I’ve thought about trying sedation, but honestly, the price tag kind of freaks me out almost as much as the dentist itself. My insurance barely covers regular cleanings, let alone anything “extra,” so I’ve been sticking to deep breathing and podcasts in the chair. I get what you mean about needles though—last time they numbed my gums I nearly bolted. Oral sedation sounds tempting, but I’m always worried it’ll cost way more than they say upfront or that I’ll be out of commission for the rest of the day (which, with work, isn’t really an option most weeks).
One thing that helped a bit was asking for breaks during my last filling. Not perfect, but it made things less overwhelming and didn’t cost extra. Still, if I ever have to get something major done, I might have to bite the bullet and try sedation—just wish it wasn’t so expensive. Anyone else found a cheaper workaround?
I totally get where you’re coming from—sedation sounds like a dream until you see the price tag. I’ve been through braces and a couple of pretty gnarly extractions, and honestly, just being upfront with my dentist about how anxious I was helped a ton. They were surprisingly cool about giving me extra time and checking in more often. Deep breathing and music helped me too, but I still tense up at the numbing needle every time. You’re not alone in feeling this way, and it’s awesome you’re finding little ways to make it work without breaking the bank.