I lived through dental hell!
Okay, so most of you know by now that I got some dental work done on Thursday. I thought it would be no big deal and for the most part, it wasn't.
All the "fun" started at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, January 18th. I got to the dentist's office promptly, only to be told that the doctor was running behind. Well, knowing that he was working on people's teeth, I told the receptionist that I was in no hurry. She just stared blankly back at me. I sat down, only to find every single magazine in the place was at least 3-4 months old. I didn't want to hear another thing about Britney's divorce, lack of underwear, loser ex-husband, or anything else about Suri Cruise or Baby Shiloh Jolie-Pitt. So, I was getting bored, anxious, irritated...you name it, I was feeling it. Then I had to listen to the cranky receptionist have a domestic squabble with what I would assume was her husband about having to pay someone else's $7000 debt and how could they pay their own bills, etc., etc. So, not only am I thinking this is unprofessional work talk and unnecessary for me to listen to, I also remember that I got new dental insurance and should probably tell them before the surgery. I approach the counter and get a look that would have killed me if that was possible. She cups her hand over the phone and says, "Do you mind? This is personal?" and then turns away from me. We'll get back to this topic later...
So, I retreat to my chair like a rejected child that only wanted a hug. So I'm sitting there alone, wondering what in the hell is taking so long. Around 3:45, the receptionist takes me back to the "operating" room and instructs me to sit down in the dental chair. I swear to God that she tried to choke me with the "bib" that she put around my neck, but I realized that I was just overreacting and possibly hyperventilating because I soooooo didn't want to be there, especially by myself. Not that having either my boyfriend or mother there would have changed my racing heartbeat or nervous shaking. Anyway, I'm sitting there and finally around 4 p.m., my dentist comes in. He doesn't even say hi or anything, just sits down, grabs my x-rays, and groans a few times. The only saving grace the entire afternoon was the dental assistant. What a saint! She was so nice, patient, and welcoming. She kept talking to me, asking me if I was okay, just very attentive and comforting. All that was scheduled to take place at the dentist's was having ONE wisdom tooth removed and 3 fillings. Well, I ended up with 2 wisdom teeth out (both on the right side of my mouth) and 2 fillings (1 in each of my 2nd molars). The fillings were a piece of cake, but the wisdom teeth part was NOT the best. I had received Novocaine injections all over my mouth because I wanted to be awake, but that stuff burnt like FIRE! I literally could feel that stuff going into my skin and some even dropped on my lips and chin and I thought my face was going to burn off. It was horrible, but the dental assistant said "You took that like a pro and were the best patient of the day." Well, she would end up eating her words about an hour later into the procedure. The two fillings were done and we started on the bottom wisdom tooth first. What a pain! No, I didn't feel a thing, but the pressure required to get the tooth out of my jaw was unexpected. I just kept thinking "LET GO! JUST LET GO!!!" Well, after tugging on it for about 5 minutes, I heard this horrendous CRACK! and that's when I lost it. I tried convincing myself that it didn't freak or gross me out, but I did. I started giving the two the "time out" symbol. I thought it was a pretty universal symbol - used in basketball, football, and various other sports - but apparently not. The dentist kept reassuring me that the pain would stop soon and just to let him finish his work, but I was shaking my head, trying to tell him that it wasn't the pain that was bothering me. This "game" went on for about a minute or so until the dental assistant says, "I don't think she is in pain." I pulled all the apparatus out of my mouth and puked all over the dental chair and one of the dentist's hands. EMBARRASSING TO SAY THE LEAST, but in my defense, I tried to warn the guy!!! So, I'm sweating, nauseous, and just feeling horrible. The dentist excuses himself and says he'll be back in about 10 minutes so that I could have a little "break". God bless his assistant though. She gets me a bucket, which I proceed to use a couple of times until this wave of nausea passes, and even empties the bucket for me. She gets me a cup of cold water, puts cool clothes on my neck and face, and even blows cold air on my face. In about 5 minutes, I feel soooo much better. I think I just got thinking about the procedure too much and freaked myself out. Well, at this point, I'm thinking to myself that I will NEVER be able to finish, but knowing that I had to, I start meditating, trying to calm myself. That is when the dental assistant came to my aid again. She looks around the corner for the dentist, not seeing him, she puts a mask on my face which was a blend of oxygen and nitrous oxide ("laughing gas"). I breathe that in for about 5 minutes and I felt GREAT...literally. NO longer could I hear the grinding, breaking, or other associated noises of my teeth and it was WONDERFUL. God Bless that stuff! I also borrowed some headphones from my dentist and listened to my iPod and all was well. So it took an additional 30 minutes and both of my wisdom teeth were out and I could go home. YEAH!
The drive home to Chillicothe (about an hour and 15 minutes from the dentist's office in Fairborn) was exciting. I was drooling blood and all I could think about was how "great" it would be if I got pulled over and trying to explain to the officer that I hadn't just been beat up or a victim of some other domestic dispute. Thank goodness I got home without any incident.
The healing process has been fine. I just keep up with my pain med's and all is well. I can't wait to eat a real meal. A diet of soft foods only is not that exciting. Pudding has been my best friend and I've been doing my salt soaks, hoping that it will speed up the healing so just I can eat food that I actually enjoy. Only a few more days of pain I hope!
