Really scared about dentist/teeth

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Hi, i'm really scared of going to the dentist and only go if I really have to (and after 10mg diazepam). Two teeth broke recently so I had to go, but kept cancelling the appointment coz I was scared. Last week, an abscess (which has been coming and going for a few months) started to get bigger so I had to go, and the dentist said I need the tooth out and gave me a prescription for 5 days antibiotics. The abscess seems to be getting worse (after 4 days) and now I'm really scared and have no idea what to do. The same tooth was infected three years ago but I was too scared to get it out then, and I'm really worried I've caused a massive infection or something. I really don't understand teeth and am terrified of everything about them, or the dentist (who really doesn't like me- she said that if I don't go back to get it out, she won't see me again). The appointment's not till 18th December and am so scared of what might happen before then. Anyone else had anything like this?

I'm also bulimic so binge/vomit every night which doesn't help also scared that's having an effect (have had an ED for 12 years).

I sympathize with you. I have terrible teeth because as a child I had sensory issues with tootpaste burning my tongue and had really bad oral hygiene. Now I have gum disease and really wouldn't mind going to the dentist but I hate being scolded about not flossing, and I can't afford the bills even though I have insurance.

I had an abcess and had to have a root canal several years ago. It was incredibly painful (actually the root canal wasn't that bad, but the abcess hurt like hell). My mother-in-law had an abcess and nearly died of sepsis. I hope you are getting treatment for your eating disorder. Stomach acid isn't good for teeth at all.

I would hope that the antibiotics would stave away any type of infection and I hope for the best in that regard. I have no idea how the Dentist you go to is. But the Dentist office I go to is extremely nice. They know that I have Asperger's, so the Dentist will prescribe Anxiety medications before every appointment to keep me calm. They give you shot in your gums (This doesn't hurt as much as people would expect. They pre-numb it with a gel so you only feel pressure). If nothing else. The Dentist should throw some pain medicine your way and you can enjoy that.

Thank you both. I think I'm mainly scared of the infection- I have no idea how infected it is, and am scared the antibiotics aren't working. I don't have a formal diagnosis of AS so haven't told the dentist, but am going to ask the psychologist I used to see on Monday when i have a review meeting if I should mention it. My teeth are terrible- wouldn't use toothpaste when i was younger because it was white and I hate things that look like milk, and I hate the noise and feel of metal on teeth at the dentist, so she gets really frustrated/annoyed with me, then I get upset or embarrassed. The diazepam helps though.

Get another dentist,that one sounds awful.
It is best to deal with any dental problems pronto,if you delay it can only get worse.
My dentist is kind and has the gentlest hands of anyone I've ever gone to,he is very soothing and the hygienist is very sweet also.I'm very,very lucky to have found such excellent caregivers.I recommend them to everyone.

Yes, if possible, try to find a new office where you feel comfortable. But not going at all just means you will have to go more often in the future. I didn't go to a dentist for 5 years and then required an emergency root canal. It was incredibly painful. And the guy did a lousy job so it had to be redrilled a couple years later. Since then I've gone very regularly.

For a long time it was difficult for me to accept that another person was hurting me. I was a total wimp about the discomfort. I resented it. I took it personally.

Eventually I came to understand that the dentists/hygienists are just doing their jobs. They want to make me healthier. And I want them to make me healthier too, even if it hurts. I survived an inexperienced dentist stabbing my inadequately anesthetized nerve with a barbed needle. After that everything else has just felt like a temporary inconvenience.

Sedation dentistry really works. I love it. They combine pills with laughing gas and you'll be good.

Had really, really bad toothache over the last 24 hours and nothing seems to work been alternating ibruprofen and paracetamol but neither did anything so going to call the dentist in the morning... Absolutely terrified but can't cope with the pain any more, got no sleep at all last night .

Went today and she wouldn't see me, she said I've cancelled too many appointments in the past so I can't get an emergency dental appointment really painful and no painkillers seem to make any difference- have been taking ibruprofen and co-codamol all day but nothing seems to work. The dentist must really hate me every time I go, I get freaked out and panic, and have cancelled appointments before because I was too scared and the dentist I see really scares me, it's like being told off by a teacher at school every time I go. Can't get another appointment till 18th December and no idea what to do, can't cope with pain till then, really feels like someone's drilling inside my head . Today was horrible, I had to really psych up and take diazepam to go, then she wouldn't do anything or prescribe more antibiotics, and said just to keep taking painkillers which aren't working! No idea what to do :/

Try another dentist or a dental clinic if you can. Most dentists reserve time for emergencies.

I can't blame her though for what she said and did. Dentists are people like everyone else, with families to feed, employees to pay, and VERY expensive student loans.

When you cancel appointments, that's a space she can't see another patient.