Going to dentist

[Spinach123]

I'd like to know how people with tinnitus/hyperacusis cope at dental visits plseAsking for my hubby who hasn't been dentist for over a year and needs to go but is so anxious about any noise that may trigger a noise level. He can wear headphones but the hyperacusis will still be exacerbated. Any advice plse.

[Happyrosie]

personally I don’t find the drilling etc to be at all noisy. It certainly has no effect whatsoever on my tinnitus, whereas (for example ) a noisy aircraft journey does raise the level of T for a few hours.

[Nadia123lofkles]

Basically praying before and after that it doesn't give me a spike. I've never had anything noticeable after dental treatment, but the drilling is really uncomfortable for my hyperacusis. I just lie there scared to d..th hoping for the best

[Spinach123 in reply to Nadia123lofkles]

It's that vulnerability isn't it never knowing what's going to happen. I don't think my hubby could cope with any drilling, I think his dentist can do a manual clean.

[Crazylady6]

I’m afraid it has scared me off too. It’s not just the noise but the vibrations too. 😞 I only go if I am in absolute agony. I’d rather have unchecked teeth than suffer the consequences. For me, it’s just not worth it. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

[Spinach123 in reply to Crazylady6]

Yes I think it's the vibrations that is worrying him. Do you have hyperacusis too ?

[MarTINITUS in reply to Spinach123]

I've had T for 40 years. Whenever I visit the dentist I wear earplugs which has worked for me. I've had loads of treatment over the years and can say in spite of this I've never felt my T to be worse afterwards.

[MarTINITUS in reply to Spinach123]

Yes I do consider that I have hyperacusis although it's never been formally diagnosed. But if it means I have to put my fingers in my ears when an emergency services vehicle comes past with it's siren blazing or someone is using a noisy power tool close by to avoid a spike in my T then yes I do consider I have H. There is some very useful advice from other posters in this thread. I'm afraid I don't have much faith in the medical profession as far as T and H are concerned. They seem to be dismissive or unable to help much with these conditions and I suppose we have to accept that we sufferers are presently beyond their help. I definitely agree that stress and anxiety - the flight or fight- if you will totally exacerbate our conditions and any steps you can take to reduce these can only help.

[Crazylady6]

yes I do.

[Kellythecat-74]

I use wax plugs. If drilling needed.

[surreycccfan]

I have spoken to my dentist about this and most of their advice relates to hygienist rather than dental appointment. The protocol I followed when my T was not under control was as follows:

• Firstly, I spoke to my dentist prior to the appointment to discuss my T and agreed that I may need more time to complete my appointment and agreed that if I raised my hand they would stop what they were doing to give me a chance to calm down (doing this in advance helped manage any anxiety)

• For any cleaning I agreed they would use not use an ultra-sonic scaler but instead use a manual scaler instead for cleaning

• I would use calming techniques (I would tell them about this beforehand so they understood which again helped with any anxiety) which would include (1) I would use breathing technique to help keep me calm (2) I would alternate from the breathing technique to using a body scan relaxation technique to move my mind to my body (3) I may use a mediation technique to focus on a spot in the room (4) I would use in ear Bluetooth headphones with either a mediation routine or relaxing music or a podcast to focus my auditory attention on something other than the noise of the dentist

• I tell myself prior to the appointment and then during the appointment that ‘if’ my T spiked (which there is no guarantee it would) that is would pass as it had with other spikes, yes it may be uncomfortable but I know (for me at least) that spikes do calm down and if I didn’t go to the dentist I would not be looking after myself. By not following good self-care (and shrinking my life) and letting the T control my life was not good for my mental health

• I knew that the noisy element are not for the entire appointment so I would agree with the dentist to give me a wave before they started anything noisy (I would discuss with them beforehand roughly how long each of these noisy periods would take and how many there would be to help set an expectation in my mind to reduce anxiety) and I would either turn up the volume on my earphones and/or start a calming technique above

I know other folks use ear plugs, for me I preferred in ear Bluetooth ear buds as this kept my brain occupied in noise periods.

Hope this helps in some small way. Stay safe

[PABLR]

I do get a manual cleaning rather than the ultrasonic but I have always preferred that. I've unfortunately had a lot of dental treatment but luckily it's never had an effect on the tinnitus. I remove the Cochlear implant and Hearing Aid I have, but keep the HA nearby in case they need to talk to me about anything. Good luck.