I posted this message yesterday (April 7) to
alt.support.dental-phobia, before realizing that the newsgroup is all
but dead.  Hopefully someone here will be able to offer me some advice
or information, I'd really appreciate that.  Please note the addendum
at the end of the message.  Thanks.

["I sure could use some decent advice right now ...
To outline my situation, I have been deathly afraid of dentists all my
life (I'm now age 44).  After letting my teeth rot away horribly, I
finally had some very extensive work done in the early to middle
1980's.  I had two teeth pulled by an {*filter*}surgeon, and then five
pulled at one time by a general dentist who also did some {*filter*}
surgery.  Both times I had intravenous anesthesia, whether I was
knocked out completely or just heavily sedated I no longer remember.
The dentist filled at least ten cavities on the latter occasion.  I
really did not find all that work terribly traumatic and recovered
from the extractions much more quickly that I'd dare imagine.
Now comes the bad part.  Rather than learning from that experience, I
have let my teeth go to ruin once again.  Several of the fillings fell
out over time and I now have six teeth that are basically rotten away
completely and will have to come out.  Three of them are wisdom teeth,
and let me tell you have I heard some absolutely terrifying stories
about wisdom teeth extractions.  At this point, I am totally paralyzed
with fear.  Please understand that *regular* dentistry doesn't bother
me.  I have had a couple of root canals and crowns in the past five or
so years, and they were absolutely no big deal.  I did have two front
teeth extracted on an emergency basis two years ago, after the tooth
base under crowns decayed and caused the crowns to fall out; while
these extractions (done with Novocaine) were easy and not painful in
any way, they were, after all, single-rooted front teeth.
I now have to deal with having three wisdom teeth, one canine, and two
what I believe are pre-molars (bottom teeth fourth from the back)
extracted.  Like I said, there's hardly anything left of any of them.
I don't know if the general dentist I saw two years ago can do them, I
might have to see an {*filter*}surgeon.  And that scares me absolutely to
death.  From what I have heard, {*filter*}surgery is a much bigger deal
today that it was 15 years ago.  There supposedly is "monitoring" of
vital signs on people receiving anesthesia - I can't find out exactly
what that entails, and it scares me beyond belief.  In addition, as I
noted before, I have heard absolutely horrifying stories about wisdom
teeth.
I am so scared I can barely mention it.  Please, if anyone has any
advice, answers, symapthetic comments, let me know.  I feel utterly
alone in this and my fears are literally making me sick."]

Addendum (April 8) - my wife called the family's regular dentist (the
one who pulled the two front teeth two years ago) and I spoke to him
for a while.  He *says* that the wisdom-teeth horror stories are
mostly bunk, and also that pulling multi-rooted back teeth really
isn't all that different from pulling incisors.  He wants to see me,
just for a consultation, this coming Saturday, but at this point I'm
just not sure I can go through with it, especially since he couldn't
prescribe any tranquilizers at this point.  He also said I could see
an {*filter*}surgeon if I wanted, the very suggestion of which nearly
caused me to faint, although he said he probably could do all the
necessary work himself.

    I don't know why you'd be concerned about "monitoring".  You must have
a cardiac monitor during general anesthesia--on your end, just a couple of
glue-on electrodes.  All {*filter*}surgeons I know have full resuscitative
equipment for those extremely rare instances when something goes wrong.
    Of course your general dentist may be capable of quickly and easily
doing all the extractions.  But if there's any doubt, please be assured
that any OMF surgeon has seen anything you've got, and lots worse.  Forget
about the Dr. Frankenstein stuff--the monitoring is just for your safety.
    These things are never as bad as you imagine.  In your case, I'm sure
things are in fact much better.

Good luck,
Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001
http://www.***.com/

I can't give you a typical story, but I can tell you I didn't have any
particular problem getting my wisdom teeth out. The dentist I went to
wasn't particularly good, I didn't react terribly happily to general
anesthesia at the time, and I seem to have had a nosebleed during the
procedure. All those things were not up to snuff, and I was still
fine. I ate soft foods that night and normal cooking.net">food (squashed a bit
flat) the next day at work, because my jaw still couldn't open fully.
Two days later, I didn't even have to flatten the cooking.net">food on my fork. I
could eat a hamburger in a bun.

