Oo-ooh! Dentist!

I need sympathy here. I just came back from the dentist. I'm not phobic of dentists, and I was novacained quite literally up to my eyeballs. But they had to drill out an old filling, make an impression for the crown, then put a temporary filling back in. Between the teeth clenching and drilling and tapping, my jaw really hurts!

At least I'll be getting a porcelain crown rather than a gold one.

Awww, makes it hard to drink or speak so someone can understand you. I'd rather have that tooth in my head tho. I went for a year with a pulled one and went back and said I'll take that bridge now!

You just reminded me that I need an appointment to remove an old old white filling. I'll be glad to have another new filling that will last!

I think I have 3 crowns. 2 were root canals.

It's been a long time since I've had that sort of dental work, but it left my jaws tired and my jaw pretty sore from holding it open so long. You can think of a lot of strange things when you are in the dental chair. I can recall wondering if dentists really hate to see people with little mouths come in. It must be much harder to work on them. If Steve Tyler, Carly Simon or Mic Jagger came in, the dentist would probably be so happy about the prospects of an easier session. Imagine if we could unlock our jaws like a snake. I'll bet dental fees would be much cheaper.

On the serious side, you are so fortunate to be getting good dental work done. I know it is no fun, but if you are insured or have the means to pay your own way, the dental work you get today will keep you chomping on ears of corn long after you would feel embarrassed about having some nice nurse put a plastic bib around your neck before you start.

When I was a child, my first dentist filled my baby teeth without getting all the cavity out, and they all abscessed. My mother took me to a short, stocky Slavic dentist called Dr. Vukovich. He was a very hairy man with black rimmed glasses (much like most glasses in the 50's). He didn't believe in Novocaine for drilling teeth, but said I should tap his arm if it hurt. Needless to say, in very short order, it hurt, but no matter how fast or hard I tapped at that beefy arm he pressed like a vise against my chest, he just kept drilling.

I so hated my visits to Dr. Vukovich that I used to pray that I would break an arm or we'd wreck the car before we got to his office. Once the power went out as we sat in the waiting room, and I felt such elation and a sudden surge of divine faith! My visits ended one day when I leaped out of the chair, ran through the waiting room with my bib on, screaming 'Don't hurt me again!'

As bad as the experience was, I have to say, all his fillings held (probably sucked deep into the quick by the pain), and I have no fear of needles. I know what the alternative is, and that needle is my friend. I hope you feel better soon, and that all goes well with your new crown.

My dentist gives painless novicane to cowards like me. The very reason I ended up with 2 root canals in the first place.

I too had a dentist that didn't use novicane when I was a kid. When he did finally decide to use it, I saw that needle and said no! I endured the drilling.

I'm proud to say that at the age of 52 I have all my own teeth. My mother actually didn't bother much taking my brother or me to the doctor or dentist when we were kids. She kind of followed the "stray cat" philosophy of parenting. You do what you absolutely need to do, and that's all. And even then kids, like the cats, were expected to earn their keep. My brother's teeth are in terrible shape. He has a couple missing, plus crowns, bridges, partials. My teeth are all in my mouth, although they're covered with metal and porcelain. I do, however, have several teeth that are still whole, without cavities. I think maybe my teeth are in better shape because I drank a lot of milk when I was a kid. My brother drank more soda.

I took a codeine tablet, but it still hurts. :-(

Aww!
I was nine before I had my first cavity. We didn't drink much pop either. I'm 49 and only missing the tooth that was too far gone to cap.

I have all my teeth or crowned stubs, except for my wisdom teeth. Both my parents had dentures, and I really don't want to lose my teeth. I floss, floss, floss, and so far, at 59, there are still chomping. I was raised on well water and with the exception of living in downtown Seward for about 10 years, I've always had well water... no fluoridation. I'm really not sure if Seward fluoridates their water, for that matter.

Well, okay, I did have one impacted wisdom tooth extracted, but I kind of don't count wisdom teeth as teeth. My teeth could be in better shape, and they're certainly not movie star straight and white, but they are mine. My parents both had dentures, and I promised myself that that would never happen to me.

Awwwwwwww.......White. I might have you beat though.

Last Monday my husband and I were traveling to VA Beach VA for a few days. We hadn't had a vacation last year because we stayed home and had a lot of construction work going on. This years vacation that should have taken place the first week of August has to be cancelled due to an upcoming surgery that I need to have.

