I need advice dental visit and sensory problems

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I've got a dental problem that requires me seeking professional help. I've been putting off getting work done out of some phobias I've developed from going to the dentist. I've got a very low pain threshold due to my sensory sensitivities. I can't stand the smell of the office and I've got extreme social anxiety. Not to mention past awkward communication problems. What is your advice on dealing with these different problems? I've been putting off the trip but I can't anymore.

Here where I live one can be referred to the specialist who knocks you out. It is less of an issue if you don't know anything about it.
The only problem is, that it took bout 5 years of waiting as there are long queues here.

Being knocked out by injection is easy. I held my eyes closed, they wiped this stuff on my arm which numbed where the injection is, and they said "You will feel a funny sensation while the injection takes effect..." I didn't feet that. I felt nothing. Didn't know I was out. All I remember was waking up before I could open my eyes and Iwas thinking "Why are there two strange ladies in my bedroom?"
I then tried to wake myself up enough so I could see, and then I looked around a bit confused when they put me in a different room to wake up from the one I had been in. They were very good in there.
Then they pushed me in a chair to a room where my mother and brother was, and I was recovering in there. My nose felt funny. One of the nurses came in. I asked if they put a tube up my nose. She said she doesn't think so. She went to ask. She came back and said no. Another patient (A lady) was also pushed into the room to recover. I then said "My nose feels like someone has put their finger up it".
The lady who was recovering on the other side of the room heard me and had the giggles. Her husband was looking after her.
Apparently this was the effect of an injection I had been given so I would not feel any pain when I came round.
I had had four teeth out Two were taken out because they could have had root canal treatment, but I was such a panicky patient with my local dentist that she thought it better for me to have them removed at the specialists. The other two were well past saving, and by the time I had them removed, one had an absus whick kept shutting the vision off on my left eye. Is why they thought my case was urgent by then and they shortened my waiting time to five years. (I still had to wait about four or so months before I was seen as an urgent case and luckily, this was brought ahead by two months as it was supposed to have been six months, because someone cancelled so I could be seen two months sooner then expected.

My Mum had to wait ten years to have hers seen to.

The fear of visiting a dentist is a little common among Aspies. In a past thread, one poster indicated that he found anxiety relief by having the dentist cover him using the heavy leaded apron that they place on you when they take x-rays. It works like a weighted blanket. So he just had the dentist leave it on while they performed the work.

Here is a link to some discussion The Dentists Lead Apron Is Awesome

Many people hate visiting the dentist because of the drilling used to fill cavities. I came across an article 6 months ago describing a new dental procedure.

What if your dentist could apply a gel to your cavities that would soften necrotic tissue but leave your healthy dentin alone, allowing the affected tooth tissue to simply be scooped out?

So-called chemomechanical methods of removing cavities are not new. They were initially marketed in the 1970s, but their original designs had some serious problems. Caridex was one of the first, but it required heat, specialized equipment, large volumes of product (200-500 mL) and tasted bad.

Luckily the creators of Carisolv were able to address many of these issues. Carisolv contains three different amino acids that can interact with the collagen that makes up dentin. Degraded collagen allows these amino acids to enter its structure and bind to it, softening it, while healthy collagen is unaffected. Only a few drops need to be applied to a tooth, and after a minute or so the softened dentin can be scraped away using a special tool.

Another product, Papacarie uses a slightly different approach to dissolve diseased dentin. Papacarie contains papain, an enzyme that can break down collagen. However, healthy tooth tissue contains an enzyme that will render papain useless, ensuring that only carious tissue is dissolved. Papacarie is applied to an affected tooth and left for about 30 seconds, after which the cavity can be scraped out using a normal dental spoon.

Both of these methods have the benefit of indicating when there is no more diseased dentin via a colour change. However, their major downfall is the time it takes to use them. Studies have shown that the traditional manual method of cavity removal is much faster (3-4 minutes) than chemomechanical methods (8-9 minutes for Carisolv, 6-7 minutes for Papacarie). However, studies have also shown that chemomechanical methods are more effective than traditional methods at preserving healthy dentin.

It was because my Mum and I tend to be over sensitive to the adrenaline used in the injections, and I find I keep swollowing stuff, and my throat closes up when nurvous, so I have to sit upright, and I need to keep drinking water when I panic, so I can clear my throat.

Thanks Jimmy M the link was really helpful. I tested the pressure theory when I went to a social event and I’m ready to apply it to the dentist. I’m asking to keep the lead apron on but if all fails I can load up my purse with stuff and place it on my lap during the procedure.
Another thing I could do is to ask about the process they're using and the timing of everything. The more I know the less nervous I become.

Good info!

Ask your dentist for some Valium for anxiety and to have a drug called "Protect by Gum" on your teeth before and after the procedure. It numbs all the sensitivity on your teeth. I couldn't be able to tolerate going to the dentist without the "Protect". It may be called something else if you're in another country. I don't have that bad anxiety that I need any Valium though.

My dentist uses nitrous oxide gas. I love it.