the bullet? I've a history of biting dentists!

My tips:

Explain how you feel up front. Mine knows that I don't like him (it's not personal, he's actually very nice), not to inflict any pain or he'll come off worse, to explain what he's going to do so I know what to expect, and under no circumstances use any needles. So far, he still has all his fingers (although I might have hit him once).

Try to get an appointment first thing in the morning so you don't have time to get too nervous. Treat yourself afterwards.

Keep regular appointments to avoid having to have to have too much treatment.

It does get easier if your dentist is sympathetic.

Good luck on Monday.

 

[postman]

Don't feel bad about yourself.Thousands of people have worries about dentists .Mine began with the brutal school dentists,who were sadists .

No doubt you will have a lot of hard plaque,this is a common problem ,but not too much of a procedure to clean up .Dentists are real people and know the of patients .Explain why you have left it so long .

And believe me you will think afterwards why did i make all that fuss .

Go on get down there ,you will not regret it .

 

[ThePainInSpain]

My missus was really nervous of the dentist (me, don't bother me at all, had root canal work and all sorts, no bother). When we lived in the UK we found a dentist who advertised as specialising in nervous patients. We went to him, and as a lot of posts say, be upfront, admit you're nervous. You're probably in the majority.

However this dentist was really good and first visit just had the missus sitting and laying on the chair and chatting. After a few visits she was a lot better.

Our dentist inm the UK had a practice in Portugal and we were half expecting to have to drive from Malaga to see him. But she was now getting much better.

What really did it for her was, she was having some treatment the day after the London Bombings, whilst in the chair feeling sorry for herself she then thought of those poor sods involved in that, and realised that her situation was of NOTHING compared to what those were going through. This put everything into perspective, she's been fine since..........

 

[speccy1]

Cheers guys for the kind replies, and thanks NormanD for the use of the hammer - I`ll let you know!!

I`m trying to get through this with tunnel vision at the moment, just trying to visualise the moment when everything is sound again and they tell me to sod off for a year, then I can relax.

For tonight a big glass of red is helping to steady the nerves

 

[jimboalee]

Before you sit down, ask the dentist if they are in the Union.

If the reply is Yes, leg it.... "One out, all out".


DON'T bite any bullets. This will break the enamel off and those teeth will have to be pulled.

My dentist doesn't use one of those string drills anymore. She's got a hand held electric battery powered drill,,,, by Makita.