Well, I was talking and all of a sudden I felt one of my front teeth fall out in my hand. It was a crown and probably had some age on it. Oh my gosh! A front tooth is a hard one to lose. You cannot hide the fact that it is missing.

Anyway, I called my dentist at home and told him I was about 30 miles from the beach and did he have someone that he could refer me to. Thankfully, he gave me the number of a dentist who agreed to see me in an hour. When I got there and showed them the crown, they said that the tooth had broken off inside of it. That meant that it couldn't just be popped and glued back on.

So here I sit. Snaggle tooth and all. Thankfully this kind and great dentist came to the rescue. She knew that I didn't want to walk around with my tooth missing until I got back home. She was able to arrange with the lab that makes the teeth to have me one in 24 hours. So, the first 24 hours of my vacation was spent inside my hotel room.

She was able to fit me very nicely with a plate with the one tooth. Now, to add horror to horror. I have surgery tomorrow and will have to hand over my plate to a nurse. I could be a whole lot more upset than I am but figure, age makes a person a little less vain.

My current dental problems have been caused most likely from 20 years of medication use. A couple of my meds cause dry mouth and a dry mouth is breeding ground for decay. If I had all the money that I have paid dentists during my lifetime, I could build a mansion to live in and hire a gardener. ha-ha

Anyway, I hope that your mouth will soon start feeling better and that you don't find yourself in the shoes that I am in today.

Ruby

Ruby, Once I was waiting in the pre-op room for day surgery, visiting with the woman in the next bed. She was awaiting surgery on her foot. The nurse noticed that she was still wearing her underwear, and they had to be removed before going into surgery. Her husband was in the waiting room just off the post-op, so the nurse dropped her underwear into a bio-hazard bag and marched it down to hubby. I'm sure that poor woman endured much teasing from her family, her panties requiring a bio-hazard bag for transport.

Hmmmm.......why did her undies have to come off? Do you think they will take mine off tomorrow? Now I am worried. I guess that I won't be worrying too much after they give me a few of those relaxation drugs. ha-ha

Anyway Weezings, thanks for the laugh.

Oh and by the way.....the dental saga continues. I had another!!!!!! crown come out yesterday. So, I am a bit tired of seeing my dentist. This morning he had to put a larger post in the crown in order for it to hold. In order to do this, he had to scrape some gum away that had grown over tooth. No fun.

Ya'll take good care.

Ruby

Poor Ruby! The last time I had a dental issue, I broke a lower back molar on an old maid in my popcorn. About a third of the tooth broke off, and it is the strangest feeling to be rolling your own tooth around in your mouth. I'm sure the only hope for saving it is a crown, but that's beyond my means these days. I'm not having any pain with it, so I've just become accustomed to it and keep it clean...much less embarrassing than a front tooth.

I did lose my front tooth, ten years ago. I was in a devastating traffic accident. I was crossing the street, as a pedestrian, on a green light and walk signal, when a pickup ran into me. He "didn't see me." I had the green! And how can you not see a fat woman at 8:00 in the morning in a turquoise and pink parka?!

Among other things, it broke my front tooth off. At the hospital, the dentist did a root canal in preparation for a crown. But then I was in danger of maxing out the insurance of the guy who hit me. I didn't have insurance because I was between jobs. So he suddenly lost interest in me, stuck some temporary filling material in there, and hurried me out the door.

The temporary last a little less than a year, then it came out. At that time, I was trying to find a job. Toothless people don't get interviews obviously.

I was finally able to get another temporary filling in there, and that's where it stands. I still need a crown for the thing, but right now I'm paying for necessary things. Things that can wait will have to, well, wait.

Oh, the poor guy who was going to be maxed out. His wages should have been garnished!

That's a sorry story.

He *nearly* got away with murder! I shattered my right leg, broke my left hand, broke several ribs, broke every bone in the left side of my face except my mandible, suffered traumatic brain injuy--my head was literally broken open like a ripe cantelope. I was in the hospital in a wheel chair for two months, and disabled for a year and a half.

And he "didn't see me." So everyone shrugged and said "okay," and he got off.

Ten years later and I'm still p***ed off about it!

And I had an interview for my dream job the next day, too, which naturally I didn't make since I was still unconscious. It was as staff writer for an environmental science journal.

It was so bad that they flew me to the hospital.

Oh man, you guys are making me wince just reading this stuff.

