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Post by miominmio on Nov 22, 2016 17:51:55 GMT
Oh hell yes! The dentist I saw as a child did not use novocaine. I have some fun horror stories, but I'll spare you all. Thank you!
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Nov 22, 2016 17:54:25 GMT
I hate the dentist with a passion. As I've gotten older my teeth are more sensitive. The screeching of the sonicator drives me batty. Then the flipping sandpaper polishing? I want to squirm out of my chair. Oh, and they like to poke at all my exposed roots...I think just to see me hit the ceiling. I usually go twice a year, and I make them schedule my next appointment before I leave the office. If I have to cancel that appointment it takes me MONTHS to reschedule a new one.
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Post by kimpossible on Nov 22, 2016 18:01:35 GMT
One of my biggest fears!
You are being very brave!
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Post by miominmio on Nov 22, 2016 18:03:36 GMT
I see my dentist twice a year (my next appointment is on Friday, and I have had nightmares for mire than a week). I'm terrified, and I'm not afraid to admit it. I take two valiums a year.....without them, I would be a quivering mess.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 10, 2024 9:19:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2016 18:04:47 GMT
Oh, I was...for most of my life. Until I became a dental assistant! LOL! So that's your plan...become a dental assistant!
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Post by Laura in OK on Nov 22, 2016 20:11:35 GMT
Oh hell yes! The dentist I saw as a child did not use novocaine. I have some fun horror stories, but I'll spare you all. This happened to me too! I desperately need to go to the dentist, but I can't make the appt!
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Post by birukitty on Nov 22, 2016 23:42:06 GMT
I had dental phobia too because as a child I had to use the Army dentists and he didn't believe me when I said I could still feel the drill even though he'd used Novocaine-he just kept on drilling and I could feel everything. I have a very high tolerance for medication-it takes more than the average person for it to work on me. Every time I had a cavity this would happen (and for some reason I'm cavity prone), and I grew to fear and hate dentists.
It wasn't until a few years ago when I was 50 that I found the most amazing dentist in my town. She is a miracle find to me. She is so gentle and understanding. I NEVER get a lecture from her if it's been awhile since I've been in-this time it's financial reasons that keep me away, not fear. She say's "that's the past, let's deal with today". She knows my drug tolerance issues and loads me up with Novocaine, first numbing my gums with a gel, and then giving the Novocaine time to work. She has "laughing gas" available if I want it. The first few times I did, and told her to crank it up! Lately though, I haven't even needed it, even when she did a root canal, she's that good!
I always take music with me and ear phones. They have blankets there they warm up in the dryer, which is so cozy! The dentist chairs face a floor to ceiling glass window and outside are trees with bird feeders. The whole staff is used to dealing with dentist phobic patients, and are so kind and gentle.
And-to top it off, this dentist goes and does free dental work in countries where there is little to no dental work in her free time-like Haiti and so on. She's incredible!
So my advice is look around for a dentist close to you that deals with dental phobic patients because they are out there. It is very much worth it!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 23, 2016 0:40:42 GMT
Yes. I have a terrible gag reflex, it seems to take an enormous amount of novocaine to numb me, and the smells and sounds stress me out. I really need to find a dentist who knows how to deal with dental anxiety, as mine has gotten worse as I've aged. Look for someone who specializes in sedation dentistry. There are dentists that advertise on the radio as that in our area and it sounds like people with anxiety are the patients they aim to cater to.
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Post by utpea on Nov 23, 2016 0:47:24 GMT
Like many others have said here, I don't have a phobia of dentists, but I don't enjoy going 2x a year. I take my two kids with me, so we get our cleanings over at the same time.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,902
Location: PNW
Jul 20, 2014 21:57:23 GMT
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Post by breetheflea on Nov 23, 2016 1:00:55 GMT
Unfortunately DH works for the HMO that we have insurance with so I can't switch dental companies. The office I am going to does not have toys or space to bring kids, the rooms are tiny (they don't even have a pediatric dentist in the building... I would have picked the other office where my kids go in a heartbeat but that one didn't have room for a "new patient." Since I seem to always have a cavity, or need a root canal, or some expensive thing I need to go where the insurance pays for the visit...
I would love it if they would just knock me out in the parking lot and wake me up when we get back to the car, I would pay extra for that service.
