dentist/ root canal

I need some... I don't know what I need!! I need to have a root canal done, my appt. is next Tues. Dentists up here don't do major dental work & send you to the city. My husband has to go in 1/2 a day (an hour drive one way), come back home, pick me up & drive an hour back to take me there. I feel for him! Anyways, I have sheer terror at this thought of going thru w/ this procedure. I know it has to be done but doesn't mean "I" can do it. I'm asking for Valium & pain killers. My tooth is killing me. A few people had mentioned I could get Valium (or the like) from the Dentist for anxiety; I never knew that!!
I had extractions of my wisdoms (all 4) & I nearly lost it. W/ a root canal, all the horror stories, & that I don't know this dentist, so there's no trust, I am just petrified. I can't explain it to them either. I tried saying I'm dissociative so no matter how much novocaine you give me, I will still feel pain (though I know it's mental from severe anxiety). I wanted to be knocked out but they don't do that anywhere around here. So I'm gonna opt for gas. AND novocaine AND painkillers AND valium. I know it has to be done but I am so petrified. I don't know this person & I have to trust them. Trust is hard for people who are diss. I requested to have my husband in w/ me. They said he could.
I don't need any advice or what nots. I don't know what I need. Somebody to just knock me out, canal, crown, & then I can physically wake up. That won't happen so what's the next best thing?
I had asked my T if there was a dentist who is sympathetic. She had said she don't know of many. She said her colleague had done a workshop for dentists & was surprised how many are ignorant of mental illness & anxiety. But she did give me the name of the place across from her other office. I see her 35 min. from here north, she's only there Tues's, her other office is 45 min. away south. She said the dentist was reputable to being sympathetic. I called & lady said yes he is. BUT they might not be able to do my root canal, depends on how my tooth is, roots & all. Then I can't get in to end of April. I need it done now. Having chips come outta your tooth is not good. I was trying to hold off but I already had the one scheduled for next week & glad I kept it.
Anybody else been thru a root canal? Please give me feedback. I am just so scared. I dissociate so much & the novocaine only numbs the physical Body, try explaining that the Mental Mind will still be active, someBody will still be immune to it.
Thanks for listening.
Love,
RhysMadison

(((RhysMadison)))

Boy can I relate!! I had a root canal about 3 weeks ago and it took 3 appointments of an hour and a half each to complete it. Now I have to go back and have a crown put on as well. I took a few tranqs before i went and it did seem to help. I also have been going to this dentist for 16 years. I feel for ya Rhys....

If you have any questions for me, don't hesitate to ask or pm me okay....

I'm thinking of you......
hugs
saly

i'm sorry, rhysmadison. i can so relate. you may want to ask them if there's any possible way to do everything in one appt...number one.

also, ask about i.v. sedation. it's the best! find someone who does that! you won't remember a thing, you will be on the edge of sleep and wake but feel like you're under general anesthesia or something. they did that for my daughter and it was great! you won't be aware of what's going on. that could help with alot of the dissociation during possibly.

i so wish you luck...remember to ask for someone who does iv sedation and try for one appt...i wish you the absolute best and will be thinking of you.

kd

(((((Rhys)))))

hugs if it's ok

I can not relate to actually going to the dentist as I chicken out every time. The body has not been in something like six years. It's just too scary for me, but I know I will have to go someday.
Good luck and remember, I think you are very brave.

Fi

What about a sedation dentist? Once I get money, that will be the dentist I go to. You take a pill and your sedated the whole time. It's about the only thing I thin I could handle.

root canal wasn't that bad...... i had to call a dentist at 2am, an emergency call.... i was terrified. i walked in, thanked him for coming at 3am and then told him i don't like dentists. .... well, after the laughing gas, i told him i loved him, lol ...he did the root canal... and i floated home... so my experience wasn't that bad....

RhysMadison,

I had a post all written out to repond here and poof away it went when I tried to submit!

For now let me just offer up understanding as someone who isn't the most dental happy patient in the world.

I'll try again with the longer post before your appointment next week.

