My fear of the dentist

[User 1019]

I'm not going to sugarcoat it, folks. I had a rough summer. I went in to hot LZs to pick up patients and never ****ing flinched. Bullets, RPGs, mortars, rockets, you name it.

But when I sat in the dentist's chair this afternoon to get a cavity filled, I broke into an all-out sweat. At one point, I had to ask the dentist -- who happened to look like he was about 12 -- to stop and hand me a paper towel to wipe the sweat.

Here's how it went down.

He sticks the little Q-tip with the topical anesthetic between my cheek and gum. After a short wait, he gives me the first shot. No problem. After about five minutes, or so, he starts drilling. I feel it. A burning sensation. OK, another shot. Not a huge deal. After a short wait, he drills again. I feel it. Again.

This went on four more times. Each time, his shots were in places that were harder to get to (like, between my teeth and between the tooth and gum) and he had to use more pressure to get the needle into the bone. I could tell, both by the pressure he was applying to my jaw and how much his thumb was shaking as it was closing in on the syringe, that he was white-knuckling this whole process. I can't imagine how sore my gums are going to be tomorrow.

I was so afraid his hand was going to slip and I'd wind up with a needle in my throat that I would clinch my body, raise my back, clutch my hands, close my eyes and break out in a sweat. And I'm not talking about a little sweat, here. My clothes were still wet when I got home.

He used so much medicine that my ear is numb.

I felt like such a weenie. I kept putting the brakes on the process and causing everyone to have to wait around for the last shot to take effect.

Now, I know no one likes the dentist. But, should I have reacted the way I did?

Anyone else react the same way?

 

[ChrisRcc]

I'm not a fan of the dentist, but I'm not really nervous anymore. I had an oral surgery as a kid with complications afterwards, so anything that the dentist did to me couldn't be as bad.

But, I can certainly understand how bad it can get.

 

[proudpittsburgher]

I'm in the crowd of those who never understood the fear for the dentist. My wife is one who asks for the gas as soon as she sits int he chair, even tears up. Me, I have fallen asleep in the dentists chair before. It's just wierd.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

I'm not crazy about the dentist, even though I've been going to the same one for 15 years.

As a 8-year-old, I went to this one dentist who wouldn't let me hold onto my stuffed toy. I got upset, tried to lift my arms up, and one of the attendants slapped them down. Ended up running off to my parents, who were pissed off both at the dentist and me for creating a ruckus.

Later on, my parents found out that others either loved the guy, or hated him.

At my dentist nowadays, I've got to admit, I enjoy getting the gas. It's a good feeling.

 

[Ace]

Dentists don't bother me. When I had my wisdom tooth out, it was like pulling teeth to get them to do it with just a local instead of knocking me out.

They like to give people the gas because it's easier for them. I'm not paying extra for that.

 

[Dyno]

Seriously? I'm one of the wimpiest people I know and I've never had any kind of anesthetic when I've had a cavity filled (and I have a mouthful of silver). The only time I've had novocaine was when I had a wisdom tooth pulled.

 

[Ace]

Hope this dumbass isn't your dentist.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/crime/os-stealing-dentist-20110306,0,1235.story

 

[PCLoadLetter]

I have the same issue with anesthetic. Last time I had work done it took like four shots, and the last one was a surgical anesthetic, I think. My face was numb for the rest of the day.

I'm going in Wednesday for the first time in more than a year. Not looking forward to it.

I've been putting off getting my wisdom teeth yanked for years. I'm sure I'll be getting another strong suggestion this week.

 

[Mark McGwire]

Bags, see if your dentist will write you a scrip for a valium for the day of any procedure. Does the trick.

 

[JackReacher]

Hate, hate, hate the dentist. Hate the shots I got when I had a cavity filled a handful of years ago. Hated having my wisdom teeth pulled last spring. Didn't get knocked out. Figured I'd tough it out. And I did. But it was the most uncomfortable, awkward, semi-painful thing ever.

Had three of the four pulled. First one came right out with no trouble. Pop. Out. Second one? Yeah. Dude had to throw his foot on the chair to brace himself as he pulled with all his ****ing might to get that ******* out. Shot me up. Pulled. Shot me up again. Pulled again. Shot me up AGAIN. Pulled again. Each time, the shots hit a more sensitive spot on my gums or cheek or wherever the **** he shot it. Last one was in the roof of my mouth. That sure felt awesome.

