Hello
I hope you are able to advise me – I have an overwhelming fear of gagging/pain during dental treatment, and as such have not visited a dentist for several years. This is really embarrassing – I dental nursed for over 20 years, and was an oral health educator. I know how utterly ridiculous this is. Potentially it started the last time I had treatment, I had several ID blocks and was not entirely numb, the dentist continued with treatment despite me being in obvious pain. She then gave me several intraligamentary injections but I was still not totally numb. I know several local dental surgeons, and count them amongst my friends, but I am so terribly embarrassed. I now have toothache, having never had it before, and don’t know where to turn. I am taking pain killers, and really fear RCT, I simply don’t think I could tolerate even simple treatments without gagging/choking, let alone the use of rubber dam. I think the amalgam is leaking in a large DO filling that I have had for many many years. I know this needs sorting. This is the tooth that caused me pain during my last treatment. Can you recommend a dentist in my area (Gosport, Hampshire) that specialises in this type of phobia and who perhaps uses sedation?

Thank you so much in advance for your help

Kind regards,