I do have faith in you and in your ability to let the dentist and assistants know that you are in need of extra care and that you are not exaggerating about being phobic.

The first dentist I was totally honest with about why I was so scared of dental work was sooooooooooo kind! He took his time, he and the assistant told me each thing they were doing and checked in with me along the way.

As for root canals? They are necessary to keep the mouth in good health. An infected root can get much worse so I am very glad you are taking care of this now.

You deserve to not have any jaw pain and to feel good about your smile!

More later sweetie. You're going to get through this okay. It is good you are asking these questions now and expressing your fears. I hope we are able to assist you before next week with a game plan for root canal day!

With lotsa good thoughts your way hon.

I had root canal done 33 years ago just had shots in gums. Don't remember any pain. Don't know if that is cuz of dissociation or what but the only discomfort I remember is having to wear the temp crown/tooth or what ever they call it until the permanant one was done and that was only cuz it would come out when I'd eat a sandwich and that was more irritating than anything else. Don't know your history but if you feel not safe maybe you can have someone stay with you till done.

No new wonderful words of wisdom from here, sorry.

I guess I would go with the sedation. Good luck and thinking of you.

Yikesssss.. This is dissociative forum. I didn't notice that when I posted about the root canal. Guess one doesn't have to be dissociative to fear the dentist. I am not dissociative, but dread the dentist. In fact, the dentist told me I was his worst, most nervous patient. Guess I will have to be alert as to where I post. An oopsie on my part.

((((((((((((((((((((RhysMadison)))))))))))))))))))))

I never had a root canal but any work I have done at the dentist that involves novocaine, I have to be put out. I even traveled 10 hours one time to a special dentist because of that. If you can find someone who does what Kim said, the iv sedation thing, it's really good. More and more people are providing it. To me it's even worth traveling for. I just can't handle the dentist at all. I wish you much luck Rhys. It makes me so nervous thinking of you going. I hope it all works out.

I found a site that may be of use: http://www.dentalfearcentral.com/index.html... it has quite a bit of info on it about how to handle fear, communicate to dentist, etc. hope it helps.

Oh I'm sorry you have to have a root canal. I've had 2 of those. I had a bad experience with one of them. I found out later I did not need a root canal, after I had gone through an infection. The dentist I went to was just money hungry. But I found a wonderful dentist now and I am comfortable going to the dentist now. He has never caused any pain and takes his time with me. He's not much older then I am and his wife works in his office as well and they always have their 3 children there with them. So I feel very comfortable. I really hope your appointment goes well. This is funny but my sister goes to a dentist that do peticures while you get your teeth cleaned. I told her that is just to weird for me. Let us know how it goes. And make sure ya get the good drugs after. Monty

I have had 3 root canals and I am dentalphobia. I would reccommend that you go to an endodontist if possible. All they do is root canals and they are very good at it. One time I allowed my regular dentist to work on a root canal - he flubbed it and I ended up in the endodonist's chair as an emergency with one side of my face hugely swollen. If was as if I had had to have two root canals.

