No Pain, No Gain

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.