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While at the dentist...


frankie

Do you keep your eyes open while you're at the dentist, getting your teeth sorted out?  

17 members have voted

  1. 1. Do you keep your eyes open while you're at the dentist, getting your teeth sorted out?

    • Yes.
      11
    • No.
      4
    • I block out the experience and so I can't remember.
      2


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I was at the dentist yesterday and I realized I always have to keep my eyes open when I'm being 'operated on'. It makes me feel like I'm more in control, although I realize that that's of course not the case, the dentist being able to do whatever as I'm there :D

 

It made me wonder if other people want to keep their eyes open, too, or if they most definitely want to keep them closed. 

 

This is just an odd poll to satisfy my curiosity! :)

Edited by frankie
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I have my eyes closed through most of the experience, and on occasion I check what's going on. Closing my eyes helps me, because then I don't have to process the visual input, next to the auditory input and the pain and other touchy feelings and also the taste of chemicals and blood (these last three things are the worst at the dentist). I open my eyes occasionally, to make sure what exactly is happening and if a new 'stage' is happening. Also, sometimes water sputters on my face and my glasses don't always provide enough cover for me not to get water in my eyes. I try to concentrate on my breathing, as breathing through my nose is difficult because there isn't enough space for me to do this for long (then I don't get enough oxigen), but at the dentist I have to do so (so on top of everything else I sometimes feel like I don't get enough air).

 

Here's maybe a more pleasant question to imagine, do you close your eyes when you kiss someone? Maybe it's not at all a related question, so if you feel it's too off-topic I can always create another topic about it, I just thought it was an interesting similar question.

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No.  Mostly.  Miserable experience.  Actually, with that extremely bright light shining in my face, I have to close my eyes, in self defense! 

 

Gaia....love the additional question.  :P  :giggle2:   Answer:  Most of the time.  It can be interesting not to. :D

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Kept being asked last year if I'd been in a fight ...

 

 

I'd had a half rotten wisdom tooth removed, and the dentist had injected my gums about 6 times. That did hurt a bit, but I sailed through the actual extraction with no problems - except for the impressive bruises on my cheek which took a few weeks to clear!

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I tend to close my eyes because of all the spray, even though they put glasses on me. I just try to focus on keeping my mouth open wide enough and not giving in to my desire to swallow, which tends to cause more spray.  :blush2: I think I only open my eyes to see what's coming next when they've stopped for a bit.

 

This thread is depressing. I'm overdue for a dentist visit and I'm going to get into trouble because I was referred to some specialist the last time I went, but I never followed it through.

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What an appropriate time for me that this topic has been raised! I have a problematic tooth that after having a root canal on they have now decided just to extract.

 

Finally had that done yesterday and am still regularly gobbling down drugs.

 

I keep mine open - my dentist has a TV on the ceiling and puts films on. He uses ones you've seen loads so are familiar and comforting. Yesterday's was Pirates of the Caribbean :D

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When I go in for the routine checkup part, I keep my eyes open most of the time because I think it must look weird to the hygienist that my eyes are closed. Maybe I alternate? I don't even really know. It's weird to have your eyes clothes because a lot of the time they try to converse with you, at least in my experience. 

 

However when I got a filling I had my eyes open for like the first half and then the dentist actually asked if I could close my eyes. Not sure if I was creeping him out or he just didn't want me to see what he was doing.  :blush2:

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I have my eyes closed through most of the experience, and on occasion I check what's going on. Closing my eyes helps me, because then I don't have to process the visual input, next to the auditory input and the pain and other touchy feelings and also the taste of chemicals and blood (these last three things are the worst at the dentist). I open my eyes occasionally, to make sure what exactly is happening and if a new 'stage' is happening. Also, sometimes water sputters on my face and my glasses don't always provide enough cover for me not to get water in my eyes. I try to concentrate on my breathing, as breathing through my nose is difficult because there isn't enough space for me to do this for long (then I don't get enough oxigen), but at the dentist I have to do so (so on top of everything else I sometimes feel like I don't get enough air).

 

It's a lot of really unpleasant input for you, isn't it  :empathy:   It makes sense that you would want to at least block out the visual input, having to deal with so many other things. 

 

 

No.  Mostly.  Miserable experience.  Actually, with that extremely bright light shining in my face, I have to close my eyes, in self defense! 

 

 

Do they not give you sunglasses? Or are they not enough to block out all the light. I don't think we got to have any sunglasses when I was a kid. 

