Dentist

toriateacake
toriateacake Member Posts: 11
edited 9. May 2012, 06:49 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi everyone, i have just recently moved dentist and my new one has found a whole world of problems in my mouth leading to what is feeling like 100 appointments.

What i wanted to ask is if anyone else sruggles with keeping their mouth open? my dentist gets really annoyed with me because after 5 mins my bottom jaw starts shaking and i just cant keep it open, i am in so much pain and my dentist just keeps telling me to keep it open and i cant.

Anyway if anyone else has come accross this problem and knows any kind of solution because i get really upset when hes telling me off and that im in pain and he just doesnt seem to appreiciate that i physically cant open my mouth any wider and my eyes are running with the pain in my jaw.

Please help me!!!!!

Comments

  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    first off take list of meds with you for him to see then explaine you have arthritis and it imposible for you to open that wide he can give you some exercises that help but it does feel it is much worse before getting better take pain meds before going getting tence is not going to help either so you need to discus this before he gets going good luck he should not treat you this way is there another at pratice you could see val
    val
  • Numptydumpty
    Numptydumpty Member Posts: 6,417
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Toriateacake, I can't really help as my dentist is very understanding, and lets me take a break, even during a simple examination. She is also very gentle.
    Unfortunately, she is leaving, and my next check up will be with someone else!! I am dreading it!
    I hope someone comes along soon with a solution for you.
    Wishing you well,
    Numpty
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,761
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    What i wanted to ask is if anyone else sruggles with keeping their mouth open? my dentist gets really annoyed with me because after 5 mins my bottom jaw starts shaking and i just cant keep it open, i am in so much pain and my dentist just keeps telling me to keep it open and i cant.

    That is disgraceful behaviour. He's supposed to be a health professional. Has he no idea?

    I can't open my mouth wide either. My jaw doesn't shake but it's very painful, and physically difficult, for me to keep it open any length of time. My dentist is a lovely lady who, whenever possible, inserts a 'thing' (for want of a better word :roll: ) into my mouth for me to bite on. This means that my jaw muscles are relaxed onto it instead of straining to hold my mouth open. Also, both she and the hygienist, are perfectly happy for me to take breaks if I just raise a hand to let them know I need one.

    My previous dentist, who retired, was also understanding. I hope you can make yours see sense, toriateacake. i remember AC did a suvery on dentists some time back. Maybe the Helplines could offer some advice.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright