Anyone else shit scared of going to the dentist?

Teddy_Salad

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Tue Jun-01-04 05:37 PM
Original message

Anyone else shit scared of going to the dentist?

I know many will find this silly but I am terrified of going to the dentist.

I definitely have a phobia concerning this.

I only go when I really, really have to and I know that's bad but I just can't help it. :cry:
And when I do eventually go, I am a nervous wreck!

Anyone else suffer from this predicament?

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tjwash

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Tue Jun-01-04 05:38 PM
Response to Original message

1. Hell yeah.

But I go anyway.

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htuttle

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Tue Jun-01-04 05:39 PM
Response to Original message

2. What are you? Some kind of anti-dentite?

I don't blame ya. My dentist is a cruel bastard. I'd go to a different one, but can't due to insurance.

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meegbear

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Tue Jun-01-04 05:39 PM
Response to Original message

3. I am ...

but they use "the gel" which can numb you out before the novicane. After that, they can have their way with me.

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Teddy_Salad

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Tue Jun-01-04 05:41 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. What's this gel?

Edited on Tue Jun-01-04 05:41 PM by Teddy_Salad

Does it numb 'you' out or your gums? :shrug:

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Spinzonner

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Tue Jun-01-04 05:44 PM
Response to Original message

5. It's not silly but

it is counter-productive.

Presumably you fear pain from an extreme procedure.

By avoiding going regularly you increase the likelihood that a minor problem will develop into a major one that requires such remedies. Not to mention the increased cost.

And pain and discomfort can be well controlled with the appropriate procedures and a competant and concerned dentist. If that's a major concern, seek one out who specializes in dento-phobic patients.

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Teddy_Salad

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Tue Jun-01-04 05:51 PM
Response to Reply #5

9. Thanks!

I know it's counter-productive but I just cannot help it.

Funnily enough, when I was living in Australia a few years back, I had a dentist who I loved going to.
The guy was wonderful.
I would actually look forward to going. :silly:

But the dentist I was going to here really fucked me around.
He was rough and that experience has definitely scarred me.
Now, I just can't bring myself to even pick up the phone to make an appointment.

But thanks for the advice on the dento-phobic ones.
I do believe there is a place like that here in NYC, so I will seek them out.

Thanks again!
Was greatly appreciated. :pals:

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Parche

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Tue Jun-01-04 05:47 PM
Response to Original message

6. dentist

Toothfully yes, I havnt gone for 2years.

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sweetladybug

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Tue Jun-01-04 05:53 PM
Response to Reply #6

11. Yes I have an absessed tooth now.

I went to the Dr today and got an antibotic. I have 2 teeth that need to be pulled and I'm scared to death.

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meti57b

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Tue Jun-01-04 05:49 PM
Response to Original message

7. what's there to be scared of, the worst they can do is .....

break your tooth while drilling it or break your jaw. Of course, you might not wake up again from the Novocaine or perhaps if they haven't adequately sterilized the instruments, you could get a deadly blood-borne disease.

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Teddy_Salad

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Tue Jun-01-04 05:53 PM
Response to Reply #7

10. Gee, thanks so much for those soothing words of encouragement

:scared:

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kymar57

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Tue Jun-01-04 06:20 PM
Response to Reply #7

17. Wake up from the Novacain?

:wtf:

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EstimatedProphet

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Tue Jun-01-04 05:49 PM
Response to Original message

8. Yeah, I don't have a phobia but I do get scared and tense

For me, it's the laying down with my mouth full of tools. Dentist says I have a big tongue and it makes it very hard to work, so when he tips me back and starts irrigating I start to choke. Can't help it.

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kalian

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Tue Jun-01-04 06:01 PM
Response to Original message

12. Try this....

http://www.bentondentist.com/sedation.htm

Find a dentist that does this and I am sure that you will enjoy every
visit. ;)

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Senior citizen

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Tue Jun-01-04 06:02 PM
Response to Original message

13. After a G.I. Bill dentist pulled the wrong tooth

I've always looked for foreign or female dentists. The last one I went to was foreign, recommended by the public health nurse at my senior center who always writes it down if somebody comes in and says that their doctor or dentist is terrific. This guy's Iranian, and I'm glad he and his family got out of there.

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Servo300

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Tue Jun-01-04 06:03 PM
Response to Original message

14. never been scared ...

It's just the inconvenience of making/keeping an appointment when I seem to always have better things to do that gets me.

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tridim

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Tue Jun-01-04 06:04 PM
Response to Original message

15. I have a really bad gag reflex

Really bad. I've never thrown up on the dentist, but I have thrown up on a doctor giving me a throat culture.

I'm not too scared of a normal checkup, but when I have fillings done I'm a wreck. It's a combination of things, especially that acidy taste, the taste of metal and the fact that I feel like I'm about to yack in my throat and choke on it. I suppose I should just request nitrous and spend the time in la-la land, but then I get the feeling that someone is sticking stuff down my throat while I'm drugged. Not much better.

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TlalocW

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Tue Jun-01-04 06:08 PM
Response to Original message

16. Nope, never had a problem

In fact, a couple of years ago the dentist sent me to a specialist to get two root canals. I fell asleep during both of them. :) The first time when I woke up, the specialist and his assistant were looking at me funny.

Come to think of it, I fell asleep right before my vasectomy as well. I guess any kind of surgery is just really soothing for me.

TlalocW

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kymar57

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Tue Jun-01-04 06:22 PM
Response to Reply #16

18. That's just scary .n/t

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TlalocW

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Tue Jun-01-04 07:54 PM
Response to Reply #18

20. No, it's just the way I am...

If I'm not actively engaged in doing something - can't talk, can't read, can't even watch TV, I get very, very sleepy (happened a lot in meetings at my last job too), and I doze. An hour-long root canal was just too much for me. :)

TlalocW

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davidinalameda

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Tue Jun-01-04 06:30 PM
Response to Original message

19. hate it

but I have a good dentist now

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dae

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Tue Jun-01-04 08:13 PM
Response to Original message

21. Long ago I was but then I went to a Dentist a discovered who used

Nitrous Oxide and he rocked my world. Well he changed the way I viewed going to the Dentist anyway, it became a pain free experience.:)

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ironflange

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Tue Jun-01-04 08:48 PM
Response to Original message

22. Doesn't bother me

My dentist has an extremely good bedside manner. I really do loathe that fluoride treatment stuff, though.

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