I have a lot of dental horror stories and as a survivor myself, the dentist is a big challenge. Being forced to perform oral sex from a young age is triggered by being at the dentist. You are forced to sit there with your mouth wide open for a long time. It is very traumatic.
I had a dental hygienist once who was an overweight man. He unknowingly made a lot of grunting noises. It was hard for me. It was all I could do to not cry and jump out of the chair. I felt that he smelled badly too, and that also brought back horrific images of my abuse.
In another case, I was just sitting in the chair, minding my own business. The dentist entered the room without saying a word and suddenly lowered the chair! It was jarring, to say the least. In another case, the dental assistant repeatedly set their instruments on my neck. That triggered me again, reminding me of my multiple strangulations.
It is just another day of work for dental professionals but for the patient, being triggered and re-traumatized about your previous abuse/violence experiences is one of the main reasons survivors and victims dread going to the dentist. For me, I have found it helpful when I know what is about to happen and the dental professional walks me through the process. I once found a trauma-informed professional who watched for cues along the way, allowing me, the patient, to have some control of what’s going on throughout the process. It would make a world of difference!
As an advocate for PeaceWorks Inc, I accompany clients to the medical/dental office. In one instance, both the patient and I explained that she was a recent survivor of domestic violence, staying in our emergency shelter, and that I was her advocate. She had an injury caused by her perpetrator that had become infected. She was very traumatized, and despite our best efforts, the doctor asked her questions that did not need to be asked in order for him to provide her with excellent care. For example, he actually asked,
“I don’t understand. Was he attacking you in some way? Explain to me exactly what was happening at the time.”
She started to cry. As her advocate accompanying her to a medical appointment, I stepped in and told both of them that she did not have to explain what had happened in her past.
There are many areas of medical and dental care that can cause triggers and trauma responses in violence/abuse survivors. These triggers and the fear of re-traumatization can be a barrier for receiving needed care. If you are a medical professional and would like training in Trauma-Informed, Healing-Centered Care, PeaceWorks Inc can offer you and your associates training in this area and additional resources. Please reach out! Admin Office: 303-838-7176 or via the email at the bottom of this page.