OMG, this is wonderful are you kidding, I hate the dentist too, but think of it you'll get your teeth cleaned and they'll be whiter and brighter and stay that way as you are an ex-smoker, not to mention all the "atta girl" you'll get from the Doc' in regards to quitting! Look at the positives your teeth will stay cleaner and your gums will get healthier!

You will do fine. Shell is right, your teeth will stay cleaner a whole lot longer not to mention the huge favor you do to your gums by not smoking. I'm normally a pretty tough cookie with a high pain threshold but I'm a total wimp when it comes to going to the dentist. It's unfounded since today's dentists believe in painless dentistry. Heck I even get nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to get my teeth cleaned and I go with my ipod and some great music so I can totally zone out when work is being done on my teeth. Also remember that you will get a new toothbrush and some floss on the house!

this could even turn out to being a reward for quitting, you could have a whittening done and see how wonderful your teeth look after that, you won't want to go back to the old way. Perhaps?

OH I'm with you! I hate the dentist too! But my guy is great and he knows how much I hate being there. He's super nice to me -- I hope you like your dentist. If you don't, find another- it helps if they understand. Good luck! ;)

Thanks, Tikki and toosoontot, I appreciate all the support! I'm feeling pretty confident now, but I have 40 minutes to go before I have to see him. My dentist is a sweetheart and seems sympathetic. He even tries to be funny, bless his heart. I've just been traumatized since childhood and have VERY sensitive teeth. Think of me in about 30 minutes. I may be wrecking!

Ok Now here is what you do, don't think about anything else.. Walk in and tell him if you hurts me or unset me All of your DS will come and tie him in his chair and pull ever tooth of his out and thats without numbing them. Well good idea

according to your age profile you have been smoking for 90 years , 86 bonafide and you still have teeth for a dentist to work on lol .... you'll do fine I just went through 1 visit per week for two months I needed alot of work ugh and I made through it was hard but I made it .

Thanks to all of you who wrote in your support. It really helped a lot. The dental trip was a nightmare, as usual. Really horrific, but not AS bad as a root canal. I vomitted repeatedly but was able to contain it while he used the suction hose until the girl could go get the wastebasket. He finally numbed me after about 10 shots with something other than novacain which made the entire back of my throat go numb, and I was gagging on my own saliva all the way home. I could go on and on, but I think you get the gist. The GOOD NEWS is I got through the night without a smoke, and I don't have to go back until the middle of February, and it shouldn't be too bad. You'll probably hear from me, though. Is it any wonder I have this phobia since every time I go, it's traumatic? Thanks again for all your help!

I trust you made through your appointment i have phobia about it as well but go twice a yr for check ups and cleaning i have great dentist and hygenist as well and are gentle and i sometimes have to use my xanax for my anxiety attacks so thats cool plus the lites and all trigger my migraines but hey i love having teeth that are naturally straight and white for the most part and i just dont need another issue in life So heres to pearlly whites you did it

You are NOT alone for sure carried! 90% of the time I have to get a filling the assistant has to not only suck up mouth spit but wipe the tears rolling down my face cause I HATE it! (that's honest by the way).
It IS exciting though because everyone is right your teeth will stay so clean and your breath will be so much fresher. You dont' have to worry about your clothes and breath as the dentist is so close to ya. You can do it and when it's done IT'S DONE and you can veg out on the couch or do whatever you want like a bath ANYTHING to reward yourself. Plus being a non smoker your teeth heal faster and are healthier.

oh boy... just read your post... you really do have a hard time at the dentist eh? Why do you throw up? Nerves or gag reflex or a reaction to the numbers? yikes! Oh well it's done right? good for you

Let us know how it goes? I am going next Saturday.

Oh, jsthomp20, bless your heart. It was awful, but what else is new? Every dental experience of my LIFE has been either bad, awful, horrible, or traumatic. Just different degrees of bad. It wasn't bad enough to make me smoke, however. I did have to quit chewing gum, which was hard, but now I have discovered a whole world of sugar free candy that I let slowly dissolve in my mouth. I found the advice here very helpful, and wish you all the very best.