I grew up in a family that did not have much money. I’d only been to the dentist once in my life as a child and that was for a root canal treatment on a front tooth because of an infection. We didn’t have enough money for the crown so my tooth was left with a hole in it. Eventually, it turned dark and broke when I was a junior in college. I was there on scholarship and did not have a penny to my name. I begged a dentist and he offered to make me a dental bridge at his cost. Even then it took me nearly two years to pay it off. Now I have graduated college and have a job. I know there is a TON of work I need done on my teeth but I am terrified. Though the dentist who helped me was very kind, the appointment itself was excruciating. I’ve been afraid to go back to the dentist ever since, but I really need to fix my teeth. Are all appointments like that or was that a one off?
Mary Cruz
Dear Mary Cruz,
Patients no longer have to hide from the dentist
I am very glad you wrote. After a traumatic dental appointment, it is perfectly normal to have anxiety. The fact that you are willing to step forward anyway and work toward getting your oral health back is a huge sign of your commitment and courage. To answer your question, while every dentist is different, all dental appointments do not have to be painful. In fact, there is a way to have a relaxing and pain-free appointment every time.
For someone in your situation, I am going to suggest you see a dentist who offers dental sedation options. You’ll also want someone who is DOCS Certified, ensuring they have the top training. This is not the same as anesthesia like you would get with surgery. You are not “out”. However, depending on the type of sedation you choose, you can be so relaxed that you sleep through the entire procedure if you want to.
I am going to suggest you start with oral conscious sedation (OCS) while you are getting things back in order. In the beginning, you will likely need a lot of dental work. Using OCS allows the dentist to get more work done at each sitting, enabling you to get healthier faster.
Because you will also want to keep your dental work affordable, I am going to suggest you have your dentist do a triage, determining which work is the most urgent and starting there. Then you can make a sustainable plan that allows you to fix everything without having to do it all at once and putting you into financial difficulties.
You’ve got this!
This blog is brought to you by Libertyville Dentist Dr. David Potts.