Ever since I was 6, I couldn't stand going to the dentist. Whatever they did, they
managed to hit the sensitive areas, if they couldn't drill to a nerve during the visit.
I had a root canal, and I told the dentist if he didn't finally get that area DEAD I
was going to bite his fingers off! I finished up numb from my forehead to the bottom
of my chest. My next dentist knew how and where to use the anesthetic to deaden
the work area thoroughly. That and sensitive toothpaste for the cleanings makes the
bill the only bad experience. Ask others who they use, and about the pain they have
experienced. If little to none, THAT should be your next dentist. My root canal was
$1375.00 in 1991. Probably charged extra for the juice.

 

Going to the Dentist has to rank right up with the most hated thing to do. Going to the Dentist isn't that bad. A good Dentist can numb an area so you do not feel pain. The only pain I feel when I go to the Dentist is the cost. Last year it cost me $3,000 to get my teeth fixed, because some old root canals went bad. It was not fun, but I needed two bridges to be put in.

 

Here's my little dentist story.

It's from the Club FTE members Only Forum:

Well, I went to bed early this morning, after having a few beers,
with a hangover; no; we'll call it a headache.

Woke up with a, oh, let's still call it a.................headache.

Then I had an appointment with my dentist, for a broken tooth, with same headache.

We'll call my dentist, oh.....Tomas De Torquemada; master of implementing pain.

I don't recommend going to your dentist (Torquemada) with a headache or (hangover)

I think I'll take a little nap now.

EDIT: The biggest fear I have going to the dentist is the dam bill.
I have no Insurance.

 

You might actually consider finding somebody to help you with your phobia first. I'm not kidding. (But, this is free advice and worth every penny). I would say that dentists are not trained to evaluate the need for valium. To me it would be like having a body shop install and tune a performance chip.

As for teeth, I did a poor job of picking my parents on that criteria -- so, I've always suffered. And, for a long time I only went when I had no choice.

Finally found a dentist that knew what he was doing. It's a struggle --- there are many good ones -- and many bad ones. You need to find one that you can trust. He/She should be a good mechanic, be 'sensitive' to your needs ( I need some extra time for the novacaine to set in), and generally talk to you -- not just preach.

It took me a while to get it right. Even after I found a good guy, I only let him do the minimums until I needed some major surgery. Cost me 3K and considerable pain, but I'm no longer doing root canals and extractions on a routine basis. I am doing cleanings 4x a year.

One trick for the cleanings -- and probably fillings as well ( although I've had so many they don't really bother me). Take Advil or your favorite pain killer an hour before the cleaning. Helps quite a bit.

good luck,

ford2go

 

if you brush, floss and use mouthwash a cleaning shouldn't hurt.

 

Unless your dentist is related to Mengele or Torquemada.

 

Never had a problem with it.

Whats the worst that can happen?
A bit of pain...


Ben, you must have pre empted the dentist attendance program.
You go in there drinking. You don't start the night before (unless you want to do it "hair of the dog" style).

 

Wow, you guys are a bunch of babies...You get choked up over songs, cry at the movies, and you're afraid of the dentist...Why don't you just put on a dress and prance around for me Nancy.

Oh, and I'm not afraid to make fun of guys...because if you ever come after me, I'll just put on a sad song, a chick flick, and dress up like a dentist...you'll be bawling like a little girl.

Tim

 

dentists ARE trained for the use of valium to relax patients prior to a procedure....just like they are trained to prescribe the right antibiotic before a procedure so that an infection doesn't cause further damage to the heart of patients with a Mitral Valve Prolapse, along with other conditions.

 

I honestly can't even tell you what makes me so nervous about it. It is just one of those things.

 

I never feared the dentist when Uncle Sam was footing the bill. Now, Yipes! I didn't go for several years because I was afraid of what they'd find and what it would cost to fix it. They found alot and it cost a whole heck of a lot to fix it. Now I'm a good boy and go, new insurance isn't half bad either.

 

Yeah, I know what you mean...I'm scared to death of bees....don't know why, just am.

Tim

 

I didn't go for a while too. I should have, mine got into bad shape.

I ended up going to the dental school in San Antonio. As far as dentists go, it was one of the better experiences. Always numbed me up really well and did top notch work. At first they stuck me with some farm boy who had fingers as thick as quarters. Later they switched me to this asian girl with tiny hands, much better (especially given they were working on 2 back molars).

Better to just get it taken care of.

 

Asian girls with small hands make it look bigger! your tooth that is...

 

There are several dentists here in Atlanta advertising "sedation dentistry" . They say
they can do several procedures in one visit with no pain nor fear. That and a payment
schedule could help some of you. Having bad teeth makes life a trial.