TLDR: I haven’t been to the dentist in several years because I find it so uncomfortable and overwhelming and because I know I need work done that will cost 20k+ all up and I can’t afford it. Advice appreciated.
been about 2–3 years since I went to the dentist. I have two main barriers for going, so I will separate them below:
I never speak up when I am uncomfortable. It’s like I freeze in the chair or something and I am so uncomfortable but I say nothing. I am autistic so I think the all the sensory input is just too much and instead of melting down (cos time and place) I shut down. This reinforces my negative association with the dentist. Have you ever had a patient like this? What should I do?
I have a few teeth where no adult teeth exist underneath them to come through. One of the baby teeth fell out a few years ago. Every time I go they want me to start the process of implants - but I can’t afford that?? Now my teeth have moved and the gap where the tooth fell out is actually too small for an implant (I have a narrow palate in general, despite extensive orthodontic intervention as a child/teen). Now another one of the baby tooth seems a bit loose and I am getting a very tender gum around it intermittently. I know I can’t avoid these issues forever, but idk what I am meant to do when they cost 5k+ per implant. I don’t even know what I am asking here but any advice on this or alternatives I could consider and ask about so I can stop avoiding the dentist because of it would be great.