Gonna individualize this.
Saly- Thank you for the offer. I may just take you up on it.
KD- Not many people around here does the IV & if they do, it’s $300 out of pocket. They really don’t recommend it. Well, it’s my mouth, not theirs! But I can’t make someone give me an IV. They said it would take 3 times. 1 for the canal & 2 more at my reg. dentist for the crowns.
Fairygirl- Hugs are very much appreciated! Thank you! I have been doing well in going for my yearly checkups w/ dental, vision, & the dreaded gyno. But doesn’t mean it’s easy. I just fear not knowing more than having people touching me.
1 day- We don’t have many dentists around here. As it is they have to send me an hour away. When I ask for like the IV or sedation, they pretty much treat me like, well, why do you need it. I tried explaining the diss. & they didn’t understand, or maybe didn’t believe. Actually I was looking online for different procedures. Like the new needle free numbing agent Oraqix. Nobody ever heard of that around here.
Radio_flyer- That made me laugh! I’m sure he’s heard of things like that before from people on gas. No problem on posting in here. Glad you did ‘cos yours before made me smile! So I thank you for having an ‘oopsie’ in here.
ZH- Thank you for the help. My new dentist wouldn’t give me a script for anxiety or even pain med. So I had to go to my reg. doc. Glad I did though. She knows a little ‘bout diss. I got a script for Ativan & Naproxen as well as samples of Effexor XR. I hope they work for me. I’m going thru intense therapy sessions as well so this tooth thing just adds to the crap. But as my husband said, My tooth is just not waiting. My doc even offered to write a letter to the new dentist. So I had to call then she called back for the name & address. That was nice. Usually the nurses call you back, but w/ her, most times SHE herself calls. I like her.
Skylrks- I requested to have my husband in the room w/ me. He has to drive me there anyways. I can’t travel that far. & he knows my ‘signs’ of when I’m not being me.
Place- Just being here in the group helps & knowing you all are here for me. I’m not able to give much to others either when they are going thru some rough times. I just let them know I understand & am there.
Wanttoheal- You traveled 10 hours? Wow! Must’ve been worth it. When I had my wisdoms extracted before I kept asking for more novocaine. I would swear to you up & down that I could still feel pain. They were like You shouldn’t be feeling anything. I couldn’t explain that no matter how much you give, someBody will feel. I explained that to my doc just today & she understood.
Silver- Thank you SOOO much for that site. It is just wonderful! I read a lot of it & it helped ease my anxiety like you wouldn’t believe. Do we have a place here where you can post sites? Like for this one- Dental fear & trauma- www. etc. com. I look around for sites but it’s mostly word of mouth. If we had a separate forum where we could go to a particular one, that would be so cool. Do we have that here at PC? Can we?
Monty- I had asked my T if she knew of any good dentists & there was one right across from her office (I see her in her office north on Tues’). I had called & the lady said he was very sympathetic to mental issues. BUT I couldn’t get in till the end of April & then he might not even be able to do mine, depending on how the roots are. But when I’m done w/ this canal, I will be switching to him. He’s 40 min. away so I had to ask my husband. He needs to drive me there. I feel for him. He already has an hour drive to work one way. Next Tues. he’s going in half a day, come home, pick me up for my appt. then come back home. That’s nearly 4 hours of driving he’ll be doing. He loves me!!
Dalila- You know, they are sending me to an Endodontist. I didn't know there was much difference. Hope your experience wasn't too bad for you.

Thank you all for helping me thru this.
Love,
RhysMadison

Your doc rocks!! </font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
My doc even offered to write a letter to the new dentist. So I had to call then she called back for the name & address. That was nice. Usually the nurses call you back, but w/ her, most times SHE herself calls. I like her.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post"> I like her a LOT too!!

I am sorry that your tooth has now forced the issue of having to get a root canal. I think you've done a great job of talking out your fears and you certainly had input galore here to sift through!

I'm hopeful that you can have some understanding inside that this is a needed thing done by a professional who is only there to fix the tooth and nothing else. This will be over quickly and the doctor gave you all medicine for anxiety and for pain/swelling. Your husband is going to be afterwards and will be tending to you. I know you've been able to work through some challenging situations before so I have every faith that you all will come through this.

I'd come make you spoon thick milkshakes for afterwards if I lived closer!

You have many many folks sending you good thoughts for this and for y'all sweetie.

OMG! Wisdom teeth out ONLY on novicane!!! Hun a root canal is nothing compared to that!!! I can't imagine having my wisdom teeth out while being awake! My dad is a dentist and very kind, I've been lucky! can you do nitrous oxide? (thats laughing gas) basically makes you feel like you're on cloud nine, I kind of liken it to an out of body experince litterally! My dad was so worried about my pain during one of my root canals he gave me a bit too much so I as really flying. I love nitrus so I kind of am a nut and don't mind the procedures, my dad also has head phones so that if you don't want to hear what is going on ie the drilling and whatever you don't have to! I know you can do it *HUGS*