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Are you dental phobic? |
Nope, I just get in, get it done, & get out. No worries. |
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41% |
[ 13 ] |
Kind of, I get nervous but I can get work done. |
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25% |
[ 8 ] |
Yes, I'm terrified! |
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32% |
[ 10 ] |
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Total Votes : 31 |
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High-functioning Cutesmasher
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:21 am
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OK, I'm pretty much a scaredy-pants when it comes to getting dental work done. I avoided making dental appointments for a very long time, and now that I've managed the courage to return, I'm paying the price for my absence.
Some people are blessed with a bacteria-free mouth. They can go for decades without very much tartar buildup, cavities, or gum problems. Well, I'm not one of those blessed people, unfortunately. emo My teeth themselves are pretty good (still have the original set, ah hahah!), but my gums have been on the decline in recent years, and as a result I've needed some periodontal work.
My question is, are any of you dental phobic? I'm of the philosophy that the best way to deal with the problem is to feel the fear and do it anyway, but even though this gets the work done, it doesn't make things much easier. When I'm told I need work done like the root scaling and planing, or a crown, I'm able to sit there and get it done, but my initial reaction is usually to cry. crying Which is so freaking embarassing. And I'm unable to ask for sedation or for nitrous, because my dental office offers neither of them.
My question is, what are your coping mechanisms? What works for you?
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 2:04 pm
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High-functioning Cutesmasher
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 2:16 pm
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Karill Well, first and foremost, no such thing as a bacteria-free mouth. (Sorry, my inner microbiologist needed to get that out sweatdrop )
LOL, I stand corrected. mrgreen What I should have said was that some people luck out, in that they don't have that really destructive form of periodontal bacteria which becomes the bane of those with chronic gum problems. I've noticed that some people can get away with infrequent cleanings, and others NEED those cleanings urgently every few months to prevent tooth loss.
As to whether I've looked into sedation dentistry? Admittedly, I haven't, mostly because of my location and current insurance status/money situation. There is a sedation dentist in the area who advertises quite a bit; however, he's 30 miles away. And right now I have a mailroom-type job while I attend college. I have dental insurance which is pretty good, but most plans will not cover the sedation end of any procedure, and it ends up being prohibitively pricey if a lot of work needs to be done.
Then, y'know, there's that voice inside of me, "C'mon! Stiff upper lip, chop chop! You can do this! Shut up and stay still!" But when I see the masks go on and the sharp instruments come out, I come apart at the scenes and begin crying. gonk
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:50 pm
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 10:27 pm
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Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 5:57 am
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First and foremost: you have already discovered the one deterrent to Dental care... Anaesthesia
The majority of dental insurances do NOT cover Nitrous or IV Therapy.
The offices will tell you this during your consultation what your out-of-pocket costs will be due to either co-insurances, copays or non-covered services. Which in a sense, Im very glad... I am more informed.
September 2007, I was referred to an Oral surgeon who had EXCELLENT bedside manners. When I went, I was placed in a room filled with family photos of the surgeon and her family. There was one photo where her and her husband were SKY DIVING!!!! OHHH MAN, it was awesome! Another photo of her and her kids graduating from College. In another room, it was her staff pictures and their families. I never have felt so warm and welcomed like this. The Surgeon believed in order for her patients to be treated right, they need to know the kind of people who work WITH her (not for her), and to share fond memories with photos means alot to her, and it shows the patients that they are just as human as the next, and that 'family' is a very important feeling to have. A feeling of belonging somewhere...
I knew this surgeon was right for me!
October 2007, I had all four wisdom teeth pulled. I had the first office appointment, showed up nice and early. Because of the kindness I had received, I treated the office staff to fresh made Banana bread...They loved it! As far as billing, I knew ahead of time, that NE Delta Dental did not cover Nitrous, and I wouldnt dream of IV sedation... I chose to go along with the traditional injection. We discussed which serums to use and what not to use. She found a mixture of two types would be a better resource so I wouldnt get the full jitters of epinephrine while driving home. And she was a WIZARD at making sure it didnt happen!
All I asked the surgeon to do, was to show me what each tool was, INCLUDING the needle. I told her that I find more comfort knowing what she was using and what it looked like before hand would help to ease the stress and trauma of this procedure. She agreed... but was worried about the needle. And rightfully so... Well, she held it behind her back. I told her "Doctor, you promised me".. she said that she didnt want to see me run away screaming because it is a very large needle.
