Practicing the first stick on each other

[Thegirldoctor]

I've heard from some people that many dental schools are no longer requiring you to practice anesthetic on each other anymore. I'd like to know what y'all have heard, since I'm terribly afraid of needles.
If they still do it, would it be possible to get out of it by getting someone to take my place as a stick dummy? It's not just a fear, it's a phobia, and just to get a shot I have to be hospitalized and doped up on drugs since it's so bad. But I don't have a problem giving injections, just receiving them. I've had some extreme work done on my mouth without any anesthetic because I'd rather feel the intense pain than be on the receiving end of an injection. I even have a doctor's note about it, since it's technically an anxiety disorder.
I want to become a dentist more than anything, so I'd appreciate any guidance and advice.

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[Faux]

I'm sure you can just tell them your concerns and you can skip out on this particular venture.

We do it at UB. Only did it twice on class mates.

 

[Thegirldoctor]

I'm sure you can just tell them your concerns and you can skip out on this particular venture.

We do it at UB. Only did it twice on class mates.

Thanks for that. Are they typically accepting and understanding? I was under the impression that you'd be forced to do it, regardless.

 

[schmoob]

I wouldn't worry about it. Im sure there are some legal aspects of being forced to receive anesthetic when there is no therapeutic value.

 

[Thegirldoctor]

Just let them know. Kids in my class opted out, others fainted.


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Thank you so much. Y'all don't know how much this just reduced my anxiety. I can actually focus on the DAT now!

 

[schmoob]

Thank you so much. Y'all don't know how much this just reduced my anxiety. I can actually focus on the DAT now!

Oh you haven't even applied yet?
This is the last thing that should be on your mind. This is like 3 years away for you. That's 3 flu shots.

 

[Faux]

Thanks for that. Are they typically accepting and understanding? I was under the impression that you'd be forced to do it, regardless.

No one would force you to do anything in this nature.

 

[Cello]

Offering medically unnecessary treatments to non-patients. The irony is learning about how that is unethical in your ethics course, then doing it anyway for pre-clinical training. Not that I don't see the value of it, just that someone should probably find some consistency there with respect to the ethics stuff.

 

[Thegirldoctor]

Oh you haven't even applied yet?
This is the last thing that should be on your mind. This is like 3 years away for you. That's 3 flu shots.

I know! Yet, with anxiety of this magnitude, it really was bothering me, and would have continued to eat away at my sanity until it was over. At least I'll empathize with patients...

 

[ncide]

Not to load your anxiety, but there will be occasions in dental school where you will have to face a needle. When you are in your clinic years, you will have to have at least 2 subcutaneous TB tests and possibly a flu shot each year.


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And those are required.

 

[Thegirldoctor]

Not to load your anxiety, but there will be occasions in dental school where you will have to face a needle. When you are in your clinic years, you will have to have at least 2 subcutaneous TB tests and possibly a flu shot each year.


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I'll have to deal with the TB tests, but don't they also take chest x-rays as a substitute? As for the flu shot, I can't get it anyway. I have a negative reaction to it (dizziness, fever, etc). I'm sure a doctor's note would suffice with that, yeah? I know I'll need to get Hep B as well, but at least I'll have a professional administer it.

 

[Thegirldoctor]

The only way they take a chest x-ray is if you test positive to the subQ injection. Not sure how crazy your school will be about the flu shot, but mine requires it as part of our immunizations for clinic.


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I'm not sure how they can require it for someone who is allergic to it. Even nurses in hospitals can get out of it if they wear a mask during flu season. Anyone else know about this? Will schools require someone who has allergic reactions to the flu shot to get it anyway?

 

[ncide]

I'm not sure how they can require it for someone who is allergic to it. Even nurses in hospitals can get out of it if they wear a mask during flu season. Anyone else know about this? Will schools require someone who has allergic reactions to the flu shot to get it anyway?

Flu shots are important for patient safety. At my school it is necessary to receive them all 4 years.

 

[Thegirldoctor]

Flu shots are important for patient safety. At my school it is necessary to receive them all 4 years.

Yes of course they are. But if I'm allergic to them, what exactly am I supposed to do?

 

[rivarat]

Yes of course they are. But if I'm allergic to them, what exactly am I supposed to do?

You can likely opt to wear a mask in patient contact areas.