Had my hands folded on my chest during the procedure, which lasted about 15 minutes, but seemed like 8 hours. When it was over, there was a handprint-sized sweat stain on my shirt.

**** the dentist. I know he makes my life easier in the long run, but **** him sideways.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Hate, hate, hate the dentist. Hate the shots I got when I had a cavity filled a handful of years ago. Hated having my wisdom teeth pulled last spring. Didn't get knocked out. Figured I'd tough it out. And I did. But it was the most uncomfortable, awkward, semi-painful thing ever.

Had three of the four pulled. First one came right out with no trouble. Pop. Out. Second one? Yeah. Dude had to throw his foot on the chair to brace himself as he pulled with all his ****ing might to get that ******* out. Shot me up. Pulled. Shot me up again. Pulled again. Shot me up AGAIN. Pulled again. Each time, the shots hit a more sensitive spot on my gums or cheek or wherever the **** he shot it. Last one was in the roof of my mouth. That sure felt awesome.

Had my hands folded on my chest during the procedure, which lasted about 15 minutes, but seemed like 8 hours. When it was over, there was a handprint-sized sweat stain on my shirt.

**** the dentist. I know he makes my life easier in the long run, but **** him sideways.

When the dentist first told told me I needed my wisdom teeth out I went to work after the appointment. I asked a coworker "You ever have your wisdom teeth pulled?"

He says "Yeah, the guy had such a hard time getting them out I ended up with a bruise on my face in the shape of his hand, because that how he was bracing himself as he pulled. Why do you ask?"

 

[KYSportsWriter]

Guess I'm lucky. My wisdom teeth came in about eight or nine years ago, but dentist said I didn't need to have them removed.

 

[buckweaver]

Wisdom teeth were pulled when I was 17. They made me loopy and I didn't feel a thing in the chair. Sore as hell for a week afterward, though.

Regular dentist visits, I do always need a swab of the anesthetic before a filling or cleaning, but I'm fine after that. I try to tough it out every time, but I never make it once they get to my front teeth. Gums are just too sensitive; not much I can do about that.

 

[Oggiedoggie]

I hate the anesthesia more than the drilling.

If I could keep from flinching, I wouldn't have any.

Inevitably, I end up chewing a hole in one of my cheeks before I can tell my nose from my chin.

 

[YGBFKM]

I went to the dentist years back and thought, "I don't need that stupid happy gas." So I fill out the paperwork and check "No" in the appropriate spot. Figured I'd tough it out. Well, while I've had needles jabbed into me thousands of times (make whatever jokes you want), I DO NOT LIKE needles or any kind of metal objects near my teeth or gums. Never knew that because I'd spent my youth and early adulthood completely beaned up at the dentist. After not more than 10 seconds of this particular dentist visit, I grabbed whatever implement was being used, sat up and asked, "Can I change the paperwork?" I was allowed to, the gas was turned on and the next 45 minutes were quite enjoyable. Of course, it felt like six hours, and that made it even better.

 

[Stitch]

I get migraines, so the dentist is nothing special. If it hurts, I just use the same relaxation techniques I use to for migraines to minimize pain.

 

[secretariat]

I get migraines, so the dentist is nothing special. If it hurts, I just use the same relaxation techniques I use to for migraines to minimize pain.

Blowjobs?

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

Just had a root canal two weeks ago and while the actual procedure wasn't too painful, his whole mind-****ery regarding post-op medication drove me nuts.

"You're going to want to take four Advil as soon as this is done."

"And what after that?"

"Four."

"For how long?"

"Maybe you should take three. No scratch that, here's a prescription for Tylenol 3 with Codine."

Two days later, the pain was so bad I broke out into a cold sweat and passed out (slept) for like 10 hours. I then went with the first option and popped four Advil at a time every three or four hours for the next few days.

This same dentist also ****ed up my jaw once extracting a tooth. Had to get muscle relaxers and a bite splint to correct it. It still gives me problems about once a year.

 

[MileHigh]

Had wisdom teeth pulled at 18 and had the gas. If there's a cavity, usually need two shots. But I go twice a year and there's no fear, but I understand those who dread it.

 

[EStreetJoe]

I don't mind going to the dentist for a regular cleaning.
However when it comes to having a cavity filled or other dental work, the topical anesthetic they put on before using the harpoon-sized needle to give the novocain shot does nothing to minimize how much that f**ker hurts.
If it's a cavity I ask if it can be done without the novocain. I'll take the discomfort of the drill over the pain of the shot any day of the week (then again that might have something to do with my needlephobia).