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Post by letsconnect on Sept 22, 2005 12:11:26 GMT -5
How would you feel about writing down your fears and going over them, together with your dentist?
It's easy to feel under pressure to "just get on with it", but it's important that your dentist takes the time to go over these things with you.
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Post by freakout on Sept 22, 2005 13:00:36 GMT -5
two problems with that. One I would have to hand him the paper with my very shakey hands. (my hands always shake something genetic and when I am nervous its even worse) and I do not know exactly what is scaring me. The injections, the fear of work on my mouth, the drill, my TMJ coming back all of the above I really do not know. All I know from sure is the very thought of seeing the dentist makes me panic Less than 24 hours now & the panic is unbelievable. Don't know how I will walk in the office tomarrow.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 22, 2005 13:30:03 GMT -5
Problem 1: so what if your hands are shakey From what you have described, he must know that you're nervous, but maybe not exactly HOW nervous (as in, he doesn't know you're actually terrified). But that is exactly what you will want to convey to him. Correct me if I'm wrong . Problem 2: You've actually described lots of your fears here already, and you've just added some extra ones to the list. Could you just "compile" them, so to speak, so they're all in the one place? (i.e. on the one sheet of paper)? For example, you're scared that * the injections will hurt * the drill (I prefer to call it "handpiece", LOL) * someone working on your mouth (exactly which aspects of that frighten you?) * your TMJ coming back * that it won't be possible to save your tooth etc. etc. I'm sure you mentioned some other things before, but I sometimes get mixed up with different posters (too much to take in for my bird brain ;D)...
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Post by freakout on Sept 22, 2005 14:40:50 GMT -5
I will try to write something down. If anything it will probably help to get my thoughts & fears straight. I really wish my appointment was first thing tomarrow, but being in the middle of the day will be hard. I hope I can just muster up the courage not to chicken out and walk into the office. I know that once I do that half the battle is over.
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Post by freakout on Sept 23, 2005 9:45:40 GMT -5
Less than 3 hours until my appointment 8-)Freaking out 8-)panicing just want to cancel, but I know I can't do that. Wishing I would get a call that he has to reschedule, but I know that would only put off the inevidable
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 23, 2005 9:48:03 GMT -5
We'll all be thinking of you I hope you'll get on really well !!!
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Post by freakout on Sept 23, 2005 10:12:40 GMT -5
Thanks!!!
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 23, 2005 10:24:18 GMT -5
I've got to go now - please let us know how it went . BEST OF LUCK !!!
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Post by freakout on Sept 23, 2005 15:00:51 GMT -5
Well I am back from my appointment...I have to have the bad tooth removed and just before I left another piece of my tooth broke, that needs to be filled plus I had the bone sliver. He said it was my choice what I wanted done today, or he could do all three. I had to return to work, so I opted to have him remove the bone spicule and made an appointment in a week for the other two teeth. I will have to discuss a partial for the bottom, or possible implants, but as I only have one of those discount dental plans (not insurance) I am not sure I can afford implants how much do they generally run in US.?
He was really great about my nerves...I was shaking really bad. He asked Did you miss me? and I said no...Then when he was about to numb me up he said oh I can tell you missed me. I told him it took 5 months to make an appointment and He said yes and I could tell he knew why.
He also gave me some pain medicine in case the tooth gets bad, before my appointment. I am so glad it is over, but I don't look forward to my appointment next week.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 23, 2005 15:39:00 GMT -5
You've done fantastically well - WELL DONE !!!! It's a pity that tooth can't be saved, but these things happen. Implants... let's see... there is a lot of regional variation in prices (California for example tends to be pricier, so bear that in mind when reading the prices below). Generally speaking, an implant from start to finish (including the actual implant placement, the abutment, and the implant crown) (not taking into account the discount you'd get with your discount plan) can run anything from $3000 or less to about $5000 (if bone has to be added to the area where the implant goes). In the long run, implants can often work out cheaper than other options (the failure rate is very low and you can't develop things like decay. Also, they prevent bone loss in the area where the tooth has been removed). But it really depends on the individual situation - sometimes other options are preferable, or an implant would not be advisable under certain circumstances, so this is something you would need to discuss with your dentist who will know exactly what the story is. Give yourself a big pat on the back !!!
