Getting over a bad dental experience?!
Question:
Getting over a bad dental experience?
About 5 years ago I went to get a filling and after a couple extra injections my dentist started drilling. I felt a sharp sharp pain and we left the office. Since then, (i've been back to that dentist ), and I have had a fear of cavities.
Now, I have to go get a filling soon and I am very scared. I am going back to the same dentist and
1) should i bring up the previous past experience to "encourage" a little extra 'cain
2) how can i get over this cavity-phobia
3) im not scared of the shot, but i dont like the idea of the drilling at all
Answers:
Well first alot of people have experienced different things that have led to anxieties at the dental office, so dental professionals try to many avenues to help calm the patient. First off the decision to go back to your dentist depends completely on you and how you feel about the situation and the dentist you see. Do you see them as ready and willing to work with your problem? If yes, then begin to talk to them about how the procedures make you feel and that you have still experienced pain. If they feel that there is no risks then your dosage, or injection sites, or even the types of anesthesia used can be modified. One top of those things you can help calm yourself, use earmuffs or headphones with music to drone out the sound of the drill, place a ointment with a strong smell (as in vapor rub) to remove the odor in the air, lastly ask to be rinsed and suctioned as often as possible to help you remove all the possible stimuli. Some offices will give a patient a small amount of Valium to help relax them and make the whole process easier, but that is not highly recommend every time a cavity is done. But trying different things is showing you are being proactive and trying to manage the situation so your oral care provided will feel more open to helping, if they won't budge at all it might not be the type of environment you want to be in.