dental appointment!

I dont handle the dentist well at all. Okay thats saying nicely- Im worse then a 2yr old when it comes to the dentist! By the time they actual take me to the dreaded chair my heart is racing, Im sweating, nausea, shaking, etc... I am beyond terrified of a dentist!! I do have good reason to fear the dentist. Growing up I had dental work done by a man who was far from gentle and compassionate!! Just the sound of the drill makes me panic!! Years later my parents figured out that novacaine had no effect on me so I had 2 root canals and 4 fillings done at the age of 10 with NOTHING for pain!! The dentist insisted that I was just being a baby about the whole thing.. AHHH!! Well I had to go today! I had a dental emergency and could only find 1 in this area to get me in this morning! I had myself prepared as best I could. I got there, filled out the paperwork, and the wait began. I took a book to keep me busy hoping that would help me control my nerves... I was doing so good until the door opened and this nice man announced "Amber, were ready for you"... at that point it all began! My heart rate went through the roof, my B/P shot up, it was horrible.. I got to the actual room and the man asked if I was okay.. I stuttered something about nerves and he laughed. He brought the dentist in who talked to me for a minute then left to get me something for my nerves!!! He gave me 2 xanax to take. He skipped me and went on to the next person to give the xanax time to work.. When he came back into the room he turned on a TV, gave me a headset and a remote control... Needless to say I could have laid in that chair for hours!!! Where was this dentist all my life??? The experience was so good I made an appt for next week to get my teeth cleaned!! I dont think Ill need the xanax either! This will be the first time in many years that I willing made an appt to see a dentist!! The last dentist I seen had to give me happy gas to replace a filling that fell out.. Then he refered me to an oral surgeon to have my wisdom teeth removed!! Okay.. Im done now.. I love this new dentist! And Im looking forward to having my teeth cleaned and a complete exam done!! WOW, how times have changed! Amber M*

Amber, Good for you! I'm not especially afraid of the dentist, but, I don't like it. I do get my regular cleanings done and they are a piece of cake since I started using the Braun electric toothbrush about 9 years ago. The last time I had a major procedure done, a root canal, I got through it by listening to music on my iPod. It really helped with the anxiety. I do think dentists have become so much more understanding! We all really need to take care of our teeth as they affect our overall health in so many ways! Lori

Hi Amber...wow...we must have had the same denist when we were children! I grew up in Northwest Florida. Mine pulled an absessed tooth and nearly killed me as the infection spread and I lost all feeling in the left side of my body. To this day I still have my heart beating out of my chest just at the thought. I'm so glad you had a good experience to replace the old one! Congratulations!