Garlic Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 [:(]Ok, can anybody help me, I'm looking for a dentist preferably in Tarn, Aude, Herault but I'll consider anywhere sort of. The problem is I'm quite seriously scared of dentists (please don't laugh I'm not scared of spiders!) this is a real problem and not the same as not liking the dentist. In England I would be able to look for a dentist who specialises in 'very anxious' patients, but I'm finding it impossible here partly I think because dentists can't advertise. The nearest dentist I have found so far is in Barcelona and much as I like Barcelona it is just a bit too far to go. So if you think your dentist might be helpful could you pass on details by pm or if you're visiting your dentist would you ask if they know of anyone. My French isn't terrible but an English speaker would probably help in terms of my ability to explain the complexity of my problem. I'm writing to dentists that I grab out of the annuaire and sending them a stamp so that they can reply but not having any luck so far. I'm going to post this on other forums so apologies if you end up reading this more than once.Thanks in advance[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Head Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 Hey Garlic I know where you're coming from!I had the same problem following a nasty experience in the dim and distant past. I'm four visits into my treatment now and I've beaten my fear. I think dentistry has moved on somewhat from the murky old days, I haven't had the slightest bit of pain. Have you seen your Doctor and explained the problem? He may well know of somebody who can help you out. Just take it step by step. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garlic Posted December 6, 2006 Author Share Posted December 6, 2006 Thanks Chris,Funnily enough I was sort of getting over my fear with my English dentist some years ago and then I had a baby kicking a tooth incident and went to see the local dentist here. I told him I was scared of dentists and he with that gallic shug said 'c'est normal' proceded to torture me (in my mind at least) with the end result that I left the chair in tears without the treatment and haven't been back since. He wasn't old or nasty either, I think it's me that has the problem or rather I need a dentist who understands the difference between 'peur c'est normal' and very scared.I probably ought to see my doctor but I'm quite good at finding excuses to avoid talking about dentists[:)] I feel a lot better 'coming out' rather than just sitting here with tooth ache feeling sorry for myself[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frizz Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 There is a really fantastic English speaking dentist in Bergerac. Her name is Anne Boitier (if you put that into google her details will appear as I seem to have mislaid the number). She was great with my OH who is totally phobic.Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garlic Posted December 6, 2006 Author Share Posted December 6, 2006 Thanks Frizz,I just get a geographer Boitier when I google. As I understand it dentists here aren't allowed to advertise? I'll keep on trying and please everyone keep them coming. I don't expect it to be easy but I will find someone one day[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirpy Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 I ASKED FOR ENGLISH SPEAKING DENTIST AT MY TOURIST INFO.OFFICE AND AM VERY HAPPY.I DID TELL MY DOCTER MY BIGGEST FEAR WAS DENTISTS AS I COULD NOT SPEAK MUCH FRENCH BUT HE SAID NOT TO WOORY AS IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO TALK BUT OLY TO OUVREZ LA BUCHE (OPEN YOUR MOUTH)THAT IS A TRUE STORY.IF YOU LIKE A JOKE THEN A LADY TOLD HER DENTIST SHE WOULD RATHER HAVE A BABY THAN A TOOTH EXTACTION AND HE REPLIED -MAKE YOUR MIND UP MADAM AS IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE TO THE POSITION OF THE CHAIR. [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
le val charente Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 Good joke!My 7 year old needs a filling, but on her first trip to a French dentist was too scared to let him do the work - he only started fiddling with drill attachments and without any drilling noises, she was practically out of the chair... and they don't seem to give injections either! He shrugged and gave us a number of a lady who is p/t based at our local hospital in the Charente and specialises in anxious children. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 I am also frightened of dentists. What I used to hate here was that one filling would take several visits. I would be told that they would do a little just until it 'hurt' and then they would put a pansement on the work and then I would have to go back and back and back until it was done. I was a nervous wreck with this. And I could never convince any dentist to do it any other way. Eventually, and I mean it took me years and years to find my wonderful dentist, who understands that I once I have my courage up to go he will do as much as possible and get a filling filled if he possibly can. Now this system of a little at a time with least possible pain may suite some people, but it didn't suite me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 I don't think it would suit me, either! Mind you, my dentist likes long sessions with lashings of anaesthetic, to which I invariably have a reaction which leaves me feeling rotten for a couple of days, so that isn't too brilliant.And I've got toothache at the moment... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 Hoping this won't panic you nervous people, but there was a discussion on another forum about the fact that some french dentists don't automatically give pain killing injections pre treatment. Perhaps the french are more stoical about pain, or the dentist doesn't want to waste the time. So to be on the safe side ask for an injection if you need one. Pat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 I am appalled to read about dentists who don't give injections!!! Having said that, I have heard something similar from a (Fench) friend who just changed her dentist since he (Roumanian, although that is probably neither here not there!) did not seem to believe in injections and would even make jokes about it. I did find it hard to believe because my experience of dentists here in France has been totally different - and I am a dentist-phobic too, to the point that I seem to only go to the dentist once every 14 years....Before I left the UK in 2001 I finally managed to get a dental appointment (it took months of research and negotiations, since there were none who were taking new patients, even private ones!) - and had a whole lot of dental work done in one session. When I got to France, one of the teeth treated broke... I ended up going to a strongly recommended dentist who turned out to be completely magic... he had fabulous equipment, was extremely gentle and patient and fast, and the pain-killing injections were completely painless - and worked a treat. Over a period of months, he had to re-do ALL the dental work I had had done in the UK, since there had been much patching up over what needed root canal treatment etc... So naturally, I assumed that all French dentists are that good!!! Now it seems that they can vary enormously.... and I have to find another dentist too... even though the 14 years are not up yet!!! YUK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 Any chance you could name your fabulous dentist in the Languedoc - I have a hubby with the same phobia and he is bound to need help sometime soon!