I had a strong aversion to going to the dentist as an adult because of the cost. But eventually I settled down, got into a job that offered dental insurance, and then finally decided to go take care of a couple cavities once it became affordable enough.
The “pain-free” dentist I went to was unable to get one of my teeth numbed. Eventually after a handful of attempts, he said he could give me no more of the shots and that I’d just have to bare with him while he did the work. I felt every last bit of the pain from the drilling and the filling. I nearly passed out more than once. One of my shoes fell off during the procedure.
Now I have a phobia of the dentist and very high anxiety even going in for a check-up.
I have a problem with needles. Every time I have to get stuck, I warn the nurse or doctor or whatever that there’s about a 60% chance I’m going to pass out. Fearing a needle in the mouth, I once asked my dentist to drill a cavity without. He did so, and yeah it hurt a little but not nightmare inducing. It’s harder to get me to go to the eye doctor because of that damn eye poke machine I hate that thing.
I used to get all my dental work done without anesthetic. When my dentist first proposed it I thought he was nuts but we gave it a try. Now I wish I could find one that’s willing to do it, because the original guy retired. A good dentist can make it work, but I don’t think most dentists care enough to get good anymore. They just load you up with drugs and try to get through as fast as possible.
I’ve got a damn good dental team; my ordinary dentist won’t knock you out but he’ll do local anesthetic, Novocaine etc. and my Dental surgeon will put you OUT. He did an excellent job, I’ve had barely any complication or pain, dude plain nailed this extraction.
Not sure if you’ve ever had nitrous, but that was the thing that made it anywhere near possible for me to get back into going to the dentist. Strap on, tell them to crank it all the way up, breathe deep. The entire universe just gets so far away that none of it matters.
The first real dental work I got done after like 20 years was a couple of root canals, and it was fine. I eventually found that the post-nitrous “hangover” was undesirable enough that I could do everything without it. During that 20 years, my wife would occasionally try and bring up the idea of dentistry, and I would have a full-fledged panic attack.
I will also say that getting a good dentist is paramount. There’s nothing stopping you from switching.
I think that the condition of the inside of your mouth has a great effect on your mental state. Keep trying. It’s never too late.
I had a strong aversion to going to the dentist as an adult because of the cost. But eventually I settled down, got into a job that offered dental insurance, and then finally decided to go take care of a couple cavities once it became affordable enough.
The “pain-free” dentist I went to was unable to get one of my teeth numbed. Eventually after a handful of attempts, he said he could give me no more of the shots and that I’d just have to bare with him while he did the work. I felt every last bit of the pain from the drilling and the filling. I nearly passed out more than once. One of my shoes fell off during the procedure.
Now I have a phobia of the dentist and very high anxiety even going in for a check-up.
I have a problem with needles. Every time I have to get stuck, I warn the nurse or doctor or whatever that there’s about a 60% chance I’m going to pass out. Fearing a needle in the mouth, I once asked my dentist to drill a cavity without. He did so, and yeah it hurt a little but not nightmare inducing. It’s harder to get me to go to the eye doctor because of that damn eye poke machine I hate that thing.
I used to get all my dental work done without anesthetic. When my dentist first proposed it I thought he was nuts but we gave it a try. Now I wish I could find one that’s willing to do it, because the original guy retired. A good dentist can make it work, but I don’t think most dentists care enough to get good anymore. They just load you up with drugs and try to get through as fast as possible.
I’ve got a damn good dental team; my ordinary dentist won’t knock you out but he’ll do local anesthetic, Novocaine etc. and my Dental surgeon will put you OUT. He did an excellent job, I’ve had barely any complication or pain, dude plain nailed this extraction.
Not sure if you’ve ever had nitrous, but that was the thing that made it anywhere near possible for me to get back into going to the dentist. Strap on, tell them to crank it all the way up, breathe deep. The entire universe just gets so far away that none of it matters.
The first real dental work I got done after like 20 years was a couple of root canals, and it was fine. I eventually found that the post-nitrous “hangover” was undesirable enough that I could do everything without it. During that 20 years, my wife would occasionally try and bring up the idea of dentistry, and I would have a full-fledged panic attack.
I will also say that getting a good dentist is paramount. There’s nothing stopping you from switching.
I think that the condition of the inside of your mouth has a great effect on your mental state. Keep trying. It’s never too late.