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Post by FLA SummerBaby on Nov 23, 2016 22:52:27 GMT
I used to be. Avoided it for too long of a time. Finally asked friends for suggestions and went to the dentist my friend with lots of dental issues uses. I made the appointment and found the dentist and her staff to be compassionate, understanding and knowledgable. Think the world of them all. Now I go every 4 months faithfully. I tend to form plaque easily despite being very careful with my rigorous dental hygiene. I don't mind going more often -- have gotten accustomed to most aspects that used to make me so nervous -- sound, smell, etc. They make lots of accommodations to help -- headphones to play music, etc. Also my dentist is extremely empathetic and caring and she always explains things as she goes along. I am very thankful to have found her office!
Just choose someone that you have good recommendations for -- from people you trust. Makes all the difference. Good luck.
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Post by PNWMom on Nov 24, 2016 0:28:37 GMT
Sort of. I have more dentist anxiety rather than a dentist phobia.
I grew up in a rural area without the help of fluorine in the water supply, ad was a kid who really needed to be encouraged on a daily basis to brush my teeth. Unfortunately, I did not have that sort of parent, so my teeth have never been awesome. I had braces as a teen, so they are relatively straight, but I am congenitally missing a set of eye teeth, so my teeth don't look the same as most peoples teeth.
Basically, I am extraordinarily self conscious about my teeth. They seem too yellowish and just awful to me (but look similar to other people's teeth when I see myself in pictures--I realize that I am a little nuts here). I am not afraid to go to the dentist, I am ashamed about how crappy my teeth are.
One of the silver linings to being diagnosed with cancer: I knew that chemo was really hard on teeth, so I finally made an appointment with a dentist after not going for 10 years. They were really, really nice (I did give a heads up when I booked that I had terrible 'homeless person' teeth and was nervous about coming, which probably helped). They found only 1 small cavity after 10 years with no dentist. I must be a fairly decent brusher after all..
I went back 9 months later, after chemo, and had like 9 cavities at that time (all on the gumline--chemo really dries out your mouth a ton and that is a very bad thing for gums and teeth), which I had all addressed at one appointment. I went back once after that for just a cleaning, and happened to see in my paper chart a note explaining the pronunciation of my first name and also saying that I was a very nice, easy to work with patient.
It has been....about 2 years? now since I went to the dentist and I reallyreally need to go. Still talking myself into it, but I'll get there eventually.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Nov 24, 2016 1:28:04 GMT
I don't really like it, either. I recently had to have scaling and planing done so now I get to go back every three months. Apparently I am lucky in that I get tartar/plaque build up quickly. So not only do I get to go more often, I also get to pay for it two of the four times since insurance won't cover it. Yay!
I would recommend to anyone not to wait a long time in between cleanings like I did.
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Post by StacyinUT on Nov 24, 2016 1:42:28 GMT
I hate the dentist with a passion. As I've gotten older my teeth are more sensitive. The screeching of the sonicator drives me batty. Then the flipping sandpaper polishing? I want to squirm out of my chair. Oh, and they like to poke at all my exposed roots...I think just to see me hit the ceiling. I usually go twice a year, and I make them schedule my next appointment before I leave the office. If I have to cancel that appointment it takes me MONTHS to reschedule a new one. Do you use a sensitive toothpaste? If not, you should try Colgate Enamel Health or Sensodyne faithfully. If you do use those products try adding a fluoride rinse to your nightly regimen.
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Nov 24, 2016 3:00:24 GMT
I hate the dentist with a passion. As I've gotten older my teeth are more sensitive. The screeching of the sonicator drives me batty. Then the flipping sandpaper polishing? I want to squirm out of my chair. Oh, and they like to poke at all my exposed roots...I think just to see me hit the ceiling. I usually go twice a year, and I make them schedule my next appointment before I leave the office. If I have to cancel that appointment it takes me MONTHS to reschedule a new one. Do you use a sensitive toothpaste? If not, you should try Colgate Enamel Health or Sensodyne faithfully. If you do use those products try adding a fluoride rinse to your nightly regimen. Yeah I do it all... I even use something called MI paste.
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Post by StacyinUT on Nov 24, 2016 3:17:47 GMT
MI paste is great stuff. Have you tried the Crest Sensi-Stop strips? My patients love them. They are supposed to give up to a month of relief with just 10 minutes of use...some people need more than one strip.
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Nov 24, 2016 14:55:29 GMT
MI paste is great stuff. Have you tried the Crest Sensi-Stop strips? My patients love them. They are supposed to give up to a month of relief with just 10 minutes of use...some people need more than one strip. No, I haven't tried that. I'll try then. I got my teeth sealed or bonded...I can remember what it was. So far it's helped immensely, but I still have to avoid certain foods: grapes, citrus, pineapple, etc. Thanks for the advice!
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