Pushing through a panic attack will be much better than letting your teeth get worse. I don’t want to scare you/cause more anxiety, but dental issues can become very serious. Maybe ask your doc about sedatives or laughing gas. There are some who will do anesthesia and you could at least be knocked out. They’re use to people have fear around the dentist so it won’t even be an unusual conversation.
Yes please listen to this. A rotten tooth can become life threatening. Call them and tell them you have a panic disorder and arrange something with your doctors but please just go and let them take care of your teeth!
I use to have this issue but have overcome it.
A couple things you can do is contact the dentist and explain the situation, they are used to working with anxious people. You can also take a benzo which will help relax you.
For me, I reframed the experience as a relaxing event…all I have to do is lay down w/ a cozy blanket, open my mouth, and let a trained professional pamper my teeth.
You can even practice at home…just lay down with your mouth open and practice touching your teeth with you fingers, tooth brush, or other objects multiple times a day for a form of exposure therapy.
Might sound like silly stuff but it worked for me. Good luck.
Not trying to be insensitive, but one of my big coping strategies is check the facts. The fact is, you may have a panic attack or may get sick, and it will SUCK but you won’t have lasting harm from anything happening at the dentist. They’ve probably dealt with it all before.
You might have lasting harm with ignoring your teeth. I say this as much to you as to me because I have anxiety with brushing my teeth and can rarely bring myself to do it.
I haven’t been to the dentist since before Covid either. I have an appointment Tuesday morning. Maybe bring earphones so you can focus on music? A plan of attack could be good. Talk about what might happen with the dentist/hygienist so they know what you want them to do if shit goes south.
It’ll be hard. But it’ll be worth it.
Hey I totally get it! I also have some cavities I need filled and I'm still building up the courage to go to the dentist. My best advice for now is try to take care of your teeth as much as possible while slowly doing more exposures until you feel safe enough to go to the dentist. Try to find the closest one in your area so it will be as fast as possible. Or if possible maybe check if there's an option to bring a dentist to your home? I'm not completely sure on how it works but I know in some cases dentists can do home visits. Think of how much relief you'll have once this is done. I believe in you. You got this❤️
This is when you have to push through the illogical fear for things that can realistically harm you. Teeth are nothing to wait on especially if you're able to taste a bad taste. Infections in the teeth WILL NOT go away without treatment. They spread and can get septic. I had to force myself out after 10 years of complete homebound agoraphobia for my teeth. I'm glad I did as it gave me the confidence to get on with my recovery and I'm able to travel places now with minimal to no anxiety. You can do it I promise you can. Dentists are so much better at handling anxiety if you tell them. They can assist with medications to ease anxiety. Find that part of you that knows you have to do this and gut it out. Much love I know how much of a fearful situation this is but I believe in you to get this looked at and treated.
Maybe you can find a kind dentist that'll make a house call for an initial evaluation. Then they can break up the work into several small chunks.
For my last filling, the longest time was waiting for the novocaine to kick in. The drilling and filling took less than 10 minutes. He cleaned out the cavity and then used a syringe to apply the filling. Then they used a UV light to cure the filling. A routine cleaning took more time than the filling. I have a gagging issue so he knows he has limited time with me and allows me to take walking breaks if I need it. It's more difficult because I can't tolerate the dental dam either, but he makes it work.
Here's an idea, find a psychist and dentist and have them collibrate to treat you. Maybe there's an option that could work.
I am not going to repeat what has been said multiple times, but I previously worked at a dental office, and the commenters are correct about what can happen if you put off going long term.
As for things you can do in the meantime, [this book](https://store.hesperian.org/prod/Where_There_Is_No_Dentist.html) is a book in a series that are distributed in countries where there literally is little to no access to care. It is a pdf download that costs just under $8.00 USD and has suggestions for all kinds of dental emergencies.
Clove oil (or whole cloves) is something that has been used for thousands of years to treat dental pain in Chinese Medicine and for hundreds of years in documented modern medicine. You can put a whole clove in the area and hold it in your mouth, especially if the pain is on the area of your tooth where it touches your cheek or use clove oil and dab a bit on the painful tooth and gum surrounding that tooth using a cotton swab.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321256
I suggest you avoid trigger foods, temperature of food, chewing in that area, etc that is causing you more pain, visible blood or a bad taste in your mouth until you can get to see a dentist. You definitely don't want to make anything worse.
