# Severe dental phobia... Help!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severe-dental-phobia-help/819790>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 17, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severe-dental-phobia-help/819790 "2018-08-17T15:51:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severe-dental-phobia-help/819790/21 "2018-08-20T13:19:13Z")

</div>

> [@Serenata67](#):
>
> I’m still rather sore; those extra shots in my jaw along with having to hold it open that long and lingering sensitivity to my tooth are still issues. But I can eat again. I’m going to make another appointment to deal with the lingering issues in my other tooth, too.

I find that NSAIDS (ibuprofen, Advil, etc.) don’t touch tooth and jaw pain, but Tylenol is **extremely** effective for it. 500mg totally knocks out any lingering pain from dental work. I often have pain for like, a week while a filling settles in (and it has happened with multiple dentists, so it isn’t the dentist), but I just take Tylenol every four hours, and the pain is gone.

Also, the dentist always props open my mouth with a wedge on the opposite side from the side being worked on, so I can relax my jaw muscles, and my mouth stays open. That way there’s no soreness from holding my mouth open. Ask about this the next time you are there.

Hope your other tooth is still salvageable, and mazel tov on making it through the appointment. You got lucky that this tooth was something simple, so maybe you’ll get lucky with the other tooth as well.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severe-dental-phobia-help/819790/22 "2018-08-20T13:23:06Z")

</div>

That feeling you get the moment after you successfully face your fears is absolutely divine.

Good job!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severe-dental-phobia-help/819790/23 "2018-08-20T14:36:24Z")

</div>

Great!! I’m so glad your procedure went ok and is OVER and it cost you less than you imagined, to boot!

I, too, have a “high tolerance” for Novocaine. I didn’t have to get any until I was in my late 20s, so I’m glad I didn’t really end up with a history of experiencing pain during dental work. My doc shot me up, she went in to do the work, I was like “HOLY SHIT STOP!!!” and she stopped and shot me up some more and it was all much better. Now I know to ask for extra.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severe-dental-phobia-help/819790.md?page=1)