teeth again

[Connemmara]

Can anybody empathise with me - I have been going to dentist since I was about 9 or 10 and everytime I always felt traumatised. However lately after spending hundreds and hundreds of pounds and pain I feel no longer in being able to cope to go to dentist.

However this past 2 weeks I have been suffering a lot of pain (he told me I had two very lightly loose back teeth last year some time and wanted to take them out but I could not come through it) I know there is an infection but to cut a long story short you have to wait for 4 hours in an emergency appointment with him which with my nerves I cannot sit for so long. I have been treating myself with tree oil, baking soda, etc. I will do anything not to go to the dentist cos I also feel they could not care less about your nerves just the money.

[sara3]

maybe you need to find a more sympathetic dentist, who will understand your fears. there are some out there!

you certainly can't DIY dental work, sorry.

[Connemmara]

I have been to a hell of a lot of dentists and while they are sympathetic initially when they get to know you sympathy goes out the window.

[China Doll]

I imagine they get bored and frustrated by everyone being scared and hating them! I myself, am not a fan of the dentist but it's my fear of them and what they'll do to me rather than the actual person if that makes sense. Basically you have two choices, sit at home and suffer or go to the dentist (by appt or emergency). Unfortunately there's not much you can do about it and I'm sure you'll feel better once the infection is dealth with.

[bednobs]

In seems incredible to me you have to wait four hour for an emergency appointment. Does this matter what time you turn up? Whatif you turned up at 4pm -will he keep you sitting there till 8 pm? What's up with phoning and saying you need an emergency appt then if they say "come in and wait for four hours" (although i can't see why they would) tell them you can't sit for that long and could you come at a defined time. As you pain has been going on for a while now have you considered just making AN appointment, rather than an emergency appt? (surely they actually give out times for normal appts, or does everyone just rock up and wait?)
Alternatively just go and see another dentist. You say they are all sympathetic at the begining, so go and see a sympathetic one!
over here we have sedation clinincs, don't know about over there?

[annie0000]

Could you get an emergency appointment at your gp so that they could treat the infection? This is just delaying the inevitable, in that you will need to find a suitable dentist and get the teeth removed, but at least it may allow you to function in the meantime.

[Tremendous]

I used to have this 'fear/panic' but now have no problem with it at all.
What you need to do is (as well as the good advice above) is to go to your GP and explain what you are going through. They should be able to give you some tablets to take to carm you down. The way I got sorted is by reasoning out all the situations.
1. You are very unlikely to die
2. You are in more pain not going than you will have going in the long run.
3. Most of the things 'on display' have no feature in your treatment.
4.Try and relax (I know it is difficult) , this will be best, as you will not wear yourself out at the dentist.
5. Don't make it a big deal just treat it as any other day.
6. Ask the dentist to talk to you when they are doing the work
7. Take some Chillout music with you to listen too

I suffer with doctor's waiting room syndrome and this is easily sorted by not staying in that situation. What I would suggest is sitting out side the waiting or the surgery and getting the to get you when they are ready.

There is something wrong if the Dentist is so badly organised that you have to wait 4 hours so I would ask what this wait is for.

[Connemmara]

As one of you said I could make an ordinary appointment with my dentist which could be 2 weeks. Dont ask me why you have to wait 4 hours emergency - the last time I sat from 9.30 am to 12.15pm there was a girl beside me with a little girl of 5 years old waited exact time as myself so I genuinely dont know the reason - I think it is all about money - having said that I pay for my treatment even for him to take me emergency ie I forget exactly but about £10 for looking in my mouth and perhaps £5 for the prescription not forgetting him saying make another appointment to see if the infection has gone away. And as I while away the 4 hours my nerves get the better of me and I end up a nervous wreck by the time I see him - my hands are shaking so badly I have to grip the chair etc. I do be embarrassed by my behaviour but that is the way I am re dentists. Yes we do have sedation and I have it had done but it is not enough for me I still feel the pain perhaps when he hits a nerve - I personally think they think you are knocked out and they dont freeze the gums - last time I specifically asked for the freeze and sedation but still felt it. Sorry for wittering on here!!!

[bednobs]

not wittering on - it's a genuine fear. However, what is to prevent you ringing up and finding out how long you are going to have to wait? and explaining?
tbh, if you are NOT going to go for an emergency appointment, you will still be in pain in 2 weeks, so make the appointment. Have you ACTUALLY rang up and found out it's 2 weeks for an appointment, or just assuming?

[China Doll]

My dentist has people walk in, on a busy day I guess they might have to wait an hour or so but I've never seen anyone wait 4 hours. Maybe do as bednobs suggests and give them a call first. Also, if you are going to wait, then taking a book and not sittng in the acutal waiting room as previously suggested might help a bit too.

[smart1]

If you have an infection eg an abscess, he will have to give you a prescription for antibiotics first to get rid of infection. They can;t numb the area when infection present, so go and get somme anti-B's first to get rid of the pain and take it from there.

[Answerprancer]

While you are waiting, get some Solpadeine plus down yer neck - it's about the strongest painkiller you can get over the counter (avoid though if you are asthmatic).

[B00]

My dentist knows all too well my fear of dentists, i'm literally shaking with fear even for check ups!

On my last check up, she told me i needed some work and i burst into tears. She very kindly prescribed me valium, one ot be taken an hour before i went in to have me teeth fettled with and they were bloody marvelous! I was still very fully aware of what was going on, but i pretty much wasn't all that fazed by it all.

Would this be an option? Ask your dentist for them?