I never had dentist phobia until recently. I had a bad tooth that needed to be extracted...it was actually a baby tooth that had had a filling in it, the filling came out and the tooth was so brittle, it just cracked in half.

Let me tell you, I've had two 9 1/2 lb kids au natural, and I'd rather do that again, I'd rather do it again ten times, than ever go back to the dentist. That extraction was so painful that I literally cannot make myself go in the dentist's office....I paid a lot of money for the extraction/implant and I've never had the crown put on, a part which is already paid for, because I come about as near to wetting myself as I have ever done trying to walk in the door.

And I don't have any other really abnormal fears...it's not like I'm a complete loon. And I never had a dentist issue before, either, I've had more than normal dentistry work cause I smashed my mouth up as a kid falling off a horse...it wasn't until I had that extraction, the guy was a butcher.

Oh Hydrangea, next time I feel sorry for myself, I'm going to think of you. I'm so sorry!

Luna, that's a shame. I have a really really good dentist! I had a fear till I went to him!

When I was about 10-12, I had a LOT of work done in my mouth. I was so afraid... so the dentist gave me some little white pills that made me "not care" what he did. That was 50 years ago, and I'm sure they have much better drugs now than they had then. See if you can get some of them. It's worth it to be able to keep your teeth for as long as you can. I am dreading the time when I won't have mine any more. My mom has dentures, but my dad died with his teeth in his mouth. I'm hoping I"m gonna be like him!

I've never had kids, but I don't think I'd be a trooper where childbirth is concerned. Put me out at the first twinge of a labor pain and wake me up--oh, when they're about 18. ;-)

I'm 27 and not endured a cavity yet. My mother said she had perfect teeth until pregnant with me, her only girl, because she was throwing up so much. So I grew up hearing the advice to BRUSH BRUSH BRUSH your teeth well after you throw up to remove the acid which will be killer for teeth.

It helps that as a kid (a phase I still don't understand today) but as a kid I used to suck the toothpaste out of the tube, enjoying the taste. I can't imagine enjoying all the toothpaste flavors that cater to kids today (bubble gum, grape, etc)...nope, I need CLEAN toothpaste. =)

Tir Na Nog, My daughter doesn't have any cavities either. She had a small one in a baby tooth, but no more. She brushes and flosses better than me. I used to brush with he,r so she would brush. That's when I was still scared of the dentist.

Maybe it's a kid thing. I used to swallow toothpaste, too.

When I was a kid, the dentist's office would give us candy suckers if we were good. Can you imagine? What a terrible thing for a dentist to give out.

Unless they wanted to ensure some repeat business.

shhhhhhhhhhhh i have to have a root canal done on aug 9th. ewwwww i have a terrible fear of dentists. at least my dentist knows i am afraid of him.

right now i am on antibiotics which are making me nausuous. yuck.

i had a bad dentist when i was a teen and been scared to death ever since. i had to have mouth surgery and they didnt numb me enough felt it all.

it takes me months to get the courage to go. my dentist said he would prescibe me a vallium if i get to scared to come. just thinking about it scares me.

Take the valium! It's much better to get your teeth fixed! I also had a good root canal Dr. It didn't hurt and I got thru all 3 fine!

It seems quite a few of us have had similar experiences in the dentist's chair. I had one, when I was 5, who also didn't like to waste his supply of pain killer. At the end of my visit that day he had a bleeding index finger and I had a one way trip to a gas mask/dentist in Regina. Last time I saw him, about 16 years ago, he recognized me and showed me a permanent reminder he has of that day . :^)))

That's funny!

Lilypon! That is way too funny! I certainly don't blame you at all. I remember when I was younger, my cousin had the same dentist that I had and he didn't use much pain killer at all. (One reason that I hate dentists today) Anyway, while he was working on her....I'm guessing that it was painful and she bit him. And then....he slapped her! Can you even believe that? Of course, you'd never hear of anything like that today! Talk about a lawsuit! That was back in the early 60's.

I am 70 years old and still have a fear of dentists. As a child my dentist had a german shephard that sat at the end of the chair right at your feed. The dentist told all kids that if they moved the dog would bite. Every time I get in the dentist chair and close my eyes I see that dog.

Brinda ....re: dentists it's certainly been for the better. :) Thankfully my now ex dentist limited himself to just glaring at me (and me to him ;).

kyjoy similar stories to your's :( is why I'm so careful with how I explained things to my kids.