 

[Faux]

Students who opt out at UB are required to wear a mask in the building for patients.

 

[Thegirldoctor]

Thanks everybody, for all your help and answering my questions! I appreciate it.

 

[dentalpop]

Offering medically unnecessary treatments to non-patients. The irony is learning about how that is unethical in your ethics course, then doing it anyway for pre-clinical training. Not that I don't see the value of it, just that someone should probably find some consistency there with respect to the ethics stuff.

Is it truly unethical if there is value in it?

 

[Cello]

Is it truly unethical if there is value in it?

Value is hard to determine. But one could argue that we could be practicing needle sticks on patients who actually need care rather than on classmates who do not.

 

[tc434]

Yes of course they are. But if I'm allergic to them, what exactly am I supposed to do?

The symptoms you described earlier do not constitute an allergy. Fever is fairly common with the flu shot and dizziness and feeling faint would be expected if you are afraid of needles. Allergy would be hives, anaphylaxis, etc. It makes a difference.
Working through your phobia could be a very beneficial experience for you as a practicing dentist. You will have plenty of patients that are phobic and they still need treatment. You will be able to help them through the process with your experience, even more so if you have overcome it yourself. At our school we had a faculty member that would offer hypnosis to patients (and students) to help overcome their phobia of dental treatment. My two cents but you may want to try to work through this as opposed to just avoiding it.

 

[Bifenthrin]

I'm not sure how they can require it for someone who is allergic to it. Even nurses in hospitals can get out of it if they wear a mask during flu season. Anyone else know about this? Will schools require someone who has allergic reactions to the flu shot to get it anyway?

Nope. I just had to bring in a note from my doctor stating that I have a severe allergic reaction to it, and I was exempt. Not worth the hives.

 

[HelicaseInitiator]

When you enter dental school and have to have all of your vaccinations and health testing (TB, Hep B, flu shot, etc.) your needle phobia will go away SUPER fast

 

[gatsby121]

We did em, some people were a little nervous but as far as i know everyone in my class participated. good experience

 

[tinman831]

Also to add that you're required to be up to date on all your immunizations as well as get your hep B titers before matriculating. Having said that, I remember when we first did our anesthesia clinicals my partner had just finished numbing me up. When it was my turn, I had just finished using topical on her gingiva when she said she was completely numb and got up out of the chair and said we were done. I wanted to slap the girl.

 

[schmoob]

Lol clever. But totally uncool...

 

[Thegirldoctor]

The symptoms you described earlier do not constitute an allergy. Fever is fairly common with the flu shot and dizziness and feeling faint would be expected if you are afraid of needles. Allergy would be hives, anaphylaxis, etc. It makes a difference.
Working through your phobia could be a very beneficial experience for you as a practicing dentist. You will have plenty of patients that are phobic and they still need treatment. You will be able to help them through the process with your experience, even more so if you have overcome it yourself. At our school we had a faculty member that would offer hypnosis to patients (and students) to help overcome their phobia of dental treatment. My two cents but you may want to try to work through this as opposed to just avoiding it.

Well an MD told me never to get the flu shot again, considering my symptoms lasted for five days and the dizziness was not due to the phobia. I don't get dizzy, I hulk out and run away. So I'll just take that for what it is and listen to the doctor. I can wear a mask in place of the flu vaccine, no biggie. Turns out, I had the Hep B series as a child, yay! I might need a booster, but I'm hoping not.

I really appreciate your input, but I've tried nearly everything. I tried hypnosis, doesn't work. I'm a mental health professional, so I have access to a lot of wonderful specialists and their therapies did not work either (CBT, EMDR, etc). I tried desensitization but it did not work. I tried medication, and that didn't work either. I'm currently trying a new self-exposure method with a phobia specialist, so maybe it'll work, I certainly hope so. Regardless, I'm just saying this issue is real, and not for lack of trying to stop it. I'm not trying to just avoid things, I'm trying to reach my goals without putting myself through what is essentially torture. Only a person with a phobia can explain how it truly is a method of torture. So it's not avoidance, I want to overcome it, but when nothing seems to work I get kind of backed into a corner, ya know?

 

[Thegirldoctor]

When you enter dental school and have to have all of your vaccinations and health testing (TB, Hep B, flu shot, etc.) your needle phobia will go away SUPER fast

It doesn't just go away, though I wish it was that simple!