Going To The Dentist

[Papillon]

So I really really struggle to brush my teeth I don't really try at all any more (I know sorry gross) it feels so horrible makes me feel sick just everything about it is wrong and horrible my teeth even feel uncomfortable thinking about it now.

Since I don't brush my teeth I need fillings and I need to get them done in the next 10 weeks before I turn 17 and dentistry is no longer free. But I honestly don't know how I'm going to cope I've had one other filling in my life and I cried through the whole thing (I was 12 so thats all I can really remember). I need them done theres no way around it but I'm scared because I can't stand even myself brushing my teeth and I don't really know what to expect as I go to a different dentist now.

I was just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience with sensory issues at the dentist or knows any ways that I could make it easier for myself because I'm running out of time and it needs to be done.

 

[Juliettaa]

I don't have sensory issues you have with teeth/brushing/oral hygiene, but I'm very anxious about going to the dentist. However it's not something I ever avoid, even when I was young and it was even more terrifying, I still went.

As a child/young adult, I only received basic dental care and wasn't that fussy about spending too much time brushing. That changed around my mid 20's when I realised I needed to look after my teeth more. Good dental hygiene, regular dental check ups and some cosmetic dental work ensures my teeth look the best they possibly can.

Due to the anxiety when I have planned dentistry, my GP (doctor) has prescribed Diazepam. It really helps me to endure dental work and to keep still in the dentist chair. Diazepam isn't for everyone and I understand it's addictive, so you may not be able to get it; but perhaps there's an alternative your doctor would be willing to prescribe for you to ease anxiety for these appointments.

Re: sensory issues ............. I know how difficult it is to cope with some of these issues, but this is your last set of teeth, next step would be dentures. Surely you don't want to resort to that? It may be worth being open with your dentist about the reasons your dental hygiene is not good as he/she may have some helpful strategies you could apply.

 

[Major Tom]

When I went to the dentist for a filling they gave me a mild sedative as I don't really like people touching my face especially. Maybe that can be an option? Ideally figuring out some way you can tolerate brushing before it gets to the point where you need serious dental work would be better. I've only had 1 cavity due to being a routine brusher and maybe something to do with not eating much sugar.

 

[Misery]

Yeah, I'm gonna agree with some of what's been said above, and say the best thing you can do is find a way to manage to brush your teeth anyway.

I think the key to it is two things: 1, a toothbrush that isnt bloody awful, and 2, toothpaste that also isnt awful.

If you're using an uncomfortable (cheap) toothbrush, well.... for someone with sensory issues, that's nothing but trouble. Same if you're then using toothpaste that doesnt agree with you.

In my case, I usually buy fairly pricey brushes, and then the toothpaste is always Crest, always one of the mint flavors, because if it isnt it just BUGS me.

The worst though is when I'm travelling, like at a hotel. Because then I'll have to make do with a travel kit; ultra-cheap brush, and paste where there's just something wrong with it. Normally brushing is very refreshing, and I love the "after" feeling, if that makes sense. But with the travel stuff, it goes from "Aaaahhhhh, that feels so much better" (which is how I normally feel after brushing) to "UGH what's wrong with this stuff".

So yeah, I do think the choice of what exactly you're using can make a huge difference.

But if you find stuff that actually works for you, instead of "gross" it might genuinely become pleasant instead.

And it's sure better than having to deal with dentists, ugh. I cant stand going to the dentist.

 

[Gracey]

I found by my dentist explaining what was happening, it was easier to deal with.

By that I mean which nerve was being injected, where it runs, what other parts of face would be affected.
What the drill bit is used for, each different size and the part of the tooth it has best results.
With an extraction, I did some of my own research and my dentist also explained as he was going along;
“I’m going to depress and rock the tooth to displace the ligaments, you should be able to hear ....”

If there were no surprises and my curiosity overtook my discomfort and replaced fear. I knew what to expect, I knew what was happening.

Hand on heart I can honestly say I only felt a slight pulling or pressure with the extraction of one of my big molars.
Errm...
... I also close my eyes.
Lay in that dentist chair and having the dental nurse and the dentist close to my face, looming over me and staring down at me is too much to cope with.

I close my eyes to eliminate having to process that.
We’ve worked out a few hand signals to communicate to each other.

Because time is short, ask your current dentist to explain what they’re doing and due to a few sensory issues in general, what you may expect to feel during the procedure.?