All the "fun" started at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, January 18th. I got to the dentist's office promptly, only to be told that the doctor was running behind. Well, knowing that he was working on people's teeth, I told the receptionist that I was in no hurry. She just stared blankly back at me. I sat down, only to find every single magazine in the place was at least 3-4 months old. I didn't want to hear another thing about Britney's divorce, lack of underwear, loser ex-husband, or anything else about Suri Cruise or Baby Shiloh Jolie-Pitt. So, I was getting bored, anxious, irritated...you name it, I was feeling it. Then I had to listen to the cranky receptionist have a domestic squabble with what I would assume was her husband about having to pay someone else's $7000 debt and how could they pay their own bills, etc., etc. So, not only am I thinking this is unprofessional work talk and unnecessary for me to listen to, I also remember that I got new dental insurance and should probably tell them before the surgery. I approach the counter and get a look that would have killed me if that was possible. She cups her hand over the phone and says, "Do you mind? This is personal?" and then turns away from me. We'll get back to this topic later...
So, I retreat to my chair like a rejected child that only wanted a hug. So I'm sitting there alone, wondering what in the hell is taking so long. Around 3:45, the receptionist takes me back to the "operating" room and instructs me to sit down in the dental chair. I swear to God that she tried to choke me with the "bib" that she put around my neck, but I realized that I was just overreacting and possibly hyperventilating because I soooooo didn't want to be there, especially by myself. Not that having either my boyfriend or mother there would have changed my racing heartbeat or nervous shaking. Anyway, I'm sitting there and finally around 4 p.m., my dentist comes in. He doesn't even say hi or anything, just sits down, grabs my x-rays, and groans a few times. The only saving grace the entire afternoon was the dental assistant. What a saint! She was so nice, patient, and welcoming. She kept talking to me, asking me if I was okay, just very attentive and comforting. All that was scheduled to take place at the dentist's was having ONE wisdom tooth removed and 3 fillings. Well, I ended up with 2 wisdom teeth out (both on the right side of my mouth) and 2 fillings (1 in each of my 2nd molars). The fillings were a piece of cake, but the wisdom teeth part was NOT the best. I had received Novocaine injections all over my mouth because I wanted to be awake, but that stuff burnt like FIRE! I literally could feel that stuff going into my skin and some even dropped on my lips and chin and I thought my face was going to burn off. It was horrible, but the dental assistant said "You took that like a pro and were the best patient of the day." Well, she would end up eating her words about an hour later into the procedure. The two fillings were done and we started on the bottom wisdom tooth first. What a pain! No, I didn't feel a thing, but the pressure required to get the tooth out of my jaw was unexpected. I just kept thinking "LET GO! JUST LET GO!!!" Well, after tugging on it for about 5 minutes, I heard this horrendous CRACK! and that's when I lost it. I tried convincing myself that it didn't freak or gross me out, but I did. I started giving the two the "time out" symbol. I thought it was a pretty universal symbol - used in basketball, football, and various other sports - but apparently not. The dentist kept reassuring me that the pain would stop soon and just to let him finish his work, but I was shaking my head, trying to tell him that it wasn't the pain that was bothering me. This "game" went on for about a minute or so until the dental assistant says, "I don't think she is in pain." I pulled all the apparatus out of my mouth and puked all over the dental chair and one of the dentist's hands. EMBARRASSING TO SAY THE LEAST, but in my defense, I tried to warn the guy!!! So, I'm sweating, nauseous, and just feeling horrible. The dentist excuses himself and says he'll be back in about 10 minutes so that I could have a little "break". God bless his assistant though. She gets me a bucket, which I proceed to use a couple of times until this wave of nausea passes, and even empties the bucket for me. She gets me a cup of cold water, puts cool clothes on my neck and face, and even blows cold air on my face. In about 5 minutes, I feel soooo much better. I think I just got thinking about the procedure too much and freaked myself out. Well, at this point, I'm thinking to myself that I will NEVER be able to finish, but knowing that I had to, I start meditating, trying to calm myself. That is when the dental assistant came to my aid again. She looks around the corner for the dentist, not seeing him, she puts a mask on my face which was a blend of oxygen and nitrous oxide ("laughing gas"). I breathe that in for about 5 minutes and I felt GREAT...literally. NO longer could I hear the grinding, breaking, or other associated noises of my teeth and it was WONDERFUL. God Bless that stuff! I also borrowed some headphones from my dentist and listened to my iPod and all was well. So it took an additional 30 minutes and both of my wisdom teeth were out and I could go home. YEAH!
The drive home to Chillicothe (about an hour and 15 minutes from the dentist's office in Fairborn) was exciting. I was drooling blood and all I could think about was how "great" it would be if I got pulled over and trying to explain to the officer that I hadn't just been beat up or a victim of some other domestic dispute. Thank goodness I got home without any incident.
The healing process has been fine. I just keep up with my pain med's and all is well. I can't wait to eat a real meal. A diet of soft foods only is not that exciting. Pudding has been my best friend and I've been doing my salt soaks, hoping that it will speed up the healing so just I can eat food that I actually enjoy. Only a few more days of pain I hope!