So there's one thing in life I hate more than just about anything else and that's having a shot of lidocaine administered into the soft tissue inside my mouth, next to my gums. Can't stand it. I'd rather accidentally drop an expensive lens into a wood chipper that's running at full speed. But that's what we've got on tap for tomorrow morning; if I'm unlucky. The injection, not the lens sacrifice...
My dentist took x-rays at my last check up, a few weeks ago. Harnessing some magic power she wields she was able to intuit that I might need to have the first root canal of my life done so she sent me to a specialist.
I'm meeting with said specialist tomorrow and she (the endodontist) is planning to take her own x-rays and run a few other tests to either confirm or repudiate my first dentist's diagnosis. If all their stars line up together then they'll want to do the procedure right then and there.
I'm old enough to have heard horror stories about root canal procedures from the old days when mechanical shock and awe was the oral strategy of the day. I've been told by many friends now that there are new, modern techniques having to do with ultra-sonic this and that which are mostly pain free and less....dramatic.
But what neither dentist, nor my well-meaning friends, seem to understand is that it's not the procedure itself that fills me with gut-twisting dread. No. It's that numbing injection with which the whole process begins. That's the part that rivets my anxious brain into the paralysis of conjecturing about the worst case scenario of pain and suffering every time.
I'm so wound up about tomorrow's (mis)adventure that I haven't been able to play with a camera or even consider taking a relaxing nap on the couch today. In fact, since I exited the swimming pool this morning (it was a nice and challenging swim, thank you for asking!) I've thought of very little else than the first half hour of tomorrow's ordeal.
There is one glimmer of hope for me though. I've discovered that I can take my mind off the torturous anticipation, even if it's just for a little while, by going through a list of all the fine photographic products I might choose from to help balance myself and offset my trauma, after the fact, from the slings and arrows of outrageous dental anxiety.
I have one thing in mind already but it's rather pricey and wholly unnecessary. But as my friend, Paul, quipped when I talked it over with him, "When did that ever stop you?"
So, who here has had this sort of brush with dentistry lately? And how well did you survive it?
Oh, the unfairness of life. Who would have thought that there is specific karma for not flossing as often as you're instructed?
Ah well. We'll be through with that saga by lunch time, but the sour memory will continue through the day since I'll be nerve blocked and constrained to eating only bland and non-chewy food like yogurt until the numbness subsides.
Signed, Petrified with fear in Austin. KT
Hey. I figured if MJ can complain about the rigors and desperation of learning to type correctly I can certainly splash out my deepest fears as well....
21 comments:
My last one was totally pain free. I never knew when they used a needle to inject the numbing meds. They first just touched my gum with a small wad of cotton on a stick. That numbed the area where they stuck the needle. I couldn’t see it and didn’t know that they had done it.
You're lucky freezing works on you. Not me. Went for years white knuckling it. All was well until they hit a nerve then they would have to scrap me off the ceiling.
My dentist had this new fangle freezing he wanted to try on me. I said sure why not, what do I have to loose. Well it gave me lock jaw! I couldn't open my mouth for a week! Had to take all nutrition through a straw. NOT FUN! And very painful. I'm sure he got it from a horse vet lol.
Back to the white knuckles for me.
I am sure your procedure will go very smoothly. Just concentrate on that new lens you get to fondle after it's all over.
Eric
Eric, can I think about a camera body instead of a lens? Just asking....
I had a root canal a few years ago. It failed after about three years and I had to have the tooth pulled anyway. So I could have saved 1400 bucks if I had had the tooth pulled to begin with. Just consider having it pulled. It is far less agonizing than the root canal. Of course this would depend where the tooth is......
Got a couple of them; not my favorite way to spend time, but the last was at least a decade ago, so I presume that techniques might have advanced since then.
My last crown was interesting. A DDM with a fascination for lasers, he took (he said) laser pictures of the subject tooth and the surroundings, then did some work to prep the tooth, took pictures of the "stump," then had me sit in the chair for about an hour while a machine in the back room built up my new tooth. Ceramic 3D printing, maybe? When cemented in place, it just needed a slight in-mouth sanding of high spots. In one morning!
Have had two and fell asleep in the chair both times. Odds are you'll probably have to have the tooth pulled in a few years as they tend to weaken after the root's been removed and wind up cracking and becoming infected. Make sure he does a thorough check for cracks before doing the procedure so you're not back in a few months for an extraction.
.... and I'm all in favour of rewards anytime.😃
Counter to some of the others' experiences, I have crowns that were put in around 1976 when I was in my late 20s. Still doing fine. I told the dentist I was nervous and he gave me what he called a "cocktail" to drink a few minutes before I went in. The room had a glass wall looking out on a field of bluebonnets, and I had a great time.
In contrast, my oldest uncle had a story about dentistry in the old days.
My uncle was a teen growing up on a Texas farm in the 1920s. His uncle was a dentist, and every summer the dentist would come and spend a week for a family visit. He would bring a portable dentist chair, set up under a shade tree in the back yard and do all the family dental work.
