That's how the left side of my face feels. The side where I had a filling put in a few weeks ago after an old one chipped back before Christmas. The dentist said that the filling was awfully close to the nerve and if I still felt pain after a couple of weeks I would have to get a root canal. I've denied it and ignored it and pretended that it wasn't true, but my back left upper molar - #15 - freakin' hurts. So tomorrow at 4:00 I'm headed to the endodontist. I just about started crying when I made the appointment today. No offense all professional practitioners of oral care, but you are my archfoe, my archenemy, my archvillain.
I just looked this up on Wikipedia: "Dental fear refers to the fear of dentistry and of receiving dental care. A pathological form of this fear (specific phobia) is variously called dental phobia, odontophobia, dentophobia, dentist phobia, or dental anxiety. However, it has been suggested that the term "dental phobia" is often a misnomer, as many people with this condition do not feel their fears to be excessive or unreasonable and resemble individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder, caused by previous traumatic dental experiences."
Supposedly 75% of all adults experience some form of dental fear.
I was hoping they could put me under all the way - gas me or anesthetize me or whatever it takes to put me in unconscious oblivion - but they said no. One endodontist said he could give me valium but that I would need somebody to drive me home afterwards and it couldn't be done until next week. So I'm settling for laughing gas. The nurse said they use it on little kids.
Yep, that's sounds about right.
Oh Amy I'm sorry you have to do that. Dental fear is very real. I see patients who have put off going to the dentist for years and years because they just hate it so much. I try not to let it hurt my feelings when I know my patient would rather be anywhere else than hanging out with me at work :) I hope it all goes well for you.
ReplyDeleteI know Ginny - I totally thought of you while I was posting this. I'm so sorry!
ReplyDeleteHow funny - my filling in #15 came out on Monday night, so I had to get it replaced yesterday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteHang in there! Call me if you need anything! I'll be heading home from SF at 3:30 tomorrow.
You can do it! :)
"Dentophobia" sounds more like fear of teeth. Good luck, and enjoy the NO2.
ReplyDeleteI love laughing gas! I wish they'd use it on me! I'd go to the dentist once a month (or more) just to get laughing gas!
ReplyDeleteno, I dont have a problem.
So how are your teeth? Yeah, dentist phobia is very common with adults. But what I noticed with kids today is somewhat different. They don't seem to deaf dentists maybe because more and more parents are becoming more responsible in teaching their children about dental health. IDK, but that's how I see it. I remember my niece jumping in excitement when we brought her to the clinic after our vacation in Myrtle Beach, SC last summer. She also had laughing gas, though the dentist and I knew it was unnecessary since she didn't show any fear or anxiety the whole time.
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