how can i get rid of major fear of the dentist?
106116
First make an appointment to go in and talk to the dentist about your fears.  Have him prescribe you a sedative to take prior to the visit such as valium.  During the visit have nitrous oxide administered to relax you even more.  Take along a cd player with you and listen to your favorite tunes while getting your dental work done.  Also, ask around and find a good dentist that has an excellent bedside manner and who is gentle.
1048406
i had the same problem and i went to the dentist and he recomended "sensitive tooth past" and it works great \n\ngood luck
315177
Yes the dentist smells the ethers coming from the patients mouth and can't stop thinking.\n\n"this guys an alcoholic, this guys an alcoholic, this guys an alcoholic. . ."\n\nOr maybe \n"alcohol.  cool can't wait to put them out then I'll see where she has the wisky hidden.\n\nbottom line. \n\nIt's a distraction face your fears sober, distract yourself, not the dentist.
674155
We treat a lot of phobic patients.  They start vomiting the day before coming to the dental office.  They are in tears when they walk through the door.  They usually are about to pass out from lack of sleep.  For one real bad case, we let them come in and sit in a dental chair for a visit,  just sit their watching a movie, talking, or whatever.  We looked at her teeth on the second visit.  AFter ten visits and two years or so now she just reports getting nervous a bit. \n\nStill comes in crying though.
320356
do to see your dentist, they will be able to put you through to the right people. just make sure you brush your teeth twice aday and uses some anti plac remover.\nt
123538
I used to be like you. I avoided the dentist all my life. I went to a dentist last yr and she was wonderful. Just pick a gr8 dentist that is comforting or has a good attitude. You will get easy about it and then just relax. You will get novicane that helps. Gl 2 u .
238344
There are several options open to you.  \n\n1. Your doctor could prescribe a medication to relax you.  You might not like this one, because you wouldn't be allowed to drive for 4 hours after taking the medication.\n\n2.  See a psychological counselor to work through your fear.  I'm afraid I don't have statistics on this.\n\n3.  Hypnosis.  Many hypnotists claim a high success rate.  I recently attended a seminar on Medical Hypnosis and was shocked by the outright lies that some licensed hypnotists tell in regards to their success rates.  It might be worth a try, but I'm much more leery of hypnosis for therapy now.\n\n4.  If your fear stems from previous bad flights.  Talk to someone about those episodes.  Explain why and what you felt.  Get it out of your system.  Then try to desensitize yourself.  Visit a small mom & pop airport.  Sit in a small plane on the ground (most small airports usually have a pilot or two that would let you sit in their small piper cub or cessna.  \n\n5.  Do somethings else that's really terrifying like bungee-jumping.  That will put all your other fears into perspective.
641070
i say take him to the dentist with u when u get yours cleaned...tell him u need support because u r afraid of the dentist, or make something up that will work for u...then when u get there they always have mirrors and say are my teeth white enough and whatever he says then say let me see yours....then politely say your peace and go from there\nits like u r gonna be ion a dentists office so it wont feel awkward...its all about teeth there!!!
520689
First of all, well done you for going!!! That's the first step in overcoming your fear. I totally understand where you're coming from, I'm scared of dentists too and hadn't been for 10 years, then was forced to go because of toothache. Like you, I found out I need a lot of work done, 9 fillings and all my wisdom teeth extracted because of decay. I found that out 2 months ago, and haven't done anything about it because I'm too scared. But now I'm starting to get problems with one of my teeth and it looks like I'm going to need a root canal.\n\nSo I understand your fear, but things WILL get worse if you leave them. Maybe consider sedation dentistry rather than GA? That's what I'm going to look into. Good luck.
