Does going to the dentists scare you?

@celestos (814)
United States
October 23, 2008 3:55am CST
I honestly never needed work done by a dentist until I was 21, at the time I had perfect teeth to my knowledge,no cavities and no pain. I went to the dentist to get a wisdom tooth removed because it had grown in where it was rubbing the inside of my mouth which was becomming sore. I figured it would be a simple procedure and didn't realize I was walking into the start of tooth destruction. The dentist was very rough and I figured it was because I was not use to having my mouth fooled with.I felt an odd snap when he finally pulled out my wisdom tooth which made me uncomfortable. The next day I had a huge bruise on the left side of my face, the same side he had removed the tooth from.I was told it was normal and after a few days it went away. About a week later I noticed an odd spot in the tooth that was beside the now missing wisdom,a chip.Apparently the dentist had chipped the tooth beside the wisdom tooth when he removed it. I found myself back in his office the next month with pain in two other wisdom teeth,again my back teeth were damaged. He removed them both and noticed I had a chip and I needed a filling in my front tooth. He scheduled another appointment a week later and drilled and filled my front tooth. My front tooth began acheing after that and I noticed an odd swelling on my gum above it.It continued to swell and I called the dentists office to request to be seen asap. I went into the bathroom to rinse out my mouth and had an awful taste when I did. I lifted my lip to look at the swelling better and it popped literally releasing alot of infection with it. I was livid and the pain was overwhelming.I called the dentist again and told the woman at the front desk I needed to be seen now. She scheduled an appointment for that day and I was given a prescription for anti biotics. Apparently somehow I had recieved an infection in my gum when the dentist filled my tooth. About a month later the filling I had recieved in my front tooth fell out and I was yet again back in his office having my tooth drilled and fixed. He decided to drill both my front teeth and fill them then mentioned to me that I needed a root canal in the future. I was petrified and told him I would when I could. A year later the filling chipped out again in my front tooth and since then I had moved. I wasn't working my job I had prior and hadn't found a company that I could afford for dental insurance.When I went to a new dentist he was shocked at how bad my back teeth were. Every tooth that had been beside a wisdom that was pulled had cracks and holes forming in them. They were trashed. He asked me how they had gotten this way and I told him. He couldn't believe how much damage had been done by simple wisdom extractions. He then took a look at my front teeth and said he was very disappointed with how long my prior dentist had let my teeth go. He told me that I should have had a root canal when I first had the infection in my gum and his only solution was either a root canal right then or a bridge. At that time I couldn't afford a bill of $3000.00 for a root canal and have still been trying to afford having my teeth repaired. this is just one example and I am sure that many people have had great expirences with their dentist unlike me. I am curious if anyone is scared to visit one though and have you ever had one just mangle your teeth?
2 people like this
20 responses
• Malaysia
23 Oct 08
Yes I am afraid to go to the dentist. Just a couple of months ago I had to go to the dentist because my teeth was hurting really badly. It has affected the roots of the teeth and the gums was infected by it. When I was waiting for my turn, I felt all my fingers and toes turning to ice cold. Lol. And the doctor noticed it too when he attented to me in the dental room. So he started talking to me and asked me about my family and all. Later when I was comfortable enough I realized that going to the dentist is merely a scare of our own but it is not hurting in the first place. The doctor knows what he is doing so we should trust them and leave the job to him. Even though I know I said this but still I am afraid if I had to go to a dentist now. Lol!
1 person likes this
@genihanna (358)
• United States
23 Oct 08
There is NO WAY I would have gone back to that dentist!!! Why did you? I have had 8 root canals, countless fillings, and presently (actually tomorrow) am getting a partial denture to fill in the spots where so many teeth have been pulled! I've had two bridges done also. I can't tell you how many dentists I've gone through! I check each one out too - I go to their office for an initial consultation and if I don't get good vibes, I go on to the next. I've suffered too much! So I've become picky about the dentists I go to. If they don't seem sympathetic to me being super sensitive and scared of them, I'm out of there! Trust your gut feelings! Get a new dentist! I wish you luck - I really feel for you and understand!
• United States
23 Oct 08
By the way, $3000 is OUTRAGEOUS for a root canal - it's definitely NOT the norm! Mine were at the most $1000 - (my insurance paid for 60%) (Do you have dental insurance? If not, you should!) Again, Good luck!
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Oct 08
And, yes, I've been cut by drills and their instruments and have had teeth chipped - I guess that's just the human in them! But, your repeated problems, I'm assuming by the same turkey, are ridiculous - you really ought to report this quack!
1 person likes this
@celestos (814)
• United States
23 Oct 08
I actually don't have insurance at the moment. I have been looking for a good company to obtain some through that isn't going to charge outrageous fees to cover me. As for the awful dentist I went to he was covered by my companies insurance and sadly enough I lived in a very small town where finding another dentist at the time that was covered was pretty much impossible.Thank you for your reply:)
@rubypatson (1841)
• India
28 Oct 08
hey I am a dentist and i never knew that we are so scary
• China
24 Oct 08
i's terrible. i'm feel afraid to go to dentist. i have never tried. also my tooth is good. i don't have to
24 Oct 08
Yes,It scare very much to me.
