[vacantangel]

Anybody else share this with me? DAMN, my tooth is killing me today. I've already taken so much Tylenol, it's not working. Short of facing the demon phobia, not sure what else I can do. Desperately hoping it will go away.

[nothemama8]

Might want to use anbesol, it should work
Reah

[Eva1nder]

((((((((Angel))))))))))

I have a serious Dental phobia ... tooth pain is the worse ... I'm so serious... i used scotch

Sorry you're going through that .. i hope you feel better soon

[vacantangel]

Eva, I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one with this phobia, mine is serious too. I actually get extremely anxious and need to take Xanax before I go. Goes back to my childhood, bad experiences with the dentist every time I went. I am sorry that you share it though. It's horrible. I just keep thinking 'root canal'. The pain seems to be spreading to more than one tooth now. In the past when that would happen, it was usually my sinuses (more history). I think I'll add Sinutab to my drug mix today. Dang, I probably won't be able to walk soon and I need to do my income tax return. I've been procrastinating and I'm not even organized with it nor do I even know if I have everything I need. BTW, that scotch or any kind of liquor is sounding mighty good about now. The thing is, I haven't drank for years and when I did, it was always in extreme excess but it sure dropped the shy inhibitions I normally have. The wild child within was always released and I LOVED it, My pdoc thinks this was actually the beginning of my BP but not recognized as such at the time. Something I think I might REALLY want to explore again soon, with the right person with me of course. Wouldn't want to waste that new sense of freedom for nothing. I'm having an overwhelming desire to revist that wild child. For now, I'm back to the bathroom for some Sinutab. Thanks for the hugs. Much apreciated.

[Parker10]

I hate going to the dentist too, its almost a phobia, but I learned a trick that helps me thru it ! I ask the dentist upfront - how long with this take from the time u numb me til I get outta this chair? When I have a time frame, I use my rational self talk - "ANYONE can live thru sitting in this chair "X" number of minutes", "If I count slowly in mind backwards from 1000 by 7's, the dentist will probably finish before I get to zero !" Or I play the "I am going to Africa" game and since that takes concentration - time flies. But I tell you - having the dentist give me a time frame has been key to me !

You REALLY do not want a root canal - so get to the dentist as soon as you can ! I chairsided for a dentist for 6 months( family friend who needed a temp) and watched root canals........I do NOT want one, and remembering THAT helps me go to the dentist !

Good luck - and please dont over medicate, it is only temporary and isnt going to cure a bad tooth !

[jmo531]

AG,

Yes! I have a huge dental phobia. I have searched High and Low and finally found a wonderful Dentist who is very nice and gentle and talks to me like I am a child. It's actually very soothing. She knows I have panic attacks so she is x-tra gentle.
Angie has a good idea. Anbesol is pretty good. That or oragel. Tooth aches suck. I am so sorry. I know that is painful. (((((((((((((((((AG)))))))))))))))))

when a tooth gets to certain point, it's difficult to stop the pain...due to all the nerves that branch from the mouth, etc. it's probably always a good idea if a tooth hurts that much, to go to a dentist.....as angie said, ambesol is good or oragel...

[Raynaadi]

Angel-I have the same problem! Recently my bottom front teeth were killing me. I let it go a week and then went to the ER. I had an absess in there! All the doctor did was look. He prescribed me with a huge dose of penecillin and said if I had let it go another week, I would have gotten septic. You don't want that bacteria to hit your blood stream! My aunt died from a tooth absess! Not trying to scare you, but seriously, all you might need is some anitbiotic. For now, get the nasty yellow listerine and swish for a minute 3 times a day. Also, get some peroxide and baking soda, make a paste, and spread it on the gums where it hurts. If the pain doesn't go away, you must get seen! I know it's scary, but it's better then a bacterial blood infection!!!!

[vacantangel]

Hi Parker, I've already had 2 root canals so I know what they're like. Actually they're not near as bad as my fear is of them, so irrational. The worst part about getting a root canal IMHO is trying to keep your mouth open for the length of time it takes, plus my dentist always tells me I have a small mouth, so he doesn't have much room with which to work. That's a good idea about asking how long it will take. I think I recall telling him about my phobia the last time but memory escapes me cuz it's been about 3 years. I know, I know, I should go on a regular basis but with my phobia, it's kinda hard to face the demons that frequently. Of course, putting it off as I do, can make the next visit require more work than if I had gone on a regular basis.