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 Very glad to share him, Judith:Dr. Pierre Santonja, 265 av Etats du Languedoc, 34000 Montpellier. Tel 04 67 65 51 11However, I have not seen him for 3 years now. And the last time I went, he seemed to me to be preoccupied and not 100% there, I wonder if perhaps he was having some marital problems or difficulties with the receptionist who was quite useless, uncharacteristically. I also have to add that he works from the 18th floor of an office tower in the middle of Montpellier (shopping centre Polygone) by place de la Comedie. If your husband is also, like myself, afraid of heights and of lifts, (well, these phobias often run together, don't they?) then it can be a challenge...It is now too far for me to go to him, which is why I no longer have a dentist![:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garlic Posted December 7, 2006 Author Share Posted December 7, 2006 I truely would rather have a baby than visit the dentist, however I'm getting to old to have babies and the visit to the dentist is inevitable[:(] for anybody who is interested there are annuaires of dentists http://www.annuairedentaire.com/ and http://www.annuaire.chirurgiens-dentistes.fr/recherche.html and I'm gradually working my way through them the problems are that they don't have email, they don't answer letters and if I phone they seem to make an assuption that being scared of the dentist is normal but so far I haven't found one with the skills to understand and treat that 'not normal scaredness' (probably to do with limitations of language) Hence looking for other peoples experiences, so keep thinking I am determined to get my mouth sorted out before next xmas[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 [quote user="5-element"] If your husband is also, like myself, afraid of heights and of lifts, (well, these phobias often run together, don't they?) then it can be a challenge... [/quote]Fortunately I think it's only a dentist phobia he has - but he is likely to think Montpellier too far from Narbonne - even though Monpellier is definitely nearer than coming back to London to his "old" dentist! It's always useful to have recommendations however, so it will be kept on file!Hope you do find one to suit you soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 Garlic if you are really that phobic, why don't you have some hypnotherapy. You can get it done in France and if a psychatrist does it (some do), then the reimbursements are not bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garlic Posted December 7, 2006 Author Share Posted December 7, 2006 TU Thanks do you know how I'd go about getting it and does it actually work? I wrote to a French medical site and they recommended finding a dentist who practised hypnotherapy but I don't have a clue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 Garlic, How sympathetic is your Doctor ? Do you think he would prescribe a tranquilizer of some sort ? (but if you do that you MUST tell the dentist) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSA Aude Posted December 10, 2006 Share Posted December 10, 2006 Garlic - I've pm'd you re above Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 We had a fantastic dentist in Bristol before we moved over. If he had to give an injection you didn't feel it. The first thing he used to do with me was to check my leg length. He worked on the principle that if your leg length was not the same your hips were out of alignrement. That meant your back was not aligned and would pull your shoulders, pulling your neck. That would pull your jaw which would mean that he could not do any work and adjustments on your teeth because it would be incorrect. I really am being serious! He knew how to put the hip allignment right, then he would work n your teeth. He also cured horrible long time sinus headaches with a simple adjustment to my teeth. After several years of this and that specialist he stopped the headaches in 5 minutes...He is a marvelous bloke. If what he was doing wasn't 100% right it was totally wrong. The biggest problem I had with him was that we became friends. Both he and I love good beer and a joke. he used to tell me if he had found any good new, to him, beer. But he also used to tell me some very funny jokes and with a mouth full of dentist it is VERY difficult to laugh!!!We have also found a good dentist near here. Recomended to us by a friend who had an horrific accident to his teeth a long time ago. Perhapse he doesn't chech the leg length, but he seens to care what is happening on a much wider scale than pulling and filling teeth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 And when one french dentist did all that to me, I was horrified. His prognosis was that I would end up with a slight hump on my back, walk with a limp and go blind in one eye. And no wonder I was in pain because my legs weren't lined up................. So I fled, I mean fled in a panic imagining that I was going to look like Quasimodo in several years time. Aftewards, when I had calmed down a bit, I decided that it was rollocks and 15 years later I am not limping, can still see properly and have no hump on my back. I found a stomatologue who diagnosed the problem properly and accupuncture sorts it out when it flairs up. Dentists touching my feet and legs.......... never again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissie Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Have PM'd you.Chrissie (81) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 I too had a bad experience in a dentists chair in my schooldays. Ended up in hospital heamoraging. It has left me with a fear I still have today. It's a strange fact that a dentist on seeing a big bloke walk into his surgery, automatically assumes a high pain threshold. The sight of the patient lying in the chair with only his shoulders and the heals of his feet touching the chair should be a valuable clue.................don't you think.We have found a brilliant guy in Chef Boutonne (86) who I actually enjoy visiting. The fact that the road to Chef Boutonne is a brilliant road for bikes may have something to do with it, ofcourse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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