Dental phobia and sedation

[celestial]

Hi everyone

I have a lot of phobias that centre around control and not wanting to lose it. The latest one to rear its ugly head and mess with my life is dental - having not needed to go for about 10 years, I finally went along to get a check up as I was having pain. I didn't mind that because I wasn't having anything done, but still didn't like the feeling of being out of control, etc.

Anyway, it turns out I need some work done - definitely a replacement filling and possible a root canal. Now, at the moment I honestly don't see how this can physically happen, even though I have been in pain on and off for 3 months. The pain is mostly OK at the moment, but I'm living in fear of it flaring up again, as it can be agony.

My dentist has basically said she won't treat people who are as anxious as me, because she finds the excperience so stressful - which I totally understand. What she has suggested instead is that I go to a clinic that offers IV sedation.

I can't afford to go private, so the referral process has taken months and I'm just getting more worried and less likely to go through with it when I eventually get an appointment. I think I probably do need to be sedated because I will physically leave the room otherwise, but of course, it's now the sedation that scares me more than ever.

I'm convinced I'll have some kind of reaction to it, or that it won't actually make me feel less scared and I'll be all vulnerable. I have had sedation for a very traumatic procedue in the past, and while that went fine, I did relax once it took effect and there were no bad reactions, I remember it didn't actually take the pain away, and I still have some memory of what happened. In a way, remembering bits of a traumatic event are worse than being aware of all of it, I think.

Has anyone else been in this situation? Did you go for the sedation option, and was it ok? I'm really not happy about any of this. Thanks.

[sagey]

Hi Celstial, I've been looking in to dental options cos it is a major problem for me. I'm not afraid of the pain, it's the whole claustrophobia and invasive thing. Also I have a swallow problem and I'm afraid of embarrassing everyone when I go. I found a site recently where people relate their experiences of IV sedation but I can't find the address. It's something like "beyond fear". I will check it out again later toaday and come back to you.

[shoegal]

Hi Celestial,

I totally understand what you are going through because I also have a Dental phobia. For me it is the fear of having a panic attack in the chair when he is in the middle of working on my teeth so it would be impossible to leave.

As you didn't find the check up too bad, is there any way you could consider having minor work without IV sedation? I know this sounds terrifying but actually fillings aren't all that bad and are quite quick. Do you actually need to have one taken out and replaced or are you just having one put in? Your Dentist doesn't sound very sympathetic to nervous patients. Could you go to a Dentist who deals with phobic patients? They don't all just use the IV sedation, some offer hypnosis and use the 3 visit technique (where you go 3 times to build up confidence). You can also get valium from your Doctor which you can use before an appointment.

Anyway, whatever you decide to do, I wish you luck.

Love and hugs from shoegal xxx

[Allye]

Hi

My partner and I were both dental phobics (I had not been for 16 years). We used a site called http://www.beyondfear.org.uk/ . – run by someone else with a dental phobia. The site has a list of recommended dentists including those which will undertake IV sedation etc. There are also some good personal stories on there.

We found an absolutely brilliant dentist who specialised in phobics (sourced from the site). I went three times (without any treatment) just to overcome my desire to run out. The dentist took all the time in the world to work with me, as a result of which I have now had my teeth cleaned (using a sedative tablet). My partner has managed to have a tooth out using IV sedation and he was fine. Our dentist saw us on a Saturday (less stress with work etc) and kept in contact via e-mail and telephone to check we were ok at all times.

Luckily we had the funds to go privately – my three sessions, teeth clean and xrays cost about £80. There are also dentists listed on the beyond fear site who do NHS work.

Hope this helps.

[mumof4]

hi i used to be raelly scared of the dentist i woulndt go and all my teehth were rotting and iwas in so much pain couldnt eat for it then when my panic attacks stopped and i felt better i went up to the dental hospital in glasgow and they pulled my tooth with 5 jags cause they couldnt numb it casue it had a ifection in it and to be honest i didnt feel a thing.

then i went back cause i had a mouth abbesess and i was in alot of of pain i was in tears with the pain so i went back up to the dentail hospital again and again they pulled the tooth out with the abbess in it and again didnt feel a thing.

all i would say is it aint that bad just push urself to go and u wont regert it u will walk out feeling like u have achacived something that show i felt.

[Alabasterlyn]

I'm not very good at going to the dentist either, although I don't think I am actually dental phobic. Like most agoraphobics though I find I panic at the thought of being trapped in the chair.

I really think the suggestion of finding a dentist who is sensitive to your problems would be a good idea. I have a great dentist, she is very calming and she always tells me to raise my hand if I want her to stop. When I had a root canal done a few years ago I had to go 3 times as she knew I wouldn't be able to have it done in one or two appointments.

I would also suggest that you find out about your Community Dental Service as most areas have one and they are very good and they don't charge either. I used to have one where I live but they don't have one now and he used to come to my house and I had fillings and extractions done. I have to say it made it tons easier having the work done at home.

I have a friend who is very agoraphobic and has had a lot of dental work done over the years. She goes to her local hospital as she has sedation and she finds it works just great. She also takes an Ativan before she goes so that she is able to actually get there.

I do think the anticipatory anxiety of having dental work done is far worse than the reality though.

[belle]

Hi...

I was in your position. I needed 3 wissies out and a molar. I went to the sedation clinic and completely freaked out and thought i would "die" from the sedation.

Now i can honestly say it's absolutely fantastic!!! I would not have work done without it. Its wonderful. You know nothing.

I've been sedated 4 times now and the only problem i had was that 2 times out of 4 is that i had headaches. Nothing more.

[mico]

Luckily we had the funds to go privately – my three sessions, teeth clean and xrays cost about £80. There are also dentists listed on the beyond fear site who do NHS work.

That's actually about what it would cost you with the NHS, and with sedation one appointment is £60 straight away. Makes you wonder.

I never went to the dentist for years, simply because I was terrified. I was eventually forced through constant and sometimes unbearable pain just to walk into the dentist's office, where I was refered for IV sedation.

I loved it. I was honestly looking forward to going back.

As a general rule, the sedation will usually be more powerful in a hospital than it will in a high street practice. I'm a regular...

[sagey]

I'm just curious if they need a qualified aneasthatist (can't spell it) to administer the sedation ?

[mico]

I'm just curious if they need a qualified aneasthatist (can't spell it) to administer the sedation ?

I'm pretty sure they do.

Sedation has become more limited since it's more regulated these days. But regular dental surgeons can, I think, pick up qualifications which will enable them to administer the sedation. Not just any Tom, Dick and Harry can do it.