I like my teeth. I get complimented on my smile and I rarely give them a second thought. I breezed through my childhood dental appointments being told at every visit that they were ‘perfect’ and I’d bound out the door wondering what all the fuss was about with grown ups being afraid of the dentist.
Then in my teens things changed a little. I had to get the dreaded ‘train tracks’. Most of my class had them - in fact it seemed to be a rite of passage.
And that’s when the visits started to be less pleasant. There were metal bands put around my teeth, wires applied and then tightened, rubber bands put on, and six monthly visits for a few years. And then there was the retainer phase (and honestly, the less said about that the better).
So all in all I was pretty much over going to the dentist. I’d had enough prodding and poking and hey, if it’s not broke then don’t fix it, am I right? Well, no, actually I’m completely wrong. By avoiding the dentist for years (six at the last count) I’ve allowed problems to build up, and my once uneasy feeling before a visit, has turned into a full blown fear.
This Christmas one of my poor teeth finally gave in and literally cracked under the pressure (I blame the toffees). I ignored the hole in my tooth for a week, thinking ‘it’ll be grand’. But sure who was I fooling? A week later, the pain and some vague idea of New Year's resolution forced me to pick up the phone to my dentist.
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Standing in his porch this morning and being greeted by the same receptionist brought all the teen visits flooding back. I was an emotional wreck walking in the door and by the time I sat myself into the chair I was in tears and feeling like an idiot.
Yes, it was a bit painful (well two injections into your gum are never going to be nice now, are they?) and then the drilling and suction and the whining noises had me really on edge. But the reality is that I was numb and couldn’t really feel anything, so it was all in my mind.
I was informed that by avoiding regular cleaning (at the dentist and by a dental hygienist; I do brush at home, I promise!) means that cavities and plaque have built up, and now I have to go for another filling along with a thorough cleaning in two weeks time. And this makes me sad.
Even if you take excellent care of your teeth and gums at home, you still need to see your dentist regularly as they can check for problems that you may not see or feel. Many dental problems don't become visible or cause pain until they are in more advanced stages (and examples can include cavities, gum disease and oral cancer). The official recommendation is twice a year but if I can manage once a year I’ll consider it an achievement.
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So be honest with me, is it just me? What are your thoughts on trips to the dentist? When was your last trip to the reclining chair with the funny-tasting water? And if anyone has any tips on how I can reduce my fear I’d love to hear them!
