Dental anxiety: Anyone else terrified of the dentist?

I used to be fine with the dentist, but everything changed when I switched to this one practitioner. Now, she keeps me pinned to that chair for an hour at a time, which has made the whole experience absolutely revolting. I had a tooth crack two months ago, but I’ve been dreading going in. Well, today a much larger piece just broke off. To make matters worse, I’m convinced she’s playing games with her billing; the prices for fillings seem to shift every single time I visit. Why would I want to deal with the headache of arguing over a bill that changes mid-appointment? I don't trust her. One time, she initially told me the repair would cost $100 because she had to apply a medicament, but then suddenly claimed I owed an additional $67. When I questioned her—since I had already paid the three hundred we agreed on—she just brushed me off, saying, "Oh, just another hundred and we'll call it even." Since then, I've lost all motivation to go back. It feels shady. I won't say her work is bad—my teeth are incredibly brittle and prone to breaking anyway—but this constant price manipulation combined with being stuck in that chair for an hour is just unbearable.

And honestly, there's more to it. I’m genuinely terrified of speaking up or challenging her, because I can't help but think about that drill in her hand. Part of me worries she might intentionally target my face or my front teeth if I push her. It’s a fear born from a past trauma. I once visited this complete idiot of a dentist, and because I was fidgeting a bit in the chair, he leaned in with the drill and aggressively threatened to drill into my face if I didn't stop squirming. Ever since then, those mental images haunt me every time I sit down in a dental office.

But the absolute worst part? My teeth are a disaster. Every few months, another one cracks. I can't go a single year without some sort of dental catastrophe. Now I'm torn: is it just that I can't stand this woman as a person, which is why I feel this way? Should I just find someone else, even if it means paying significantly more?

Honestly, just go find another dentist. I'm not even sure what part of the country you're in, but here in Chicago, there’s practically a dental clinic on every single street corner.

I got lucky, though... I stumbled onto this one guy who’s actually super legit and doesn't rip you off.

Just go talk to a few different dentists before you commit to anyone... see who you actually vibe with

Man, you really need to find yourself a new dentist! If you’re relying on your insurance provider, there’s an official fee schedule available online. Just do a quick search.

Elizabeth Smith53 said:I used to be fine with the dentist, but everything changed when I switched to this one practitioner. Now, she keeps me pinned to that chair for an hour at a time, which has made the whole experience absolutely revolting. I had a tooth crack two months ago, but I’ve been dreading going in. Well, today a much larger piece just broke off. To make matters worse, I’m convinced she’s playing games with her billing; the prices for fillings seem to shift every single time I visit. Why would I want to deal with the headache of arguing over a bill that changes mid-appointment? I don't trust her. One time, she initially told me the repair would cost $100 because she had to apply a medicament, but then suddenly claimed I owed an additional $67. When I questioned her—since I had already paid the three hundred we agreed on—she just brushed me off, saying, "Oh, just another hundred and we'll call it even." Since then, I've lost all motivation to go back. It feels shady. I won't say her work is bad—my teeth are incredibly brittle and prone to breaking anyway—but this constant price manipulation combined with being stuck in that chair for an hour is just unbearable.

And honestly, there's more to it. I’m genuinely terrified of speaking up or challenging her, because I can't help but think about that drill in her hand. Part of me worries she might intentionally target my face or my front teeth if I push her. It’s a fear born from a past trauma. I once visited this complete idiot of a dentist, and because I was fidgeting a bit in the chair, he leaned in with the drill and aggressively threatened to drill into my face if I didn't stop squirming. Ever since then, those mental images haunt me every time I sit down in a dental office.

But the absolute worst part? My teeth are a disaster. Every few months, another one cracks. I can't go a single year without some sort of dental catastrophe. Now I'm torn: is it just that I can't stand this woman as a person, which is why I feel this way? Should I just find someone else, even if it means paying significantly more?

🤣🤣🤣 good grief...
is this thread about service costs or a phobia of dental drills?😁

velvetranger16 said:Man, you really need to find yourself a new dentist! If you’re relying on your insurance provider, there’s an official fee schedule available online. Just do a quick search.

Who knows? We'll see. I just hope they aren't lurking on these forums, otherwise I might end up getting called out for this—but honestly, saying it out loud has been such a relief!
I can genuinely say I feel a lot better now. It turns out this forum actually serves a purpose after all.
I had no idea that just being honest about it would be this therapeutic..

Besides, I’m probably just overthinking things. If someone were actually trying to harm me with those specific tools, I could always file a lawsuit.. And it would have to be someone truly unhinged, someone whose entire career would be ruined by the fallout. So, perhaps my fears are just irrational nonsense..

It seems like your main issue lies with the communication gap between you and your dentist. For my part, I suffer from an intense, paralyzing phobia of dental visits. The moment I settle into that chair, I’m a nervous wreck. As soon as that drill starts whirring, I tend to pass out from pure panic, and when I finally come to, the anxiety attacks hit even harder. It’s become such a cycle that my dentist has started administering local anesthesia for even the most minor repairs just so I can stay conscious while he works. Hahaha, honestly, it’s hard to tell who is the bigger headache—me or him! But there isn't much I can do about it; I simply cannot get past the mental dread of the pain. Perhaps it would be easier if I could just grit my teeth and power through the discomfort 🙂, but in a dentist's office, that’s simply not an option 🙂 🙂

Take some time to really look around and see if you can find a more highly recommended dentist; maybe ask around for a solid referral first.
Once you've done your homework, then go ahead and switch over to a true professional.

mellowmarlin25 said:It seems like your main issue lies with the communication gap between you and your dentist. For my part, I suffer from an intense, paralyzing phobia of dental visits. The moment I settle into that chair, I’m a nervous wreck. As soon as that drill starts whirring, I tend to pass out from pure panic, and when I finally come to, the anxiety attacks hit even harder. It’s become such a cycle that my dentist has started administering local anesthesia for even the most minor repairs just so I can stay conscious while he works. Hahaha, honestly, it’s hard to tell who is the bigger headache—me or him! But there isn't much I can do about it; I simply cannot get past the mental dread of the pain. Perhaps it would be easier if I could just grit my teeth and power through the discomfort 🙂, but in a dentist's office, that’s simply not an option 🙂 🙂

I'm looking back at this old post, picturing the whole scene, and I am actually crying laughing 😂 😂 😂

Goodness, I am also terrified of the dentist, so I will be seeing him too. About 90% of people share this fear. It is nothing new. You simply sit there and endure it just like everyone else in America.