Tooth Day

[susandennis]

So I mentioned to our office manager as I was leaving today that I had a dentist appointment on Tuesday and may be in late. The office manager is a year younger than I am so she's been around some blocks and is a good, solid type. She knows about my dental phobia and asked me. I told her I was getting the broken tooth pulled and she immediately said 'well, good for you!'

Then she went on to tell me about a tooth she had that the dentist screwed with for a long time doing all kinds of painful things to - finally he had to pull it. "It sure is better than having him screw with it. And, it's been 10 years and I haven't missed it yet." And it's the same tooth (second from the last one) as mine! She said said that it should take about 2 seconds to yank it out and it will be no big deal.

I felt instantly less traumatized. I'm gong to try and put off worrying about it until Monday afternoon at the earliest. (yeah right.)

Comments

[jloopy.livejournal.com]

i've had 2 or 3 teeth pulled -- and, my dentist has to give me xanax for when i just need a cleaning -- i tend to start hyperventilating in the lobby -- if it isn't an important tooth, i've just told them to yank it -- fortunately it has been all back teeth -- i had not had any problems with other teeth drifiting -- everything will be fine!

[susandennis]

<everything will be fine! That's just what I needed to hear! Thanks!!! It's also nice to know that I'm not the only dental phobic around. Tuesday 8 a.m. PST - it will all be over...

[cloverbee.livejournal.com]

I didn't tell you this when I first read your about your anxiety about the dentist. I have the same phobia. I tell you, I lived with it for 30 years and finally confessed to my doctor that I was avoiding going because I hated it so much. He told me that it was very common - basically because your mouth has so many nerve endings and it is quite normal for you not wanting to have people in it messing around with all those tortue devices. He called my dentist (because believe me, I'm no picnic for him either - he told me that he always schedules me for the last appointment for day and that afterwards, the whole office goes out to a bar to wind down).. now I take a pill when I get there, wait 30 minutes, get nitro while I'm in the chair and it is no big deal at all. By the time he's finished, I'm ok to drive and the last five years have been no big deal. My advice, that's what doctors do, they help you with not only physical issues, but also mental ones and talking to both of them might get you the same relief I got. Now, I don't dread it - I don't look forward to it - mind you, but I don't wake up the night before in a cold sweat either.

[susandennis]

Ok, this is really sad but the thing I fear worse than the dentist, is the doctor. I know - it's not rational. It's really not. But, that's the way it is. I'm going to die of something stupid and it will be my fault. But, I've come to accept that.

The last time I had to 'dentalize' he gave me something (Xantac?) to take 30 minutes before the visit. It had absolutely no affect on me at all. I think I'm imune to help.

Tuesday 8 a.m.... it will all be over...

[joyofmacs.livejournal.com]

I am not like that about the dentist but I am about the doctor. You are inspiring me to at least schedule a visit.

Good luck with the teeth pulling! When I was 25 I got braces and had to have FOUR teeth removed to bring the overbite in line. Just now I notice some separation. Took 20 years!

if any comfort, they gave me plenty of novocaine or whatever and they were yanked in two uneventful trips. Not even a lot of pain after. But each person varies, and if there is any infection or inflammation the dentist claims that is what makes it worse. I had a root canal that did not even hurt as much as a FILLING!

I will be thinking of you on Tues. Can you take the whole day off? No use going into work and leaving, I would be a wreck!

[susandennis]

Thanks... I had teeth pulled for braces, too... 40 years ago and I do remember it wasn't that big a deal but that was 40 years ago. Wow.

Yes, I can take the day off if I want and I do have the luxury of not even having to decide until I'm done with the tooth. The appointment's at 7 a.m. I wanted to get in there before I was totally awake and able to think of excuses not to go.

I'm not stressing about the whole thing this weekend as much as I thought I would.

And, yes, let's concentrate on Wednesday when it will all be behind us!