 

Dental operations have improved so much in the past decades... Going to the dentist was one of my biggest nightmares as a kid, due to many horrid visits to the dentist, and these days I'm always surprised how it's not that bad most of the time. At least during routine operations and stuff. 

 

I always keep my eyes open at the dentist.  I tend to look at the ceiling tiles … not exactly riveting, but that's what I do.  Either that, or I look at the reflection in the safety glasses they put on me! 

 

I remember when I was a kid, I would look at the lamp and the logo of it. It said something odd in it, but I can't remember what it was. I used to look at the ceiling tiles, too... Last time I was checking out the lamp in the ceiling. Mesmerizing stuff :lol: 

 

 

This thread is depressing. I'm overdue for a dentist visit and I'm going to get into trouble because I was referred to some specialist the last time I went, but I never followed it through.

 

Sorry to depress you! :unsure: Why not book an appointment now, to get it over with.  :empathy:

 

I keep mine open - my dentist has a TV on the ceiling and puts films on. He uses ones you've seen loads so are familiar and comforting. Yesterday's was Pirates of the Caribbean 

 

Wow, talk about customer service... :D I think I would forget to keep my mouth open if I watched the TV. I'd prefer having music on the background. 

 

When I go in for the routine checkup part, I keep my eyes open most of the time because I think it must look weird to the hygienist that my eyes are closed. Maybe I alternate? I don't even really know. It's weird to have your eyes clothes because a lot of the time they try to converse with you, at least in my experience. 

 

However when I got a filling I had my eyes open for like the first half and then the dentist actually asked if I could close my eyes. Not sure if I was creeping him out or he just didn't want me to see what he was doing.  

 

I've often wondered if the dentists notice if one keeps one's eyes open, and if it bothers them. 

 

I've never had a dentist ask me to close my eyes. I wonder why he asked you :o I wouldn't like to be asked. It's an uncomfortable situation as it is and if keeping one's eyes open makes them feel better, they should be allowed to do that! 

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It's a lot of really unpleasant input for you, isn't it  :empathy:   It makes sense that you would want to at least block out the visual input, having to deal with so many other things.

Thanks Frankie :friends3:! It is, going to the dentist is one of the things I stress a lot for, and it's difficult for me. I'm always relieved once it's all over (unless I have to come back to get some more work on my teeth done).

Edited by Athena
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Thanks Frankie :friends3:! It is, going to the dentist is one of the things I stress a lot for, and it's difficult for me. I'm always relieved once it's all over (unless I have to come back to get some more work on my teeth done).

 

Yeah, it definitely makes sense that going to the dentist is one of the most unpleasant things for you and that it stresses you out long in advance!  :empathy:    You should always save some money for afterwards and go and buy a few books to treat yourself :yes: 

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Yeah, it definitely makes sense that going to the dentist is one of the most unpleasant things for you and that it stresses you out long in advance!  :empathy:    You should always save some money for afterwards and go and buy a few books to treat yourself :yes:

Haha that sounds tempting, I've never actually thought of doing that :doh:! :friends3:

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Mine stay open. My lovely dentist always has posters and postcards on his ceiling that I can lose myself in - currently it's a poster of The Ramblas by Anthong PIlley, a bright and many layered painting in which I discover something new each visit.  :smile:

 

I have had horrendous experiences at dentists over the years, but the one I am with now is friendly, professional and reassuring. Yippee!

 

As for kissing - BOTH!  :D   :flowers2:

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Do you keep your eyes open while you're at the dentist, getting your teeth sorted out? Yes. I shut them from times to times, because the light is tiring.

Do you close your eyes when you kiss someone? I wouldn't know.

 

I do close my eyes when I'm having my hair washed and cut in the barber shop. I open them when the barber asks something or engages in conversation, I fear I might be a strenuous customer by my lack of talking. As an addendum, the dentist never asks me anything when I have my mouth full, but he seems to forget his own mask when giving information and advice.

Edited by Sousa
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I didn't even see the second question that Athena posed. For that one definitely eyes closed. It's creepy if you both have your eyes open so best way to avoid that is keep them closed  :giggle2:

 

Frankie, it was very awkward that he asked me. I felt like I had been doing something wrong and then it made me worry what he was doing that I couldn't have my eyes open. Add onto that that I already loathe going to the dentist and it was an overall terrible experience. The one good thing is that my mom buys me a smoothie and mcdonalds fries after I get a filling because that's the only food I can eat with a numb mouth  :P

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