SITTING on the dentist chair makes me feel all stressed out. And, it gets a little more intense when the dentist begins to poke his index fingers (in latex gloves) into your mouth to examine your set of sparkly pearls.
While I am fine with some of the minor dental procedures like filling, scaling and whitening, one thing I fear most is tooth extraction.
I know that it is common for some to have some level of anxiety about going to the dentist, but for me, just the thought of a dental visit is terrifying enough that I would do just about anything to avoid the dreaded dental appointment. But since I cannot put up with pain, unsightly teeth and gum infections (periodontal disease, yuck!) a visit to the dentist is a must. I have three dentists whom I go to, all based in different states — at the Penang General Hospital (for the times when I balik kampung), the private dental clinic in Bangsar, and at the UiTM Hospital in Sungai Buloh. Their numbers are on my speed dial and since they know full well about my concerns, they are more “forgiving” with the procedures.
The phobia actually started from a visit to the dentist when I was 12 to extract a molar. While the dentist was pulling my tooth out, it cracked and broke into several pieces, which of course required an incision be made in my gums to remove the pieces.
Even though I was under local anaesthesia (LA), it was still the most agonising period of my childhood, apart from when RTM decided to end the hit TV series Opah.
The procedure may have taken less than an hour, but it was hell on earth. I remembered staring at how slow the hands on the clock in the dentist room was moving, while I tried to fight the pain. I knew my mum, who accompanied me to the dentist, was panicking outside the room. I could see her face looking through the small glass hole at the door. And, looking at her worried face got me even more nervous. Since then, a trip to the dentist was never the same again. Every time I have to make that dreaded visit to any of my three dentists, the whole agonising episode would play in my mind.
Recently, I felt pain in my gums. This particular molar, which all three of my dentists have been trying to save for the past decade, acted out again. I was in excruciating pain.
I got an appointment to see the dentist in Sungai Buloh. He gave me the verdict. “Sorry, but we need to pull it out.”
I broke out into a cold sweat and the dentist knew I won’t be agreeable to have the tooth extracted while under LA. And then, he said: “We will get someone in to induce hypnosis to help you feel more relaxed,” while trying to assure me that LA would be just fine.
Now, this is the first time I’m hearing of a dental procedure that also uses hypnosis on top of the regular pharmacological sedation.
“Hypnosis is used in order to relieve a patient’s dental anxiety and phobia,” he said.
“Still underused, it is a powerful non-pharmacological tool in dentistry, providing effective sedation whilst maintaining patient collaboration. It also helps patients recovering from dental anxiety and phobia, like you, as well as those with a severe gag reflex,” he added.
“Err, while it sounds tempting, I’ll stick to just GA (general anaesthesia), thank you,” I told him. “But, I will try that procedure the next time I’m back on your chair,” I added. Honestly, of course I wasn’t thrilled. Never mind that I’ve never gone under hypnosis, I doubt my little heart can take all the palpitations, running up to the procedure.
My better half thought I should give it a shot. He said he wanted to be present during the hypnosis session so he could also include some “instructions” for stuff to do later while I was still under “the spell”. Men can be schemers.
But, no amount of assurance would sway a dental phobic like me to try it. Maybe not now.
So, I was down for GA last Tuesday. But, that Monday night I had trouble sleeping. I was a total wreck. When I was wheeled into the OT room, the scene of white-coated personnel and dental instruments just made me physically ill.
And, then I felt a nudge on my shoulder.
“Bangun Puan, it’s over,” said one of the nurses in the OT room. I was so relieved. What made it even sweeter is the cost of it all. I did the procedure at UiTM Hospital under the public wing. I didn’t know how much it would cost me, but I remembered that a private hospital was charging some RM5,000 for the same treatment. Earlier, I made a RM500 deposit and the cashier turned to me and said with a smile, “Here’s RM398 we are returning to you.”
Huh? Was I still delirious from the aftermath of the GA? Why are they returning most of my deposit?
Then I asked her how much the bill was. Never have I smiled so widely when looking at a hospital bill. It only cost me around RM100!
What great news for a dental phobia like me. Everyone has fears and concerns and copes with them in different ways. I cope by opting for GA and that makes all the difference. There you go. I have dental phobia. But then, they say, even queens have weaknesses too.
And, I actually forgot about including elements of the entertainment world in this piece, because I am still recovering.
Hizreen Azleena Kamal is a passionista with a keen interest in showbiz and pop culture (online shopping included!). And oh, she is also the Entertainment Editor.