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.
I have had dental phobia since chlildhood, what can I do?
i have a real dental phobia, to the point where i cannot walk in to a surgery without hyperventilating and suffering extreme panic. I was held on a chair at the age of 8 yrs old for an extraction, and will take high levels of painkillers to avoid the dentist. I have already had 1 extraction under sedation, this was the last resort when the painkillers no longer worked. My teeth need some attention and i have another loose tooth which is possibly going to fall out soon. I have regular pain as well. I would like a dental phobic dentist reccomended by yourselves, nearer to where i live, that can offer full sedation for the work i need. I have read your website with interest and this has prompted me to write, although the word dentist sends me into a blind panic. I live in lewisham and have a husband who can drive me. I cannot make an appointment for the london clinics as this would mean train travel which is probably not a good idea after sedation!
Sorry for rambling on, but i am in need of some advice,
Thank you in advance
Hello It
Sounds as if you may have Post Traumatic Dental Stress disorder related to your experience at 8 years old .
Im sure that there is someone in Lewisham who does IV sedation , and you could google that or ask the Primary Care Trust who does this in the borough .Another option is to look at www.dentalfearcentral.org where patients say who has helped them . .
The hyperventilation and Panic are extremely unpleasant in themselves , and maybe your Doctor could give you a mild sedative to take an hour before your appointment time for the assessment .
I treat many patients with your type of history , some by giving them help with the psychological issues to help them get to having treatment without sedation , others have sedation of various sorts , both oral and IV .
