Can I do it?

[EbonyQ]

Thank you guys! So far so good, no freaking out yet! I’m going to do this so there is no turning back now!

Had an appointment with my regular dentist yesterday to check if I had any holes. I thought this was just a regular appointment where I stop by and him looking at the x-rays and in my mouth, and then goodbye see you next appointment to fix what needs to be fixed, but no..

My dentist is a friend of dad and therefore knows my family very well, so going to him is not that scary. Was a bit nervous before my appointment and when I sat down in the chair, but after a while I started to relax, even my dentist comment on this yesterday.

Before I knew it my dentist was ready to take a cavity and the LA was in my mouth. Since I originally thought it was just a stop by appointment I was dressed in a light shirt, ready to walk directly to my lecture. Had a gum infection around that tooth (because of the crowding) and in was in the front so I looked like a slaughtered pig when he was finished (ok, it was not that much blood ) but some blood ended on my shirt so I gave myself an excuse to buy a new one before my lecture
I'm sure this is something we are going to laught at later

Since I trust my dentist and know him my appointments is not that bad, just a bit anxiety before we start. And it felt so good to walk out there with one cavity less. Told him that next time I’ll be more prepared for his slaughtering!

One or two more times, and then my teeth are ready for braces. Yup yup!

[klobird]

Hey Eb---Well, you're braver than me when it comes to going to the regular dentist....I dislike that about 10 times more than going to the ortho, and I have "superdentist". Oh, by the way, "superortho" sounds just like my "superdentist". She is awesome, and the whole reason I was able to go through with getting braces...(but I still don't like all those dental tools and stuff... )

I am so glad you found the ortho that you did! And if you haven't given him the Christmas card yet, send the pics with it!!
He would really enjoy those!

How long are you going to be in school? Do they find job placement for you, or are you on your own? I loooovvvvveeeedddd college!!

Later gator!

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Hey Eb, Yeah good job at the dentist I'm going to the cleaning on January 12th. I have to go to the orthodontist over at 9:30am to get my wires taken out. Then I need to go to the cleaning at 10am which is right down the street from the orthodontist. Then go back to the orthodontist at 11am. Thats when I would get an adjustment.

You can do it though, two appointments to go isn't bad. Do you know what date in January you are going to get braces?

[anxiousgirl]

Ebony
I just read your entire journal!
All I can say from my experience with anxiety and strong dentist phobias is YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! and YOU WILL DO THIS!!!
Trust me, it will be the best thing you have ever done.
My teeth before braces were crooked and embarrassing, I always got teased about them.
Now they have straightened up so much and still have a long way to go but I have gained so much more confidence already!
Anxiety can be horrid at times, but if you just stay there and push through the feelings of sickness and worrying and all of that but it will be worth it when those braces come off
I had the worst dental phobia before braces, but my orthodontist is just so kind I don't even get anxious at the orthodontist anymore, its amazing!! Just like your ortho, we work together at a pace that suits us both.

I know that all of this is easier said then done, but you will not regret getting braced Ebony
In saying that, none of us will be disappointed if you do not go through with it.
I look forward to continuing reading your jounal
xxx

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Awh Anxiousgirl. Some of the dentists I been with dental phobia, they knock ppl out. I'd much rather be awake and see what goes on. I don't trust certain people. The dentist I had got sued for using paper clips in root canals.

Yeah, Eb, I told my ortho about my dental fear but she didnt believe me because of how well I was around her. Which is a good sign. My pastor actually helped me get over my fear.

You will be soooooo glad you got this done Eb, you can DO IT! You would definately regret not doing it trust me. Keep us posted.

[EbonyQ]

Thank you guys!

Klobird: No, I need to find my own job. Having my last exam on Monday, and I will be working in my regular job (a bookstore) till January. We will see what time might bring
BSS: 11th! not many weeks left!
Anxiousgirl: Thank you! You own journal have been a great help.


