For those still scared.......and I'm a Nitrous junkie now :-)

I can't believe that just a few short months ago I couldn't even picture myself getting help for my dental problems and fears, and here I am today---completely relaxed in the dental chair. I had the last of my 3 scalings today. Although the scalings are really no big deal, my anticipatory anxiety along with nervous stomach make it hard to even get to the dentist. I've decided to do whatever it takes to keep my nerves at a minimum, even if it seems an overkill. I take a small valium pill prior to the appt (just to get me out the bathroom door to the car---it was prescribed by the dentist) and then use the nitrous oxide while there. I hated it the first time I used it and avoided it the following 2 appts, but decided to give it a go again, and now I'm hooked on its benefits. If only my first experiences with the dentist when I was a teenager had included this (or at least this nice dentist I've found), then I'd never have avoided treatment for 20 years.

If any of you reading this have yet to take that first step toward long-overdue treatment, take heart. There is help, and you CAN do it. Take it from the BIGGEST baby in the world. This site was my first inspiration. Just knowing I wasn't alone in my fears/phobia and then finding that most dentists have seen it all---from really bad teeth to big blubbering anxiety cases---gave me enough courage to try and get dental treatment. As long as I knew I wasn't a "freak", I felt a small burden lift. Then, being able to talk to the dentist (prior to treatment) about my fears and her wonderful response lifted yet more of the fear. Finally, the oral sedation to calm my nerves gives me peace of mind that I won't have an IBS ("stomach") episode while there; and, the nitrous while in the chair ensures that I won't get too tense so as to make it unbearable. I've found it isn't necessarily the pain I'm scared of (because there's hardly any discomfort at all---to my great surprise!), but rather my fear of how anxiety makes me feel (sick, etc.).

The hardest part for me (which to date included the root canal I put off for over 6 years) was making that first phone call for a consultation. I was more nervous walking into that office that very first time (with no treatment of any kind planned) than with anything else. But guess what? That consultation won't hurt you---you can even refuse to open your mouth for a quick look. Just meeting the dentist in the dental setting is enough to help you get there for the following, checkup, visit.

For those of you still "on the fence", so to speak, as to whether or not you make the decision to get dental help. What do you have to lose? You can ignore it and have the same anxieties you currently have and with progressively worsening teeth, or you can suck it up to make that first phone call (wouldn't you rather go now, while you still have some teeth worth saving or after they've all fallen out?). After that it's truly downhill from there because most people continue on after they make that it to that point. The reward is tremendous. Not only do you feel wonderful about overcoming a huge fear, you eventually have a healthy mouth and can make it through your days without worrying about tooth troubles. Used to, just about every day was a chewing experience during my worst times, and now I don't even think about it when I put food into my mouth. Now that's liberating!

I still have a followup checkup to see how my gums have improved with the scalings now complete, and then we have to remove a 20-yr-old temporary cap/crown which has probably been leaking bacteria underneath all this time. Today was the first time the dentist said there's the possibility of needing a root canal on that tooth, but at least now I know not to dread it so much. There is, however, one thing I do dread and that's the thought of having my wisdom teeth removed. I've dreaded that as much as (actually, more than) the root canal, and the dentist said I could leave them alone, BUT, they've been crowding my lower teeth so that they're getting crooked.....and eventually I was told they would cause problems (I think they already are in the form of ear-aches). Now, that anxiety still needs a lot of working on, but I'm bound and determined to get my teeth all nicely taken care of. I read recently that the best thing you could do for your looks was to have a wonderful smile, but how can you smile brightly when you're so overly self-conscious about the condition of your teeth?

Sorry, I didn't mean to ramble so, but I'm just so passionate now about helping to get others to the dental help that they need.