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Post by freakout on Sept 12, 2005 12:28:46 GMT -5
Hi,
Heres my problem. I was afraid to go to the dentist for many years, however I had an accident last summer breaking many of my teeth. I went to a very nice dentist and had to have 18 teeth pulled and got a top denture. Then he said the bottom teeth would need some work, however due to having no insurance, I needed to pay off my bill first. I paid it off 5 months ago, but everytime I try to make an appointment I PANIC!!
I have tried to pick up the phone and dial, but I just start shaking. He is in a shopping mall, so I have tried to just go and make an appointment, but I PANIC!
Everything about it scares me, but mainly it is the injections & and the fear of my TMJ returning (I suffered from TMJ for 10 years & had 15 surgeries) I did have a slight problem with TMJ after the extractions, but the dentist was able to give me medicine that calmed it down. So I guess my real fears are the injections. I need to go, because one of my bottom teeth are really bad & I have a bone spicula under the denture that really hurts. HELP!!
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 12, 2005 19:45:37 GMT -5
Hi there , depending on how severe your fear of injections is, there are various ways of dealing with the problem. Some people find that having a numbing gel applied before the injection (and having a dentist who is able to give painless injections) is enough, whereas other people are simply freaked out by the whole idea of dental injections in general. In that situation, sedation options can work very well, if your dentist offers them. I was just wondering - how did you cope with the injections when you had those teeth removed for the top denture? Or did you have general anesthesia for that? Anyway - welcome to our board !!
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Post by freakout on Sept 13, 2005 7:48:16 GMT -5
Hi,
Thanks for replying...For the extractions I was given laughing gas, because he could tell I was nervous. I couple weeks after the extractions, he had to remove a piece of bone and he just numbed me with the gel and the injection. The rational part of me remembers it wasn't that bad, however I did have an experience with injections after one of my Jaw surgeries that keep coming to mind that makes me terrified.
My jaw was going into a crossbite so I had to be wired shut. Prior to the wiring I had 8-10 injections and they were extremely painful!!!! I know my new dentist has a much better technique, but i do remember the pain of the injection prior to the extractions even though I had the gas.
I am also afraid that I will either have to have the tooth on the bottom removed because I have put off going to see the dentist for 5 months.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 13, 2005 12:04:41 GMT -5
If you liked the laughing gas, it would be a great idea to have it again... as you said, your new dentist has a much better technique. Also I seem to remember something about certain injections in the upper jaw being more uncomfortable than other types of injection, so you may be worrying unnecessarily. I am also afraid that I will either have to have the tooth on the bottom removed because I have put off going to see the dentist for 5 months. The only way to find out really is to see your dentist - though I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it'll still be OK
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Post by freakout on Sept 13, 2005 12:26:18 GMT -5
And that brings me to my original problem, making the appointment. I actually drove past my dentist on my way to work today. My stomach knotted up & I started shaking. I just have to find the courage to call, but courage is not that easy to find!!!
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 13, 2005 12:56:01 GMT -5
If you actually want to make an appointment, but can't pick up the phone, do you know anyone who could make that phone call for you ?
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Post by freakout on Sept 13, 2005 13:28:04 GMT -5
I have not shared my dental fears with anyone!!! I found this board & was so happy to see that I am not alone.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 13, 2005 13:36:19 GMT -5
Ah, OK ! You're certainly not alone ;D!! Is there anyone you could confide in at all? Another alternative might be to e-mail the office, if they have an e-mail address. That can often be easier than actually picking up the phone.
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Post by freakout on Sept 13, 2005 13:47:17 GMT -5
I will check on the e-mail idea. I tried to confide in the other manager at work, but she left the company (bad circumstances. I kept saying when she was back i'd make an appointment. Then I used the excuse I could not get time off work, but I found out the dentist works late every night. So I just have to bite the bullet and make an appointment I guess.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 13, 2005 14:12:14 GMT -5
It's a real bummer the other manager left ... I hope you'll be able to get hold of their e-mail . Some people on this board have used written communication (i. e. a letter) to explain their fears to their dentist when they felt they couldn't go back. You could consider doing the same - that way, your dentist will know beforehand that there are certain things you need to talk about with him.
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Post by freakout on Sept 13, 2005 14:49:52 GMT -5
I am still trying to find an e-mail address. I am a little nervous about talking about my fears. A relative used to work for the dentist and I should not have fears, but my family makes me feel guilty for having fears, that is why I do not dicuss it with them....I just leave the room when family is together and they talk about anything to do with dental work,dentists,etc. I know I need to tell the dentist about my fears, however, and I will...
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 13, 2005 15:07:58 GMT -5
If you need any help with finding the e-mail address, feel free to e-mail me (connect@dentalfearcentral.com). If it's on the web, I should be able to find it... I am a little nervous about talking about my fears. A relative used to work for the dentist and I should not have fears, but my family makes me feel guilty for having fears, that is why I do not dicuss it with them... I feel you're doing the right thing. The whole point of looking after your health is that you want to feel better, not worse. And you don't deserve to be made feel guilty. Generally speaking, it can be a good idea to share your fears with someone in real life, but only if they are going to be supportive of you .
