Beyond Fear: Dental Phobia Support Group

Just wanted to post some words of encouragement for my fellow phobics.

I've always been scared of the dentist, that feeling of apprehension going in, that awful, familiar smell (why can they not do something about that??!!), though it was only when I hit my teens that I became a full blown phobic. The first time I went on my own, he shouted at me for eating polos (yeah sure I've eaten a polo or two in my lifetime - hardly the crime of the century - but not enough to qualify such a stern talking to) and proceeded to give me a couple of fillings without telling me what was going to happen. I opened my eyes to see this needle looming at me, then the pain - yowza!! So after that I managed to avoid him. Hiding the reminder cards that came in the post, conveniently being too busy with school or my part time job to fit in an appointment everytime my mum nagged me to go. Then off to university so didn't have to think about it. It was when I was 21 that one of the ill fated fillings fell out - ironically chewing sugarfree gum. Panicking I told myself it was fine, I'd just eat on the other side of my mouth. Which I did for six years, till a bit broke off one of my bottom teeth on the good side. It was only a tiny bit I told myself, I'll be fine. Gradually more and more tiny pieces broke off until one night munching a piece of toast after a few drinks a big bit came off. Terrified ( and admittedly alcohol fuelled) I confessed all my fears to my boyfriend - a regular dentist-goer - and he reassured me that everything would be alright, and we'd find a nice dentist (is there such a thing??!!) who could help me. Months passed, Christmas Day was torturously painful, and eventually two weeks ago when going to meet my mum for lunch I experienced the worst pain ever. I decided enough was enough and looked up the website for sympathetic dentists in my area and contacted them. I emailed back and forth to their practice manager who was kind and reassuring and eventually settled on an appointment to have just a chat with the dentist.
I went in sweaty palms, dry mouth, sense of impending doom, and he was really nice. Kind and supportive, he didn't force me to sit in the chair but by halfway through our chat I'd managed to, admittedly I was bolt upright but it was progress!! We agreed I'd make an appointment for a check up because I couldn't bring myself to let him look in my mouth that day, I was too ashamed by the state of my teeth, but I told him what my main problems were. I went for the check up last week and was told I needed three fillings and two root treatments, and a good scale and polish. Not bad for over twelve years not going to the dentist!! Today I went for my first filling, and do you know what? It was fine. Completely painless. I feel so elated that I've managed to do it and bloody proud of myself. I'm going back the day after tomorrow for the other two fillings and then it will be the root treatments. He's assured me that there will be no pain with them either but they will be longer appointments and may need to be done over a few days, and I trust him. I've realised I wasn't scared of the work to be done, I was scared of getting shouted at again, and have allowed my fear to build and build over the years. You can conquer your fear if you find a nice dentist who is willing to help and it will be so worth it. I can't wait till it's all over and feeling my jaggy rotten teeth will be a thing of the past. Yes, it's costing me to go private but it's worth every penny if it makes me happier. A a reward after all the work is done I'm going to getthem whitened too.

Please just go, contact them right now. I'm the queen of procrastination and I know how easy it is to put it off and say you'll do it next week, but next week turns into years. I promise you'll feel so much better if you do it now. Good luck.