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Thursday, March 7, 2013

Dentist-Speak.

Setting the stage:  Me, after an hour-long wait, prone in the dentist's chair; the entire right side of my face - from below my eye to my shoulder -  numb; a myriad of equipment being put in/taken out of my mouth, along with vacuuming and swabbing.  (TMI!!!)

Dentist:  "You are doing so well!  You'll be sure to tell me if something is uncomfortable, right?"

Me:  "AAAAH-AH-AAAAH" (Are you freaking kidding?  With this load of Novocaine that's been stewing in my jaw and environs for the past half hour?  I'll be lucky if I can eat by tomorrow.)

Dentist:  "Ah, yes.  This is a very large amount of filling we are doing.  Let's take a picture of this, Loretta/Jeanette/Robin, so that we can show her some options."

Me:  "AAAAH-AH-AAAAH" ("Her?"  Am I just a piece of cordwood here?)

Dentist:  "I would really recommend a little bridge here - that would be much better than just a total covering, which we will need, no matter what else we decide."

Me:  "AAAAH-AH-AAAAH" ("We?"  "Little" bridge?  Fine with me if YOU pay for it.)

I braved the snow storm this morning and left at the crap of dawn to get to the dentist - ignoring their offer to reschedule my appointment for tomorrow.  I never, EVER, go to the dentist on Friday.  And this is even a dentist I like! 

19 comments:

Mama Pea said...

Wish I had been there to hold your hand. And then drive you home (or did you have to go on to work with the whole right side of your body sagging?) and take care of you the rest of the day. (Hey! That sounds wonderful. Who can I get to take care of me for a day??)

Dentist appointments. Never a good time. Hugs.

Susan said...

Mama Pea - Isn't that true? No matter how self-sufficient we are, how hard we work, the idea of just having someone take care of us for just one glorious day sounds so fabulous! Yes, I had to go directly to Jail/er/Work without passing Go. Luckily, no one has commented on my odd look yet. And no one has called and made me talk. Fingers crossed!

You are so sweet.

Carolyn said...

It took me like fifteen minutes to read this post.....I hate going to the dentist! Hope your next visit everything gets done! I'd hold your hand, but I'd probably pass out.

Susan said...

Carolyn - I think that is why they charge so much. Because everyone hates them, which makes them sad, which makes them charge lots of money because money buys (them) happiness. Or else they are punishing us for hating them. Either way, it stinks.

Michelle said...

Sounds like you have LOTS of sympathetic readers here, including this white-knuckle dental patient.... :-/

Candy C. said...

Well, at least you went! I have been avoiding going to the dentist for several months now. I can feel where part of a filling is missing. They always want to do more, you know...full-mouth x-rays, total cleaning, come back in every 4 months. Grrr...

Susan said...

Michelle - I had to laugh at your comment! I realized at one point, that I was gripping the arms of the chair like my life depended on it! White knuckles and all!

Susan said...

Candy - My last dentist was so bad, that I didn't go for three years! Of course, that caught up with me. Still, it wasn't as bad (as far as damage) as it could have been. And, yes, they always find LOTS of expensive work that you just HAVE to have. At least this dentist isn't as pushy as some. They just make recommendations without guilting you.

Florida Farm Girl said...

Don't you just love it when they try to carry on a conversation with you? Like you could make an intelligible sound with their fist in your mouth?

Hope you're all better now.

Tombstone Livestock said...

You need to learn my dental sign language, thumbs up ... I'm okay so far, index finger ... now that is not feeling good, middle finger .... you just did something I didn't like or hurt me and don't do it again. I'm one that leaves claw marks on the arm rests. I have tried for years to push myself out the back of the chair. I can walk into a cabinet shop and if someone has a drill running I'm outta there.

Erin said...

I hate novocaine! I don't mind the needle at all but the numbness afterwards is awful, luckily the last 2 times I had a filling it was little and I didn't need any. I don't have any bridgework or crowns YET, but my day is coming because my mom has a ton and I think it's hereditary LOL. Hope everything goes smoothly!

Susan said...

FFG - Thanks - yes, I'm only partially numb. I think it is perverse. But it must be tough to be part of the least-liked profession in the world.

Susan said...

TL - I should have swallowed my tea before reading this... :) I'll have to remember the code for my next trip in.

Susan said...

Erin - Right?! Why, with all the fancy doodads that they use, can't they just do a little tiny bit just where you need it - instead of numbing half your head?

Sandy Livesay said...

The last time I went to the dentist with insurance it cost me an arm and leg. They referred me to a surgeon, once again costing me my other arm and leg. I ended up having oral surgery 3 teeth removed, now I need a partial (no more legs and arms left) to pay for partial, it's just going to have to wait until I can grow some more limbs,lol.

I hope all works well with the dentist for you!!!

Leigh said...

The last time I went to the dentist he said there was no sense trying to fix teeth I was going to lose anyway. He sent me to the oral surgeon, who charged me the same arm and leg as Sandy's. At the same time, he kept trying to talk me into having all my teeth pulled and getting false teeth!

Anyway, did you know your blogger profile isn't linked to your blog? I tried to get here via your comment on mine. Dead end!

Tombstone Livestock said...

I should let you know very seldom is it a thumbs up.... I had a dentist tell me one time I was over reacting, and then he broke off the root to a tooth he was pulling and had to DIG it out .... he took xrays, should have seen that root was "L" shaped before he tried to pull it.

Carolyn said...

For YEARS I would forego novocaine because of the feeling I had afterwards, even for drillings.

Michelle said...

I am a BIG fan of 'laughing gas;' it is about the ONLY thing that alleviates any of the stress that an appointment with the dentist entails.