Please Help-Terrified of the Dentist

[PlasticCastles]

Hello and thank you for reading, this is my first post. I am 26 years old, live in Virginia, and have been in recovery in a Methadone Maintenance program in Washington DC for six years. I was on a very high dose for a long time, and have been slowly reducing. I am currently at 90mg, and hope to be completely off in the next 1 & 1/2 years.

The problem I am having, and I very much hope that someone will be able to assist or offer guidance, is that I have severe dental problems that need to be addressed, yesterday, but am terrified to go and have them taken care of because of the methadone. For one, a lot of dentists, if you tell them you are on mehadone, will give you nothing for the pain and treat you with some measure of hostility. Also, if you [I]don't[I] tell them you are on methadone, they will give you the standard measure of 20 Vicodin or Percocet, which, as anyone who is on methadone knows, is not strong enough to put even the slightest dent in the pain because methadone is an opiate blocker. Another thing is, if you need to go under general anesthesia, you [I]have[I] to tell them, because they will probably need to adjust the anesthesia accordingly?

What I am looking for is a dentist who has experience treating patients on methadone maintenance, who will treat me fairly & with compassion, and will not withhold treatment. I need a dentist that knows how to safely bring a methadone patient under anesthesia, and who is able to prescribe me pain medication that will be best suited to my needs (most likely, anything opiate-based will not work, so he/she may need to get creative? Or, if an opiate-based medication is best, someone who knows the effective dosage). I am terrified of going to the dentist for fear of not being able to manage the pain. I need to have my wisdom teeth removed, and soon. They are completely impacted, and the top ones are pressing into the molars next to them with such force that my entire jaw aches constantly and at times feels like it is going to lock up completely, makes it hard for me to speak/chew at any length, and causes migraines. I have other dental problems now as well, because this fear, along with financial limitations, has caused me to not go to the dentist with any regularity. I have had to have four teeth pulled over the last four years, and the teeth adjoining those are in fast decay. I desperately need to get this addressed, but am terrified.

Can anyone recommend a dentist, from personal experience, in the Northern VA area who has experience with methadone patients?

Or, is there any sort of online resource that anyone is aware of where I can locate medical/dental professionals that are friendly to methadone?

Or. anyone have an idea of any non-opiate pain meds that could help me through oral surgery?

This is an emergency, and I need help as soon as possible. I do not want to go to just anyone, though, and I would be so so appreciative for any assistance you guys can give. Thank you again.

[Sugah]

Have you asked your methadone counselor these questions? I would think the clinic would be the first source of information and guidance for you.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[chloes1]

Another option is to call the dentists in your area and just ask the receptionist. The clinic is probably your best bet though.

I feel for you though tooth problems are the worst!

[Latte]

People are on methadone for many reasons. I belong to a message group for chronic pain and a lot of those people use methadone to treat pain. My birthmother is on it for chronic back pain due to treatment for cancer and chose it because she comes from a long line of addicts and alcoholics and felt it was the best way to manage pain. I guess why I am telling you this is that there are many reasons people are on methadone and being honest with a dentist and finding one that can treat you with dignity and respect as well as get your mouth taken care of is the goal here.

You may need to find an oral surgeon. They may have more tools in their box as they say. My dentist treats a lot of indigent patients, and many of them are recovering addicts. He's an old pro. The man saw right through me. If up here in the great white north I can find one, I'm sure if you ask around, you can too.