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It seems like everyone hates going to the dentist. Even pediatric dentists have to lure kids to come in by providing the latest gaming system, toys they can pick from a treasure chest, and teeth-friendly candies. There are even blogs that focus entirely on hating dentists. Basically it comes down to anxiety about potential for pain. However, anxiety actually amplifies pain and that’s why dentists offer that amazing mask of nitrous oxide to help you calm down so that you don’t really notice much pain at all. Sadly, it wears off very quickly, but not until after the procedure is over and they remove the mask. All of that said, fibromyalgia patients have every reason to hate going to the dentist even more than the average individual.
There are some obvious reasons why, two of which were already touched on briefly. Keep in mind that these are intricately woven together too, so there will be some overlap. First and foremost is the inflammation that is a persistent and key feature of fibromyalgia symptoms. If you’re in the middle of a flare at the dentist’s office, you probably have difficulty opening your mouth fully and the added problem of fatiguing your jaw muscles by holding them open. Furthermore, having a dentist poke and prod around the very sensitive area of the mouth and teeth can be excruciating. Enter the second reason: anxiety. Whether you suffer from fibromyalgia or not, we’ve already established that everyone hates going to the dentist because they fear the pain. So now you have to deal with the pain in a sensitive area, anxiety, and in some cases full-on panic. The other obvious reason is the pain amplification. This is two-fold and includes amplified pain due to: 1.) the heightened sensitivity that accompanies fibromyalgia and 2.) as already state, anxiety about potential pain.
The Arthritis Foundation provides two other reasons that are not so obvious. 1.) During even simple procedures such as cleanings, bacteria are released from the mouth into the bloodstream. Recall that fibromyalgia is typically classified as an autoimmune disease. So an already overworked immune system is having to deal with a new bacterial threat. This is a likely reason why many fibromyalgia patients have flares during or after a dentist visit, up to three days later. 2.) We have already touched on anxiety regarding the potential for pain. However, fibro patients have an added reason for anxiety: the anticipation of another flare up during or after the visit. We have just established a biological reason for this to happen, so rest assured that it is a legitimate threat.
What Can I Do About It?
So there you have it – some outside affirmation that your dental experience is much more horrific than it is for your non-fibro friends. Sometimes all we really need is validation, isn’t it? An outsider, especially in the medical field or with science to back them up, just to say, “Yeah, this is totally a legit problem.” But I’d be remiss if I didn’t offer some ways to minimize the terror and the pain as it pertains specifically to fibromyalgia.
The very first action item is to find a dentist that is familiar with fibromyalgia. This is important for both during and after the procedure. An informed dentist is very likely willing to work with you by offering mouth inserts that allow you to rest your jaw, offering nitrous oxide (usually an extra $50 or so) at the beginning to ease your anxiety, work as slowly and gently as possible, and so forth. Frankly, if your dentist isn’t willing to work with you in these ways, fire them and move on. Of course, there is always the option of full sedation dentistry, sometimes called “sleep dentistry.” The “after” is just as important because having a poor understanding of fibromyalgia or being completely ignorant to it could lead a dentist to prescribe insufficient pain relievers after a procedure.
There are things you can do ahead of time as well, such as arrange for a ride in case you have a flare while you’re there. This makes the drive home one less thing to be anxious about. You can also try to minimize the array of sensations that can be overstimulating, like wearing sun glasses to protect from the airport runway lighting that glares at you from above. Some fibromyalgia patients like to wear headphones too. And ideally you’ll want to have no other commitments after your dentist appointment, even if it’s a routine cleaning. That will give your body time to relax and calm down from what was likely a relatively traumatic experience.
Do you have any pre-, during, or post-procedure tips that have improved your dental experience and may help others? Please share them with us because everyone is different and sometimes it just takes a little experimenting.
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