Dentists

[flirty41]

Why is going to the dentist so scary for a lot of people? I am really phobic, and have been getting worse as I get older! I don't recall having a bad experience, as such, in childhood, which is often a reason for developing a hate relationship with the dentist. So why am I so petrified?! Cheers!

[andy hughes]

It's a combination of fearof pain (relatively rare with modern techniques) combined with the feeling of helplessness caused by simultaneiously lying down and opening your mouth which makes you feel very vulnerable. If your fear is getting worse, ask your dentist to prescribe a mild tranqualiser - 5mg of Diazipam per visit should do the trick.

[sft42]

I had a BAD experience in the dentist's as a youngster. one of the tools snapped and lodged in the roof of my mouth so i didn't go to the dentist's for about 12 years. The dentist i got to now is very good and it is important to find one who will talk to you about your fears and will take the time to discuss any questions you have and will give you the chance to be comfortable before they go to work. You could also try taking a personal stereo (which i do) which will block out a lot of the noise and some nice music can make it go quicker.

[Cactus]

I think it's the fact that they stick a needle into you, and when you wake up your mouth hurts and your wallet is empty. Am i the only one this has happened to? Could've been a lot worse i suppose...

[xyzzyplugh]

Fear of invasion. vulnerability. My guess.

[DavidUK]

I'd be very scared if I turned up at the dentists and George Clooney started drilling my teeth! The aspect that scares me the most (other than Clooney) is the fear of stuff dropping down the back of my throat and causing me to choke. Also not being in control is scary. I'm not unduly worried about needles or a little pain.

[bimsey]

I am the same about dentists Flirty and Ive just finished my course of treatment being a filling and two extractions and Im so glad its over with ..I explained to him my fears and he was very understanding and very good (and very expensive) but it was worth it and now its all done and I dont have to worry about it for the next six months.

[beenee]

I once started crying on the dentist's chair.

This helped in many ways: it made him feel sorry for me, he was more gentle and it delayed the actual treatment. I highly recommend it.

[flirty41]

Thanks everyone for your answers. I think it's the fear of pain, as Andy says, that's the main factor here! beenee - I have actually cried genuine tears in the dentist's chair - and that was just at the check-up! So he realises I'm a bit of a wimp and he did, in fact, refer me for treatment at a specialist clinic, where I was given a mild sedative to knock me out while the deed was done, because I was so petrified. And I am just about to embark on another course of treatment, but this time I'm being brave, and letting him do it without the sedative! I'm learning to trust him! (Am I mad or what!!) Let's hope I can be just as brave when I'm presented with the bill at the end of it all! Thanks again everyone! :-)

[Cactus]

I don't think the film "Marathon Man" did dentists' reputations much good myself. That scene where Lawrence Olivier is drilling Dustin Hoffman's teeth, hissing at him "It it safe?" still makes me wince with sympathy. I'm sure that's where my irrational fear of dentists first eminated from. Hope you manage to overcome the fear flirty41. And everyone for that matter.

[Cactus]

Of course, anyone who's seen the film will know that should have read - "Is it safe?" - More haste less speed when it comes to typing i think! :)

[flirty41]

Thanks for that Cactus! I've not actually seen that film - good job too by the sounds of it! :-)

[knowall]

What scares me most about dentists is there eagerness to do as much work in your mouth as possible to boost their earnings. I strongly believe that the more you go,the more work you have done.
I'm 51 and can count on one hand the number of times I've been to the dentist since leaving school - in fact its 3 times. The last time was about 19 years ago. The dentist I saw was an Australian who asked me when was the last time you visited a dentist - I was honest and said about 10 years ago and he said 'well I wouldn't bother visiting again unless you have any problems! I couldn't believe it! I've followed his advice and (touch wood) I've still got a reasonable set of teeth with no problems whatsoever. Dentists don'#t get paid if they don't do any work -well not much anyway- so it stands to reason that they will be looking for stuff to do. My advice is - invest in an electric toothbrush, brush your teeth regularly and keep away from the blighters unless you're in absolute agony!
Having said all that my teeth will probably all drop out when I'm sixty!

[PrincessAli]

i am not scared of dentists but am scared of needles, the 2 tend to go hand in hand, thats y i am scared :)