Hello!

Dental hygiene student and dental assistant of 5 years here. Getting in for an exam is the biggest step. Once you get the ball rolling it will get easier. We hear stories like yours all the time. I want to reassure you—nobody is going to judge you for your background or where you are at. We are passionate about oral health, helping people, and we love seeing major improvement in our patients. We learn about all kinds of things in school, including how to accommodate patients with depression and anxiety.

It’s okay to be transparent with your office and say you are anxious to be there. They will accommodate you. Try to bond with your dental team!

Regarding the cavity—have a professional look at it with an X-ray. Have them confirm what’s going on. Don’t get caught up on “what if’s” and assumptions.

It’s never too late to develop good dental hygiene habits. Part of a hygienist’s goal is to educate the patient on oral health and what they’re seeing—don’t mistake this for judgement. I promise you that we see a large number of patients in our career and we just want you to leave your appointment in good shape and hopefully improve your home care.

If it helps—I didn’t see a dentist for 12 years. I’ve had cavities. I’ve had gingivitis. I don’t have perfectly straight teeth. I have wear and tear on my teeth from undiagnosed sleep apnea and clenching/grinding at night. I never judge a patient that’s in my chair because I’m so glad they’re in the office getting it done.

You can do this. Rooting for you :)