Guess who got a lot of praise today from her dentist because she has been so good at dealing with her dental fear. Lol Told my regular dentist that I did no longer have any dental fear when seeing him, these last two times, I have never been so relaxed in the chair for what? I can’t remember for how many years… I can feel it in my stomach the night before and before we start the treatment, but that is more a normal thing. He told me that he have had many pt who have tried what I have done, to really face the fear, but have not managed it, they give up and disappear. He was proud of me

It has not been easy and sometimes I was on my way to give up (so in one way I do understand those who give up), but I can see that all the work have paid off now. My dentist was sure this would be a strength for me in my job.

Oh, and he wanted to try to give me a job on his dental clinic. It was not 100% for sure but he would try his best to make this work. I must admit I was in shock, he would hire me? But I got this dental fear thingy, what about those who are tougher than me?

So if I can only overcome this ortho braces thingy then everything would be perfect! This is the big thing... Yup yup!

[klobird]

You go girl!! That is exactly how I got my first job in the medical field many,many years ago--the first time I ever went to this doctor he offered me a job!! And now, even though we live in different cities, we still have a mutual respect and friendship--he calls me "scooter"--(well....ok so way back then our office went on an all day hike to the top of Mt. Elinor. I am very afraid of heights, so I slid on my butt from the very top halfway back down the mountain!--so there I got the nickname "scooter" and it stuck..!).

Wow--I think you have found your path!!! How cool is that, and who woulda thought? That's the way life is though--your just going along, and then all of the sudden things start moving in an unbelievable whole new direction!!
I really hope you do get a job with him--you will begin to wonder what you were ever afraid of! And you will be really good with the patients because you will understand where many of them are coming from--even when they don't show it..

Like I have said before--you should be so proud of yourself, and your accomplishments!! Keep going!!!

[AM21]

That's so wonderful, EbonyQ! Congrats! I hope that you get the job! You would def. be able to sympathize with the patients because you were in their shoes! I'm so proud of all that you have accomplished!!

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Oh wow Ebony, That's amazingly incredible news I am sooo happy for you wooo hooo, By the way on January the 12th, I go in. I go to the ortho she takes my sires out for a cleaning, no biggy, I head of to her friend for the cleaning and exam, then I go back over to the orth and she does the whole adjustment on me for that month.

That's AMAZING that he would offer you a job. I would die because aside from being a surgeon my dream job (like while I was in college) would be to work at my orthodontist office. But I honestly think the chances of that are slim I mean especially since she did my braces for free since I knew the contractor who built her office, so after having done 9-12 grand braces for free i doubt she'd hire me too and pay me as a part time job. But Oh how I wish I really really wish. I LOVE everyone there and they said "Everyone here loves Jenn" It would be a perfect fit for me considering orthodontics is like my 3rd choice on my list of careers. I do have another possible (wayy mofe possible than my orthodonitsts office) oppourtunity to work at a general/cosmetic dentist near her sort of so it is all good I suppose, you know? But I really would love to work with my orthodontist. My orthodontist know how smart I am about orthodontics,a nd she said I was scary because I knew too much. Like I said my ultimate goal iss to become a Surgeon but it is not like I can go out and while Im a junion in unergraduate school getting my bachelors i can go in the operating room and pass the scalpels it just isnt happening. So I figure I try to explore ortho, ya know for now and who knows maybe theres a chance I can't be a surgeon you never know you always have to be preapred in case something doesnt work out. I'd like to get my feet wet you know? But yeah, so that my goal and I think it is AMAZING that yours had asked you. I would be totaly ecstatic and super happy if mine ever asked me. You are a brave young soldier you know, doing this and I cannot commend you enough for that I think it's amazing nad you're appointment like I said above is the day before mine and you know what you will reap tears of joy when you get those puppies on. If you ahve anxiety that you cannot explain the day before or the night before braces don't worry it is REALLY normal and usually means your soo excited it becomes nervous but you'll be perfectly fine

[EbonyQ]

I’m actually having a bit of a dilemma here.