One year my uncle had a molar that needed to be pulled. Before he got into the chair the dentist asked him to take off his belt and also began to take off his own belt. My uncle thought this was strange, but went along with it.
Once he was in the chair the dentist said, “Don’t worry, this won’t hurt too much.”
Then he took the belts and began tying my uncle’s arms to the chair.
I agree with you about the needle, but it beats the alternative.
It’s the anticipation that causes the real pain. I’d suggest at the moment the dental specialist moves in with the needle to flash on the visualization of the gem of a lens or camera body you’ve decided to reward yourself with. (maybe both?) In that instant your brain will be so overwhelmed with the anticipation of having the chosen gift in your hands that when you return to the present moment at hand you’ll wonder what this strange person is doing in your mouth and it will all be over. I wish you well Kirk. And enjoy your gift!
I actually had three root canals on the same tooth...long story. In any case, the first one, in the late sixties, by an incompetent horse's ass, hurt. All the others (two more on that oooh, another on another tooth) didn't hurt at all. The modern dentist hits your gum line with a topical anesthetic, and then, artfully concealing the needle from you, gives you the big shot. That will numb everything up to your nose, which is disconcerting, but not painful. And, when it all wears off, nothing hurts. I'd rather have a root canal from a modern endodontist than a filling from a regular dentist.
My three root canal tooth eventually failed, was pulled and replaced with an implant. That didn't hurt, either.
Breathe deeply and focus on relaxing your hands; those are my stress focal points during dental work. Two canals and I'm your age, not nearly dead yet (Pfizer 2nd shot on Thursday).
I like what the L-mount conspiracy is creating, but my budget won't be in that league for some time. Love the S5 size but the S1 screens more; if only you had placed your mark on that used copy near you, maybe the IRS would allow me to claim it as a gambling loss..
My friend is a dentist and like John mentioned uses a small dob of local anaesthetic where the needle goes. That plus a small gauge needle and you don’t feel anything....mind you new camera gear is a strong motivator.
I solved the dentist problem a good few years ago: I stopped going. Since then, everything's been fine!
The worst pain I've ever had in my life was dental pain. Had two root canals on the same tooth within a week of each other because the first one didn't work. My only advise is, if offered, take the gas. Breathe deeply and things will be much more pleasant.
I've had a number of root canals over the years and only one stands out. A badly infected tooth that was so incredibly painful in waves that I had to stop the car multiple times on the way to the endodontist. The pain was second only to kidney stones. The endo deadened the gum with some industrial strength ambesol and then the novocaine. I was much relieved immediately.
In these parts, no more nitrous oxide gas is being used. I loved that stuff.
I've had two root canals and the anesthetic failed midway through, both times. Anticipation of the second one was bettered only by confirmation that it was as bad as expected.
The developers of novocaine and its ilk are some of the great unsung benefactors of mankind.
By this time I imagine the procedure will be finished. You will be happy that it is over with and start to relax. If needed a couple of aspirin or similar will be all you need for the mild pain that remains.
I'v had one root canal in my life. I had heard the of the trials by pain. Things have changed in endo land. Presently the shot, the actual procedure is if not painless close to it.
Helped I took two tiny pills that took all anxiety and awareness away for the length of the procedure. Yeah, i'm a believer in whatever works to reduce stress.
Hope you are feeling well, back to swimming and of course Precision Camera.
Sadly, I’ve been watching the progress of root canal technology first hand for almost 40 years. It used to be torture, but now I find the worst part is keeping my mouth open for the duration of the procedure (the dentist props it open with some appliance). I don’t enjoy the injection, but the numbing gel on the gum helps. My wife gets nitrous oxide before the injection, which she swears by.
Depending on the damage to your tooth, you may (or may not) need a crown or an implant sooner or later (hopefully later). Neither one bothers me much anymore, for much the same reasons - technology that makes a difference.
Yes of course dreaming of fondling a "camera" body is allowed, and encouraged.
Eric
All done. Happy patient. No mind altering assistance required. The endodontist was absolutely amazing. She delivered Lidocaine so gently I almost cried tears of joy. Once we got through the numbing injection my anxiety dissipates nearly completely. The procedure took about 40 minutes and we're done. There were ultra-sonic things and UV things and, my favorite, her optical magnification tool was made by Leica. Sad to realize that the fee for service ( this IS the USA, right?) was equal to the purchase price of a Lumix S-Pro 16-35mm lens. The only real downside....
Here's to keeping all my teeth for as long as I can!!! Cheers.
Be true to your teeth and they won't be false to you.
Thanks to the quirks of genetics, I have had a far too frequent experiences with root canals. I have noticed with dental work in general that the shots are much less problematic. It seems that there is not as much difference as you would thing between older and younger dentists, I have a dentist that is very near retirement that is really good at shots, and her replacement is fresh out of school are a double residency and both are equally painless. Perhaps the smaller guage needles are the key.
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