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Salamander
Fire Walking

Dental-Phobe
Tue Oct 02 2001

OK, major admission time. I'm a dental phobic. As in the very thought of having to go to a dentist makes me get sick to my stomach, keeps me awake nights, and does fascinating things to my lower GI tract. It feels stupid to admit it, because I *know* there is absolutely no rational reason for it. I know this is stupid. But I keep managing to put off going to the dentist. The longer I put it off, the easier it is to keep putting it off.

Now, I'm not stupid, even if my situation is. I have enough medical education (even if it is about horse and dog teeth) to know in detail exactly how much worse I'm making things for myself. I'm not in a bad financial state, although if I go and they find some major work that needs doing I'm going to end up in debt over it. I even have modest dental insurance at work that will help with expenses. I can offer no explanation except that even thinking about making an appointment makes my hands go numb.

The Professor, with his new full-time status, finally has decent benefits. One of the things he immediately did was make himself a dental appointment, so he can take advantage of his dental coverage now in case they don't extend his full time status through next semester. He started asking questions about my dental history, and found out that it's been years since I've gone to the dentist. And he's been badgering me (in a kindly way) since he found out for me to make an appointment.

He hit me with it again this weekend, while we were out eating. Only this time he held his ground. And I got defensive, with no defenses to bring to play. So I got mean, and pointed out a couple of his phobias, which have nothing to do with anything, but were a sure fire way of redirecting the discussion. One of the things I brought up has been a major unspoken sore point with me for a while, and I know it stung him when I hit him with it. He's still hurt and upset from it. And I'm not sure how to do damage control at this point. But I know I need to get a grip on this now.

I did some research on the net this afternoon. Found a dentist specializing in dental phobics about an hour from me. It would mean taking a day off of work. Several days, in fact, since the first visit would just be a fact gathering visit for him. I don't even know if he'd be willing to take me, with my medical history. I'm already coming up with reasons not to call this guy's office. He doesn't have Tuesday afternoon hours, so I'm off the hook now. I get to stew about this all night.

This is asinine.

6 Comments
  • From:
    Candle (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Oct 02 2001
    I've had the same phobia (among many others). I did force myself to go to the dentist last year, after not having gone since I was 14!!!! At 14 I had 4 fillings. Didn't go again till I was 31. They took xrays, and guess what... not a single cavity! Maybe you'll be as lucky. Make the appointment.
  • From:
    Samarra (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Oct 02 2001
    LOL. I am a dental assistant Salamander. lol. There is not a day that we don;t experience or come across patients who are absolutely petrified of being there. I think its mostly because the mouth is very personal..and anyone poking and digging in your mouth is just .....not comfortable and some find it embarrasing. Some of the most scared patients we have had are these huge men lol. Some are so scared that we have give medication to them to take before they come in. But having some medical back ground......you already know.....that going now , saves probs and worse pain later. *wink*

    Good luck!
    Samarra :-)
  • From:
    Shay40 (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Oct 02 2001
    I hate going to the dentist, too. I know exactly why, though. When I was a kid there was only one dentist in town, and he was a sadist. Loved to see blood. I avoid them too much, also.
  • From:
    Franny (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Oct 03 2001
    hi Salamander,
    i hadn't been to the dentist since the seventh grade. when i finally went back, i was in my late 20's. it was traumatizing for me, but i used it as therapy since i had just gone through a tough time in my personal life. i figured, let me start taking care of myself...it started with my teeth. it was a great feeling to see what my teeth looked like after the work they did. i've been going regularly since then. also, the teeth floating in a cup at my parents house is a great reminder.
  • From:
    Dazler16 (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Oct 04 2001
    Thank you
    Thank you
    Thank you
    For helping me put pictures in my diary. Go check them out. They're not the best of quality, but they're there. WooHoo! Thank you again...

    ~Bree~
  • From:
    Moonman (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Oct 04 2001
    On some level, i fear going too. i usually end up forcing myself, and it's never as bad as i imagined. My dentist is a kind man and his wife is his hygeniest. They're always good to me.