Dentists and Mental Health

asmkq

Hi all,

Due to my mental health my oral hygiene has really suffered and is causing me pain. Does anyone know if there are any dentists who specialise in patients with bad mental health? I am also terrified of the dentist and have had bad experiences in the past for judging me for my oral hygiene. I understand where they are coming from but from experience they do not understand people with really bad mental health and what it does.

I'm not sure there is such a thing but just thought I’d ask anyway, thanks all.

Jane315STARX

Hi I'm not sure what area you live in but maybe if you send a brief email to a couple in your local area describing what you have said here.Im sure you will find a kind,compassionate and helpful dentist willing to help and treat you.

asmkq

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/971689#Comment_971689

thanks for your advice

OverlyAnxious

I've had similar experiences with dentists unfortunately. My oral hygiene isn't too bad, but it's not good either, and I've needed work done for several years now which restricts what I can eat and obviously keeps getting worse over time. I made several attempts to access a couple of different dentists before covid but it was always much more than I could cope with, I never got further than the waiting room and I still have the same issues now. (Although in addition, I can't get out at all now so no longer any chance of treatment.)

There was a dental clinic near me that specialised in patients with special needs and disabilities though I can't remember what it was called now. It closed down during Covid any never reopened. But I'm wondering if there's anything like that near you? Despite presumably seeing many different types of people, they still didn't seem very understanding of my specific issues sadly.

Hopeless

There are community dental services which may help. I think the criteria is different depending where you live and you’d need a referral from someone medical

asmkq

thanks so much guys!

Jimm_Alumni

I think any good dentist would be happy for you to have a quick chat with them about why your oral hygiene may not be as good. They should understand that mental health struggles can mean self-neglect, including in oral hygiene. I hope you are able to find such a dentist, I'm pretty happy with mine as they're very understanding! It took some time to find a good one, mostly looking through reviews to see which seemed the most friendly in the area.

just4once

I too suffered for many many years until about eight years ago I met a friendly dentist that took time with me including just going in and talking to him at first not sitting in the treatment chair but just a chat the next visit I let him look inside my mouth and over the course of a couple of months he cured my dental anxiety and I managed to have all my teeth removed they were that bad and have dentures instead I was invited for implants a couple of years ago but decided not to go through with it as I am happy with what I have now speak to your doctor maybe they know what support is available for you good luck

just4once

asmkq

Thank you everyone for all of the kind advice! Luckily I found a dentist taking nhs patients which is like finding a needle in a haystack right now so I’m very grateful for that and second of all, I just took the plunge and went for it. Luckily I had a very understanding dentist which totally put my anxiety at ease. Truly overwhelmed with happiness that I finally have a dentist so understanding and kind as it was a huge fear of mine for so many years.

Rosie_Scope

Thanks for updating @asmkq, I'm really glad you got the treatment you needed. That's a huge step so you should be really proud of yourself for taking the plunge 😊

asmkq

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/980840#Comment_980840

thank you ☺️ I am