>< I HATE DENTISTS!!!

[Chicklet]

Okay, I don't think I have an actual good reason to hate dentists. I actually feel sorta sorry for them - everybody hates the dentist! I think it has something to do with our social boundaries, you know, and our personal space bubbles... the dentist is RIGHT THERE in your face, getting in your mouth, and makes the most stable of us have slight anxiety attacks.

Especially those of us who are supposed to take medication for anxiety, and don't.

Anyways, my overwhelming, and ridiculous, fear of the dentist kept me away from one for a good seven years. Finally, I've sort of woken up and realized I'm an idiot, found a local dentist, a good dosage for valium, and am trying to take care of my mouth.

Graceanne, this part's for you.

My previous dentist was my family dentist. A few hours south, where I grew up. He saw my brother, my mother, my father, and me, all through my childhood until I stopped going, and they moved to California. (God, you think when you turn 18 YOU'LL be the one to leave the state... instead, the family deserts you!) I saw him for the few caveties I'd had in my youth (yeah, 'cause i'm old now...DON'T YOU ROLL YOUR EYES AT ME!)

My teeth have been hurting SOOO much. So I'm going to the dentist. I go in, and guess what, pretty much everything that's hurting is because my previous dentist is a dumbass. He filled my caveties poorly, and the fillings were coming out, newer, more exciting decay was growing in the old places that were supposed to be better. In one instance, the cavetie (that looks like it's spelled wrong, I don't know what i'm doing, and I apologize) was between my teeth, and he didn't close it all the way, so it's an extra super painful spot that I can never keep clean even with floss, and will have to be re-done.

So I get to get my dentist torture once a month for the next few months (shiver) two appointments down so far, this last one leaving me bruised and swollen to all hell. Argh.

anyways.

that's my rant.

the end.

 

[graceanne]

I hate doctors. I fear dentists. *shudders*

 

[chris9]

I like my dentist. Maybe it's because I don't have many problems with my teeth and other dentist stuff , and he believes in explaining minutely what he does and why it helps. When my jaw locked the first time he had a newbie doc there for teaching and learning who made me the plastic thing that goes over the lower teeth (don't know how it's called in English) he made him draw me pictures of the muscles and stuff and why this plastic thing would help. It did. He and I both believe that you heal better when you know why and how. And it helps to do annoying stuff you wouldn't want to do otherwise.

Anyway, this summer I'll have to get my wisdom teeth out. It'll be the first invasive thing anyone does to my mouth, and my dentist can't do it himself, so he's sending me to someone else

 

[graceanne]

When I was little, and we lived in Minnesota, I had a great dentist. I loved him. He never hurt me, even when giving me fillings. I don't know when I went from loving dentists to being scared to death of them, but when I go to the dentist I cry. (And FYI I'm not a crybaby. I rarely cry. I didn't cry after any of my surgeries, any of the times I was sick, or during labor with A.) I can barely hold myself still enough for them to do whatever it is they have to do, cause I shake like it's 30 below zero. They dope me up on laughing gas, and all that does is slow down the shaking and get me to stop crying. I wish they'd just put me out and get it over with while I sleep.

 

[chris9]

Even if it's not about dentists, not even about full grown doctors, I thought I share a little story.
A bit background info: My bf is studying medicine. He is in his 5th year, and because the medical people here are weird, he is already working on his doctor title (I believe it's similar to a Ph.D.), doing lots of lab work and stuff.
Anyway, a little while ago his grandma was at the hospital. When he visited he noticed that one of the needles in her arm was starting to get infected. He asked her if it hurt, she said no. When the nurse came to give some medicines or something to the patients in the room, he had to leave and wait outside. After a while the nurse came out and started talking to him about how she took the needle out, how everything was ok and basically telling him they took good care of his grandma. He then asked his grandma if she had told the nurse about this needle. She said, no, the nurse noticed it herself, then his grandma told her that her grandson had said so, too. The nurse then asked if he was a nurse, too, and his grandma answered, no, he's working on his Ph.D. No wonder the nurse was nervous about it...