778191
drink a lot of warm water and try to get really scared
490569
I feel sorry for your anxiety caused by your phobia and for the other people writing about their phobias in your answer column. I to have suffered with many different phobias; as a child it was injections (both dentists and doctors), and Dogs; now it is the feeling of fear itself that I fear. (Because of years of panic attacks)\n\nI can tell you what helps, if you need to take an oral pill (tranquilizer) if you are really bad (one every night before going to bed for a short time) or (half an hour before you need to go to the doctor for an appointment involving an injection). \n*However this will not teach you too become brave or help you cope with your underlining fear which has become a phobia. \n\nI suggest you learn to relax through different sources.\n\nFirstly you can do positive self talk as your fear comes from negative thoughts causing you to have a chemical release in the brain which in turn causes the physical sensations of heart racing, sweating, feelings of faintness, fear, anxiety, nausea, light headedness, numbness, and so on…..oh yeah feelings of unreality is another one.\n\nNext learn relaxation or meditation either through physical participation in yoga classes or by listening to these sorts of cd, tape, or videos. There are hypnotic and relaxation available through JB Hi Fi stores designed to relax and strengthen your subconscious.  Cost $22 on average per item.\n\nYou can see a professional hypnotist or a physiatrist who will help you work you through your fear in a safe non threatening environment.  However this option is the most expensive and time consuming because it takes many sessions and time to feel you can trust or open up fully to another person.\n\n\n\n*If you use drugs as a crutch you can become addicted and that would start a whole new problem. \nP.S. the side affects of many tranquilizer drugs are feelings of anxiety and panic which you don’t want anyway.\n\n*The body is affected the same with legal and illicit drugs (downers or relaxants) like tranquillizers, sleeping pills or (marijuana, heroin, and alcohol) \n*Stimulants which are (speed, & cocaine) (cigarettes = nicotine), (tea & coffee =caffeine), and (ice & ecstasy which is often a combination of both stimulants and relaxants). \n*Cigarettes, Alcohol, and Marijuana are most accepted by the general public however they cause the most disease related deaths. Through internal organ diseases, like *Cancers and Blood clots (causing amputations, strokes and heart attacks) \n*Lung diseases from asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and cancer.  \n*Liver diseases from damage trying to alienate the body of toxic poisons and chemicals associated with medications and alcohol over years. \n*Hepatitis, sclerosis, and cancers of the liver.  \n*Marijuana has a chemical THC which our body has receptor in our brain and we also store for long periods in our blood and fat cells; (up to one month each time you smoke just one joint). Regular bong smokers and users will cause many different chronic health problems including lung disease (as the same toxic chemicals are in tobacco and marijuana excepting nicotine which is a stimulant) mental health suffers with paranoia, anxiety, fear, loss of memory, loss of appetite or increased appetite for sweets, loss of motivation, poor health, poor sleeping patterns and a dependency to use marijuana to get to sleep. Personal hygiene problems like sweating, bad breath and rotting teeth and the best for last you only feel mellow for a short time the rest of the time you are short tempered and unbearable to be around.\n*All drugs both legal and illicit have one thing in common the same side affects which is anxiety and withdrawal symptoms.
1106410
Go see a dentist!!  No one here is a dentist, or at least as I've seen from the responses to your question, and neither am I, but I can tell you that if you are having a problem related to tooth decay, IT WON'T GO AWAY BY WISHING IT AWAY!!! And the longer you wait the longer you'll suffer and the more work the dentist will have to do to fix the problem, and you'll get even more scared, and a bigger bill.  Another possibility here is that you're having sinusitis, or impacted sinuses, and that can hurt like hell and make it feel like your teeth are going to explode out of your mouth.  Go see some medical or dental professional.  This ain't gonna go away by hoping it does.  I know!!  What's that phrase: "Been there; Done that!!!!"  Get a  move on girl!!  You'll be glad you did!  God Bless you.
427497
Take this FREE ONLINE CLICNIC-\n\nhttp://www.fearofflyinghelp.com\n\nDo not drink heavily or take drugs!
489351
How insecure is the man that wants his woman's teeth to fall out so she is stuck with him?\n\nGod, get rid of that jerk, your tooth is the least of your problems.\n\nTo answer your question, go to a clinic at a University offering dental programs.  As part of dental training the students are required to work on real patients under the supervision of a licensed dentist.
592741
Hi Lucy,\nI put off going to a dentist too because I was so scared. But when a tooth cracked I had to go, so I looked for a dentist who specialized in treating nervous patients like you and me. So I went, and guess what? It turned out to be not bad at all!\nI got to wear headphones and listen to really relaxing music. He also put cotton or a foam spongy thing to keep my mouth open and a tube that kept taking the saliva out. Then he put a numbing cream in my mouth. When he was sure it worked, he then very gently gave me some tiny shots of novocaine which didn't bother me at all. My eyes were closed, so I had to ask him if he really DID give me the shots!\nObviously he did, because when he repaired my tooth I didn't feel anything. He also kept explaining what he was doing or what I was going to hear next (drilling and grinding noises) but honestly, there was no pain. I was more worried that I would fall asleep, I was so relaxed! Afterwards, he just had me tap my teeth on a small piece of film a few times to make sure that the bite was ok (and drill a bit until it was perfect.)\nAnd that was it! \nSo please tell your mom but let her know how scared you are. And best of luck!
440214
Fear.  \n\nNo, seriously...Dr. Fred Palmer makes a good one, and you can get it at Walgreens.
474160
I don't know where you live, but look in the yellow pages and see if any dentists offer twighlight sleep, or sometimes the ad will say they deal with people especially nervous about going to the dentist.