Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008
my fear of the dentist....

I have a huge fear of the dentist... I feel like by now I should be over it, but two years ago I had an experience that gave me a whole new level of hate. Going back to my childhood it was an ok experience besides the fact that I would always puke on the dentist. Especially when he would do the flouride treatment at the end...which lead to me not getting it for most of my childhood...and now the result of bad teeth. I'm kind of embarassed, but I can admit it... i'm the dentist's nightmare (or actually dream...because I give them the big bucks!)
Two summers ago I had to switch to a new dentist and I went in and was yelled at! He couldn't believe that all of my teeth hadn't fallen out...and I was shocked...I brush tons, try to floss kinda often and I hadn't noticed any pain! So after a couple visits with him, he just scared me so much that I didn't go back....

So now i've been saying since then that i needed to go to the dentist and find a new one...it's always on my list of things to do, but it gets pushed down to the bottom and never gets accomplished....
BUT a new pressure has come along, in July I become too old to be covered by my parents health insurance and i'm going to be uncovered...so it's now or never with the dentist.
My roommate recommended one and when I called I talked with the secretary about the friendliness of the dentist. Then as I'm on the phone, kind of scared, the secretary tells me that there is a cancellation for TOMORROW....
So now I don't even have time to mentally prepare!
I'm just praying I don't get sick... or yelled at!!!!!
19 Comments
Scott
1) I could verbally abuse you so much that anything the dentist could say to you would sound like sweet nothings. Would that be better? Bwahaha.
Scott   Tuesday, April 22, 2008
nheinzel
2) Oh gosh, you have my sympathy! The last time I had an appointment for a checkup I canceled it three times before I got the courage to go!! When they clean my teeth with that new high-powered squirting thing, I feel like I'm being waterboarded!! It wasn't so bad after all and I'm sure yours will be the same! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!
!   Tuesday, April 22, 2008
dazedpink
3) ugh, I too am the dentist's dream. I've had 13 (I think, could be more) root canals. And i brush and floss too...I just have bad teeth. I really hope the dentist you're going to tomorrow is nicer to you than the last one. My dentist is very cool (and kinda hot, lol!) but I know if he were an assmunch I wouldn't go as regularly as I do. Good luck! And let us know how things go!
Jules   Tuesday, April 22, 2008
gotshoo
4) I've never had a problem with the dentist, but I had braces as a kid so it's not a big deal for me to have someone stick a sharp metal utensil in my mouth. I happy with my dentist, except he loves to ask questions at most inopportune moments, but that seems to be the trend with everyone in dentistry.

Good luck visiting the dentist. Maybe you'll snag some free floss.
shoo   Tuesday, April 22, 2008
kristastull
5) Trust me when I tell you that I completely understand your paranoia! After searching for many years I have finally found the dentist that I love.....Maybe it is because he prescribes me Valiums just to walk through his door! Oh yes, girl, it is that bad! My phobia of the dentist reaches a height that not many can compare to, however, I Love Love Love my dentist and I have been devoted to him (and he to me) for the past few years....Good luck on your quest!
BrOwN EyeD GirL   Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Leslie
6) I would rather have a frontal lobotomy than a filling. Just the smell of the office makes my knees buckle and the sound of the drill.Eeeeek. I guess I'm not making things better for you.

Rewind...It will be just fine dear.
Leslie   Tuesday, April 22, 2008
ben
7) good luck tomorrow! If you don't pouke on the dentist maybe he'll give you a free toothbrush
Biker Ben   Tuesday, April 22, 2008
betsyradish
8) I feel you sister! I was never ascared of the dentist until I had to get my first wisdom tooth removed, and then a bunch of fillings. I don't think any human being should be subjected to the smell of their own body parts burning... UUUUGHHGHGHGHHG gives me the shivers!

I have found a dentist here in Louisville though that I think will be good for me. Their slogan is "We Cater to Cowards."

I wonder what they do for panic attacks.
Betsy   Wednesday, April 23, 2008
SallyPants
9) My husband's insurance pretty much told him which dentist in town he had to go here. So a few years back, when he needed a root canal, he went to see this dentist GUY, who hit on him, rubbed his leg while he was under the drill, and asked him out to dinner afterwards. True story.

Good luck tomorrow!
SallyPants   Wednesday, April 23, 2008
courtneyheinzel
10) Dude, that's just so inappropriate, period. Niki has a nice story about her old eye doctor.
Courtney Heinzel   Wednesday, April 23, 2008
nikideaton
11) I guess I will post a blog about it. It is definitely a good story, just not so good for me.
niki   Wednesday, April 23, 2008
igna83
12) Sorry about your dental fears, Amber; mine are similar, but are outweighed by the thought of pureed steak, if I don't take care of my teeth now. I had four teeth pulled at age 13 pre-braces and all four wisdom teeth cut out post-abscess in my 20s; I also injured my gums in the lower-front of my mouth, exposing a bit of the root on one of my teeth there, so Dr. Hurt [in Springfield] did gum-replacement surgery with NO PAIN! That was the first time in my life I had no pain in dentistry. Be sure to "take notes" during your procedures to know if you can live with this dentist.

We now go to a bit more expensive dental group here in B-town, but they also handle pain management differently than some older offices. Our new Endodontist here, Dr. Evans, is wonderful, too.

Good luck, and let us know how it all goes!
Angi   Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Amber
13) I went and it was a success!!!!!
Very nice lady...and only one little filling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think my last dentist was crazy because I thought today when I went in they were going to have to pull out all of my teeth cause they were rotted but they said that my mouth isn't that bad!
Amber   Wednesday, April 23, 2008
nheinzel
14) Way to go, Amber!!!! I'm so glad it's over for you and that it wasn't too bad.
!   Wednesday, April 23, 2008
dazedpink
15) I'm so glad it went well!
Jules   Wednesday, April 23, 2008
daveheinzel
16) Good job Amber. One time I went a couple or few years between dentist visits, and I thought at least half of my teeth would have to be removed. Turned out they were mostly fine!

I have a pretty good dentist now (Bradley Hudson, Springfield), and I don't fear going there. His dental hygienist is absolutely wonderful. She is very careful and has not slipped and hurt me once, which is rad.

Oh and our neighbor across the street is a dental hygienist too, and she gave us dental floss for Halloween. She's rad :)
Dave Heinzel   Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Leslie
17) Bravo..congrats!
Leslie   Wednesday, April 23, 2008
reera
18) So glad you found a nice dentist. They always tell me I am such a good patient-that's because I have a death grip on the arms and I never move!..Its not that I am afraid its just that I am claustraphobic and can't stand having thngs up around my face. I have to get them to agree not to put that rubbber dam across my mouth or I feel like I am suffocating. As you can see your fear is more common than you think.
dannie   Thursday, April 24, 2008
19) i LOVE going to the dentist! I went to this awesomne one in boston. He sits you down in the chair and when the chair leans back there is a flat screen tv in the ceilling playing either planet earth or live rock concerts! if you go in for a lot of work you get to pick the dvd! my dentist is also a total hippy....he went out in the woods in canada by himself for 10 days camping....just beacuse he wanted to!
alyssa   Sunday, November 23, 2008
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