This is in secrets because I am embarrassed about the amount of work need doing on my mouth and also because my fear is horrendous that I don't want to be known as the girl whos scared of the dentist!!

Ok I don't know if I can actually put in words how much I am terrified

It goes back a long way!

When I was about 12 years old the dentist I was regstered with(an NHS one) cut me under the tongue with one of his tools - it hurt so bad that I punched back because of the pain and ended up bursting his nose! for nearly 10 weeks after that i could not eat or drink without being in pain and thats where the fear started!

I have also grown a huge fear of needles - now I think this is probably because I haven't had a needle since I was 6 years old! I think the thought of it is definately the worst

However I am now 18 - my teeth are disgusting and although I brush/floss/mouthwash every day twice a day, my teeth were breaking then disaster struck yesterday when my car door swung open and whacked me in the mouth and broke my front top tooth

I decided that I needed to put my big girl panties on and phone up a new dentist which is part private as I it is impossible to find an NHS one now!

I went to see them today, my nerves were horrific and although the dentist was lovely, really nice he couldnt believe the state my teeth were in!

I had to have x-rays and it has now been confirmed that I actually have a problem which basically is that my teeth are being eaten by bugs is how he described it and my teeth are so soft that they are just going to break and break until eventually he reckons by the time im 30 il have false teeth! EMBARRASSING!!

Now I need ALOT of work done, I was in tears today when he was explaining some of the rocedures however he took impressions and we have agreed that my front tooth is most important just now as it is ugly - and He is going to extract the tooth thats there because it is so broken and decayed from this disease thing - and put in a denture!

However I am PETRIFIED of the whole procedure of having a tooth extracted! I hate pain - im a HUGE woose!

I asked to be prescribed something to calm me down and he did do that - he has prescribed me some diazepam to calm me down before the procedure but i honestly dont think its going to calm me down enough to take the pain and thought of the needle and the pulling and tugging of getting that tooth out since it is a front one!

I guess i just need some experiences, some things i could maybe do to prepare myself and some words of wisdom and courage I guess

Please and thanks

I am also petrified of the dentist. Mine started with a bad orthodontist that was very very rough and actually broke my tooth when he was taking my brackets off, and to gain leverage put his knee on my chest. I didn't go to the dentist for 10 years!! I finally had to go when I needed a crown because a tooth cracked. I am not blessed with good genetics in the teeth department as it is. I am like my mom and need cleanings every 3 months because I build plaque fast even if I brush 2-3 times a day and floss. Sometimes I can go 4 months, but doing every 6 just makes for a long time in the chair and a more scraping etc.

Anyway, the drugs help and I get nitrous oxide (gas that you breath in) but I have to pay extra for that...and it's worth it. The biggest thing that has helped is letting the office manager, dental assistants and the dentist know you are afraid. If they know that, they generally explain things more, they are more conscious of being gentle, slower, go out of their way to treat you with some tender loving care.

You will feel better once this is all taken care of. Bacteria in your mouth can actually enter your blood stream and make you very sick and sometimes it is life threatening. This is serious and sounds like you really really need it taken care of immediately.

In the United States we have sedation dentistry where they can knock you out. Is that an option for you or could you pay extra for that? Can you bring headphones so you have something to take your mind off the pain? You can get self meditation CD's or even buy them on itunes...that might help you relax too.

If you have any other questions let me know. You can get through this. *hugs*

Oh my goodness, you've both had horrific experiences. No wonder you're so scared. I've never even had a particualy bad experience at the dentist and I am still petrified.

I am not usually one to advocate for drugs, but in this case, I say go for it. They really do help. I get the gas every time I go in, before anyone even goes near my mouth.

One thing I did was look for a dentist that specialised in nervous cases. In the end I ended up going to a holistic dentist. He wasn't a hippy dentist that rubbed herbs on my gums or anything he was a fully qualified regular dentist, but he took a holistic approach to his patients - and that meant really listening to me when I said I was scared. All the staff were specially trained to help calm patients and it was a far better experience for me.

So comfortable, in fact, that I had him put 6 veneers on my teeth which is a rather involved process, and I didn't cry once

Try and find a clinic that has great staff. It makes all the difference to have a friendly nurse who'll hold your hand the whole time.

You should really look into going to a dentist who specialises in working with people who are so afraid. You might even have the money repaid through your insurance (you mention NHS so I'm assuming you're in the UK), because insurance companies benefit from people with good dental health.
If you can't go to a dentist to talk about it, go to your GP and explain your situation. He/she can refer you to someone who can help you. Be prepared to travel (such specialised dentists aren't very common), but it's worth it. My aunt was terrified and didn't go to a dentist for 15 years after which she really had to. She had to travel 2 hours for a treatment (she lives quite remote), and had to go 5 or 6 times, but she said it was totally worth it.

you just need to think positively about it,if you build it up in your head to be bad and scary it will be!just think of the benefits of getting the work done,nice new smile? good luck i hope it all works out for you

During a dental procedure the only pain you should feel is that of the Novocain being administered at the beginning. And there's no way around that. The dentist can put a numbing agent on the gums but it will help only to dull the initial prick. That pain is short, though, and once your mouth is numb that should be it. If the anesthetic starts to wear off, you and the dentist should have some sort of signal worked out so that (s)he can shoot in some more at the first twinge. You will hardly feel the additional application because you are still mostly numbed up. My dentist always asks, periodically, how I am doing. The answer is usually, "Just fine" but it is very reassuring to be asked and know that she is concerned about me.

And do ask about laughing gas at least for this first time.

For patients who don't need laughing gas, lots of dentists where I live allow earphones and CDs to keep you relaxed and thinking about something else. Some even have a stock of them for patients who didn't bring their own music. My present dentist even has special glasses which project movies for those patients who are stuck sitting in the chair for a really long procedure!

As for pain afterward, the dentist should be able to prescribe something which will put you on Cloud 9 for a while. (S)he will also probably tell you to put ice on the area periodically and to rest for a certain amount of time. Take that advice.

It sounds like your dentist us willing to discuss these kinds of tactics but, if not, find another dentist who specializes in nervous patients.

It wasnt so bad

I freaked out about the needle but then persivered and let him put it in - after that i didnt believe he had even taken that tooth out! haha

Very proud of myself

However the after pain is now the worst! Im in agony!