I have had a dentist phobia since my childhood, which has affected me for nearly two decades. When I was 8 years old, I was forced to go to the dentist and have three baby teeth removed by the dentist. This was on the orders of my paediatric oncologist, as loose teeth during chemo was an infection risk. It wasn’t a fun experience and it induced an immense fear of dentists in me.
Fast forward a few years to my teens, post chemo. It’s possible my teeth were damaged partly due to the chemo and partly due to being a normal teen who ate lots of sweets and rarely brushed my teeth. I had to have 13 fillings. THIRTEEN. My dentist phobia reached new heights and I had to be pinned down by adults as I was too scared to sit in the chair. My mouth had to be held open. I was a crying, panicking mess.
I didn’t go to the dentist again after that. Not at all. My phobia of the dentist had reached the point that I simply couldn’t bring myself to go. And being an adult, there was nobody to make me. Obviously my children go to the dentist, but I have to take Mike along for moral support as I can’t bring myself to go into the room with them.
Last week, aged 32, I found myself in a conundrum. I had toothache. And no dentist. My children’s dentist don’t accept adult NHS patients so I rung around trying to find one that does. My hurty tooth started bleeding. I left work in a panic. I was in a lot of pain, feeling sick and swallowing blood.
To cut a long story short, I had a very bad infection. I had to go to an emergency dentist (tip: call 111 if you need one of these – they can find you one). My mother-in-law took me and I was very brave. I sat in the chair like an adult (but I felt small and vulnerable), whilst the dentist looked in my mouth with a mirror and took an x-ray. I wouldn’t let her use the metal spikey scrapey thing though. The thought makes me gag.
One week and a course of antibiotics later, I was back in the chair. My dentist phobia taking control of me as I sat crying hysterically and fighting off a panic attack. I needed an extraction right away.
I’m fine with needles, so the two local anaesthetic injections were no problem. I wasn’t offered any sedatives or any additional pain relief.
When I was calm enough to have the tooth removed, the dentist held my jaw with one hand and did the extraction with the other. I can’t even bring myself to detail what she did, so let’s just say it involved lots of metal in my teeth, which made me panic. And the pain was immense. The extraction took a good few minutes and I was screaming out in pain. I think the dental nurse was helping the dentist to hold my head still. It was like something out of my nightmares. My screaming didn’t make it stop. She was pulling a part of my body out and the pain, was comparable to twin childbirth with forceps. I felt traumatised and violated. I had hoped that my dentist phobia was unfounded but this experience showed me that actually, there’s a bloody good reason why I am so frightened. I was right to be fearful because actually it was even worse than I had prepared myself for.
I can’t go through that again. I just can’t. I cried and shook for hours. If I ever need more dental work (which I know I do), I am going to need to be unconscious for it.
Two days after my extraction, I appeared in my dentist’s doorway again. I couldn’t cope with the pain and the smell emanating from my mouth was like rotting flesh. She took a look (metal free) and assured me it was healing correctly. I didn’t have a dry socket, the blood clot was in place, the smell was normal and so was the pain. I’ve barely slept in two nights and paracetamol and ibuprofen weren’t taking the edge off the pain in my gums and jaw. The dentist placed a herbal dressing over the wound (to be honest it looked an smelled like “herbs” of the illegal variety). It began tingling right away and provided me with a few hours instant pain relief.
It’s safe to say that my dentist phobia is firmly still in place and I don’t think it will ever ease now. I really hope it heals quickly as the pain is immense and I can’t wait to be able to eat properly again. I feel weak and miserable and keep bursting into tears. Is it right to feel so traumatised over something “as simple as an extraction” (the dentist’s words)?
Poor you! That does sound horrendous. I hope you start to feel better soon and that you don’t need any more dental work in a hurry. X
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You should complain about that dentist – I’ve had several extractions done with local anaesthetic (with the help of gas and air because I’m also phobic) and it should NOT hurt! There is an unpleasant tugging sensation as they basically corkscrew your tooth out but it should not be at all painful. I had to be referred to our local dental hospital to have the extractions done – either by conscious sedation (valium injection and the patient should not remember anything about the procedure) or by using gas and air. Its really important to find a sympathetic dentist and to explain your problem to them – anyone who puts you on edge or thinks you are being a wimp is best avoided. I too had a bad panic attack when I got into the cubicle at the hospital but the lovely lady dentist and her nurse gave me glucose and calmed me down. Dental hospitals are used to nervous patients so, if you have one where you live, its worth asking your dentist for a referral if you ever need an extraction again.
I do hope you get over your dentist phobia, though I can completely understand how you got it.
My oldest sister used to have a dentist phobia. Dentists and hospitals. She had to spend a lot of time in hospital as a young child due to severe asthma.
But, do you know what? She trained as a dental nurse in her 30s and is now the one calming down the nervous patients!
…there is hope!
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I’m so sorry about your experience!! Do you have friends or family members that use a dentist they highly recommend? I would start there to find a new dentist, and hopefully they’ll be able to give you the peace of mind you need.
I am lucky I didn’t have to go through anything like this, but I was never fond of going to the dentist as a kid. The drilling and the taste of whatever is going on really gave a negative memory for me. However, I knew I couldn’t dodge it forever, I want healthy teeth, so to make sure I am in the right track, I have to make a visit.
I could picture the entire scene as you described it and my God, it was terrifying. I had this dentist phobia myself but my last visit for extraction eliminated my fears. My dentist in CA was very professional and they prepped my for it beforehand, gave a local anaesthesia which made it a painless experience. Although, I know at least a hundred people who won’t visit a dentist ever – they’re so terrified. But good luck to you for your next visit.
Fearing the dentist is a thing most people in the world would relate to but getting over that fear is difficult but necessary. I got rid of my phobia when I visited for my tooth extraction procedure which was quite essential because of the unbearable pain. I have been to the dentist for regular cleaning ever since and I’m not afraid anymore.
Dental extractions are not that painful in most cases. However, either there would have been a complication that caused the pain or you chose the wrong dentist.
I’m sorry to hear that your experience was so painful. When you get tooth extractions, you shouldn’t feel any pain. The local anesthesia should numb your mouth enough that you do not feel pain, and if you do, your dentist should offer you additional numbing or painkillers.