Dental Phobia Support

countrynosebag

I would love to know more about the twilight sleep talked of in Galway please. I do need attention and it will be too late soon but I still save and hope.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Search for Intravenous Sedation, Twilight sleep is an old American marketing name.

automobile8055

please give tips for my first root canal.

Will_Ray

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055152032/dental-phobia-support

The second one is not working😒

Charm Dental Humble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055152032/dental-phobia-support

Yeah, it's a good idea. Also Use positive language when speaking about the dentist. Explain what will happen during their visit before arriving at their appointment. Avoid bribery, but plan for a reward after their appointment is finished. Teach stress-relieving breathing exercises. You can visit a dentist near you for your kind dental health.

PremierPeriodontics

Many thanks for putting that link up. It gives me a glimmer of hope .

buttercup2023

I am writing this here in case it inspires anyone else with any kind of dental phobia.

My parents were great in so many ways but never cared much about taking me to the dentist. They didn't have the best teeth themselves, and there might have been a financial / priorities side too. I remember going the last time at the age of 10 or so (more than 30 years ago) when a local dentist sealed a few of my teeth, and that was that. I also had a family member who had an absolutely horrible dental experience, which probably also put me off.

Over the years, I started developing plaque, cavities, and eventually a few of my teeth starting rotting to the gum line and falling out (probably those that were sealed unfortunately). The gaps and black spots in my mouth were not fully visible (at the start at least), so I got away with ignoring the situation. When my teeth started hurting (and sometimes it got brutally bad), I took a few painkillers and waited for the pain to go away.

I also avoided doctors whenever possible because of the shame about my teeth. My dental phobia became a serious issue of conflict in my relationships but that is another story. Somehow, I still managed to be a functional professional in a rather exposed job, where I am really expected to look and dress my best every day.

I eventually started looking for a dentist specialised in more difficult cases, who I thought wouldn't be shocked by teeth. Even after identifying the dentist, I sat on it for months if not years.

At some point, I realised I was wasting far too much of my life thinking about my teeth, wasting too many days with dental pain and I really had to take a step forward. I started watching youtube videos of dentists working on challenging cases. With that little bit of reassurance that there were other similar cases with positive outcomes, I took the step forward and made my first dental appointment.

Obsessing over my teeth for years, I was sure I would need a few extractions, many root canals and fillings on all my other teeth. In the end, I was correct about the extractions (6, there was nothing to save there), a few fillings (some significant) but no root canals at all. Some of the teeth I was sure would to be extracted (or best case needing a root canal and crown) in the end required "just" a large filling. While obviously not good at all, I expected far worse. I got the extractions done, the fillings completed in three appointments and now preparing the ground for some implants (bridges would also have been an option). I still won't have a hollywood smile at the end of all this (some crooked teeth with space between them) but I hope to have a reasonably healthy mouth.

Good luck to anyone else with any kind of similar phobia. Just find the right dentist and do it. The best time might have been a while ago, but the second best time is today.

scrippswest

Dental phobia is a common form of anxiety that many individuals experience, often stemming from various factors such as fear of pain, past traumatic experiences, or a sense of loss of control. The fear associated with dental phobia can be overwhelming and may lead individuals to avoid necessary dental care, which can eventually lead to more severe dental issues.

To help manage dental phobia, it's important for individuals to communicate their fears and concerns with their dentist. Many dentists are trained to work with anxious patients and can provide a supportive and understanding environment to help alleviate fears.

Various relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, or listening to calming music, can also be helpful in reducing anxiety before and during dental appointments. Additionally, some individuals may benefit from sedation dentistry, which involves the use of medication to help patients relax during dental procedures.

For those with severe dental phobia, seeking help from a mental health professional, such as a therapist or psychologist, may be beneficial. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often used to help individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors associated with dental phobia.

Overall, overcoming dental phobia is a gradual process that may require patience and understanding. With the right support and approach, individuals can learn to manage their fears and receive the necessary dental care to maintain their oral health.

paulwilfer

Thanks for your advice! that was so helpful.

townhalldental1

Im pretty sure you are right ont this

Rob C

Just a quick note to hopefully help anyone afraid of going to a dentist. I'm in my early 50s and had put off going to a dentist for 30 years. In my childhood, I was fortunate to have a mother who brought us to the dentist every six months, insisted that we brush our teeth twice a day, and provided us with home-cooked, proper meals, while also refusing to buy fizzy drinks. I also had train track braces. for 18 months in my early teens. My orthodontist was a bit of a p***k and was notorious for having a terrible manner, making many of his child patients cry in the chair. I had to go every 6 weeks and hated it, which I think made me come to hate going to the dentist. Once out of my teens, I stopped going for check-ups. Knowing this was wrong, I made sure I practised good oral care. I flossed twice a day and brushed for 2 mins twice a day following best practice with a good electric toothbrush.

Last year, I developed pain in what I thought was my tooth in my upper right jaw. And after agonising and reading reviews of multitudes of dentists, I picked one and took the plunge and went. It turned out it was a bad sinus infection, and my teeth were in very good nick, and all I needed was a scale and polish and one filing….

What gave me the courage to go? I had a heart attack the year before and when you've gone though going to A&E in an ambulance and watching them put the catheter up in your wrist and up to your heart to open the baloon and put the stents in, seeing all this on the screen and the pain I had in my chest, I knew I could handle the dentist.

I know I am a jammy git, having not gone to a dentist for 30 years and having everything OK. I put it down to the early dental visits when I was younger, giving me a good set of teeth going into adulthood and then practising good dental hygiene. The filing I received was a piece of you know what. They even brush your gums now with a numbing agent before the injection, and it is seamless and easy. The dentists today are NOT the dentists you might remember from your childhood. Their manner, their equipment and processes are entirely different, and it really is hassle-free, and there really is genuinely nothing to worry about. There are a multitude of excellent dentists in Ireland, and so many specialise in dealing with nervous patients from what I can see. Take the plunge, there really is nothing to worry about.