{photos swiped from flickr}On Monday I went to the dentist. Now I'm no wimp about dental work -- I've had cavities too numerous to count, I had my wisdom teeth out, I've had two root canals -- hell, I was a board's patient! (Now that was torture.) Suffice it to say that I've had a lot of dental work done, and I don't get too worked up about it. In. Out. No, I don't need the nitrous oxide.
Monday, however, was different.
I had to get two fillings and a (temporary) crown. I don't know if it was doing this all at once (2 1/2 hours), or the position of the work that had to be done (upper far right), or what, but it was seriously awful. There was cauterization involved, horrible tastes and even worse smells. The dentist kept gently pushing my chin down so he could get a better angle, but as a result I felt like I couldn't open my mouth enough and I was struggling to breathe.
I actually had to try to find a happy place in my mind so that I didn't start to freak out, and I don't think that has ever happened before!
My jaw still hurts, and I still have to eat on the left side of my mouth. So why am I telling you all this? Because this experience has galvanized my resolve. From now on, I am a flosser.
21 comments:
This sounds extremely grim. You have definitely had more than your fair share of dental woes. Perhaps your dentist isn't so great? Just a thought. Did you at least get to watch a movie while you were being tortured?
Oh my gosh- I seriously hate the dentist. I found one I really love in WA state & I have thought about how I wish I could afford to fly up once a year just for an appointment.
I'm sorry- glad it's over!!
You are a braver woman than I! I would have been begging for a drug induced happy place. I agree the sounds and smells just heighten the entire experience--and not in a good way. Happy flossing!!
Oh, awful! I hope you're mouth feels better for your trip this weekend. Now, off to floss my teeth. . . .
Well I'm always happy to hear when someone commits to flossing, but I'm sorry about your bad day at at the dentist. I once did temp work in an office that had a little plaque that read "You don't need to floss all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep".
I feel your pain - I have been in that same chair and had that exact same experience. Hate the dentist - I mean really deep down hate to go to the dentist.
Hope you start feeling better soon. Dental work is never fun.
This definitely sounds awful! I am an avid flosser and even a few times a week use this special tool for poking inbetween each tooth. Keeps the gums healthy too.
I hope your mouth feels better soon!
I so know your pain...I need a filling (among other things!) on one of my back top teeth and I am dreading it. This from someone who typically isn't phased by the dentist. I need to take on the flossing more regularly as well.
oh if anything was left or taught from our parents was to floss every day....I think it is sooo important. So sorry to hear about your uncomfortable position there...and all that dental work. Ouch....hope the weekend helps you heal and feel better.
We are converts over at our house, too. A few flicks with floss between the teeth seems worth the physical and financial pain that would otherwise be gained. Just ask our poor little Seth!! I hope your chewing easy soon.
Confessions of a relapsed dental hygienist....
I do not floss. I have a degree in dental hygiene, have worked for three dentists, and never managed to become a regular flosser.
Yet, I hassle my husband to do it.
oh michelle. i have serious dentist phobias. seriously yucky.
i am so sorry you had to go through all of that-- i made my knees weak to read about it.
being a sensory sensitive person myself, the smells and sounds kill me the most. much more than the actual pain.
hope it is a distant memory by now since you are swimming and skiing for the weekend!
The smells--ew! I detest the smell of cauterized flesh. Hope your mouth feels better soon!
dental woes are the worst. I've had everything possible done, including an implant into my jar bone, and I have yet to find that happy place.
Oh. Oh. I hate to even have my teeth cleaned. Last time it hurt so bad I cried. I know we all blog with lots of "teeth people" but honestly I haven't been back since that torture cleaning.
Sorry you had such a bad experience. I remember when I had my four wisdom teeth out, some were impacted. They had to dig them out of my jaw and gums. Seriously. The gas made me crazy and I really thought (at that time) that I was going to die. Glad it's over, for your sake.
I hate flossing b/c it grosses me out. I don't want to see the food on there. It's like cleaning out the vacuum or dusting. Yuck. I guess that should motivate me but it makes it harder.
I'm afraid you got it from the Petersen genes....
Right before we moved from Pittsburgh, I had all four quadrants crowned--at ONCE! The dentist said it would be the best way to get the bit correct, so I agreed.
We did the top in one sitting and the bottom in another sitting, but each sitting was about 7 hours!! EEK! But the time I had been in that position for that long with my mouth as stretched as humanly possible, and I don't have a big mouth--well, I was ready to bite his hand off if he came near again!
I don't think I would do that again.
Sorry for the heredity plight of such teeth! Dad has good ones, never a cavity. It might make you feel better to know that in the past 15 years, I hardly have any cavities. Of course, there is not surface uncrowned, almost...
Floss on!
Of course, you know I meant BITE!, not bit. Sorry.
Oh dear. We all need some work done... unfortunately you have to pay for that...
I hope it was "worth it" and now you are feeling good and pain free.
Every once in a while I get claustrophobic in the dentist chair. I hate getting dental work done and hold my breath every time I have a check up hoping nothing is wrong. Hopefully you are feeling better now.
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