Wow! My childhood dentist was nice, he just didn't use novacaine on kids. My dentist gives painless novacaine and caters to cowards. Because of him, I've lost my fear of getting my teeth filled! It really makes a difference. Shop around. There are good dentists out there.

My dad never did have a cavity. He did have a 33rd tooth removed though.

I hope that lunababy will take another try with the dental stuff. If you have already paid on the implant, I would try and go ahead with it. I agree with those on here that say use the dentist's resources. I would think that they have things to help with calming a person down. The valium hint was a good one and those white pills sound good too. ha-ha. Call the dental office and ask what they use in this sort of situation.

I am facing the process of an implant too. Maybe we can hold each others hand through it luna.

Take care all and brush, brush, brush.

Ruby

Some dentists use gas as well as novacaine.

I have never been afraid of dentists, but I'm claustrophobic, and my one foray into an MRI had me practically clawing the walls trying to get out. Way too much like being entombed alive for me. I had them end it early, and I told them that if they had to do it again, they would put me out--unconscious--before they put me in and not wake me up until after I was out of the thing.

I've never had an MRI, but I understand it can be very difficult if you are claustrophobic. Considering the cost of getting one, I probably won't have to worry about it! LOL! In spite of my negative childhood experiences, should I suddenly have dental insurance, I'd book an appointment ASAP and get my dental work done while I could. One of the advantages of maturity is that the cavities are less likely, but gum disease is always a concern. I floss often, so I hope that helps.

Welllll, good-ness ..
Have any of you folks, ever had the dentists' assistant/technician pass out in your lap while you're the one in the chair, having some teeth surgically removed -?-

Numbed to kingdom-come, but my eyesight was real good then. I tried my level best to get the doc to take a look at his asssistant, that stood over/behind his shoulder a bit, as she was taking on that ghostly coloration in the face .. then she started precariously shifting back and forth as she stood there .. and he'd habitually just do a lil head nod at me. Then 'plomp' she went!! Twernt purtee, I tell ya!

Take a wild gander .. at who's 'feeling' was well on the way, back .. while theyd been taking care of her(?) .. LOL ..

Yep, I yanked ahold of and held onto the docs arms, that time - 'till he could read the signs of 'murder' in my eyes, very well .. when he finally realized the amount of time that had elapsed, then re-injected the mouth. Nope, he's not on my preferred list any longer.

- Magpye

Good grief, Magpye! Sorry you had to get re-numbed, but that's a great story! Maybe that poor girl decided to become a hairdresser instead! If she'd been having her teeth surgically removed and you were the one assisting, I bet you would have done just fine. Some of these li'l heifers are just a wee bit delicate!

Magpye, that is funny! Now.

My Mom was a dental assistant when she was young. She saw a lot of bad teeth!

When I was a child, my mother was very conscientious about taking me to the dentist. Unfortunately, the first dentist I had filled my baby teeth without getting all the cavities out, so many of them abscessed and had to come out. Baby teeth have shallow roots, so I guess Dr. Vukovich thought I wasn't in much pain, but I had a different opinion. Mom was careful to wait until the last moment to tell me I had a dental appointment to avoid having to chase me around.

My father, on the other hand, loved to tell me tall tales about the dentist. He'd point to a street worker with a jack hammer and tell me that is what the dentist would drill my teeth with. Of course, my mother had to drag me to the dentist like a dog to the vet, and that is why my father did it. He loved to aggravate my mother and he liked to make his children 'tough'... poor Mom!

Generally .. such antics the Dads'd pull - served merely to make things tuff ON themselves (the Dads), for a spell also! (heehee) Us Mommas don't let them fellers live-down such shenanigans .. too easily.

Think, it ranks as one of those weird 'guy' things' .. but it haint not one bit 'funny' when the ol wuss guys have gotta visit the dentist! They're usually the biggist ninneys .. LOL

- Magpye

Dad had dentures. His dental days were over! Mom had dentures, too, but hers never fit well, so they lived an aquatic life in a glass of water in the medicine cabinet, only to be called into service when company came or mom went out. The fact that Dad's dentures fit him well was also a bur under my mom's saddle. He told everyone he got them at the mortuary. He said he went there with an apple and they took him to the basement where they kept a bushel basket of dentures. He sat there trying on teeth and biting the apple until he found the perfect pair. As a child, I recall it sounded pretty logical to me.