Dentist Phobia?

[andy-hughes]

Years ago I was seriously phobic about the dentist, I had to have Valium to get in in the building, never mind up the stairs and into the chair! On one occasion, I had to forgo my tranquiliser because plans changed and I needed to collect my daughter from school, so I bit the bullet, had the treatment without - phobia broken.

A few years later, I was having root canal work done when without warning, I passed out, vomited, came round, passed out again, and went into shock - had to have the treatment completed another day, that was more than ten years ago.


Yesterday, I went to have a molar extracted - new dentist - and I was perfectly sanguine about it, no apprehension at all, but once again, I passed out and vomited, and this time they called an ambulance they were so concerned - but this may have been to a records mix-up where they thought I was taking meds for blood pressure - which I'm not.

The dentist told my wife I looked very agitated when I arrived, which I didn't feel, but is it likely that my phobia has returned without warning?

I am now having my extraction done in hospital under a general anaesthetic.

Any similar experiences or advice gratefully received.

[ummmm]

I'm scared of the dentist. I wish they'd bring back gas!

[Cloverjo]

I suppose phobias can come back. Something triggered it to start with, and so something could have again.

I'm having root canal work done on Monday. I kind of wish I hadn't read your post, even though I don't have a dental phobia.

[SparklyKid]

I used to fear going to the dentists, five trips to loo beforehand. Does not bother me now, they are not there to hurt you. Modern dentristy equipment is not what it was when I went to school dentist 60 years ago.

After two cataracts and hernia, I prefer the dentist anytime.

The injections are momentary , lie back and relax. Sing to yourself, admire the female assistant, works for me.

[andy-hughes]

I should make it clear that I am not frightened of pain, from the injection, of the initial treatment if the first injection doesn;t work properly.

I think it is something more deep-seated, which I thought I had got past, and I think it has returned to make me wear my breakfast all over again!

[douglas9401]

Subconcious expectation?

I had a similar thing 40ish years ago after passing out in a very hot hospital when visiting a friend with a badly broken leg, all bolts and structure holding the bits together.
Overheating plus squeamishness caused the problem that day and on two occassions over the following year.
Tests showed nothing sinister that could have caused it and I dealt (deal) with anything similar now by making a concious effort not to dwell on gory stuff but basically think happy thoughts.

I know, woose.

[gingejbee]

Sorry, no....can't even empathise. Right into my thirties, I preferred to go to the dentist rather than get my haircut!
Perhaps that's why I have all my own teeth, still (and a full head of hair!)

[Sqad]

I can't help with the "phobias" as a cause of your collapse as they are outside of my experience and i do not know at what stage your collapse occurred.eg before or after the injection of local anaesthetic.
However i seem to remember, somewhere in the last, that you are and have been for a long time, taking antidepressants.
Your description seems to be that of a cardio vascular episode which is well reported with Antidepressant drugs and vasoconstrictive nature of the injection.

Just a thought.

[bodeker]

I tried so hard to get my children to the dentist so they would have decent teeth. Took my daughter along when she was toddler and she just sat in chair and refused to even open her mouth and dentist gave up in end , took her to clinic for people afraid of dentists , nothing . In her 30's now and paying out thousands getting her teeth fixed !

[bunkmoreland]

All phobias start with an initial shock for what ever reason. At times that can be triggered and be overwhelming. You said you "had" to confront your phobia because of your child,but, did you ever get to confront the circumstances of your own first problem?

[tamborine]

My dentist freezes gums before injecting, making treatment painless. I dull drill sound with cell pods & Queen blast. Pinching my leg helps by transfering brain fear to my control via the pinch strength. Its mind over matter & might work for you. Good luck =)

[BagPussAA]

I can completely empathise as I have a terrible fear of going to the dentist. My current dentist is marvellous though and has been helping me overcome my fear when I have to visit him. One of my fears is the injections as I am terrified of the needles but I also get scared watching him doing stuff. So, I put on an eyemask and headphones and I listen to my music whilst he works. It is really good as it helps me take myself away from the situation and imagine that I am somewhere nice and quiet.

[Ryzen]

Dental treatment never bothers me...but I always ask for a jab in my wallet before I pay!

[Canary42]

The only time I've ever thrown up at the dentist was when I came round from gas after an extraction in 1952. Injection extractions in recent years no problem.

[Ken4155]

Andy, i too have a phobia about dentists. When i was about 8, my mother had quite a few teeth extracted and spent the night crying and spitting blood into a basin. I witnessed this and believe that's where my phobia began. Of course i have been to the dentist on occasions since that time, but on one occasion, i also passed out in the chair and when i came to, the distressed dentist said, "I thought we'd lost you then." That was about 20 odd years ago and i have not been back since. My mouth is now full of gaps, cavities and stumps, though my bottom front teeth are in perfect order. I regularly suffer from abscesses - some of which are very painful - and still i will not visit the dentist. I know there will come a time - probably when i have to cut apples into little pieces before being able to eat them - when i HAVE to grow a pair and visit the dentist but i suspect that any extractions will have to be done in the hospital. Not something i look forward to, but the lesser of two evils, imho.

[andy-hughes]

Ken - your dentist may, and your GP can - offer you tranquillisers to get past your terror.

As I have advised, I was unable to get through the building front door, never mind up the stairs, into the surgery and in the chair with my mouth open!

A small dose of Valium, or its current equivalent will enable you to go and start your treatment - believe me, if I can do it, you can!

[jno]

I don't see how you can have an unconscious phobia, though psychologists may know better. And I don't see how anyone can detect agitation you don't actually feel: the only one privy to your feelings is you.

Like you I got over dental phobia because one day I just had to. I've never looked back. I still feel some discomfort because having things shoved in (or taken out of) your mouth is uncomfortable, but if you can acknowledge discomfort it shouldn't escalate into a phobia.

The last time I had a root canal done, I fell asleep halfway through. Even the dentist was surprised.

You might try finding out exactly what it is that makes you pass out: if you're not in considerable pain or fear, that isn't normal. Sqad's suggestion sounds illuminating.

[Ken4155]

Jno; "...but if you can acknowledge discomfort it shouldn't develop into a phobia." You cannot rationalise a phobia. We are all fully aware that Dentists do their utmost to alleviate our discomfort and pain yet we still fear paying them a visit. It's irrational. It's a phobia.

[jno]

yes, but Andy doesn't, or didn't. He wasn't phobic when he sat down, yet he still fainted. I dobn't think it was a phobia that made him do that.

I think phobias can develop out of bad experiences and fear of repeating them: mine did, and it sounds as if yours did too. But I also think they can be overcome: mine was (not soon enough) and Andy's was. I wish you luck in this; being old with bad teeth is no fun, as I well know.