 

[graceanne]

Even if it's not about dentists, not even about full grown doctors, I thought I share a little story.
A bit background info: My bf is studying medicine. He is in his 5th year, and because the medical people here are weird, he is already working on his doctor title (I believe it's similar to a Ph.D.), doing lots of lab work and stuff.
Anyway, a little while ago his grandma was at the hospital. When he visited he noticed that one of the needles in her arm was starting to get infected. He asked her if it hurt, she said no. When the nurse came to give some medicines or something to the patients in the room, he had to leave and wait outside. After a while the nurse came out and started talking to him about how she took the needle out, how everything was ok and basically telling him they took good care of his grandma. He then asked his grandma if she had told the nurse about this needle. She said, no, the nurse noticed it herself, then his grandma told her that her grandson had said so, too. The nurse then asked if he was a nurse, too, and his grandma answered, no, he's working on his Ph.D. No wonder the nurse was nervous about it...

LOL Actually, as a rule, I don't have a problem with nurses. The only time I have a problem with nurses is (a) if they are on some power trip, or (b) they want to treat me like I'm stupid cause I'm sick.

 

[catalina_francisco]

LOL, I don't have issues with the dentist and don't let them give me a needle etc, unless extracting a tooth. Now the doctor, you will have a much harder time getting me to make an appointment, and even then you can bet I might change it a few times on the flimsiest of excuses. Maybe it is because with the doctor it can lead to more and more visits or other doctors, whereas the dentist you pretty much go in knowing what to expect and how long you will need until back in shape again.

Catalina

 

[WindWarrior]

I dislike dentists, as well. I hate going, and have to force myself to go every other year or so (I can't bring myself to do it once a year).

I found this great dentist in NYC who was originally from Russia. The best part about him is that he's "brutally efficient." He can get me in, x-rayed, cleaned, cavities filled, and out in less than 40 minutes. And his work is good.

He doesn't believe in using drugs for small cavities. And, once, when I had a filling fall out - before I had gotten 2 shots to get it filled - he told me I didn't need anything and proceeded to drill. He's quite enthusiastic with the drill. So much so that I'm beginning to suspect he's a sadist.

I always leave his office feeling as if he took each tooth out, cleaned it, and then put it back in. It takes about 24 hours before I can eat properly again.

Still, all of that is worth it to me precisely because he's to efficient in terms of time. I'd rather have a few minutes of discomfort than an hour in the chair.

 

[Chicklet]

I like my dentist. Maybe it's because I don't have many problems with my teeth and other dentist stuff , and he believes in explaining minutely what he does and why it helps. When my jaw locked the first time he had a newbie doc there for teaching and learning who made me the plastic thing that goes over the lower teeth (don't know how it's called in English) he made him draw me pictures of the muscles and stuff and why this plastic thing would help. It did. He and I both believe that you heal better when you know why and how. And it helps to do annoying stuff you wouldn't want to do otherwise.

Anyway, this summer I'll have to get my wisdom teeth out. It'll be the first invasive thing anyone does to my mouth, and my dentist can't do it himself, so he's sending me to someone else

My new dentist is really nice - he does a good job putting me at ease. Talks to me, explains everything he does... but he hasn't drawn me any pictures yet, so I guess you've still got him beat

As for your wisdom teeth... It wasn't an unpleasant experience when I had mine out. You'll be fine, don't be nervous = )

 

[FurryFury]

Except for family members, I hate dentists too!!!

Fury

 

[irish4806]

I put off going to the dentist for a long time, and when I finally went last year I had a couple of teeth that needed work real bad. I was convinced that the one on the right was worse despite the dentist telling me that the left one need to be done first. I guess he didn't like being contradicted, so he picked up an instrument and did something called a "percussion test" - basically banging on them real hard with a little hammer.

Turned out he was right about which was worse, but the tooth had become infected all the way up into the jaw and the shock to the nerve was so painful that I jacknifed my body right up off his chair. He extracted it, but within 24 hours I started feeling really sick and then developed a severe rash on that side of my head, which he mistook for an allergic reaction to the antibiotic he gave me.

Apparently the combination of severe infection and shock to the nerve caused me to come down with a bad case of Shingles. By the time I realized the dentist was wrong about the allergic reaction and went to the doctor, it was so bad that I nearly wound up losing the vision in my left eye.

I suppose I only have myself to blame for putting it off for so long, but I decided to find another dentist anyway, since I didn't feel too comfortable with that one anymore. The guy I have now is really good, but he sounds a lot like the dentist in "Marathon Man," which is a little disturbing.

 

[Chicklet]

ugh irish

ugh

 

[rosco rathbone]

dentists. The original doms?

 

[Proudsubinatl]

Thanks