If they won’t, find another (quickly) who will


Edited to add, ask your dentist if they could recommend any ‘sensitive-friendly’ products or techniques to use to help with any issues you have.
(New ideas are happening all of the time)
They’re there to help, not hurt you. They’re in the business of providing advice.
Once you’ve been through the experience of having work done on your teeth, you may use that experience as a prompt to find a way to clean your teeth?
I wish you the best of luck

 

[Progster]

It's a case of choosing the lesser of two evils - having to go to the dentist or having to brush your teeth. I think that it's much better to prevent damage to the teeth in the first place, so I think that you should try to brush your teeth and experiment with different toothbrushes and toothpastes. Kids' ones are usually milder and more pleasant, kids' toothbrushes are usually smaller and softer. It's something you need to try to tolerate, or you will do irreversible damage to your teeth.

 

[Mary Anne]

So I really really struggle to brush my teeth I don't really try at all any more (I know sorry gross) it feels so horrible makes me feel sick just everything about it is wrong and horrible my teeth even feel uncomfortable thinking about it now.

Since I don't brush my teeth I need fillings and I need to get them done in the next 10 weeks before I turn 17 and dentistry is no longer free. But I honestly don't know how I'm going to cope I've had one other filling in my life and I cried through the whole thing (I was 12 so thats all I can really remember). I need them done theres no way around it but I'm scared because I can't stand even myself brushing my teeth and I don't really know what to expect as I go to a different dentist now.

I was just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience with sensory issues at the dentist or knows any ways that I could make it easier for myself because I'm running out of time and it needs to be done.

There are dentists who can hypnotize you, or put you out so you are not aware. But seriously, if you cannot take care of your teeth, they will all rot out by the time you turn 30, and then they will all have to be pulled. Then you go toothless, suffer with trying to eat foods; and then have to get fitted for dentures ( which is whole other sensory nightmare).

My last job, I worked with homeless people, and every single one had to get all their teeth pulled. It’s painful. It’s unattractive, and Infections in your mouth are extremely serious: painful, lead to heart disease, and death if left untreated.

Is there any way to start learning how to care for your mouth? I just hope you can.

 

[Mr Allen]

I don't clean my teeth very well due to dexterity issues, and I go to an Autism specific Dentist.

 

[Tom]

I like brushing my teeth. Makes things feel fresh. I like going to the dentist. The more you go the less problems you have. Its like a little pain now prevents big pains later. I didn't always feel that way. I've had big problems with teeth in the past and the fact is the dentist is one of your best friends in life. I almost fall asleep in the chair these days. There's little tricks. Controlled deep breathing: 2 seconds in, two seconds out. Squeeze/pinch yourself to distract your mind from what the dentist is doing. Don't follow what they are doing. Look outside, at the ceiling tiles, etc. Tell the dentist you have an issue. If you can converse about anything else. The pain of dental work is usually very brief spurts. A second or two and its over. Much better then an abcessed tooth. Time to woman up and get it done.

 

[Iamnotarabot]

I have no problem with brushing my teeth, howecer my breath is often smelly so i must be doing it wrong and my tongue is often covered in white residus.

But the dentist, well, everything he does feel lile straight up torture, i try to avoid it as much as i can but if i have to i will go.

In general, when i am in a Very painfull situation, i have few ways to deal with , it depends on the situation, sometime i focus on it the hardest i can, sometimes i imagine a situation that i feel is similar to what i feel, lile burning when i take something too hot or getting stabbed durong the dentist.

That doesnt sound very logical i know, just sharing my experience.

 

[LucyPurrs]

If you are in the US, suggest you explain your issues to the dentist before getting your work done and see if he will do it under some sort of anesthesia- there are dentists who do this for very difficult patients so that's who you need to find. If that isn't possible ask for novocaine shots- it barely hurts and prevents a lot of pain during the procedures.
You might also try an electric toothbrush with soft bristles- it's a lot less work to get your teeth brushed. But concur with others who say it's really important to brush your teeth. There are so many flavors of toothpaste out there there's probably something you can tolerate.

 

[Misery]

Yeah, some good points brought up here. Particularly about asking them for stuff like additional sedatives or whatever. You'd be surprised how effective they can be.

I remember quite awhile ago I needed to go in for some dental surgery. Well I say "needed" but it was actually because my parents were just so amazingly sure that improving my smile (the smile I never show anyone, hah) would somehow help me. I had this one tooth that had simply never come down (and later proved to be deformed and stupid-looking anyway) so it was decided to have this idiotic surgery to make it happen.

Holy heck was I terrified. I was scared enough of normal dental procedures. But freaking surgery?!

