Hi!
I'll spare you the REALLY LONG backstory. The shorter recent story: I have had a severe dental phobia since I was 5. Three terrible visits with three separate dentists and it snowballed. Around the same time - age 5 - I remember being particularly picky about food, not liking the feeling of anything in my mouth, on my teeth - including forks, spoons, toothbrush, paste, etc... and the WORST was the feeling of a loose tooth, the underside of the tooth before it came out and the socket or gum once it was gone, and cotton or gauze. In addition I HATE the sounds of eating, chewing, noises made if teeth accidentally touch utensils, don't like crunchy or very textured foods. As a child I was dragged, by force, to yearly visits and restrained for very painful work to be done. If I had a dollar for every time I heard " that shouldn't hurt" or " I've never had a patient feel discomfort from that before" or "Dont jump, quit flinching etc..." I'd have made a profit from my appointments. I am now in my 40's and since becoming an adult have only gone to the dentist three times in 20 years, only when the pain was unbearable. The third time was last week for a tooth aching for 2 years. The appointment for xrays and a partial cleaning, 45 minutes of work took 2 hours to do, and had me freaking out so much even I was caught off guard! It occurred to me the dental fear may be more than just that and I think what I've always called my " thing about teeth" may have a real name. When I read the info on this site I had one of those "A ha" moments and don't think it's just in my head anymore. I am facing at least two crown and three more fillings possibly root canals but have only scheduled one appointment.....I don't know if I can get through it. Any suggestions on what to do to make it more palatable...literally? I am afraid to lose my teeth...on one hand. On the other I think it might be better...I know how horrible that sounds...but that is where I am right now. Full of dread at the thought of someone touching my teeth and gums and the sounds and smells ...ugh. Forgive and ignore me if I have not come to the right place...I'm in a blind panic right now.