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2 PM dental appointment and I'm terrified

April 6th, 2015 at 02:42 pm

A receptionist from the dentist's office I called in desperation at 1 AM just returned my call and I have an appointment at 2 PM today.

Folks, I'm absolutely terrified of dentists. I start crying before I even walk in the door and the tears don't stop until I leave. The smells, the sounds, the entire concept of dentistry just freaks me out.

This practice specializes in dentistry for chickens (i.e. they offer sedation dentistry) and that's one reason I chose them. Thank heavens for drugs and gases that help people like me!

The receptionist doesn't think the doctor will have time to actually work on the problem today but said they'll take xrays and he will most likely prescribe an anti-biotic and pain medication to help while I wait for the big appointment.

Gulp.

I don't have a clue how much this will cost and honestly I don't care at this point. I need relief and will do whatever it takes to get it.

Oh, Mom has decided that right now isn't a good time for a trip to Austin. The nursing home calls her about Pop almost every day and she told me that if something happened to him while she was gone she'd not forgive herself. So, that trip is on hold until....some day. And the money I'd earmarked for it will most likely go to the dentist.

I'm surprisingly okay with that.

Good thoughts for my mouth and nerves greatly appreciated.

7 Responses to “2 PM dental appointment and I'm terrified”

  1. doingitallwrong Says:
    1428328158

    Good luck at the dentist! I hate going, too, though my reaction isn't as strong as yours. With the gas and my headphones, I can make it through a cleaning fairly calmly.

    Just keep in mind that whatever they do to you can't hurt any worse than the pain you already have! Try some deep breathing -- in through your nose, out through your mouth -- and visualization. Picture yourself relaxed and calm in the office, in the chair, picture yourself pain-free as you're leaving, etc. It really can help!

  2. creditcardfree Says:
    1428329503

    Wishing you the best today! Good advice from doingitallwrong.

    All you have to do is drive there and get in the chair. You get to lay down, you will have xrays, let the dentist look in your mouth and talk about a plan. It sounds like any procedure will happen another day. When that day comes it will be similar, but they will give you something to calm you down or knock you out during the procedure. This will all be better than the pain you are feeling now. You can do this and it will be so worth it!!

  3. Ima saver Says:
    1428332514

    I will be thinking of you today!

  4. DeniseNTexas Says:
    1428332944

    Thanks, y'all. I'm pretty good at deep breathing and will use that to help get me through this. Chances are today he'll just do the xrays and take a look to try to figure out what's going on so I won't need gas or any medication. It's the next appointment that will be the hardest. I just really, really, really dislike going to the dentist but this pain has to go and whatever it takes, I'm there.

    The last time I saw a dentist was for cleaning. They prescribed Ativan, something I'd never had before, and told me to take 1 tablet an hour before the appointment and another when I got there. I have NO memories of that appointment but do remember seeing double on the ride over there. When I woke up at home 12 hours later (!!!) a new electric toothbrush was on my table. Apparently, in my drugged state I spent a HUGE amount of money on that thing.

    I'm going to tell this dentist Ativan is a no no. Valium works well for me so I'd rather have that.

    I called work and told them I should be there today for my scheduled shift but will be late.

    Thank you for the good thoughts.

  5. klarose Says:
    1428344755

    While I'm not afraid of the dentist, I am deathly afraid of needles.

    So just walking into a hospital freaks me out badly. Or a dentist would if I had to get a cavity filled, or something that included shots.

    Funnily I've had 2 open heart surgeries, many more minor heart surgeries, lung surgeries, etc. Yet I've still never gotten over it. Everyone thinks I'm crazy but it's just not something I can control.

    I cry like a baby, and I always try to get them to give me some sort of calming medicine before hand. Valium isn't enough for me.

    I totally get where you are coming from. :/ Good luck.

  6. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    1428350997

    Awwwh. I'm really sorry you are having this pain and the anxiety about the treatment on top of the pain. I hope you get good pain relief pronto.

  7. DeniseNTexas Says:
    1428355219

    klarose, I know what you mean about not being able to control it. A fear like that just simply...is. I think that with time and a lot of work we can overcome them (perhaps not all but some) but in the meantime, those fears can be downright debilitating.

    Thanks, Joan.of.the.Arch!

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