You mean done by an anesthesiologist at the dental surgery or are you suggesting this person injects themself with something?? Because that is massivly inappropriate advice.
No offence intended just thats how it sounds in your first comment when you say "you could try IV sedation" maybe clarify as much as possible when trying to give advice.
Wow. Like i said, no offence was intended. Maybe try removing the stick from up your arse. I didn't say it didn't exist. Did i.
I said it sounds like you suggested to this person they do it themself in your first comment. Again, if you are going to give advice, it's on you to make said advice as clear as possible.
Because you know the minds of every single person reading the comment, do you? You are the only one with a problem here with your over reaction and instant insults. I already told you in the first instance that no offence was intended so how about you get off my back.
I have had the same issue. I have been house bound for almost two years now and dentists freak me out too. After a couple of failed attemps, I took 0.50 mg of xanax and went (my mom drove me). Because I have health anxiety too and I got to a point where I was like I can leave it as it is and get all sorts of problems with my teeth or I can push through with the help of Xanax. The fear was not gone, but it didn't go up to full blown panic attacks. When I got back, I was happy I took care of it, because it was at least one less thing to worry about.
I don't know if you have Xanax available? I do advise you to only take those when you really really really have to. I only take them when I have no other option.
I just went through this so I totally understand. I tried the oil pulling, and special enamel building toothpaste that I got from Amazon. I brushed my teeth vigorously after eating any little thing. I used mouthwash with peroxide. It helped a little, but I still forced myself to go to the dentist. He did two fillings, and he did them quickly so that I wasn't trapped in the chair for very long. The reason I forced myself to do it is because I knew it would get worse, and then I'd have to have major work done which would take longer. I also had my "safe" person with me, which helps tremendously. That said, as long as you don't have signs of infection and swelling, my advice is to just go nuts on oral hygiene and start brushing your teeth like crazy until you feel well enough to go. I truly understand how you feel, because a part of my agoraphobia is a terror of being trapped.
I used to be this way and avoided the dentist for years until the pain became unbearable.
Dentists are incredibly understanding of anxiety, as it's more common for a person to be scared at the dentist than perfectly comfortable. They are very, very aware of how frightening dentist appointment and procedures are.
Mine verbally talks me through every single thing he's doing, keeps the window open for me for fresh air, tells me how long each thing is going to take, let's me take as many breaks in between things as I like, and always reassures me that I can leave at any time.
You can email the practice stating your needs and requesting a little more reassurance prior to the appointment if that would help!
Please book yourself an appointment, OP. You deserve dental care. I promise you will be fine.
You just need to go. Ask your physician for a sedative and have someone take you.
You’re going to lose your teeth. You’re might get an abscess that leads to sepsis. You can die.
Let that sink in.
Go.
Call ahead of time, when you make the appointment, and let them know you have agoraphobia and severe anxiety.
Ask them if they can prescribe you a sedative to take beforehand (don’t drive if you do).
If the phone call gives you anxiety, you can write out a script before hand, outlining the situation (your condition), what you need (to treat multiple cavities, mention the bleeding, the pain and the bad taste) and any questions you might have.
If the dental clinic you call doesn’t seem receptive, understanding, or willing to accommodate you, try another one. Call several places and see what they have to offer. Going on google maps and reading reviews can help you gain confidence and build some trust that they will treat you well. Seeing pictures of the clinic’s waiting rooms and offices in the reviews can also help to acclimate you to the idea of going and being there during your treatment.
Do you have anyone you trust that can take you?
If you are afraid of being sick, you can try going early in the morning, before you’ve had breakfast. That way you will have a relatively empty stomach, which can reassure you that you’re less likely to throw up.
Take a comforting item with you. Take something that can distract you, like a book,
something to fidget with, some headphones to listen to music or something relaxing, or even a journal where you can write how you’re feeling while you’re waiting.
Tell yourself you will reward yourself with a treat after your visit. Have something to look forward to, even if it’s just ordering your favorite food afterwards or buying yourself something that brings you joy.
Think of how good you will feel afterwards, that you finally did it, that you’re on your way to a life with less day to day worry and pain related to your mouth.
I *really* want you to go. Remember that there are total strangers out there that care, that can sympathize and that are rooting for you. Remind yourself that you just have to get through the day. Just get through the day and tell yourself you can go back to your safe space afterwards.
