I did a crazy thing today. I had a dental appointment to get a tooth filled, and I asked if the dentist thought it would be too bad if I didn’t have novacaine–I’d already refused the gas, as usual, the headphones and remote, as usual. All the things they do to try and make your visit a happy one tend to only make me more miserable. Face it, I don’t watch much TV anyway, especially during the daytime, and it’s just more annoying than anything to try to find something to watch while having the drill buzzing around your mouth. So I opt for simple, non-gassed-up irritation rather than utter confusion. The novacaine, however, I have never done without. But, as I thought about my plans for the day and how much I hate the feeling of a deadened mouth, I began to wonder if a few momentary sharp pains might not be easier to take than a full afternoon of discomfort. (This coming from the girl who has never, not once, delivered a baby without an epidural–get it to me as quickly as possible!)
Well, the dentist said it shouldn’t be too bad….just a twinge or two probably. So, I decided to brave it. The first twinge was not so bad. The second was okay. By the time we hit the third, I was rethinking my decision, and on the fourth and fifth (when he had already said the third was the last one) I really wondered if it was too late to ask for the shot! But then, he was done drilling, he filled the tooth, and I was on my way, feeling practically no effect whatsoever. Would I do it again? I don’t know if I’d be brave enough, but I have to say, my afternoon was much more pleasant than I had expected it to be. No drooling, no fat-face feeling, no tenderness from the shot….perfect recovery! It may have been almost worth it.
8 Comments
July 29, 2008 at 5:30 am
A dental story, I love ‘em especially now after finding a good dentist. Be sure to floss daily — that has a made a huge difference with my dental checkups. Keep smiling
How brave you are — I would never go w/o the shot. The gas yes but not the shot.
July 29, 2008 at 6:33 am
You are really brave Alice! I would never do that!!
July 29, 2008 at 7:59 am
I don’t know, I always hated the pain of getting the shot. Is it better pain than without the shot?
July 29, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Brave! I do agree, it’s not fun to be numb, and the pain of just a cavity is pretty short lived. Good job enduring!
July 29, 2008 at 10:35 pm
You’re the second in as many days who I’ve heard “going natural.” Brave soul.
I don’t know if you read my post about the fire, but did you realize that was your old house? Scary stuff! Oh, and I dined with some old neighbors of yours last week Gave us both a chance to go on and on about how great you guys are. We miss you, and they do too!
July 30, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Oh the dentist. You should try mine – you have to take pain killer for a week! You were very brave. I hate the fat mouth feel too.
July 31, 2008 at 6:53 am
Dare I say that I choose to go without the deadening 99% of the time? I think the only time I have had the shot was when he pulled my tooth a short time ago. But I know Dad says he won’t even think about opening his mouth unless it is deadened (so how do you get it deadened, you say?)
August 5, 2008 at 8:17 pm
My jaw is hurting just reading this. Ouch!! And I did the no epidural thing. Give me the gas, movie, earphones, eye mask, novacane, and anything else you’ve got!