Expert answers
We know how daunting dental treatment can be. Our Dental Phobia certified experts are here to help ease your mind before treatment by answering your questions.
My teeth are in really bad shape, but I am too scared to visit the dentist.
Hi Jennifer
I am writing to you in the hope that you can help me. I am a 27 year old female from the Midands. You are the first Dentist I have come across both online and in person that seems approachable and friendly.
The way my teeth look at the moment is seriously effecting my confidence. I cant bear to talk to people outside in the daylight because they will notice how awful my teeth look.
The main problem is my bottom teeth – my gum and bone have deteriorated really badly over the last two years. The front 3 teeth have risen up and are now so tall in my mouth they hit the roof of my mouth when I eat. They are also incredibly loose which means I haven’t actually bitten into food for several years for fear of losing them. I have to cut everything up into tiny portions so I don’t use my front teeth.
As well as being much higher than the other bottom teeth, they are also dramatically different in colour and whatever I do – I cant seem to make them look any cleaner.
Slowly but surely their appearance has eaten away any confidence I had and I am now struggling to socialise – keep my relationship going and keep my job.
It is hard to convey in an email just how badly this is effecting my life.
I have attempted to resolve the problem but I was just so terrified and the 3 different dentists that I saw were very rude to me and one even said ‘ you take care of the rest of yourself by the looks of things – why have you not taken care of your teeth’?
One Dentist referred me to the BIrmingham dental hospital and the first appointment was fine but then I knew she was going to inject me and touch my front teeth at the next appointment and I just could not make myself go in.
I am sorry for the long babbling email – I just need to know if you can give me any advice on a few things?
I need to see a dentist for a deep clean but I am really scared of anyone touching my teeth. Do yo know of any in Warwickshire that may offer sedation?
I also desperately want to have the front 3 bottom teeth in my mouth removed. I would like to have a bridge but if this isn’t possible – implants. The problem I have is finance – I have no savings. Is there anything the NHS would do for me?
I just feel totally down about the whole thing at the moment and see no end in sight.
If I can find a way of getting these unsightly teeth out of my mouth and replaced with normal ones – it would literally change my life.
Sorry again for the length of this email!
I hope to hear from you soon
Many thanks
Hello
You sound really depressed about your teeth , but the good thing is that you are actively seeking help .
There are one or two things that stand out from your post .
1. You are frightened of the injection needed to have the deep clean . There are some sedative medications that could help you , such as diazepam or Oral Temazepam , and you could ask about that .
Im sure that there are dentists in warwickshire that offer sedation , to help you find one go to www.dentalfearcentral.org and join in . There are recommendations there by region , someone who is dental phobia certified on this site may be available .
Your Primary Care Trust may know where there are sedation clinics on the NHS .
Its highly unlikely to impossible that implant treatment will be available on the
NHS . When you have your teeth removed usually a temporary denture is placed at the same time the teeth are taken out .
when the gums have healed and shrunk another option may be feasible .
Some dentists find dealing with dental phobics difficult and may explain the negativity you encountered . However there are empathetic non judgemental dentists around and I hope you are able to find one
Jenny