@celestos (814)
• United States
27 Oct 08
I think some of the health problems that can be caused by poor dental care that maybe new health plans should be considered for people. i am not sure what or how but the cost without insurance is ridiculous.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Oct 08
Believe it or not I have a very similar story.I also had a wisdom tooth pulled on the right side and the tooth next to it was chipped.Very soon after that the tooth started to rot.I lost my insurance and it wasn't long that more teeth started rotting on the same side.It created a domino effect.I had to get all three teeth pulled as soon as I could.This was hard because I always had beautiful teeth.They were awful!!!Soon after that one on the left side had to get pulled.Eventually I got insurance back and got a partial!!!!My teeth are beautiful again and nobody even knows.Except when my kids try to embarrass me and tell people I have false teeth!!!Ha Ha Ha!I used to joke about if I started dating someone,how would they feel about waking up to a set of teeth on their end table.(He doesn't mind).Don't worry you'll get it and then you can feel good about smiling again.I know it makes you feel awful sometimes,but you are still beautiful!!!And when you get them done,you will feel great about your smile again!!!!
@celestos (814)
• United States
28 Oct 08
Thank you for the great reply:) I have yet to find a dentist who doesn't worry me. The last one I went to it was pretty obvious he was more concerned with how much money I could spend verses my comfort lol
• United States
28 Oct 08
By the way the answer to your question,yes no matter how many times I have gone,I still get sick to my stomache!!Every single tooth I had pulled was like the first time.Not to mention the dentists screw up.It doesn't help at all!!In fact it sickens me even more!
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
24 Oct 08
oh yes... i am just so scared of the idea that having my teeth drilled and i keep on imagining the pain that i will have to suffer when the dentist do that... it is really terrifying... i have bad experience with dentists throughout my life because i have a really bad teeth... take care and have a nice day...
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
24 Oct 08
Absolutely. No matter how much care they take I just really hate going to the dentist. I only go when I really have to. Apart from the cost which I cannot afford I just hate having things done to my teeth. It does not cost anywhere near that in Australia but it is still expensive. I have had 4 teeth rebuilt rather than have them pulled as I like having my chewing teeth but I hated having the work done and now I am hoping that they will last for a while. It has been years since I last had them checked.
@jesbellaine (4139)
• Philippines
23 Oct 08
I am kind of scared going to the dentist again due to my previous experience with a dentist. I just had my tooth "paste" but when I got home, I was in pain and unfortunately, they are close and I would have to go there the other day. The pain reaches down to my neck that I can't really move and it was so painful that painkillers was not working anymore.. Other dentists that I went through that day will not touch me since the gum was sore... I just hate that feeling... and the worst part was she extracted it... I never thought that it needs to be extracted, after all, i went there with no pain at all, I just needed a "paste" for my tooth... not an extraction! Grrrr!
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
24 Oct 08
No. I'm not afraid as I am a former dental assistant. I worked for several of the gentlest and best dentists there are. I've had a root canal and several crowns and inlays. I've had 2 wisdom teeth extracted. The key to having a good attitude about the dentist is to start going to them at a very young age and seeing them every 6 months for cleanings and checkups. When things are caught early, they are much simpler to take care of. I realize though that not everyone has dental coverage and this is often the reason that people do not see a dentist regularly. The less you go, the more likely you are to have dental problems.
@lilcee (2703)
• United States
23 Oct 08
Hi celestos. Yes, it scares me to go to the dentist. I had to go a few months ago and have some work done. I was so nervous I felt sick to my stomach. It was a new dentist I never went to before and I didn't know what to expect. But everyone was so nice and the dentist was really nice so it was OK. If I have to go again, I'm sure I won't be quite so nervous.
@snipero (358)
• Italy
23 Oct 08
it scared me a lot until i've found my actual dentist,i don't feel nothing,no pain, nothing also if i must do something more than some caries,now i take my date every 6 months (just for a cleaning and a check up) without problems,and when the day comes i'm absolutely calm.finally i've found someone that is able to do his job!
• Malaysia
24 Oct 08
O yes, whenever it's my visit to the dentist - I always have buttefly in my stomach. With modern technology, there's hardly any pain but I don't know... maybe it's the smell and the sound of the drill that's giving me the creeps.. I think dentist should provide their patients ear plugs and maybe play some nice music so people can listen. Just a thought...
23 Oct 08
i dont likethe dentist as every timei go they pull one out but its good to go make sure your teeth are healthy
• India
23 Oct 08
nope dentist i hate em.....bt i never gone to dentist...
@PRIYANK1992 (1677)
• India
23 Oct 08
No I don't feel scare to go to Dentist.But I would like to go to dentist for my teeth treatment.
@patzel88 (3310)
• Philippines
23 Oct 08
no i am not afraid to go to the dentist when i have a appointment to the dentist i want to be the first patient to be entertain because the dentist is not yet tired at that time. the first time when i had a tooth treatment i was devastating waiting for my turn for there are many patients also waited to be treated. when the dentist entertained me, she said that my tooth is having a inner problem so i decided to pull the tooth problem so that it wont damage my others teeth. by when they start to pull out the damage tooth, their were bloods come out on it and i was afraid for i am thinking that it wont stop bleeding. but thanks to the dentist because she can manage the problem and explain why it happens.
@carmela0210 (1591)
• Philippines
23 Oct 08
i always get scared when i go to the dentist, especially that the last time i get into a dentist was when i get my baby teeth was being removed but it was during my grade school and im already 22 now, and thank god i really dont have that problem towards my teeth, but goes to the dentist for cleaning...happy lotting!!!
@abyin007 (426)
• India
23 Oct 08
at first i was also so worried abt going to dendist. but when he gave me one anistetic i was so happy that i feel nothing when he pulled out my teeth. now i am adult and i am not afrid. but my cousins are very afraid of going to dendist. one of my cousin even slapped him........
• Singapore
23 Oct 08
i remember during primary school, i was so used to getting teeth pulled out that i was not scared of it but now after so many years, i will be scared but i dont mind polishing and fillings. they dont hurt at all