I find as I get older...

[moosmom]

I seem to be less afraid of the dentist.

I went to the dentist yesterday for x-rays and to see what could be done about a broken crown on a back tooth.

It was 7:30 in the morning. She came in, looked at the x-ray and said the tooth couldn't be salvaged. She said the tooth, which had a root canal some 30 years ago, was rotted and needed to come out.

I panicked. I had never had a tooth pulled with just novicaine. In the past, I always went to an oral surgeon, to be put under a general anesthesia. I asked her if I could come back another day. She knew if I left, I probably wouldn't come back. I had just gotten up and was still a little groggy. She convinced me that she would totally numb me up so I wouldn't feel a thing. Because the tooth was below the gum, she had to cut it in half and remove it in two pieces.

Dr. Lin is a GENIUS!!!!! I felt nothing except her hands on my jaw. She was so caring and gentle. She said to raise my hand if I felt even a twinge of pain. I told her I wanted to see the tooth afterwards and she was right, it was rotted. The whole procedure took 15 minutes.

I did exactly as I was instructed to do, i.e., no swishing, no spitting, rinse with warm salt water, etc. It's been 24 hours since and I feel great!!

Would I do it again??? BRING IT ON!!!!

[Karen]

There's one perk to getting older!

[happylabs]

Good girl for being so brave.

I had the same exact thing happen to me. Failed root canal which caused the crown to keep falling out. My dentist no longer pulls teeth so I still have the little points of the tooth in the back, next to last tooth. That was a couple years ago! I keep saying I need to go to the other doc and have him pull the little bits of tooth that are left.

[moosmom]

I think part of my fear was based on things I saw on tv as a kid (Three Stooges as dentists). I know, it's stupid. But the sound of the "crunching" tooth terrified me, and that's what I expected. Really dumb. I felt absolutely nothing and heard absolutely nothing.

Dr. Lin was SO good, I requested her again at my next visit!!!

Happylabs,

Thanks for the compliment!!

[happylabs]

I think part of my fear was based on things I saw on tv as a kid (Three Stooges as dentists). I know, it's stupid. But the sound of the "crunching" tooth terrified me, and that's what I expected. Really dumb. I felt absolutely nothing and heard absolutely nothing.

Dr. Lin was SO good, I requested her again at my next visit!!!

Happylabs,

Thanks for the compliment!!

LOL! Actually, the dentist I went to as a child was sort of like the 3 Stooges.

[redbird]

I went through the exact same thing, was told by my dentist that I would get novacaine only to extract my tooth, my dental insurance did not cover for complete anethesia. I couldn't believe it but I didn't feel a thing either but I sure was scared. I am still very afraid of dentist and don't go as often as I should, my bad.

I know I spelled a couple of words wrong but couldn't find the 'speller check'.