Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:38 pm Post subject: My trip to the Dentist
I never knew how utterly petrified I was of going to the dentist’s until today…
For the past week I’ve been in quite a lot of pain, as 1 of my top wisdom teeth is growing out sideways towards my cheek. I knew I had to get it sorted so rang yesterday and got an appt. for this morning.
My last dentist left last June, so I was assigned another one instead.
On my previous trip to the dentists for a check up, I was very brave and went on my own. As I was led, shaking, into the room, I mentioned to the dentist how scared I was and he simply looked at me, said ‘oh, so am I’ in pidgin English and turned his back He didn’t talk to me at all through the check up and I left with heart palpitations.
So my OH offered to take me this morning for my appt., and I burst into tears in the car on the way.
I was shaking so much when I got into reception I couldn’t fill in the form that they give you. I felt so stupid!
Anyway, a lady came to get me, we went into the dentist’s room and there was a lovely Fijian man waiting for me with a welcoming smile, which did NOTHING to calm me down btw. My OH explained how nervous I was, as my voice was too shaky to explain (yes, my OH came into the room too ), and this dentist was SOOO understanding. He talked me through everything he was doing while my OH chatted to the dental nurse, and said if I was at all uncomfortable to raise my arm and he’d stop. He was so cheerful and upbeat.
He said the rest of my teeth were fine bar 1, which needed a filling, but there was no decay, so it was simply a matter of bonding the paste in. He then did a clean and polish, whilst I sat trembling in the chair. He said he could quite easily take the tooth out there and then, but there was NO way I was going to be conscious for that!
The upshot is that I’ve been referred to a dental surgery nearby where I’ll be going to have the tooth taken out under anaesthetic.
So, thank you Mr Gin (great name huh?!), you’ve put me at ease with going to the dentist again, which I’ve obviously been harbouring a great fear for since I was little (I had a lot of extensive work done when I was younger).
Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to share with everyone what a big wuss I am and prove that not all dentists are the devil incarnate.
ooooooo Lucie - I didn't know whether to read this or not!! I went last week for a check up. I'm terrified too but my dentist knows that and is brilliant with me.(I got kicked out of a dentist practice as a child for kicking and fighting with the dentist - mum has never let me forget!!!)
He said that I had a wisdom tooth that needed coming out. Like you, I panicked and siad 'oh not now - I can't stay or I'll be late' (wasn't going anywhere but NO WAY was he doing it then).
He said there's no need to worry at all. The top ones come out really easily. it's the bottom ones that can cause probs. Luckily mine is top. He said it literally takes 2 minutes - less time than a filling. So, whilst I'm really not looking forward to it, I will have it out on March 20th.
Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to share with everyone what a big wuss I am and prove that not all dentists are the devil incarnate.
Good for you You are not a wuss at all
I desperately wish I could get over my dental phobia - if it is any consolation - I am 40 and MY FATHER still takes me to the hospital for treatment - which consists of a heavy dose of oral sedation before going - and Gas and IV sedation when I am in there - and it is only recently it hasn't taken six people to hold me down - they have even had a special needs nurse in on one occasion with me
I am so bad I have delivered presentations to the whole of the local dental community on my phobia and have been asked to sit on the funding committee - that doesn't phase me at all but relieving agonising pain for a short period of discomfort most certainly does - I would sooner suffer which is madness even hypnotherapy didn't work
'Dr Gin' didn't make me feel silly about not wanting the tooth out there and then, he totally understood.
My OH was fantastic, bless him, although when I burst into tears in the car I swear he secretly thought I was a mad woman
Sooo, my fear of the dentist is alleviated (kinda ), now I've just got the anaesthetic to panic about. My biggest fear is being awake and the meds not working properly
Edited to say: Good luck on the 20th Wendy - I expect when we have them done we'll wonder what all the fuss was about
I don't think you are a wuss at all, I used to have a real fear of the dentist after a bad experience with one in London. It took me a long time and a huge hole in my tooth before I went again.
The dentist I have now was reccomended as she catered for cowards, she has a sign in the surgery lol to this effect,.......she is fantastic and even though I moved from the area and have to drive for half an hour to get there I have stuck with her.
She totally puts me at my ease, talks me though everything and keeps a hand on my shoulder till she feels me start to relax before starting any procedure.
Wendy I have had my upper wisdom out, I opted for her to do it there and then as I didn't have time to think and panic about it. It didn't hurt and the worst part was the noise as it crunched, it was all over in about 3 mins
Your not a wuss at all Lucie, I don`t think anyone would say they actually like going to the dentist!!, makes it all the better tho when you get one like Mr Gin who puts you at ease.
mine is very similar, really nice man, my first trip after the check up was to have three top teeth out at the same time, he did loads of shots (seemed like it anyway!, and the bit I dislike the most) then next thing I knew he said I could go!, all done in no time it seemed
Well done Lucie, what a brave lass you are! I can see how people have fears of the dentist, but I honestly dont mind it, in fact I quite enjoy it! Weird eh? I've had the same dentist since I was a wee girlie and he's soo easy to talk to, had a jag for a filling last Monday, that numb feeling is unreal!!
I have been through every dentist at my surgery because i hate them all! - i go with my OH or my OH's mum
I cry my eyes out - dont sleep the night before....
I start crying if i get tooth ache because i know ill need to go to the dentist, i once took too many pain killers to try and hide the pain so i didnt have to go (was NOT clever)
My wizdoms havnt come though yet and im 21 - i hope they never will
Ive had fillings all over - because as a kid my parents never pushed me enough (i blame them lol) to brush my teeth as i should....
I went to the dentist this time ladt year, had a filling, and the moment the filling was put in i had pain foe the next week from it.... i went back and saw a different man (theres 5 there and ive seen them all!!) who told me i needed a route canal on that same tooth... i havnt been back since!! ive heard how nasty a rout canal is so i never went back!!
to add - ive also had teeth out - which is really, quite frankly - easly peasy!! its the injection i HATE, and the fact when im there i could be told 'oh you need 30000 more fillings)
I actually wanted to have braces to straighten my teeth but the dentist told me id need some of my back teeth out to do this..... so that idea didnt go well.
Id sooner have a tooth OUT then have any work done on it.... but i was informed they dont grow back like your hair or your nails lol and at 21 i didnt want to look like that lol
If i won the lottery id ask to be knocked out and have all my teeth replacs with lovely new false ones or them fancy things they do nowerdays ..... okay i have to stop talking about dentists now - its making my tooth hurt!
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My OH explained how nervous I was, as my voice was too shaky to explain (yes, my OH came into the room too 