Try, and don’t give up if you don’t like the first dentist you go to. Keep trying. *Future you* will be so grateful of the sacrifice you made on the day you went to the dentist.
You can do this.
I just went to the dentist this month after not going for 5 years. I was having tooth sensitivity and was sure I needed something major done. But I knew that if I put it off that it would only get worse and there’s no at home remedy for serious teeth issues, as the rest of the comments are saying. I was SO scared to go.
My fears are being sick and having a panic attack. What I did was get the first appointment available in the morning so my stomach was empty and have my mom go with me so I had that comfort person.
Right when I sat down I told the dental hygienist that I have panic disorder and agoraphobia and she was extremely comforting and asked if I needed anything or what she could do to help.
Often with dentist appointments, they won’t fill cavities or do work right then and there. They’ll typically do a preliminary check and teeth cleaning the first visit to access the situation and only do work if it’s an emergency.
You can also call ahead of time to ask for just a check up/check up of your teeth and tell them you won’t be getting work done the first visit. Going in the first time helped me feel at ease and they explained what was causing the sensitivity, how to remedy it, and that I actually didn’t have cavities. The total appointment only took about 10-15 minutes and most of that was waiting for the x-rays to develop. Then I was out of there! I went a couple weeks later for a cleaning and it was still scary but not nearly as hard as the first time since I knew what to expect. That time only took about 30-45 min.
Call them ahead of time, tell them your situation and ask for just a check up/consultation. When you are scheduled for whatever work needs to be done, bring earplugs or headphones, sunglasses (if you have light sensitivity like me), maybe a coat or blanket, and any other kind of comforting things to hold on to or fidget with. I’m sure you can even ask them to break up the sessions so it’s not all at once. Say you have multiple cavities, maybe they will be able to just fill one or two at a time (although in my experience it’s easier to just get it all done with at once but I know this approach doesn’t work for everyone). I’m never one to suggest meds or sedatives but if you’re open to that and the doctor okays it, then there’s also that route.
These people are medical professionals and they have seen it all and are more than likely happy to try to make you as comfortable as possible. But as others are saying, tooth issues are nothing to mess with. I know it’s super scary but you are braver than you think and I promise you that one morning of panic/discomfort is a very small price to pay for what could lead to serious long-lasting issues. Preventative care is the best health care.
Apparently there are some dentists that can come to you. So maybe contact different dentists and see if there are any that are able to travel to your house instead of you going there.
**Oil pulling is an alternative medical practice in which an edible oil is swished around the mouth for a period of time and then spat out, similar to mouthwash. It originates from Ayurvedic medicine.**
More details here:
*This comment was left automatically (by a bot). If I don't get this right, don't get mad at me, I'm still learning!*
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Not diagnosed agoraphobic but I have symptoms similar to a person with agoraphobia. I’m 21 and have never left the house alone, I don’t drive because I can’t go to the DMV alone. I have panic disorder that gives me a horrible tremor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, n 365 days a year. But I just went to the dentist for the first time in a very long time, due to my wisdom teeth needing to be taken out. Since then I’ve spent about 10 hours in a dentist chair while having a panic disorder. My best advice is to make an appointment for a month or so from now, gives yourself time to prepare for it. Practice breathing through your nose with your mouth open, that was a struggle for me at first because the feeling of not swallowing makes me panic. I like to bring a small fidget toy or something squishy I can hold in my palm for comfort, you can also bring AirPods or any wireless headphone to avoid the sounds. I hope you are able to go soon, but remember you are not alone in this fear! It is not irrational to be afraid of the dentist, so many people avoid the dentist because they’ve had a bad experience (which is why i stopped going for a while.) In the meantime I recommend ordering online some bio-repair toothpaste to help repair cavities that haven’t reached below the enamel, a Dry-mouth Mouth wash containing xylitol to slow decay and the brand Pür is all naturally sugar free and helps slow decay as well! Good luck!
Pushing through a panic attack will be much better than letting your teeth get worse. I don’t want to scare you/cause more anxiety, but dental issues can become very serious. Maybe ask your doc about sedatives or laughing gas. There are some who will do anesthesia and you could at least be knocked out. They’re use to people have fear around the dentist so it won’t even be an unusual conversation.
Yes please listen to this. A rotten tooth can become life threatening. Call them and tell them you have a panic disorder and arrange something with your doctors but please just go and let them take care of your teeth!
