Hi everyone. This mother of a 16 month old is petrified of the dentist. This may sound weird. I am not afraid of the needle or the drilling. The suction noise tool makes me gag for some reason and then I keep gagging & it is not anywhere near my throat. Any advice on how to relax and not let that bother me will be greatly appreciated. It is probably my nerves. I know that it is a crazy thing, but I need help on getting over it. My fear has prevented me from going to the dentist regularly & tomorrow is the first time that I have been there in 3 years. I have a dentist appt. at noon tomorrow(going b/c I have a bad toothache) and I am nervous about gagging all over the place. The dentist is gentle and stops working when I ask him too. He also gives me more novacaine if I feel anything. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I am thinking of bringing my IPOD to the appointment so I don't hear the noises. Maybe that will work.
Hi everyone. I just got back from the dentist and I was fine! I didn't gag at all. He took an x-ray & checked the area that was bothering me. I have a gum infection on the upper, back part of my mouth. He treated it and I didn't gag with the "suction thing". I relaxed, listened to my IPOD to dance music, and used positive imagery. However, I go back to the dentist on 9/16 for a complete cleaning and checkup. That will be a whole other issue lol. Thank you for your prayers and positive messages. It definitely worked! :0)
Find a dentist that deals specifically with phobic patients.
They are out there
I was a dental phobic. My dentist understands
try some relaxation modes... ipod, something comforting, think of a place you like to vacation or something you like to do. breath and think of these places on the drive over to the dentist, bring something to hold and lie back, close your eyes and picture yourself there. Hope this helps!
Hi K.-same problem here. Like you're thinking, I took my IPOD when I had to have a tooth pulled. It helped me to zone out and not hear anything. I turned it up real loud so I couldn't hear anything. Now whenever I go, I take it and it totally relaxes me. Good luck! K.
Hi K.,
You can request that they do not use the HP suction at your visit but use the "Mr Thirsty" as we call it far children but is called a saliva ejector in dental terms. That will help somewhat with the gagging. You can also use some mouth wash to help relax the gag reflex. We sometimes have patients rinse and swish with mouth wash when we are taking x-rays. Taking x-rays gags patients very frequently.
For the very nervous patients we also prescribe Xanax before the appt. They usually take 30 minutes before the appt. Being your appt is tomorrow you can call the office as soon as they open and request a prescription for it. You may have to go to the office and pick up a physical copy of the rx and bring to the pharmacy, they may not allow to call it into the pharmacy. We only give 6 pills at a time and you only need to take one for each appt.
You may also request laughing gas (nitrous oxide) if they have it in the office. I am sure you have heard of that. They will put a mask over your nose and you breath normally. The gas will help relax you. It will make you feel like you are in lala world.
Bringing your IPOD is a good idea. That will most likely not help the gagging situation but will make you not hear the sounds as much.
GOOD LUCK! relax and you will be fine.
Music is good. Does your dentist have a tv you can watch during the work. Visualization - just keep picturing and thinking of your 16 month old and keep telling yourself you are taking care of yourself and the dentist is a VERY IMPORTANT thing. I just had my appt recently too - No one likes it - they know it, we know it - just fight through and it will be over before you know it.
It doesn't sound weird- I hate the dentist, too! And I'm fine with all other doctors, had an unmedicated birth (so pain's not a problem!), and have never even had a cavity!
I haven't figured out how to get around it, so please update us if you do? Just the thought of him scraping my teeth for tartar....ugh...
Take your ipod and play "happy, make you dance music" NOTHING SLEEPY!!! I use a cd player and it gets me through. A.
K.,
Best bet is to tell them not to use the suction thingie, and to close the door to your room (if your okay with that too) so you can't hear anyone else's.
Do you gag just thinking about it? Just curious.
You might try to desensitize yourself by going and sitting in the office? Just ask them if you can sit there and by getting yourself there in degrees of comfort, moving to the actual room where they do cleanings may become easier.
IPOD might work. Good luck!
M.
the iPod sounds like a good idea. You could also try a theraputic hypnotist.
Isn't it so ridiculous how we can turn the most ordinary things into the most awful experiences! I am not bothered by the suction or the dentist for that matter - but am rather tactile defensive. Like, my dgtr loves to find my belly button and stick her little finger right in there and it makes my entire stomach turn! I can't stand it and have tried to let her - but can't!! And many, many other things that would leave you hysterical because I can be so ridiculous sometimes! Actually - here's one for you - the sound of someone drinking on the radio (TV I can handle b/c I see them) makes me so nauseated that I change the channel!
As for the dentist - do they NEED to use the suction? This all depends on how messy you mind getting - you could be numb and just kind of lean over a basin and let all the loveliness drip right out of your mouth (of course down your chin, and likely onto your shirt). Or they could sop what they can up with cotton. I mean, I'm sure they used to do something before suction - right! Your IPod may help - maybe something with white noise (like snow on the TV) into your ears may help too. Or - there are meds you can take like Xanax (needs to be prescribed, so your a bit SOL for tomorrow!LOL). But, if they can sedate you a little - that may help too!
At Disney World - (totally off topic) we went on Mission to Mars - ever been??? Don't. Well, I am rather claustrophobic - and this is a tight little, tiny space. I almost lost it! I shut my eyes tight - and kept repeating in my head "It's just a ride and will all be over soon" literally - over and over until the ride stopped, the thing lifted off my chest, and the doors opened. Maybe you can desensitize a little and think of another thing that sounds like the suction and just keep telling yourself that it's something else entirely and maybe fool yourself?!?!?!?!
Good luck - don't vomit on the dentist!!! And get your tooth looked at and keep them clean - I work with old people - dentures aren't all they're cracked up to be!! LOL
I am not sure that I can help you at all, because I am the same as you. I would rather go to the gyno than the dentist. I have not been to the dentist in about 7 years. luckily I have had healthy teeth. When I was little I had a really mean dentist and I think he marked me for life. I went through 13 years of braces, but I still am petrified to go to the dentist for a cleaning. In 32 years I have never even had a tooth filled, so I really don't know what the problem is. My husband and kids go to a really great female dentist and the few times I have gone to her I didn't have a problem with her, but ther is just something about the dentist that freeks me out. A friend of mine is the same way and she is 32 and goes to pediatric dentist, because they will use gas on her!!!! Have a few glasses of wine before you go, just get someone to drive you!!!!
Hey K.....2 things, definitely bring your Ipod and ask the dentist to not leave the suction thing in your mouth while he works....just use as needed, this way it is not a constant issue. He sounds like a fairly compliant guy and would work with you in order to get you through...Good Luck.
