Anxiety Support Group

I hope you are sitting down for this.

I had a broken socket after having a tooth extraction done, and it wasn't fixed until five days later, thus putting me into acute anxiety spikes, extreme pain, and then when the repair was done, I was able to sleep for the first time in three days.

Anxiety came with full force, and all I could do was the basics. I was given pain relievers that worked, and then the swelling went down, and after about three more days I was able to move around without grimacing/clenching/holding onto jaw.

Yes, anxiety can make it worse. However, when the sensitivity is as acute as it is, you can do some things to help reduce the impact. Takes a bit of work to find what works best for your pain.

Throbbing-blowing out air puffing the cheeks eases the tensed muscles.

Drumming - holding face in hands pushing on cheeks can ease the tensed muscles.

Hope this helps. I did find sitting up with towels on either side of my neck also helped me relax.

Best wishes. You are not alone.

Ye p i agree im a clencher and my teeth hurt too. Im so anxious though im afraid to go to the dentist due to my anxiety i dont want to have a panic attack in the chair.

The attack come on when i was waiting about 20-30 minutes for the crwon to be finished being made. I was nummed up but felt weird pains in my throat and jaw, i tried to tell myself its because my mouth was opned for so long iwth no break and that my muscles were tensing up, but it didn't help, lol.

I will try the advise on how to loosen up my muscles and see if that helps. Thank you.

Oy!!!!! I am a clencher and my dentist built me a mouth guard which I wear religiously. The clenching got worse and I ended up breaking some teeth. My dentist had to build a newer one to absolutely keep my teeth apart. He also showed me how to become conscious of my clenching during waking hours and how to relax at night before I fall asleep which is also when I practice other relaxation tecniques. However, I do not have any control once I fall asleep and clench enough that I also must sleep with an ice pack for my head as I get headaches from the clenching. My dentist says that clenching puts about 700 lbs of pressure on the teeth and that is why my teeth were breaking at the gumline.
Most of my teeth have been replaced and my dentist is wonderful.....very caring and very gentle. He also educates me about the various things that are happening in my mouth. I'm sad to see him retire in a few years.....Thank God he is training his son and they work side by side now.

Try using a mouth guard for a few weeks (they sell them at walmart) and see if it helps before you end up with a root canal that you might not have needed and save you tons of money to boot.
I hope a mouth guard is the answer for you.

Hi Lanaleo15,

If you still need work or for any other situation ask if the dentist can Rx to you Valium for when you get work done. Valium got me thru all the work I need it. Your so relax with it that you will not have time to think of getting anxious. I'm sorry I am of no help but just wanted to suggest the Valium for future visits. Good luck & I hope you feel better soon.

Try to find a dentist that puts you under. I have a big fear of the dentist now I go to a dentist that puts me under. I am not scared anymore. I don't know exactly what kind of dentist it is. I think it's a sedation dentist..