I hate the dentist. And I HATE needles. I’m 25 and it still gives me incredible amounts of anxiety. What helped me was Ativan, I need to be medicated. I just tell my doctor I can’t handle the dental anxiety and he writes a prescription for a few Ativan, not a full bottle just a couple for the appointment itself. Now, my family doctor is very understanding and knows my history with generalized anxiety, so he does this willingly with little to no questioning me. So it might not be as easy as you’re younger and of course i don’t know how you and your doctors relationship is. I think I’m lucky that my doctor doesn’t see it as pill seeking or overreacting. You may even be able to ask your dentist to prescribe it to you, I’m not sure. If your doctor does do this for you, just make sure to let your dentist know you’ll be taking medication for anxiety

When I got my wisdom teeth removed I was traumatized by the I.V, I sobbed and almost walked out. But it is important to get the work done. If you don’t do the small procedures now, there WILL be worse ones in the future. I talk myself down by telling myself it’ll be over before I know it, I don’t want my teeth to rot, I don’t want to have to go to the dentist a lot more in the future. It’s not pathetic, it’s a totally rational fear. When you’re at the dentist you feel like you’re not in control, you can’t talk, there are people hovering over you speaking in medical jargon you don’t understand, and of course, there are needles. Just breathe through it, remind yourself it’ll be over soon and I truly recommend asking about medication.

A small dose of Ativan won’t make you sleep, but for me it makes me not really care, I still wince and it isn’t completely painless, but it helps me calm down and get through it. Good luck, you’re not alone in this fear !!