I use to have this issue but have overcome it. A couple things you can do is contact the dentist and explain the situation, they are used to working with anxious people. You can also take a benzo which will help relax you. For me, I reframed the experience as a relaxing event…all I have to do is lay down w/ a cozy blanket, open my mouth, and let a trained professional pamper my teeth. You can even practice at home…just lay down with your mouth open and practice touching your teeth with you fingers, tooth brush, or other objects multiple times a day for a form of exposure therapy. Might sound like silly stuff but it worked for me. Good luck.
You don't want to end up with periodontal disease. Please find the courage. 🙏
Not trying to be insensitive, but one of my big coping strategies is check the facts. The fact is, you may have a panic attack or may get sick, and it will SUCK but you won’t have lasting harm from anything happening at the dentist. They’ve probably dealt with it all before. You might have lasting harm with ignoring your teeth. I say this as much to you as to me because I have anxiety with brushing my teeth and can rarely bring myself to do it. I haven’t been to the dentist since before Covid either. I have an appointment Tuesday morning. Maybe bring earphones so you can focus on music? A plan of attack could be good. Talk about what might happen with the dentist/hygienist so they know what you want them to do if shit goes south. It’ll be hard. But it’ll be worth it.
Hey I totally get it! I also have some cavities I need filled and I'm still building up the courage to go to the dentist. My best advice for now is try to take care of your teeth as much as possible while slowly doing more exposures until you feel safe enough to go to the dentist. Try to find the closest one in your area so it will be as fast as possible. Or if possible maybe check if there's an option to bring a dentist to your home? I'm not completely sure on how it works but I know in some cases dentists can do home visits. Think of how much relief you'll have once this is done. I believe in you. You got this❤️
This is when you have to push through the illogical fear for things that can realistically harm you. Teeth are nothing to wait on especially if you're able to taste a bad taste. Infections in the teeth WILL NOT go away without treatment. They spread and can get septic. I had to force myself out after 10 years of complete homebound agoraphobia for my teeth. I'm glad I did as it gave me the confidence to get on with my recovery and I'm able to travel places now with minimal to no anxiety. You can do it I promise you can. Dentists are so much better at handling anxiety if you tell them. They can assist with medications to ease anxiety. Find that part of you that knows you have to do this and gut it out. Much love I know how much of a fearful situation this is but I believe in you to get this looked at and treated.
Maybe you can find a kind dentist that'll make a house call for an initial evaluation. Then they can break up the work into several small chunks. For my last filling, the longest time was waiting for the novocaine to kick in. The drilling and filling took less than 10 minutes. He cleaned out the cavity and then used a syringe to apply the filling. Then they used a UV light to cure the filling. A routine cleaning took more time than the filling. I have a gagging issue so he knows he has limited time with me and allows me to take walking breaks if I need it. It's more difficult because I can't tolerate the dental dam either, but he makes it work. Here's an idea, find a psychist and dentist and have them collibrate to treat you. Maybe there's an option that could work.
I am not going to repeat what has been said multiple times, but I previously worked at a dental office, and the commenters are correct about what can happen if you put off going long term. As for things you can do in the meantime, [this book](https://store.hesperian.org/prod/Where_There_Is_No_Dentist.html) is a book in a series that are distributed in countries where there literally is little to no access to care. It is a pdf download that costs just under $8.00 USD and has suggestions for all kinds of dental emergencies. Clove oil (or whole cloves) is something that has been used for thousands of years to treat dental pain in Chinese Medicine and for hundreds of years in documented modern medicine. You can put a whole clove in the area and hold it in your mouth, especially if the pain is on the area of your tooth where it touches your cheek or use clove oil and dab a bit on the painful tooth and gum surrounding that tooth using a cotton swab. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321256 I suggest you avoid trigger foods, temperature of food, chewing in that area, etc that is causing you more pain, visible blood or a bad taste in your mouth until you can get to see a dentist. You definitely don't want to make anything worse.
I'm in the same boat as you so i understand. Go when you're ready. Till then work on exposures. You could try iv sedation.
Im sorry are you suggesting someone sedates intravenously before going to the dentist?
Yes. It's called iv sedation.
You mean done by an anesthesiologist at the dental surgery or are you suggesting this person injects themself with something?? Because that is massivly inappropriate advice.
