Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Dental damage

I've never been one to be overly nervous or anxiety ridden when it comes to going to the dentist. I had extensive work done as a kid (baby teeth getting pulled, permanent teeth getting pulled, braces and wisdom teeth removed + a few minor fillings) but despite all that I was never overly worried. I just chose instead to not go for 12 years. Part of that time I didn't have dental insurance and the rest, well, it just never made it to the top of the list. A few months ago I notice my upper right back molar had a cavity on it's side. My guess is the damage from the metal band they glued to that tooth for the braces years ago was catching up to me. So I went to the dentist and got an okay bill of health. Only four small cavities that could be fixed in one sitting. I had my teeth cleaned and made the appointment for my fillings.
So on Monday morning I went in to get the fillings done. Mistake #1 don't get fillings and try to work the rest of the day.
When I got to the dentist they were running behind so I sat in the waiting room for 30 minutes before getting called back. That's when the sweet but not very bright assistant tells me they are only going to fill 2 teeth. I said, "No, I scheduled to have 4 done." We'll see she replied and went to get the dentist.
Now I'm going to All Care and they have 4 dentists. I met Dr. Goldman and he informs me that they didn't schedule enough time to do fillings and one of the assistants called off so they are short handed. He then decides to do the upper right molar and a lower left molar (great now my whole mouth will be numb). Then he starts injecting the Novocaine. Never in my life and all my dental experiences have I experienced pain like that. He was distracted and rushed and shoved that over sized needle into the left jaw hinge. Before the Novocaine took effect my jaw was in a lot of pain. I couldn't close my mouth. Once the Novocaine took effect the whole side of my head (left ear, temple scalp, cheek, lip, left side of my tongue) went numb. All that for a small surface filling. The fillings themselves weren't bad and went quickly. I left the dentist and went to work and could speak surprisingly well for the numb half a tongue.
Two hours later the Novocaine started to wear off. Three hours later I was home in bed consuming mass quantities of Advil gelcaps. It wasn't the fillings, it was the hinge of my jaw on the left side. My left side of my face was slightly swollen, I couldn't chew anything without pain, yawning was excruciating and when not in motion my jaw just continually throbbed to the point of giving me a migraine. And despite being in bed, I barely slept at all.
Today is Wednesday and the throbbing has finally subsided though yawning or chewing hard objects is still not high on my list.
He was rushed and bruised the bejeezus out of the muscles and nerves around my jaw hinge and put me in more pain than I was when I've had teeth pulled.
The worst part? I have to go back to get the other two fillings.
Now I'm one of those anxiety ridden people about dentists.
I did call and tell the scheduling person that I NEVER wanted to see that dentist again and made an appointment with one of the other dentists.
But still, I know I have two fillings on the right side lower jaw which means this dentist is going to put Novocaine into the right hinge of my jaw.
Please, please don't let it be like the last time.

1 comment:

  1. I am *so* dental phobic...

    It surprised me that he would do fillings on both sides of your mouth; I've had more than one dentist tell me they won't, simply because of the risks of chewing holes in your tongue or cheeks if the whole mouth is numbed.

    If you see him again, kick him in the shins or something. It sounds like he deserves it.

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