This is my HUGEST issue and embarrassment. Pretty much the reason why I decided to join the obesity group. I actually did just go to the dentist and had to do a lot of sucking in and tucking to fit myself between the arms of the chair. May I add NEVER eat at The Outback. I have big problems with booths. I normally can get into them as long as I don't plan on moving, seeing the table, or breathing. But when I went to The Outback with my mother in law I couldn't even sgueeze myself in the seat to begin with. I wanted to just crawl into a hole and die when they led us back to the waiting area so we could wait for a table. But there are a lot of places I will avoid because I can't fit into a seat and plenty more things I can't do because I am over the weight limit. Exercise equipment has a weight limit! That is ironic. Not that you can find plus sized exercise clothes to work out in anyway.
Anyway. I am sure you can call around and see if you can find someone that can accommodate you or at least one with out arm rests and just leave any other possible problems for them to worry about.
I have a tendency to put things off. Thinking I will do them when I loose some weight. But when it comes to your health you just have to. As health care professionals they are should treat you.
If it helps, a separate embarrassing episode is when I went in for a lap. surgery and they told me that I was too fat. Their instruments didn't reach the place I was having operated on. I am still paying for that.

I agree with Betsuni, ring around dentists to find one who can accommodate you. In the meantime the best thing to do is keep good dental hygiene, brush and floss and wash with warm salt water after eating to avoid infection.

Now I am worried I might not fit in the dentist's chair next time i go. I have gained A LOT of weight since I have gone last. I can't fit into booths at restaurants either. But, I agree, call around to find a dentist that can accomidate you. I am sure you can find someone.

I hate going to certain places even though I'm down in weight. I last summer was sitting in a chair, one of those plastic summer lounging chairs and it broke and since then I have been scared about sitting in any chair due to my anxiety. I won't even go to church because I'm too scared to I'll break the bench. I would love to go, but too scared.

As others have stated I would just call around until you find someone that that accept you and accommodate your size! Best of luck hun!

I agree with everyone else. If that dentist won't try to accommodate you, find another who will. Fat people need teeth fixed too!

Embarrassing fat moment: In high school, I was sitting in an already wobbly chair. I went to scoot back and one of the legs collapsed. I feel straight on my ass. Hurt my pride more than anything. But, if you can't laugh at yourself, you have no right to laugh.

Oh man I broke one of those plastic chairs too. Now if we are hanging around outside I'll sit on the floor. Also broke a chair at the bank last week. I try not to let it bother me. I figure hating myself will just add to the problem. However, sometimes you need those embarrassments to fuel your ambition.

At the end of the day *they* are working for you, they are a business like any other and should do whatever they can to attract new customers. Asking about suitable chairs is just one of the questions you ask to find a good dentist. If their equipment is substandard that is their shame and their problem not yours. A significant part of the population is now fat, and they need to get with the times and cater for us.

I am so sorry to hear that you are having problems with going to the dentist.

Telling them your weight and then having them "No" must have been heartbreaking..

I would suggest asking if they have a The Bariatric dental chair. It is a fully functional dental chair suitable for all patient groups up to 1000lbs.


There are several dentist office that have this chair or something similar so you can ask them that instead of giving your weight and feeling humiliated or sad.

Again I am so sorry that this happened. I hope you get resolution soon.

Blessings!

I am the exact same way as ya'll!! I can't fit into booths, and my boyfriend LOVES sitting at booths, for the longest time we would go to restraunts and he would ask for a booth, and id try to secretly tell him i can't fit, and he couldn't catch on to what i was saying so id had to blare it out!! and he has done it almost everytime we go to restraunts!! i wish he'd remember. AND i can't fit on most rollicoster rides, everytime imm standing in line to ride a rollicoster, i keep thinking imm not guna fit, most of them i can't . and its so embarrassing because i can't even really fit in the line (where they have the metal bars thingys) and then when i get myself into the seat.. which i really don't get in there, the guy working there tries to push me in it!! and then another guy comes.. i had three guys tryna push a freaking bar over me one time.. and i kept sayin its fine... ugh. but when i do lose weight thats one of the first things i wanna do is ride rides!! and you know those swirly chairs at mcdonalds?? yea, those are my worst enimes.
and i can't fit in alota chairs... me to, with the plastic ones.
but i know what ya'll mean, and i hardly get embarrased.. but these issues are embarrassing.
In school i couldn't really fit into the desks. it was so embarrassing.
but I hope you find a dentist that will accomidate you! good luck to all of you!
oh, and i'mm gettin the lapband surgery sometime soon... i sure hope they can do it. now i'mm worried they won't be able to do it!

I miss roller coasters!!!! I knew not to even try. There is so many fun things we miss out on because of weight restrictions.

yea i know :( its sad. but hopefully by next year, i won't have these restrictions!!

I can't wait to just have my life back in general, to wear normal clothes again and to shop in normal stores, fit in normal chairs, it will happen though it will happen. I'm just being positive for myself.

I've never looked it up but perhaps dentist can make "house calls" or see you in a facility that can accomodate your weight. Congrats on the getting married and losing 20 is great! Keep it up!

Update- I called this dentist back and asked if they could refer me to someone who could accomidate my dental needs. Twenty minutes later the dentist himself called me back and told me to come in and he would do everything he could do to accomidate me. When i went in for my appt they had a special dentist chair with no arms and i was able to be taken care of. thank god! i hate being this big. cant wait to be a more normal size again!

also thank you so much for the great advice and support! its nice to have people who can relate to what i go through on a dialy basis. thanks again! :)