Self surgery

[Saluki]

Nope - Coventry.

I am sure that 99% of dentists are perfectly reputable but the idea of unnecessary dental treatment fills me with horror. (I'm too scared to even have the necessary work done!)

I'm going to try one of our local dentists who is supposed to specialise in treating nervous patients. I want to see if they can work with me wearing earphones and blasting myself with loud music to distract me from what is being done to me! Assuming that my mouth is numbed as efficiently as the last time I had teeth out, then that might work. If I could manage to have a couple of treatment sessions without any major problems then I might finally overcome this phobia. The problem is that I have gone out like a light the last 3 or 4 times I had dental treatment. It is not only a very humiliating experience for me, but I feel absolutely lousy afterwards which feeds the dread for the next time. Also - most dentists tend to stop work as soon as one faints, which means that the experience needs to be repeated ...

Finding a dentist who will work with the terminally nervous is key. I am better than I was but still a right scardy cat. Current dentist is young, plays Radio 2 in his room and talks you though everything. Nice chap and I feel at ease with him, kind of.
I used to work for Shell and their 'works' dentist, was brilliant. He used hypnosis and all sorts. Most helpful.

Good luck with your's Colin. I've never thought of taking headphones and listening to anything to take my mind off it. I might give it a go, as I'm going to have to find a new dentist fairly soon.

 

[Mo1959]

Nope - Coventry.

I am sure that 99% of dentists are perfectly reputable but the idea of unnecessary dental treatment fills me with horror. (I'm too scared to even have the necessary work done!)

I'm going to try one of our local dentists who is supposed to specialise in treating nervous patients. I want to see if they can work with me wearing earphones and blasting myself with loud music to distract me from what is being done to me! Assuming that my mouth is numbed as efficiently as the last time I had teeth out, then that might work. If I could manage to have a couple of treatment sessions without any major problems then I might finally overcome this phobia. The problem is that I have gone out like a light the last 3 or 4 times I had dental treatment. It is not only a very humiliating experience for me, but I feel absolutely lousy afterwards which feeds the dread for the next time. Also - most dentists tend to stop work as soon as one faints, which means that the experience needs to be repeated ...

I didn't go for several years and when I eventually plucked up the courage, I found I needed 3 extractions and a filling. I worked myself up into a right tizz with nerves. Maybe placebo effect, not sure but I took several squirts of the Bach Rescue Remedy before I went in and, as usual, the thought was far worse than the treatment. All done quickly and pain free so I now make sure I keep up my checkups so should hopefully never need much done at once again.

 

[slowmotion]

Self surgery? Well, I've poked my piles back inside a few times.

How about garotting them with some nylon fishing line and then chopping them off with a Stanley knife?

 

[Ganymede]

Nope - Coventry.

I am sure that 99% of dentists are perfectly reputable but the idea of unnecessary dental treatment fills me with horror. (I'm too scared to even have the necessary work done!).

I'm going to try one of our local dentists who is supposed to specialise in treating nervous patients. I want to see if they can work with me wearing earphones and blasting myself with loud music to distract me from what is being done to me! Assuming that my mouth is numbed as efficiently as the last time I had teeth out, then that might work. If I could manage to have a couple of treatment sessions without any major problems then I might finally overcome this phobia. The problem is that I have gone out like a light the last 3 or 4 times I had dental treatment. It is not only a very humiliating experience for me, but I feel absolutely lousy afterwards which feeds the dread for the next time. Also - most dentists tend to stop work as soon as one faints, which means that the experience needs to be repeated ...

This is really worth doing - Mr G had a phobia for similar reasons and we ended up getting him back to the dentist's through meeting one socially. He was such a nice guy and specialised in nervous cases. Since then, no prob, and I have to say I think most dentists now are very well trained in this side of things.

I moved dentists recently, the key factor being the level of communication I was getting. The previous guy was just incredibly taciturn and used to look amazed if I asked a question. The new one is incredibly informative and does things like take photos of my mouth, put them straight up on the screen and talk me through it. Very empowering (and a bit shocking - I grind my teeth and you can see the damage!).

Go for it - get recommendations and ask around.

Edit: Mr G's current Dentist is known locally as Almost Painless Pete!

 

[jay clock]

The red hot needle through the nail when there is some blood swelling up in the nerve below is the only way to go. It takes a bit of courage the first time but the pain relief is instant. A thin needle is best. I wouldn't attempt it with my soldering iron.

I did my big toenail with a fine drill bit heated up.. Manually twiddling it. Massive pus and blood volcano and huge instant relief

 

[mr messy]

Cracked a tooth and had to smooth off sharp edge with a needle file and some wet and dry.
Once tried the Rambo thing of sewing a cut with needle and thread...didn't really work, ended up sticking together with insulating tape. Don't really recommend cleaning oily cuts with celly thinner, works but nips a little...

 

[slowmotion]

Rambo had the right idea.
[media]
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIji4YJL4PE
[/media]

 

[slowmotion]

No video of him sticking his farmers back though,thankfuly

Lordy,Lordy! I never knew he had Chalfonts. You live and learn.

 

[srw]

This is really worth doing - Mr G had a phobia for similar reasons and we ended up getting him back to the dentist's through meeting one socially. He was such a nice guy and specialised in nervous cases. Since then, no prob, and I have to say I think most dentists now are very well trained in this side of things.

I moved dentists recently, the key factor being the level of communication I was getting. The previous guy was just incredibly taciturn and used to look amazed if I asked a question. The new one is incredibly informative and does things like take photos of my mouth, put them straight up on the screen and talk me through it. Very empowering (and a bit shocking - I grind my teeth and you can see the damage!).

Go for it - get recommendations and ask around.

Edit: Mr G's current Dentist is known locally as Almost Painless Pete!

I think I went 18 years without seeing a dentist, originally out of poverty and then out of anxiety. Fortunately I found someone perfectly able to deal with me, and understanding that I didn't really like injections - but understood that they were a necessary evil. I'm now reasonably relaxed, and the dental nurse is quite happy to lay a reassuring hand on my arm as the anaesthetic needle goes in.

As you say, it's acknowledging the potential issues, being upfront about the necessity (an x-ray or a photo helps) and talking you through the procedure that helps.

 

[Sara_H]

I've had occasional cracked heels - very painful, supergluing the crack is a miracle cure - this is as far as my self surgery goes.

 

[bancrobba]

With a name like bancrobba, I am disappointed that you have never had to remove a bullet and sew yourself up, with Whisky as both disinfectant and anesthetic.

Once got really bad paper cut from a dodgy cheque. Had a swig of Magners and put one of my daughters mister men plasters on it. Life in da ghetto, man...

 

[bancrobba]

Self surgery? Well, I've poked my piles back inside a few times.

Bit lame, Ranulf Fiennes sorted his with a crossbow....

 

[TheDoctor]

I've removed an entire big toenail before, when it was ingrowing. It was...uncomfortable.
Possibly the infection had partly pushed the nail off.
On the topic of dentists, my one was quite happy to have me wearing headphones while he drilled away (How fjoerken wrong does that sound??)
If you're nervous - say so. Most dentists will understand and help.
I can now have root canal treatment without embedding my fingers in the armrests.
Mostly.

 

[ColinJ]

I will report back once I have finally had my first round of treatment!

(The remains of one tooth need to come out ASAP, and a second tooth looks and feels like it would be a waste of time/money/nervous energy to try and save it. Plenty more teeth that need attention, but those two are urgent.)

 

[slowmotion]

Once got really bad paper cut from a dodgy cheque. Had a swig of Magners and put one of my daughters mister men plasters on it. Life in da ghetto, man...

Respect!