I told her that I had been working in the medical field for 12 years and that Ive seen plenty in my time. That eased her right then and there, and she showed me... The first words out of my mouth were "OHHHHH COOL!"...
I had a party in that OR room. Everyone cracking up laughing! What little epinephrine I had in my system, I was giggling so hard. They were teasing me, I was teasing them. As soon as my mouth was numb, they asked me how I felt... I said "uhhh dont you think Im a bit numb-headed to give an answer?"... Had the Surgeon pissing herself laughing...
After (literally) 27 needle pokes, 5 saw-cuts and 20 sutures, I was done in about 40 minutes. I was so thankful for the wonderful care they gave me. Even the office staff were great! Now mind you, I was so numb and swollen and gauzed up, I wasnt able to talk... They all had already eaten HALF of my banana bread by the time I had surgery and come out. They all said 'thank you' for the treat. The surgeon came out and asked what smelled so good, they told her I brought in the bread, and she had some right then and there.... Well, that little turd looked at me with a big grin.. "ohhhhhhhhh MELANIE... OHHHHHH yummy yummy bread.. ohh it is soooooo goooood! you want some?!" LOL... I giggled hard and wrote down the word "TEASE", on a piece of paper... Well.. THATS it.. they were on the floor laughing....
before leaving, the surgeon told me "Call my office the minute you get home, I want to make sure you are ok".... I looked at her in total disbelief... She laughs again! Then she realized 'oops she cant talk, doctor's orders"... I wrote on paper "How about email?"... She said absolutely!
So I got home, emailed them right away... They replied back asking why it took so long? I emailed a reply saying "I had to fill my vicodin prescription before going home".... They replied back saying "Have a happy trip!"..
From the time I met them, to the time I stripped down back into my PJ's, they just made me feel so important, and took away what should be traumatic and made it a worthwhile experience.
So long as the Dentists/Surgeons remember that I am a human being, and that I have feelings and deserve to be treated with respect, I will never ever be afraid... I would trust that surgeon all over again if I needed extensive work...
The power of the informed patient makes all the difference. Informed also means making sure you know you are a good fit for the right kind of clinician, and that the clinician is a good fit for your needs.
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Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 8:15 am
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Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 4:38 pm
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BlueberryJoy Karill Well, first and foremost, no such thing as a bacteria-free mouth. (Sorry, my inner microbiologist needed to get that out sweatdrop ) LOL, I stand corrected. mrgreen What I should have said was that some people luck out, in that they don't have that really destructive form of periodontal bacteria which becomes the bane of those with chronic gum problems. I've noticed that some people can get away with infrequent cleanings, and others NEED those cleanings urgently every few months to prevent tooth loss.
*chuckles* I'm wondering if some people have oral bacteria that *eat* the bacteria responsible for tooth decay. I've noticed the same thing.
However, that's neither here nor there. *puts a gag order on the Inner Microbiologist*. I second what everyone else here is saying; if the problem is that your current dentist is causing you pain, you should seek out a new one.
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:56 pm
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:03 pm
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I agree, find a dentist who you like and who will work with you - that's the first step.
The next step is to talk to them ahead of time and tell them about your fears, phobias, and your financial situation. If they won't talk to you about this before you schedule any work, try someone else. Believe me, you're not the first frightened patient they've had. Or the only one.
I never was afraid of the dentist until I had a number of tooth issues a couple of years ago (I'm fighting genetics here), and it was less fear than anxiety about "oh, no, what's going to happen next?" I did a lot of slow breathing exercises while they were working on me then and a lot of visualization and I kept a number of interesting mental puzzles in the back of my head to think about. Distraction, in short.
This is all pretty timely as I'm sitting here still kind of sore from my crown prep and buildup yesterday. My dentist is a genius at administering the novocaine - I swear, the worst part was the topical anaesthetic applied before the needle because it tasted slightly of cherry (I HATE cherry flavoring in any form).
I also have a good relationship with my dentist because I tell them them minute anything hurts. I don't sit there and try to ignore it until I'm ready to explode - I tell them what I'm feeling early on so they have a chance to do something about it. By the way, if any doctor or dentist or nurse or whatever tells you you're not feeling what you're feeling, fire their sorry asses and find another. Because they just called you a liar, and I do not pay money to people who insult me like that.
Screw the stiff upper lip. Communication is key.
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Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:41 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 5:31 pm
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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 8:37 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 5:57 am
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Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 6:35 am
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