My bracing date is in January 11th but I have just signed up for a local anesthesia course in dentistry which is 11,, 12 and 13. This is a course that will teach me how to give pt la = we will have to practice on each other.
This will be uncomfortable enough even without newly braced teeth. So putting braces on top of that does not sound very tempting.
So I wonder if I should move my bracing date, or just keep it. We are going out to eat the day after my bracing date (12th). Eating with a numbed mouth and new braces? How can I keep my dignity?

So my emotional side is saying:
YES!! Cancel!! Cancel! Use this opportunity to RUN!! Go! Go! Go!

My sensible side is saying:
You have set this date as the bracing date, if you cancel this you might cancel the other one too, like you used to before. Your ortho has given you the last appointment of the day, you might not get this on another day because it will be the old grumpy assistant who will give you the appointment, not the ortho himself.


Hmmm, what to do?

[klobird]

Hey Eb--

The day I had 4 fillings put in, and my mouth was numb, and I was really spacey due to 4 hrs of nitrous, I stopped by the orth to put more $$$ on my account. I was not due to have braces for another 3 weeks or so...well, they said that their schedule had taken a major change and how would I like spacers that day, and braces 3 days later? I wanted to get started so bad so I went ahead with it. On the day of my actual bracing, I went to a planned retirement dinner. It was fine and a great learning experience. It all works out somehow. Anyway, that's why I call my blog "OK, this was not the plan".

What I guess I'm saying is that you need to really figure out how bad you really want this. I know that it's hard for you, but I think you would feel better if you make a final decision for yourself and just follow that decision completely. Remember, no one can make this choice for you but you, but there will probably always be something coming up on or around the day of your actual bracing. That's just life, and it's pretty unavoidable....

That said, whatever you do is just fine!! It's your life, your choices and whatever you decide is cool. We all have to take life at our own pace, and forget about what other people think about it...and I will support you no matter what!!

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Hey Ebony I had something similar Happen I had something super important school to do (a test) and I had an ortho appointment. I called and rescheduled it until midterms were over which was a week later. Just call the office and schedule it for after the 13th Im sure the ortho would be totally cool with that. He sounds awesome. I know what you mean about not wanting the braces on for the course, I felt that way getting braces the first week of my second and last year at my school.

You can do it just call them up and tell them "Hi this Ebony (if this be your first name), I have three very important classes on January 11, 12 and 13th can we reschedule this for after that?" They should be perfectly fine to do that. I've had to reschedule twice, one time of which I had to schedule back LOL

[catgyrl]

I'm sort of in agreement with klobird on this one. I think you really have to think about how badly you want to do this. I know that when I have high anxiety about doing something, I will do anything possible to put it off as much as possible (even though I don't really MEAN to put it off...) I think your orthodontist has been SUPER-accommodating with your situation, and it may be best to just make a decision and get it over with (if you decide to proceed with braces). The more you keep postponing it, the more anxious you may feel, and it will be a never-ending cycle. Rescheduling a routine adjustment is one thing... but rescheduling an actual bracing appointment, after all of the other appointments you've had and then rescheduled is different (in my eyes). Those bracing appointments take up a good chunk of time.

However, after all is said and done... it is YOUR decision, and we will all support you in whatever you decide. Like klobird, I didn't have much time to decide with mine, too, and that was a good thing! I didn't have time to get nervous or back out. I'd already spent almost $300 on images and impressions. I wasn't letting those go to waste. LOL!

Good luck to you, sweetie!

[crooked rory]

I would go ahead and keep the appontment. Just think, if things are hurting from it you will have classmates doing local anesthesia, eliminating pain. See, there is a silver lining for you. I kind of wish I had that oppurtunity on day 2 and 3.

[catgyrl]

I would go ahead and keep the appontment. Just think, if things are hurting from it you will have classmates doing local anesthesia, eliminating pain. See, there is a silver lining for you. I kind of wish I had that oppurtunity on day 2 and 3.

Hey, that never even occurred to me! That's a GREAT idea! Just run on in there after getting your braces, and volunteer to be the first patient. "Shoot me up!!"