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Post by freakout on Sept 14, 2005 14:25:14 GMT -5
Thanks,
I have located the email in the doctoroogle site. I have yet to send the email, but I am working on it.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 14, 2005 16:33:08 GMT -5
doctoroogle is great, isn't it ? Great to hear you've found the address - and best of luck with that e-mail
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Post by freakout on Sept 15, 2005 8:21:57 GMT -5
I wanted to let you know I have the email written, I just have to get the courage to press the send button.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 15, 2005 9:00:33 GMT -5
Writing that e-mail must have taken you a lot of guts - well done ! I know that hitting the "send" button is going to be pretty hard, but once it's done, it's done (and it only takes a millisecond). It might help to take it step by step - you might want to ask in your e-mail if it's possible to see your dentist for a chat only. By hitting the "send" button, all you're doing is giving yourself the opportunity to share your fears with your dentist when you meet him, and see how things pan out.
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Post by freakout on Sept 15, 2005 9:23:22 GMT -5
That's the wierd part for me...It's not my first visit to this dentist. I know him, but I fear what he needs to do. I'm not afraid of him, but afraid of what he does. When I went to him the first time I was in pain in other areas hands, face, neck etc due to my accident that I was not as focused on my fear as my pain. Now I am focused on my FEAR!!!
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 15, 2005 9:27:06 GMT -5
Do you think there's any chance that he might be able to put your fears at rest? I'm wondering how you were feeling at the point in time when your insurance ran out - if you had been able to proceed with the work back then, would you have experienced the same sense of panic as now?
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Post by freakout on Sept 15, 2005 9:43:18 GMT -5
Actually what happened was he told me I would need work on the bottom teeth, but I think he was allowing some time for rest, because of my jaw problems. At my last appointment, I needed to set up a time for a soft realign on my top denture (after I was paid off my bill). I paid off the bill within two months, however in order to do the realign the denture must be sent to a lab & I would need a day off work, as I deal with the public. Everytime I would try, something would happen at work & I would have to put the appointment off. The longer I waited the worse my teeth got and all my fears came rushing back.
I was fine when I was seeing him every couple of weeks for check-ups, but the longer I stayed away...the harder it got to return.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 15, 2005 13:14:02 GMT -5
Self-blame and feelings of guilt can be a lot more damaging than some problems with your teeth. And a year really isn't such a long time. It's normal for fears to increase the longer you stay away - as you said, you were fine when you were seeing him every couple of weeks. There's no point in beating yourself up over it - they're only teeth, and what matters is that you're taking positive steps now
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Post by freakout on Sept 16, 2005 14:11:11 GMT -5
Update...I finally got the nerve up to send the email & something is wrong with my outgoing email, all my sent emails keep coming back to me. I guess I will have to call now.
Iwas at the mall that he is in last night (to pick up an outfit for a memorial service I need to attend) & he was at the counter. My stomach knotted up, I felt ill and I walked by as quickly as I could. Later I wished I could have just went in and set up an appointment.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 16, 2005 17:08:05 GMT -5
It's a pity you didn't have the nerve to just approach him, but most people would have reacted the same way (it's very awkward when there's other people around). Pity about the e-mail bouncing - but: you did it - congratulations !!! That definitely shows that you can do it. If you're in the shopping centre quite often, you might be able to work up the courage over the next few days to just walk in and make an appointment?? Or else ring them, whatever feels easier .
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Post by freakout on Sept 17, 2005 9:10:40 GMT -5
Well actually I am there quite often, in fact I had to stop yesterday. I was walking back to my car and I passed him, he was looking right at me so I said hi. He said hi and asked how I was doing. All I could say was ok. I got to my car and I was shaking so badly that I had to wait to drive. I made the mistake later of mentioning the event to my parents (whom live with me). All my father did was yell at me for not making an appointment. He asked if I was waiting until I have another accident to go back. The thing is I was starting to feel like if I could say hi, I could work up the courage to say hi, I could probably work up the courage to make an appointment, but my father has made me feel so bad once again.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 17, 2005 10:05:24 GMT -5
That's dreadful - I'm so sorry this has happened to you. Using fear and guilt as "motivators" is really more a reflection of a broader societal model, and I wouldn't read too much into it. You must feel very hurt, though . The thing to remember is that you're doing this for yourself - dentistry is hardly mandatory. It's there to make you feel better, not worse! You did really well to say "hi" - especially considering that you were caught totally off-guard . That is a real achievement - well done !!
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Post by freakout on Sept 17, 2005 10:38:49 GMT -5
Yes he was getting on his cellphone or else I probably would have had to say more. I wasn't sure he realized who I was at first, due to the fact I now have short hair, but he did.
I just don't want to be guilted into feeling bad, but that is how my father has always handled things that he wanted us (5 siblings) to do.
I actually came into work today to avoid him (my dad) & work on my courage to make an appointment.
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