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people often have different accounts of their dentist visits. While some will tell you how they love visiting the dentist, other will almost break into a cold sweat as the recall the trauma they experienced during a routine visit. We managed to round up a few personal accounts of dentist visits.
Jamie Sinclair:
When I was a little girl, my mom took me to see Dr. R (I’ll never forget his name). What I remember was him showing me all the metal probes, syringe and drill (which he had great pleasure – it seemed – in running in eye-shot)…that sound still gives me the shivers.
He told me that I mustn’t be a baby and that it doesn’t hurt. I remember telling my Mom (in front of Dr. R) that if he hurt me, I was going to bite him. And I very nearly did when he stuck his fingers in my mouth. I ran out of his rooms crying…never to return to him again.
Dean Josephs:
When I was 18, I needed to have root canal treatment, and the dentist in Durban ended up injecting my mouth no less than six times to try and get the area numb (he even phoned a colleague for help!). The root canal went well, but my whole mouth, half my face and my throat were numb for what seemed like an eternity.
Luckily, as an adult, I have had much better experiences at the dentist, and no longer have that fear. My current dentist is also a younger man who goes to great pains to make me feel comfortable and ensures that I understand exactly what he says.
Anthea Hughes:
My first memory of a dentist visit was nothing less than traumatic. I recall a scary man with red hair and beard (what was my mother thinking?) and huge hands.
On this first visit (well, the first one I can remember), which was just after a school break spent in sun and sea water – resulting in dry lips and cracked mouth corners, I had to go see Dr S.
He started digging around in my mouth and I made such a fuss, letting him know that my lips were really sore and he agreed to work more carefully. He also agreed that I could say “aahh” when he needed to slow down or be more gentle. Which I did, but without any reaction from his side. So – I did what I thought was best, and bit him really hard.
Needless to say, he was angry and told my mother to take me home and never bring me there again. Thank goodness! From thereon, I was regrettably also left with a seated fear of dentists, and it took me the better part of 30 years to find a thoughtful, gentle and very professional dentist, who explains and consults with me as he goes along.
I can honestly say that finding Dr C has made the world of difference, and if only all dentists realised what an impact they have on their profession’s public image, most of them would make a bigger effort to be gentle and caring with children entrusted to their service.
A dentist's response:
Dr Yuvraj Singh says that dentist are feared the most by people. Sadly, our job involves the most sensitive part of the body. There are a lot of nerve tissues and blood vessels in the oral cavity so it becomes challenging for us dentists to manage a patient from a psychological aspect as well.
That part is my challenge and I endeavour to break all fear barriers when I see my patient. I think the biggest battle is won once a patient is comfortable and relaxed. Another fear is the needle.’
Are you going to poke me, doctor’. Use of topical anaesthetic and a silicon coated needle, make the administration of a local anesthetic painless. Now, you have a comfortable, relaxed patient who is happy, numb and did not experience pain during the anesthetic.
The outcome will almost all times be a happy patient who will not hesitate to visit a dentist again.