BTW, what is the "I am going to Africa" game?

[vacantangel]

Hi Jen, my dentist is pretty good with me too. Pet peeve though: trying to participate in a conversation with the dentist with all sorts of stuff in your mouth. Are they nuts?

[vacantangel]

YIKES!!! Actually this tooth has been bothering me for quite some time, just being sensitive to cold. I was convincing myself that's all it was and not something more but now with it having a dull throbbing pain to it, I'm beginning to wonder if I can really resist facing the dentist phobia demons any longer. I'm allergic to all antibiotics, so that's not good either. That scotch is sounding better by the minute. I'm really hoping in the morning this will all be gone but right now the Tylenol has worn off and it is time for more.

[inkblot]

My dental phobia isn't of the dentist, but from the embarrassment. My childhood was raised without a dentist. I started taking myself and paying my own bills in high school, got everything fixed up nice--even braces! Still lots of damage done, though, but fixed. Then...My ex-husband refused to let me finish treatment after a root canal while we were married, and I couldn't go for other visits. I never got the crown and now after all that neglect It's really sad for my molars, or what's left of them. If not for the embarrassment now, I used to have no problem going to the dentist.

[jmo531]

((((((((((((((((((((((((ink))))))))))))))))))))))

I sowwy!!!

[SpazKatt]

My daddy is my dentist so I'm not scared one bit

[vacantangel]

Inky, I'm sorry. I've at 2 root canals done, neither one of them have been crowned. Just don't have the money. Waaaaaaaaaay expensive, even over and above my dental plan. I guess part of my fear is the dang needle they give for freezing. It is so HUGE. I also have a phobia of getting blood tests done and blood. Even typing out that 'b' word gives me the creeps. The other part that freaks me out at the dentist is the drill. If I could just go for once and he not have to do anything, maybe I would be ok, but I swear dentistry is a raquet (no offence to anybody who works in that field), I just don't trust them. Another thing I don't like is the dentist always asks what medication you're taking and I find that embarrassing to start naming off all my psych drugs. I start to wonder what thoughts are going through his head about me then.

[vacantangel]

That must make it a lot easier.

[Parker10]

LOL - the "Africa game" goes like this .... you say "I am going to Africa and in my bag I am going to pack (insert something that starts with an "A" like apple), then repeat, 'i am going to Africa and in my bag I am going to pack an apple and a 'insert a B item here'" etc etc etc........it takes alot of brain work to remember what u have packed and repeat it over and over and over ! Just a coping skill - or distraction technique. That is why the dentist or asst. talk to you or ask u questions while u are packed full of their hands and instruments - a distraction.

You are so right - putting off those regular check ups makes it harder to go. "Feel the fear and do it anyway". Like someone else said - an infection can be very serious !

Good luck !

[vacantangel]

I don't get that 'talking distraction' though. They ask questions and you're unable to talk to respond. The Africa game sounds pretty cool. Thx for the tip. Tooth doesnt hurt so much now but maybe it's the Tylenol with codeine. To be honest, I can't remember when I took it last. It might still be working. I usually just take more when the pain comes back and don't watch the clock.

[Shar]

AG,
I am a TOTAL dentophobe! AND I inherited bad/sensitive teeth from dear old dad. Currently, I have three bridges, numerous root canals, periodontal surgery, and more fillings than I can count under my belt. AND that's with flossing and brushing twice a day.

I grew up with Air Force dentists. The folks who were either drafted and/or couldn't make it in the real world, and wouldn't hesitate to slap you if you cried, or tell you to raise your hand when something hurt....stop....and then continue (without Novocaine). A 'small' cavity didn't need Novocaine. This was in the 50's/60's.

When they would spray cold water on my teeth it was extremely painful, and an air-cooled drill didn't bother a tooth if I'd had Novocaine, but it HURT all my other teeth which I would try to cover with my tongue.

So, once I became of age, I simply stopped going to the dentist (except for removal of wisdom teeth, and with any tooth removal, I get dry sockets). Then, in the intervening years, I had any hurting tooth pulled (this was long ago).

FINALLY, I found a dentist who could deal with a phobic person, and not say "It will be fine" or some other BS. [I was once in a specialist's office awaiting a root canal, and a young boy was in the dental chair crying uncontrollably. Finally, they sent him to the lobby, because they couldn't work on him. The receptionist said, to ME, it doesn't really hurt that much, does it, nothing to be afraid of--like minimizing his fear. And, I said, well it CAN hurt, and I understand why he is afraid....and got a very DIRTY look in return.]