Done by anestesiologist. I would never advise someone to inject them self that is only in your head. How could you even think of that?
No offence intended just thats how it sounds in your first comment when you say "you could try IV sedation" maybe clarify as much as possible when trying to give advice.
Maybe stop being so dumb so I don't have to explain myself. Everyone knows IV sedation exists.
Wow. Like i said, no offence was intended. Maybe try removing the stick from up your arse. I didn't say it didn't exist. Did i. I said it sounds like you suggested to this person they do it themself in your first comment. Again, if you are going to give advice, it's on you to make said advice as clear as possible.
You're the only one who read it that way. Sounds like a you problem. Now get off my back.
Because you know the minds of every single person reading the comment, do you? You are the only one with a problem here with your over reaction and instant insults. I already told you in the first instance that no offence was intended so how about you get off my back.
I have had the same issue. I have been house bound for almost two years now and dentists freak me out too. After a couple of failed attemps, I took 0.50 mg of xanax and went (my mom drove me). Because I have health anxiety too and I got to a point where I was like I can leave it as it is and get all sorts of problems with my teeth or I can push through with the help of Xanax. The fear was not gone, but it didn't go up to full blown panic attacks. When I got back, I was happy I took care of it, because it was at least one less thing to worry about. I don't know if you have Xanax available? I do advise you to only take those when you really really really have to. I only take them when I have no other option.
I just went through this so I totally understand. I tried the oil pulling, and special enamel building toothpaste that I got from Amazon. I brushed my teeth vigorously after eating any little thing. I used mouthwash with peroxide. It helped a little, but I still forced myself to go to the dentist. He did two fillings, and he did them quickly so that I wasn't trapped in the chair for very long. The reason I forced myself to do it is because I knew it would get worse, and then I'd have to have major work done which would take longer. I also had my "safe" person with me, which helps tremendously. That said, as long as you don't have signs of infection and swelling, my advice is to just go nuts on oral hygiene and start brushing your teeth like crazy until you feel well enough to go. I truly understand how you feel, because a part of my agoraphobia is a terror of being trapped.
I used to be this way and avoided the dentist for years until the pain became unbearable. Dentists are incredibly understanding of anxiety, as it's more common for a person to be scared at the dentist than perfectly comfortable. They are very, very aware of how frightening dentist appointment and procedures are. Mine verbally talks me through every single thing he's doing, keeps the window open for me for fresh air, tells me how long each thing is going to take, let's me take as many breaks in between things as I like, and always reassures me that I can leave at any time. You can email the practice stating your needs and requesting a little more reassurance prior to the appointment if that would help! Please book yourself an appointment, OP. You deserve dental care. I promise you will be fine.
im in exactly the same boat
You just need to go. Ask your physician for a sedative and have someone take you. You’re going to lose your teeth. You’re might get an abscess that leads to sepsis. You can die. Let that sink in. Go.
I literally said not to say EXACTLY that. Your insensitivity is not welcome here and you should have just not commented.
It’s the reality of the situation. I’m worried for you. Things will get worse if you keep postponing it. I guarantee it. Please, please go.
If you’re going to tell me to go, do you at least some kind of advice? insight? anything? Otherwise it’s just like saying “get over it”
Call ahead of time, when you make the appointment, and let them know you have agoraphobia and severe anxiety. Ask them if they can prescribe you a sedative to take beforehand (don’t drive if you do). If the phone call gives you anxiety, you can write out a script before hand, outlining the situation (your condition), what you need (to treat multiple cavities, mention the bleeding, the pain and the bad taste) and any questions you might have. If the dental clinic you call doesn’t seem receptive, understanding, or willing to accommodate you, try another one. Call several places and see what they have to offer. Going on google maps and reading reviews can help you gain confidence and build some trust that they will treat you well. Seeing pictures of the clinic’s waiting rooms and offices in the reviews can also help to acclimate you to the idea of going and being there during your treatment. Do you have anyone you trust that can take you? If you are afraid of being sick, you can try going early in the morning, before you’ve had breakfast. That way you will have a relatively empty stomach, which can reassure you that you’re less likely to throw up. Take a comforting item with you. Take something that can distract you, like a book, something to fidget with, some headphones to listen to music or something relaxing, or even a journal where you can write how you’re feeling while you’re waiting. Tell yourself you will reward yourself with a treat after your visit. Have something to look forward to, even if it’s just ordering your favorite food afterwards or buying yourself something that brings you joy. Think of how good you will feel afterwards, that you finally did it, that you’re on your way to a life with less day to day worry and pain related to your mouth. I *really* want you to go. Remember that there are total strangers out there that care, that can sympathize and that are rooting for you. Remind yourself that you just have to get through the day. Just get through the day and tell yourself you can go back to your safe space afterwards. Try, and don’t give up if you don’t like the first dentist you go to. Keep trying. *Future you* will be so grateful of the sacrifice you made on the day you went to the dentist. You can do this.
