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.
How can I overcome my needle phobia?
Hi,
I have a severe dental phobia and needle phobia. My dental phobia started when I was 10 or 11 (I’m 25 now) I needed a filling but as I’m terrified of needles I had a panic attack when the dentist said she was going to give me an injection so she told me she could do it without the injection,she caused me a lot of pain and ignored me repeatedly when I put my hand up,which we had agreed would be our stop signal it took my mum to get up an tap her on the shoulder to get her to stop. I refused to go the dentist after that an just walking by a dentist would start a panic attack off. I had a check up when I was 18 which was a terrifying experiance,rather embarressing too as I sat in the chair crying barely able to breath but luckily my teeth were fine. Since then 2 of my teeth have broken 1 at the back right hand side on the top and 1 at the back on the bottom left hand side. I’ve also recently noticed I have a tiny hole in another tooth.
I went to the dentist last week after 3 days of being in agony with the bottom left hand side of my mouth,turns out I have a wisdom tooth coming threw so she put me on a 5 day course of antibiotics an I have no pain what so ever now. But I have another appointment in 2 weeks for a full check up as she didn’t do one as I was in such a state,(shaking,crying an catching my breath) despite being so proud of my self for going I’m now terrified,will she have to take the 2 broken teeth out? I mean they cause me no bother I have no pain from the at all. I’d rather she didn’t!
The origins of your dental phobia lie with your needle phobia .
Its almost impossible for a dentist to drill a tooth properly without a local anaesthetic if its alive .
Asking a dentist to do that and then feeling bad about the pain is actually not fair on the dentist .
If you are having a check up next time , then just view it as that , and discuss how any treatment you need might be done .
I really recommend you go on to the website of Anxiety UK . They have lots of stuff you can download about injection phobia , panic attacks and managing anxiety . They have someone you can e- mail for help , and they also have a resource for getting low cost or no cost therapy to help you .
Sometimes the legacy of dental phobia can be that some teeth cannot be saved , just leaving them is an option which seems rational , but is storing up future trouble and the problem will still be there .
I hope you can find the help you need to get the courage to get the treatment you need .
Jenny
