thought that i was young

[musesfool]

Last night, the dentist asked me if I wanted novocaine for my filling. I said, "Well, do you think it's necessary?" And he said, "Yes, because I'll be drilling close to the gum." So I said, "Okay, then

Comments

[marag]

::coughs:: Actually, I frequently go without novocaine for minor cavities because I hate shots and the taste of the novocaine more than I hate the drilling :D

Also, I react very badly to the epinephrine in most novocaine, so even if I get it, it doesn't last very long.

[musesfool]

I can't even imagine going through that without novocaine! Can't they give you gas or something?

[marag]

Novocaine actually doesn't *work* on one quadrant of my mouth, so I recently had an extraction and implant done with essentially no anesthesia. The only thing I've ever experienced that was more painful was the final stages of labor.

Next time, my dentist promised gas.

[delle]

gas. use the happy gas. I have severe dental anxiety (had a terrible dentist when I was younger and also had a cavity or two done w/o novacaine because he mishandled the novocaine injections so badly they were excruiatingly painful) and I can't handle anything without happy gas.

I'm considering conscious sedation for my next crown (which I badly need, but, yanno, severe dental anxiety)

[twinkelbelpeach]

I agree absolutely about the gas. Same story as yours, horrible childhood experience with a dentist and I didn't go again for years. Luckily I have an understanding dentist now who doesn't mind giving me gas and then novocaine. After that double whammy, he could fill every tooth in my head and I wouldn't mind.

[musesfool]

The gas is awesome! That's what they used when I had ALL FOUR wisdom teeth out at the same time. It was dreamy.

[embroiderama]

Also, I react very badly to the epinephrine in most novocaine, so even if I get it, it doesn't last very long.

This is something that seems to be becoming an issue for me. A couple months ago I had a few cavities filled and my heart was racing for hours after the number of shots they had to give me to keep me numb.

[marag]

Ask your dentist about novocaine without epinephrine. Most dentists should keep some around and it does work, although not as long. It's been a fabulous discovery for me!