Seemed even worse once I got there and discovered that they intended to give me 4 seperate shots of... something... into my mouth. AKA, a freaking NEEDLE... in my mouth... four times. And I have a fear of needles.

Solution was pretty obvious though; my father asked for some sort of topical anethetic to be put on the injection sites first. As in, this sort of funky goop. So when the shots came... didnt feel even one of them. I remember closing my eyes and opening my mouth, and thinking "ARGH JUST GET IT OVER WITH, WHY ARENT YOU DOING IT YET" and then suddenly "Okay, that part is over". And I'm like "Oh. Okay. Right."

I wasnt put under for the actual procedure... was awake the whole time. No actual sedation was used, they simply numbed the heck outta everything. And frankly, it was.... very boring. Very... very boring. It was about 3 hours of staring at the doctor's nose, because that was all I could see. Even now I can STILL see it. A few times I nearly fell asleep out of sheer boredom (which they didnt allow, any attempt to conk out was responded to with a jab to the arm and a "nope, cant have you fall asleep here" from them). Never woulda thought I'd be reacting to it like THAT. I knew full well what they were doing and there were probably blades and blood involved and... I couldnt have cared less at the time, because I was bored out of my mind.

Now, if I'd had to go through the needles and such WITHOUT that added bit, THAT would have been bad. I probably would have had some sort of fit, and probably would have needed full sedation. But... just asking for that extra bit made the rest of it trivial. It really made a huge difference.

Well... I say "trivial" but the nasty part came afterwards: I couldnt eat anything but soup for the next 4 days or so. I mean soup is nice and all, but... not for 4 straight days...

The dumb part is after all is said and done, the "benefit" is a really stupid looking tooth that frankly looks like it shouldnt be there. .....Yay?

 

[xudo]

Are you in the US or UK? In the UK, there is the option to go to an NHS dental hospital if you are very anxious with the dentists. They are more used to dealing with people who are nervous and they have the added benefit of being able to administer nitrous (laughing gas) while doing any work that's needed. I have done this myself, as I used to have a terrible fear of the dentist.

If you're in the US, is there anything similar? Or is your normal dentist allowed to administer gas while completing the work?

 

[LucyPurrs]

Are you in the US or UK? In the UK, there is the option to go to an NHS dental hospital if you are very anxious with the dentists. They are more used to dealing with people who are nervous and they have the added benefit of being able to administer nitrous (laughing gas) while doing any work that's needed. I have done this myself, as I used to have a terrible fear of the dentist.

If you're in the US, is there anything similar? Or is your normal dentist allowed to administer gas while completing the work?

Yes some are able to use the gas. I had it when I was in high school when my wisdom teeth were pulled and it was so nice I didn't want to wake up! In the US there are dentists who specialize in patients who are scared or have other issues with getting their teeth worked on.

 

[Mary Terry]

Dentists in the US will work with you to reduce pain and anxiety. My dentist provides headphones with your choice of music to drown out the sounds if a patient wants that. My LFA nephew and I go to the same dentist. The dentist always explains what's going to happen before he begins. Fortunately, nephew has beautiful teeth and just needs bi-annual cleanings for the most part. Once he had to have a cavity filled, and the dentist warned him that the numbing shot would hurt. Dentist gave him the shot after which he said "I'm going to say ouch now!" which made everyone laugh. Even though he is largely non-verbal, he has a great sense of humor.

 

[Suzanne]

I have felt the same way, but due to a parent who's teeth were black from not being looked after, it put such a fear into my heart, that I would end up like that, I forced myself to brush my teeth. I only did it once a day, but then, went to twice a day and yes, gaggled for the most part and so happy and relieved when it is over.

I used natural toothpaste and have actually BRUSHED tooth pain away.

I do have many fillings, related to sugar; but know longer eat sugar.

I have also had teeth removed, due to acid erosion from gerd. But, despite all that, the worst looks are at the back and so, I do have not too bad looking front teeth and get this? My husband who has always been a diligent tooth brusher and would often nag me for not brushing my teeth, has worse teeth than me and this is due to the amount of sweets he eats, but you would think that the all so good floride would combat against that? Nope, does the opposite and he refuses to get the point!!!!

Try natural. I for one, do not gag as much and it just feels good to be putting goodness in my mouth.

 

[Progster]

I'm terrified of going to the dentist after a particularly unpleasant experience. I haven't been to the dentist for years. Luckily I haven't needed to.

 

[Ezra]

I have to be sedated for the dentist. I'm put on an anti-anxiety med before even leaving the house and then I'm put under local anesthesia during the procedure. Even cleanings. My dentist specializes in treating those with autism.