AN irrational fear of Dentists?
Question:
AND basically I know it's ridiculous.. I will go to the Doctor at the drop of a hat... YET a Doctor can tell me I am going to Die . .a Dentist doesn't do that..YET I FEAR the Dentist .. WHY IS THAT?
Do other people have a fear of Dentists ?
AND
if you do .. how do you deal with your fears ?
Answers:
Definitely not irrational, I have to take a tranquiliser b4 going and I still need someone to drag me there and basically hold me down.
I am still trying to deal with this fear after 50 plus years
Went yesterday for my 6 months cleaning! Man, my teeth feel GREAT! ;-)=
People think I am joking when I say I would rather give birth than go to the dentist - until they look at my face. I HATE it more than anything. It hurts no matter what! I wish you could have general anaesthetic and just get everything done at once every few years or so. Seriously! I share your pain.
It is normal for people to feel like this. I have seen so many patients that feel just like you do. You should let your dentist know how you feel and he can prescribe you some meds to help you relax while you are in the dental chair. We have done this with our patients and it really helps them. Good Luck and talk to your dentist. I'm sure that he/she will understand.
You are not the only one. Many ppl are so scared of dentists that when they hear the drilling sound, they legs start shaky. Luckily, i am not in the statistics.
Many people have this fear. Some people can deal by receiving a valium before their appointment while others require sedation they are so scared. An oral surgeon can always sedate you but some dentists also do conscious sedations where you receive a pill to knock you out. And you still don't remember anything.
This is a very common fear. I ignored my dental health for years and only had work when unavoidable. Then I heard about oral concious sedation. I was even afraid of that. I dont like taking pills.. any way. I had 4 wisdom teeth put using that method and I was so calm and even happy.. They told me after that I was joking with them and even told the assistant that I was concerned my face would look like an apple! (Dont ask me WHAT that was about!! Lol!!)
Anyway, this medication REALLY allows you to be calm enough to have the work done. It can be costly. My dentist charges around $300, but it is worth every penny..
You can read about it online and I recommend the website "www.dentalfearcentral.org" it really has a lot of info.
Good luck!
Petrified is how I would describe it it makes me feel physically sick and I only go if I am in chronic pain.
When I have to go I just assure myself it will be over soon and then I forget the pain when I see how much the bill is on the way out.
Many patients that come to our office have a terrible fear of the dentist. All it takes is one bad experience and the fear sets in.
The best thing to do is find a dentist that can ease your fears... someone who knows how to deal with dental anxiety.
If you wait until something is wrong, it is usually painful to address. Then, your mind equates the pain with going to the dentist and the fear sets in. Now, if you go BEFORE you have a painful problem, you can prevent the anxiety of the dental pain.
Preventative care is always the best. And you are not rediculous. Many people have dental phobias. Don't let it rule your life.
I have seen many patients who are terrified of coming in just for a check up, it may seem ridiculous but to that person its like the end of the world.
My dentist prescribes a medication called diazepam (valium basically) to help relax you before your appointment, the medication usually comes in pill form, you take one the night before to help you get a good nights sleep, one on the morning of the appointment, and then one an hour before if you need further calming. Please if you get prescribed this take a responsible adult with you like a godo friend as its like the equivelant of having a few G&T's in your system, they make you feel all woozy etc, definatley DO NOT DRIVE if you have taken this tablets.
This may sound silly but actually going to see you dentist on a 6 monthly basis helps to PREVENT dental work, so hopefully after the initial appointment of sorting you out, routine check ups will be just that a check of your teeth and a clean if you need it.
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