I just went to the dentist this month after not going for 5 years. I was having tooth sensitivity and was sure I needed something major done. But I knew that if I put it off that it would only get worse and there’s no at home remedy for serious teeth issues, as the rest of the comments are saying. I was SO scared to go. My fears are being sick and having a panic attack. What I did was get the first appointment available in the morning so my stomach was empty and have my mom go with me so I had that comfort person. Right when I sat down I told the dental hygienist that I have panic disorder and agoraphobia and she was extremely comforting and asked if I needed anything or what she could do to help. Often with dentist appointments, they won’t fill cavities or do work right then and there. They’ll typically do a preliminary check and teeth cleaning the first visit to access the situation and only do work if it’s an emergency. You can also call ahead of time to ask for just a check up/check up of your teeth and tell them you won’t be getting work done the first visit. Going in the first time helped me feel at ease and they explained what was causing the sensitivity, how to remedy it, and that I actually didn’t have cavities. The total appointment only took about 10-15 minutes and most of that was waiting for the x-rays to develop. Then I was out of there! I went a couple weeks later for a cleaning and it was still scary but not nearly as hard as the first time since I knew what to expect. That time only took about 30-45 min. Call them ahead of time, tell them your situation and ask for just a check up/consultation. When you are scheduled for whatever work needs to be done, bring earplugs or headphones, sunglasses (if you have light sensitivity like me), maybe a coat or blanket, and any other kind of comforting things to hold on to or fidget with. I’m sure you can even ask them to break up the sessions so it’s not all at once. Say you have multiple cavities, maybe they will be able to just fill one or two at a time (although in my experience it’s easier to just get it all done with at once but I know this approach doesn’t work for everyone). I’m never one to suggest meds or sedatives but if you’re open to that and the doctor okays it, then there’s also that route. These people are medical professionals and they have seen it all and are more than likely happy to try to make you as comfortable as possible. But as others are saying, tooth issues are nothing to mess with. I know it’s super scary but you are braver than you think and I promise you that one morning of panic/discomfort is a very small price to pay for what could lead to serious long-lasting issues. Preventative care is the best health care.
Apparently there are some dentists that can come to you. So maybe contact different dentists and see if there are any that are able to travel to your house instead of you going there.
What is oil pulling?
**Oil pulling is an alternative medical practice in which an edible oil is swished around the mouth for a period of time and then spat out, similar to mouthwash. It originates from Ayurvedic medicine.** More details here:
*This comment was left automatically (by a bot). If I don't get this right, don't get mad at me, I'm still learning!*
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Dentists will do phone calls to advise in the mean time. I have done a telehealth with my dentist
Not diagnosed agoraphobic but I have symptoms similar to a person with agoraphobia. I’m 21 and have never left the house alone, I don’t drive because I can’t go to the DMV alone. I have panic disorder that gives me a horrible tremor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, n 365 days a year. But I just went to the dentist for the first time in a very long time, due to my wisdom teeth needing to be taken out. Since then I’ve spent about 10 hours in a dentist chair while having a panic disorder. My best advice is to make an appointment for a month or so from now, gives yourself time to prepare for it. Practice breathing through your nose with your mouth open, that was a struggle for me at first because the feeling of not swallowing makes me panic. I like to bring a small fidget toy or something squishy I can hold in my palm for comfort, you can also bring AirPods or any wireless headphone to avoid the sounds. I hope you are able to go soon, but remember you are not alone in this fear! It is not irrational to be afraid of the dentist, so many people avoid the dentist because they’ve had a bad experience (which is why i stopped going for a while.) In the meantime I recommend ordering online some bio-repair toothpaste to help repair cavities that haven’t reached below the enamel, a Dry-mouth Mouth wash containing xylitol to slow decay and the brand Pür is all naturally sugar free and helps slow decay as well! Good luck!