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dentist fear

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patriciather | 23:44 Thu 21st Jul 2005 | Body & Soul
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Anybody reading this had valium at the dentist?Im going for root canal treatment tommorow and im really nervous at the dentist.-ive been offed valium,any advice?

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Take it! I used to be so phobic, I couldn't even get in the building, never mind up the stairs, in the room, and in the chair! My dentist prescribed Valium - it's Temzepam these days, and I was fine. A bit woozy after, but hey, who cares? Go for it, you'll be much more relaxed, and get your treatment sorted.
Take it.  Am phobic too.  Hate dentists.  Its a real problem dont be afraid to take help offered. 
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ha ha -thankyou to andy hughes and perry, you made me laugh! the hygieniest told me my phobia of dentists goes way back to when i was a child and the dentist used to hold the "gas mask" so tightly on till you were unconscious and the dreams you had were so scarey -i was born in the mid 50s and polls show the people born in that time have the most fear of the dentist?wonder if thats true?
Hi patriciather, If this helps a few years ago, I went for a regular 6 month check up at the dentist and he told me that one of my wisdom teeth where growing inwards, and would have to have a small surgery operation to get it taken out, straight away I said, "You'd better put me out for it" and my dentist said oh yeah no probs you will be. Anyway I had to go to this very posh dentist surgery, as my dentist didn't do anaesthetic. Got into the room thought I'd be put out for the count.....but no, was told by this dentist, "Oh by the way, you have two ingrowing wisdom teeth, your dentist has only recommened that we take the one out, but whilst your here we may as well take the two out, I thought no probs, I'll be out for the count anyway.....then the bombshell came....the dentist said, we aren't going to put you asleep...well I nearly jumped out of the chair, then he said, we will give you an injection that will make you feel like you are floating, must admit I was pooing myslef. I was given an injection in my hand, and honest to god patriciather...I didn't give a poo.....it was like he said, you are there, you know what's going on, but you don't care.........anyway afterwards I was a bit woosy, got home and thought great, had 2 wisdom teeth out and no swelling.......you should have seen me the next day.....I looked like Desparate Dan....me jaw was about 4 times bigger than norm........but it was worth it..... :)
Like Andy Hughes and Peri say,take whatever you can! I have a real problem with dentists,as far as I'm concerned,and I know it's wrong,but I avoid them as much as possible.I was born in the 50's too,but the problem came from the 70's when I experienced drilling for the first time.I've also had the treatment which LiverpoolLou described,which I think is known as twilight sleep.Very effective.Basically,a lot of people have this problem,and you shouldn't feel embarrassed to take as much help as you can get.Good luck!
Hi Linda, thanks for saying what I forgot to say.....Good Luck patriciather. XXX you will be fine.......let us know how you get on...
Take as much valium as you can get.
Agree wholeheartedly with everyone.I can remember that horrible gas.I was sick every where after having a tooth out as a child in the fifties.I am a dentists nightmare .When they say "open wide" my jaws are firmly clamped together! I hate the dentist.I would rather be given a general anaesthetic. Even for a clean and polish!! Good luck tomorrow!!
50s child too - late 50s.  Good luck patriciather

Hi patriather, take it!........   I'm absolutely terrified of the dentist, my doctor gave me Diazepam to get me there. And it doesn't matter whether its a check-up, cleaning or treatment I'm a nervous wreck.

I was born in the 50tees too, and even though I went regually I never liked going, I think my phobia started when I was 12 when I had to have my first tooth out, I struggled so much the dentist he lost his temper and shouted at me.   Back then also the rooms were dark and dingy and all the equipment was in front of you on swing around trays so you could see it, which didn't help.

Anyway I wish you well and if you have got a relaxant in you your treatment wont be too bad.  Good luck.  :-)

I agree patriciather and I hope you went for the valium! I'm certainly going to be asking for it when I go next time.

 

I'm an early 60s child, but the dentists were still barbaric then, and they're what gave me my phobia too. I remember being pinned down by four of them when I was about 8 while they jammed a gas mask over my face (I remember the big metal stand full of all the instruments at the bottom of the bed too, because I kicked it in my panic and sent them all flying!) and the last thing I heard was the one by my face saying, 'She's a little b****, this one.' When I came round, my gums were all ripped and so painful from him shoving the gas mask on me so hard. My mum complained to them and I never went to that dentist again, she shopped around for ages until she found me a nice one!

 

My current dentist is also lovely, but it's the hygienist I hate seeing now, because I have to see her every 3 months, which is why I've put off going.

 

Let me know how the valium worked - please! How did you feel? Did it really relax you and will you be going again now you've had it once?

Well there are certainly a few of us 'fraidy'  50 somethings out there!  We'd better start a club!

Hope everything went well for you patricia!!

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Im back from the dentist!still a bit woozy though!!!! my dentist is sooooo patient cuoldnt get the needle in my hand so it went in the crook of my elbow.i can honestly say it was marvellous and i didnt feel a thing ,thanks to all of u who replied you put my mind at rest this morning!  - ive still got another two appointments  but will be ok for them now                       ta,trish

Oh well done trish - did you get an 'I've been brave at the dentist' sticker??  :-)

(It's ok you don't have to smile back at me!!)

Well done patricia.  Great to hear it all went well
I'm curious- did the dentist give you the valium or do you have to gat it from your doctor and take it just before you go or what? I have TONS of work to be done and haven't been for a year now. I felt like no-one else understand how the thought of going makes me feel- seems there's lots of you here. All my dentist has said was I'll get it done by a very good dentistin the practice- that's not enough!!! I need putting out!! Give me everything you've got! Last time I went I couldn't keep my mouth open wide and long enough- ended up pulling muscles in my neck and had to have a week off work!
Well done patriciather, I know going to the dentist isn't the pleasantest of things in life, but you did it, did you get " I have been brave today badge! "  xxx   :-)
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 Hello all ,we should really chat about this in "Chatterbank"{thats if anyone wants to} lol -hey  mad about dogs if you lived near me {manchester}i would accompany you cos i know how frightening it is.

                          trish xx

hi trish- it would be great to chat about this let's go for it. I live in Norfolk so a bit far to go- thanks anyway!
Hi patricia,now that the first big hurdle is over,treat yourself to something nice this weekend! Well done!

some good news for you patricia and everyone else: I used to hate dentists, drills and injections, thanks to various horrible treatments in the past (imagine root canal treatment where the anesthetic didn't work). I had valium and general anesthetics and I hated them too.

But... I got over it! I can't really explain how I did it, unfortunately; I just decided that I couldn't spend the rest of my life cowering in fear at the very thought of dentistry. I still don't actually like going to the dentist, but I'm no longer terrified, I just lie there and whimper a bit. (Finding a much better dentist helped too; I just asked around at the office.) If I can do it, there's hope for everyone!

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