Heyaz

[Fayme]

Hey I am new! I know, shocking. It says im new, and now IM saying im new. Anyway, I am 22 years old, and live in Nebraska, USA. I have not been to a dentist in 15 years. My Mother did not care much about dentistry, as she was raised by people who did not place much emphasis on dental care either. Not trying to blame anymore, just setting the facts straight.

I do have a major dental phobia. Along with other major phobias, but I digress. I freak out when toothpaste commercials come on, when someone mentions their dental problems...even when my little cousins mention their baby teeth coming out.

Recently, however, I have been trying to make some life changes, and I know that dental work will have to be part of it. I need to improve my health, and some cosmetic stuff as well, as to improve my self confidence.

I don't have the money or insurance yet, but my sweet mother has mentioned today that she got me health insurance and has said she is going to add dental when she can. This may be awhile off, but I thought it best to start to overcome some fears now, so I don't freak out on her when the time actually comes, and she gets mad for wasting her money. LOL

My teeth are in pretty bad shape, but I must say, seeing some pics online of the worst teeth ever did make me feel better. LOL They are somewhat yellow, as I did not get good brushing habits until a few months ago, and so of course, no miracles have happened. LOL They are also very crooked (runs in my family..both my parents have major crooked teeth), and some are quite sharp, I call them my fangs. LMAO I am also aware of major cavities, although they do not cause me pain. And gum recession, but I have taken steps at home to get rid of the pain of that.

I think that about covers it for now..sorry for boring everyone, just felt like saying howdy. ....and this is cute ----> lol

[keith]

Hiya fayne to the site!

Since ya have some fear of dentist when ya see your dentist ya can ask him or her for sedation when they do treatment. There few types of sedations that dentist use and variety what they use. There oral sedation some of it dont knock ya out but keep ya wake but calm ya down, iv sedation [/i]are needle shot and that will knock you out cold, laughing gas sedation also will knock you out cold. if ya take any sedation you will need someone drive ya there and take ya home since ya be drowsy any sedation way.

Your 1st appointment will be exam and xrays i think and its not that bad since i was same didnt take care of my teeth and didnt see a dentist over 5 years and they calm me down and told me what need be done etc.

You will get alot of support in this site by site dentists and letscontect and others.

keith

[letsconnect]

Hi there ,

many thanks for joining for this board! In a way, it's probably good that you have some time to figure out how to deal with this phobia - it can take a while to figure out what it is you need from a dentist, how they can make things easier for you, and how you will approach the situation. It also gives you time to search for a dentist who is right for you. It's great to hear that you're taking steps to make things better for yourself !

One small word of warning regarding insurance: there are several types of dental plans, and with some of them, you can only choose a dentist who is on your plan, so it's worth bearing this in mind before taking out insurance. Also, there is a yearly maximum limit the insurance will pay (usually around $1500 or $2000, as far as I'm aware - but I'm not an expert on US dental plans). So it might be worth checking out dental offices you're interested in before taking out the plan, and if one of them is of particular interest to you, make an appointment just for a chat (or an assessment of what your options are, if you feel up to it).

Keith mentioned sedation options - these can be great for people with phobias of dental procedures, gagging problems, etc., but be aware that insurance doesn't usually cover them. Laughing gas, if on offer, is a lot cheaper in the US than oral (pill) sedation or IV sedation (not widely on offer). Laughing gas doesn't actually "knock you out", but gives a pleasant "happy drunk" feeling, if administered correctly. However, you may find that if you get on well with your dentist, you might not need sedation. Everyone is different in that respect.

Enough waffle - welcome to the board, and fair play to you for posting here - it's a huge step to take. Congratulations !!


[edit: changed max yearly limit]