When I go to the dentist, I ALWAYS get nitrous, and tell them I need the max amount they can give (and some will give more than the max). I ALWAYS cry; not just tears; weeping deeply. I ALWAYS tell the dentist I am PHOBIC, not just concerned or nervous, and explain what a PHOBIA is (usually by email or letter, before I go). I ALWAYS take some sort of benzo before I go and don't tell them; if THEY give you 5 mg. of Valium, they want someone to drive you there and pick you up; I would take 10 mg. before I got there, and get the nitrous at the max, and that would keep me in the chair.

Coral (from the behated PsychoBabble) also is in a similar category.

Now that I don't have $$ I haven't been in two years, and am SO worried. I suppose dentures will be next.

No form of distraction (talking, earphones with music, etc. works at ALL for me) unless accompanied with nitrous and a benzo.

You are not alone. There a lots of folks who share your fears, and a lot of them just don't go to the dentist.

Interestingly, I went to drs. for over a year for a sinus infection, and it turned out I needed a tooth removed from a root canal gone wrong. My relief was instantaneous. BTW, I've never had a lot of pain from root canals; and I can't take most painkillers because I come from a VERY vomitacious family, and usually throw up with everything from darvocet to vicodin to percodan. So, if I get an RX for painkillers, I also request Phenergan suppositories if I'm gonna have like surgery or something (the deal is, a Phenergan pill just gets thrown up.).

Anyhow, hope I didn't gross you out too much! But, you are definitely NOT alone.

Good luck,
Shar

[Shar]

BTW, shots do not bother me at all. They can shoot me up all they want, and I'm cool. It's the other stuff....

Shar

[Peanuts]

This probably sounds strange, but at my request my dentist will place a small cloth over my eyes and someone that makes whatever drilling seem easier to endure. And of course, lots of novacaine !!! I don't care if I can't put my lips together or drink water without drooling for hours - I will use novacaine. The longer you wait the more work might need to be completed on your teeth. Maybe if you go to the dentist soon, it will be a quick fix - hope so.

Good luck

[vacantangel]

Shar, sorry for your bad experiences, looks like you've had more than your fair share of them. Do you think that everybody with this phobia has had previous bad experiences with a dentist? I also load up on benzos beforehand. It's the only way I can get there and even with that I have extreme anxiety. I also avoid going to the dentist due to my phobia. I've also gone to the dentist with what I thought was a tooth problem and turned out I had sinusitis and later required surgery. ugh! Thanks for sharing your experiences. My tooth feels a little 'strange' but no pain, well, at least not yet today. I'm holding out still. It's been 3 yrs since I've been to the dentist and in the last 6 yrs, I've had 2 root canals, neither of them crowned, no money. I also didn't really experience pain with either of my root canals. Biggest problem was having to stay at the dentist for such a long period of time (couldn't wait to escape) and having to keep my mouth open for so long. I'm still in denial about my tooth.

[vacantangel]

Hi Peanut. This tooth has actually been giving me problems for 'several' months now, being sensitive to cold. It already has a filling in it, so that's not sounding like good news to me if there is something wrong with it. I'm actually starting to have a panic attack just typing this out. Deep breaths.

[Eva1nder]

((((Angel))))) yw...and (((everyone)))else who goes through pain and fear with the dentist teeth pain.

I have genetic issues when it comes to teeth problems. in my teens I started going through needed one root canal after the other. By 17 I already had 10 abcesses...that's 10 root canals...one of which was a muller..and one wich was done by a "specialist" ..an endodontist who wasn't too "special" to me.

He did my root canal basically with no novacain. I can barely walk into a dentist's office.

The tooth that had to be done was particularly hard to numb, but that was no excuse and this came up again just a few years back. I literally had to be carried in...the dentist was fortunately very good ..gave me tons of laughing gas...i had a prior prescription for valium and he gave me a shot of novacaine dead on in the nerve.

He knew what he was doing. He told me a story. He became a dentist because when he was younger he went to a dentist the dentist never used any novacaine or numbing techniques.

So now voila ..he became one and he's great..and i'm lucky ..cuz if I've ever gotta get another root canal that's where I can go.

Hope your feeling better ((Angel)).

[mortimer]

I hate dentists, doctors, you name it, I probably hate 'em. My parents gave up trying to make me go, I was too stubborn. :3