I'd say if you've had other extractions without much problem, you
shouldn't expect much problem from these extractions either.

Hi Peter,

It is OK to have fears. It is OK to be cautious.

Go for the consult and see if you are comfortable with the dentist.
Typically they are going to have a look to see what they might be dealing
with, may be even take an x-ray or two to be sure. They are going to learn
about your current health status and your fears so a more appropriate
tranquilizer might be prescribed. Chances are you are going to learn about
all your options so you can come back here and ask all your questions. Will
your wife accompany you? Might be a good idea because it is possible that
you will forget something that was said. I know I did when I went for a
consult on some "major" work and I've been around dentistry for more years
than I want to admit.

BTW you should check out:
http://www.***.com/
It may help to put some of your dental fears at ease.

Roy

snip

Thanks for your support.  Fortunately, I am quite comfortable with
this dentist, as I've seen him before and he's seen my family members
many times.  He also was quite reassuring when I spoke with him on the
phone yesterday, especially when he told me that extracting back teeth
isn't a much bigger job than when he pulled the two front ones in
2000*.  He says that he's just going to take X-rays and do an
examination at this appointment.  I probably can deal with that
without requiring a tranquilizer, although I'll definitely need one (a
*strong* one!) before he or the {*filter*}surgeon does any extractions (as
I noted, other types of work such as root canals don't bother me in
the least).
But thanks again, and thanks to the other people who responded.  
* = thinking back on what he said, I do think he was a bit too
dismissive of all the wisdom-teeth horror stories I've heard.  The
fact remains those stories exist, we've all probably heard them, and
people must be telling them for a reason.  I'll bring up the issue
again at my appointment.

Since you are comfortable with the family dentist, a consultation will give
you the information you need. Wisdom tooth horror stories are usually about
severely impacted teeth. This means they are fully or partially "locked"
into the bone.
It sounds as though this is not the case for you.
If you are still concerned, you can ask your dentist if  he can prescribe
something to help you relax for Saturday's appointment. It's best, however,
if you can be alert so you can participate in the consultation.  Knowledge
and understanding can go a long way to reduce your fears. Your wife's
presence will help as well in remembering information.  Ask for a written
copy of your treatment plan so you can look it over in less stressful
circumstances.
It will also help you form questions for your dentist.
Good Luck,
Pat Buss RDH

Thanks for the tip about the treatment plan.  I never would have
thought of that.  I'll probably be able to get through this
appointment w/o tranquilizers, as it is just a consultation.  If the
dentist says he can take care of the extractions himself (as opposed
to sending me to an {*filter*}surgeon), I'll probably be much better able
to handle the actual work without freaking out too badly.  It'll also
help if the extractions can be done with just Novacaine.  Anyway,
thanks again.

[...]

Correct.

 He wants to see me,

You have received much good advice, some from professionals.
I'm  just a patient.  Never had wisdom teeth extracted, but have
had several root canals.  All were done by excellent {*filter*}
surgeons who were so quick and deft, I hardly realized the
"operation" was over.  Healing was also quick. I asked to examine
the tools, because it appeared there was so little "brute force"
required; very interesting.

Though positive experience reports may weigh little in the psyche
of someone who has always suffered from dental "terror";
I'm posting to offer my bit of reassurance.  

You say you  nearly fainted at the suggestion of an {*filter*}surgeon,
which is  more confirmation that it's "all in the mind". The word
"surgeon" called up irrational thoughts.  On the contrary, an
{*filter*}surgeon might be your best bet.  I probably *would* opt for
an {*filter*}surgeon who has long experience in the field and who has
the right "tools", so go for it if there is that possibility.

Good luck, and do post how it went.

--
Polar