Dental Anxiety

I have to go to the dentist today, and I'm pretty sure he's going to have to numb me. He's not good with that needle, though, and I'm having anxiety over it. If it's like last time, he'll jab me at least six times (last time, he had to shoot me again four more times)! I'm feeling sick. I just feel hot and yucky these past few hours. I don't even feel like posting here. I clicked a few threads and posted, but I just don't have it in me to do more today. It's been a while since I was on the computer, but I guess I'll have to catch up another time. Just wanted to let everyone know I'm still here, just not in the past few days. Miss you guys! Had a bit of a panic attack earlier, and I just can't stand it. I know my bf wants me to go with him to watch drum corps on Labor Day Weekend, but I don't want to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge--too long, too long! I have to tell him and pay him back for my ticket. I'm sorry to him, but I don't want this anxiety!

I would suggest having him use something stronger to deaden the area. He won't have to poke you so much. Couple shots and your good and you shouldn't feel a thing. I had the six-eight shot ordeal and it was just that they were using the weak stuff.

I would suggest finding a dentist that doesn't freak you out. I have severe dental anxiety (and every other kind of anxiety). It caused me to neglect my teeth for MANY years. It took nearly a dozen dentists before I found one I'm comfortable with.
I cry and have full blown panic attacks. I've been yelled at by several dentists and kicked out of a few offices. My current one is very patient with me, and is good with the needle. He talks to me like I'm a four year old, but considering how much I've cried around him I can't really blame him.

Yes, I would get another dentist. I hope it is over now and your work is done for a bit. I had to go today too, get a front capped tooth taken off and recemented, two shots but I couldn't feel the second because of the first :-)

Hope it went okay, Maven. Do check in and let us know.

Maven, how did it go?

Ok, it's done. He jabbed me two times, and later a third, which did nothing to keep me from feeling pain in my gums. I didn't feel the third shot so much, and no pain when working on teeth, but poking me with that vile pick-thing was nerve-wracking!

Thank you for all who responded. I get all worked up over this business.

I didn't know they had "weak stuff" and strong stuff. I'm a little hesitant to ask for something that might make me feel so numb it causes anxiety (I get panicky if I can't feel my face, or part of it), but that's probably what's happening.

At one point, he had me sit up and rinse, and he was out of the room for a couple of minutes (they took several impressions, so they were back and forth) and my gums were throbbing from all the poking! I thought I was going to have to take some Advil when I got home. However, by the time I left, the pain wasn't so bad, and now it's just a little tender. I also thought I was getting the permanent bridge this day, but no, it's not for another two weeks. I hope that appointment won't take a couple of hours.

I was exhausted when I left, just mentally and emotionally worn out. Physically, too...I don't know if it's anxiety or the stuff they numb me with, but I was trembling so much I kept thinking I was going to ask him if I could sit up, because I know I tremble less when I sit up, before continuing. I didn't end up doing that, but I was shaky as hell.

I would like a new dentist, but we have CareCredit with this office, and I wouldn't mind trying a different dentist in the same office, but I don't want to offend my current dentist. I have this fear that if I had to stay with him that he'd "accidentally" cause me more pain. I know it's silly, but I do. One thing that really helps is they have TV for me to watch, and that can help me focus away from some of the discomfort or the boring-ness while being worked on.

I think my boyfriend is figuring that I'll get the necessary work done at this office, but once I've gotten the important stuff taken care of (infections, root canals, etc.), we might break the connection and find another dentist. I know other dentists can be better than this! My bf is not happy with them, either. I wish I hadn't agreed to be on CareCredit, but they got me (and my bf) in the office and asked me for a decision right then and there. They do that a lot. I would have liked to think about it some more. The woman said it's good, so that now I'll have a credit history. I may not have had a credit history before, and that can keep you from buying a house and other major things, but at least NO credit history is GOOD credit history. I'm not the best with managing money. My bf is handling the payments, though.

Maven, we've talked before about our ongoing dental problems. I had a dental tech tell me that lots of people are bothered by getting the shot. I'm glad the worst stuff is almost over for you.

About credit history.... No credit history is NOT a good credit history. Lenders are reluctant to lend to people with no history because they don't know if they will be paid back.

i have an excellent dentist who specializes in "traumatized children", and even tho i was 45 when i met her, she still treated me with care. she uses one shot to numb the gum, then another to numb the nerve. if i start to go white, or ask her to stop, she does. if i go into shock, she has sugar (cake frosting) to put under my tongue. many times low blood sugar is the price of long lasting panic, and it can be very dangerous..

i think your dentist is a dummy, and you need to either educate him or get a smarter one, Maven.
and Congrats for getting thru all that~!

lizardlady, I know no credit history isn't good, should you want to buy a house or something in the future, but I just meant it's better than bad credit history.

Thanks, Gus! My dentist rubs this stuff on a Q-tip onto and under my gums which is supposed to numb it a bit (but I don't think it does much of anything), and then in goes the needle. Nothing to numb the gums.

Never heard of cake frosting in a dentist's office. I love cake frosting, LOL! I realize she isn't giving it to you to enjoy, but it's better than most of the stuff the dentist sticks in your mouth.

I'm supposed to go back in two weeks to get the permanent bridge. I don't know if it'll feel different than the temporary ones I've had, but I don't like how they feel. It's tolerable, but feels "fake." The back is too smooth, although with this one I have now, at least they made it feel a little bit like separate teeth in the back. Still very smooth, though.

Maven, I get my permenent bridge this Thursday. I'm also worried about it feeling "fake." I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks, lizardlady! Hope it goes well! Make sure they get the bite right!

I am afraid of dentist probably because I had bad experience when I was young.Tomorrow will be my appointment with my dentist, and I am very nervous.

Hey, lilly! I wish you the best. I haven't gone back to the dentist in months, although part of that was because I was doing things for my mom before she passed, but also because I kept putting it off. I need to go for my hygienic, but even that, I'm just not up to going yet. I dread letting the dentistry resume, but I know it's for the best. However, I'm thinking of looking for another dentist. I like a lot of things about my current dentist (at least the office...modern equipment, a TV to focus on, etc.), but the pain thing is what gets me. Best of luck. Let us know how it goes.