Re: STILL FEAR THE DENTIST!!!

dex · ‎03-09-2010

@Shanus wrote:
I found out the other day I need to have a root canal (?!?!?). I've been lucky these 71 years and other than a cavity here or there, no big issues. Childhood bad experiences of being tied into a dentist chair (brother, too) & fear of unknown over take me and I always freeze with fear just to get a cleaning.

I always had my DD (hygienist) and her dentist take care of my teeth for the 20 years she lived on this coast. I was visiting her at least every 4 months anyway. After she moved, I panicked getting used to a new dental practice here.

Now a root canal? OMG!!! I haven't slept well and have had nightmares about my upcoming three (3!!!) appts. Yes, I arranged for nitrous....lots of it until unconscious if necessary. DH is driving me there and home.

Anyone else have such a debilitating fear of dentists?

I have had many root canals but these days they send you to a specialist for that.They have the best equipment and it really is no pain.The worst part is that it takes more time than a filling.Be sure not to drink coffee before so you won’t need to pee.

software · ‎06-08-2016

I dislike going too.

I was sick often as a child, taking the various meds, I had many cavities.

A dentist visit was brutal back then, not much better now and why is that??

I was told a couple of years ago I needed a root canal.

I never bothered.

I guess there will come a time I'll be writhing in pain and wish I had,, but at my age, nope, not getting one. I may eventually get it pulled, it's a molar.

@Shanus

Terrywu · ‎05-09-2010

Right there with you. My dentist tells me it is like working on a 3 year old. As a child my fear of dentist has never improved. When my mom took me I was probably 7 or 8, screamed, kicked and now some 62 years later still hear my mother saying to me, I am never bringing you back here again.... and didn't.

That said, I have had root canals, crowns, bridges and veneers. Truly no pain or even discomfort. Settle back and inhale deeply. Good Luck

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

I get nitrous each time I need either a root canal (I have several and one redo) or a cavity. The nitrous really calms me down plus I've been going to this same dentist for 27 years and he's very friendly & talkative. He can talk about almost any subject in detail...you name it and he can discuss so it sort of gets my mind off of what he's doing.

With novacain you really don't feel it at all. However you might (not always though) be a bit sore the next day.

Eileen in Virginia · ‎08-25-2010

Yes, I used to fear going to the dentist. Our childhood dentist didn’t want to waste valuable chair time on big fillings, so he’d pull a tooth if he thought it would take too long to fill it. Once he tried to pull one of my teeth with the instrument used to scale teeth, without Novocain - it didn’t work. My dentist phobia was so bad that I had 12 HUGE cavities by my junior year in college (mid-1970’s). A friend found a dentist who was a godsend. Using a combination of Novocain and gas, he filled my teeth in 2 visits.

Ever since, I’ve insisted on going to dentists who are committed to painless dentistry. I’ve had a few root canals. The procedures were painless, to the point that they swabbed my gums to numb them before giving me the Novocain shot. The endodontist or someone from their staff called me later in the evening of the procedure to make sure I wasn’t having any problems. I never had any problems after my root canals. It sounds like you’re set up for a painless procedure. Don’t let your dental phobia get the best of you and chicken out. You need the root canal to correct a problem. ****** it in the bud so you can continue to enjoy good dental health. Good luck!

Shelbelle · ‎03-09-2010

I have had 2, you will be just fine!! Dont worry. I did go to an Endodentist, both times my regular dentist did not want oto to do them, they went thru a crown. The Endodentist is a lot more money ,but worth it to me,my regular dentist said he did an amazing job!!

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@Shanus wrote:
@Justice4all wrote:
@Shanus
are you going to an endodontist?

@Justice4all Yes. My dentist found the "issue" during a routine cleaning and wanted a periodontist to check if it was just an inflamed gum. No such luck. He's sending me to the endodontist. Oooh! Tough to type w/ sweaty hands.

BEST IDEA go to someone who does root canals all day every day! A regular dentist may not do so many.

Icegoddess · ‎03-19-2010

I have the dentist fear too. I have always had terrible teeth and I have a mouth full of fillings and crowns and 1 implant. I've also had braces twice. And now I dread going for a cleaning because it seems all that dental work is old and needing to be re-done, especially the crowns. I'm also difficult sometimes to deaden. One time they did me twice and I still didn't fully deaden until after they were done and then later the entire side of my head went numb.

Laughing gas does absolutely nothing for the pain. Mainly, it just relaxes you. I always enjoyed the feeling, but only once did I ever feel they gave me enough to really be effective. And, for me, whenever the dentist does something or talks it kinda ruins the buzz. Once I had a hygenist who kept asking me was I doing okay while they were waiting for my novacaine to kick in and it would ruin my buzz. So I finally asked her if I kept my eyes open would she stop asking me.

Side effects of laughing gas for me was needing to pee immediatley after and then a headache. My current dentist doesn't do lMr. Nose.

Wish I could get some of that Xanax prior to dental procedures. My gynecologist gave me one once to take prior to a biopsy that took like 2 seconds. Very grateful for that. But, the downside is that I would need my husband to drive me home.

TaylorBrown · ‎02-19-2014

I HATE going to the dentist, too. The good thing with a root canal is that they numb you, so you don't feel anything. Just pop some pain meds when you're done. I have had two root canals done.

ScrapHappy · ‎03-28-2010

@Shanus wrote:
I found out the other day I need to have a root canal (?!?!?). I've been lucky these 71 years and other than a cavity here or there, no big issues. Childhood bad experiences of being tied into a dentist chair (brother, too) & fear of unknown over take me and I always freeze with fear just to get a cleaning.

I always had my DD (hygienist) and her dentist take care of my teeth for the 20 years she lived on this coast. I was visiting her at least every 4 months anyway. After she moved, I panicked getting used to a new dental practice here.

Now a root canal? OMG!!! I haven't slept well and have had nightmares about my upcoming three (3!!!) appts. Yes, I arranged for nitrous....lots of it until unconscious if necessary. DH is driving me there and home.

Anyone else have such a debilitating fear of dentists?

I've had 3 root canals. One was 20 plus years ago and the other two within a year of each other living in a new state and needing to find a new dentist. The dentist I went to didn't do either of my root canals. He sent me to an endodontist. The first I went to was very nice but it was a very long procedure and I was a little out of it afterwards (my husband went with me). So, when I needed a second one, I knew I wasn't going back to her. I went to another endodontist. This one, however, took very few (if any insurances) but would "work with." His ratings were excellent on line. I went either right before Christmas (like 3 days before) or right after Christmas (3 days after) and his office was packed. The phones were rining off the hook. He was great! He really knew what he was doing. I was in and out in less than an hour (my others took 2-3 hours) and I felt good afterwards. Not out of it at all and actually hungry. I would recommend do your homework. Research dentist and endodotists.