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Post by freakout on Sept 27, 2005 8:06:43 GMT -5
Update-My next appointment is friday for a tooth extraction, and filling. Last time I had the teeth extracted I had nitrous, but I will not have someone with me so I will have to do it with just local. I am really nervous about that. The bad tooth has really started hurting so I know I will have to just do it, but I am not sleeping again and when I do I dream about it. I do not fear my dentist anymore, I know he will try to keep me calm and he won't care that I shake, but the thought of being fully aware that he is removing my tooth terrifies me
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 27, 2005 8:35:42 GMT -5
You've come so far over the last week - WELL DONE ! There should be no problem with having nitrous - the gas is completely eliminated from your body within about 5 minutes of turning it off, so you would be able to drive home/to work .
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Post by freakout on Sept 27, 2005 8:59:40 GMT -5
Many of the dentists in the US including mine, do not give the gas if you are driving, liability reasons I guess. So that is not an option. I haven't told family or friends he is extracting the tooth yet, I have enough to worry about without hearing the I told you so's about waiting to go to the dentist.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 27, 2005 9:13:10 GMT -5
That's very weird, considering the gas is gone by the time you reach the car. What's the minimum wait time for driving a car after having nitrous at your dentist's? You could wait it out in the waiting room. Or else would it be possible for you to get a cab?
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Post by freakout on Sept 27, 2005 10:14:30 GMT -5
Basically, malpractice insurance is so high in the US, if someone gets into an accident after receiving nitrous they can sue the dentist. In the US there are also many many sue happy people I believe that the insurance company's are making it so that someone must be at the office with you, if you receive nitrous.
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Post by jamesy on Sept 27, 2005 20:27:44 GMT -5
Hi there! Just sneaking in again to wish you good-luck for your appointment on Friday. Like I said before (on page 2 I believe) you had made some great strides. And you continue to do so. The fact that you said this is especially awesome: Hope Friday goes well for you! -James
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Post by freakout on Sept 28, 2005 7:39:36 GMT -5
Thanks James!!! I just wish I could get some sleep and forget about friday. I am sooo scared. I can't stop thinking about him extracting the tooth. Then I will have to think about a partial for the bottom, because I just don't think Ican afford the implants. I bought my parents home 3 years ago so they wouldn't lose it, so I can't take the chance of taking out loans to pay for the implants. If it was just me to think about I would, but I could not do that to them.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 28, 2005 8:03:06 GMT -5
Are you sure about the info you received about nitrous and not driving? I asked a number of US dentists and they all say you CAN drive afterwards and there are no insurance problems.
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Post by freakout on Sept 28, 2005 8:35:06 GMT -5
Maybe it is a Michigan thing, because I had to have someone with me when I had my jaw problems and I was getting nitrous. Also the other manager who worked here had a bad tooth that needed to be removed so I sent her to my dentist, she was told if she wanted nitrous, she would need someone to drive her.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 28, 2005 8:51:34 GMT -5
It must be peculiar to that particular dental office then. Is there any way you could get a cab? Say you parked your car somewhere close to the dental office (maybe there's a coffee shop a mile down the road), then pretend you're getting the cab home?
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Post by freakout on Sept 28, 2005 10:08:47 GMT -5
I believe they want someone waiting in the waiting room for you. I am pretty much resolved to just going through it with local, scared but resolved.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 28, 2005 11:13:30 GMT -5
I checked and it's not a Michigan thing. It's very, very unusual, by all accounts. Unless you're taking oral sedatives on top of the nitrous?
The reason why I've been a bit pushy on the nitrous front is because it sounded to me as if you found it really helpful the last time. If you really want the nitrous, I'd suggest trying to find some way around it. There is no rational reason why you should need an escort.
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Post by freakout on Sept 28, 2005 12:29:39 GMT -5
Thanks I will see if they will do it. Yes it did make things so much better. I was aware, but I wasn't if you know what I mean.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 28, 2005 15:21:41 GMT -5
You've got nothing to lose by asking - you might be able to reach some compromise . Let us know what they say!
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Post by freakout on Sept 29, 2005 10:48:21 GMT -5
Forgive me it I babble.... It is only 24 hours until my appointment, ans I am doing everything possible, not to pick up the phone and cancel. I know I can't do that my mouth hurts and that would only make things worse, but I just want to run and hide.
I have been clenching my jaw so I have alot of pain and pressure by the bad tooth. Also if I don't go the tooth that needs to be filled will get worse and then I would need a root canal, or worse. He said he is hoping that he will only have to fill that tooth, so I think he is already concerned how deep the decay is. Another tooth hurt when I brushed this morning, so I guess he will have to look at that too!!!
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