How can I get over my fear of the dentist?!

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I want you to remember other things in your life. When you got spanked as a child, it hurt, but you got over it and you learned from it. Not every visit is going to be the same. Your next visit will be a cleaning visit and you will not have any filings at that time. Just a cleaning.

In order to get over your fears, you must face them. Forgive the dentist for the pain you had and you should be able to move on. There are not so good things that happen to all of us. Chalk it up to a bad experience.

It will only destroy you if you let it. You are stronger than the pain you had. You will be able to move on just fine. Pray and ask God to give you peace and comfort and courage and wisdom about it.

Bit of a tough one i don't thing the fear will go as its an irrational fear and its something that's there all the time . The only thing i can suggest is try thinking about what you have had done and that really is never as bad as you built it up to be . I hope it works out for you good luck

I also share your phobia even though I have a wonderful dentist. Make sure you get one that is very sensitive to your phobia and let them know if you raise your hand then they need to stop and check on you. The shot should NOT hurt. And NEVER look at what they are doing. keep your eyes closed and try to relax.

It's not unusual to have a fear of the dentist, and it's also not unusual after a painful experience to worry about it maybe happening again- this is normal!

I have had this problem too, and I'm 48, so it's not a 'kid' thing.

It is very important that your dentist and your parents take this seriously, because if it's not handled properly there is a danger that you won't get your teeth looked after in the future and this could cause you more problems, such as rotten teeth ( most of the teeth you have now will have to last you the rest of your life).

Step 1- make sure you brush and floss your teeth twice a day- morning and evening. This will help make sure you need less treatment
Step 2- tell your parents this is really upsetting you and you need their support, because you want to look after your teeth but you're getting a phobia now after the pain you had last time.
Step 3- make an appointment with your dentist when you don't need anything done, just to talk to them about your fears and to get some advice. A good dentist takes people's fears very seriously, as they know it can cause a lot of problems with getting treatment done. If your dentist is difficult to talk to, ask your parents to look for another dentist that is experienced in working with children and/or scared patients.

It's such a common problem that there are loads of forums and advice sites on the net- have a look around!

http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/

Hello

I know exactly how you feel as I am the same. I had teeth removed as a young child and had to wear braces and head gear at night for 2 years. I used to go every 6 months and after a while stopped going as the fear was just too much. I would cry and feel sick and sweat and get upset tummy. I would also get palpitations and feel dizzy and lay awake for several nights leading up to the appointment. Even for just check ups. I stopped going for about 6 years and my teeth got in a bad way. When my hubby( then boyfriend) talked me into going to see his dentist ( as he said he was really good etc) I decided to go as some of my teeth were really hurting.

I was so scared I was ill and I needed ￡800 worth of work doing. 4 fillings and 2 root canals and 1 crown. I was in pieces. But I got the work done over several months and the dentist was really good.

I told my dentist how I feel and he offered me oral sedation during my last visit. You maybe too young for Valium but it helps me relax and calm down and the sickly , panicky feeling and the feeling of running away go away. I take 1 pill the night before which helps me sleep and 1 pill on waking up and 1 pill one hour before appointment.

I now go every 6 months and have to get a crown fitted this Wed. I still get really scared and just try and work through it. I keep busy leading up to my appointment and listen to music and try and take my mind off it by cleaning and gardening and watching telly.

You must tell your dentist how this is effecting you. All good dentists will understand and help you. I find posting on here and talking about it helps me . You do not need to suffer and tell your parents just how bad you feel about the dentists. Tell the dentist. They are there to help you.

If I need work done now I have to have oral sedation as if not, I panic and feel sick and gag and choke. But I am not having sedation for my crown fitting Wednesday as dentist has told me it is really easy and fast and I am not scared( which is good for me)

People say face your fear and it will help and I do agree. I still get really nervous, but for a shorter time. I only start getting nervous about 1 day before now. Not like 1 week before as I used to. I just block it out by sedation and or keeping busy leading up to the dental appointment. Watch your favourite movie, listen to your favourite music. Take your mind off the dentist. And think of happy things like holidays and being with your best friends. I think of my next holiday in the waiting room and also take my Iphone with me while waiting to play games on. Anything to take my mind off it.

So tell both your parents and the dentist how you feel. If your dentist does not help, find another who does care and deals with nervous patients. Your dentist is there to help and you do not have to have anything done you do not want. Talk everything through with them and tell them about what you fear. Once you feel at ease with your dentist and trust them, the fear of pain will go away. I do not fear pain. I just fear being trapped in the chair, choking etc. But I am much better than I used to be.

You can get through it and one thing I do now without fail is look after my teeth really well. Knowing the better I look after them, the less work they will need.

Good luck with it all and take care...

I suffer from dental phobia.