So, Today...

[rolanni]

...started 'way too early. Around 3:30 a.m. actually, when I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. Nestled companionably between kinzel and Mozart, I drowsed, forcibly not thinking about the 9:30 dental appointment, and eventually fell back to sleep around 5:30.

At 9:30, I arrived at the dentist's office, Valiumed to the eyebrows, and toting Toebear, whose job it was to protect the dentist's life. He accomplished his mission wonderfully; the root canal(s)and core buildup of the tooth that has been making my life a misery and burden for the past Really Long While was accomplished without loss of life. Half my head is still numb from the two shots of Novacaine (or whatever it is they use nowadays), and I am richer by an appointment for a crown fitting -- in two weeks -- and another -- to superglue the Actual Crown to the tooth -- in mid-June.

...and that should be that.

Have I mentioned that I hate and fear dentists? But let it be said that Peter Laliberte's staff is wonderful. Everyone seemed amused by the bear (one tech wanted to know if I change his tie for holidays/seasons), and at one point, when I was left alone while the second shot of anesthesia took effect, came by to offer a blanket. I don't think I've ever been offered a blanket in a dental office before. Certainly, I have never experienced such care that the procedure went forward with no unavoidable pain.

So -- not the Most Fun Day on record, but manymany times better than it could have been.

Comments

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

I have had one root canal. I also fear dentists. When my regular dentist of those days, who knew me well, told me I had to get a root canal, she and her staff assured me that I could bike both to the root canal guy and home again, that's how easy it was.

So, to pump myself up, I did indeed bike to my root canal. And the specialist was so great, and it proceeded - as you say - with no unavoidable pain, that I had no trouble biking home from it.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't have attempted biking to and from a root canal. I'm such a wimp, I can't tolerate getting my teeth cleaned without the intercession of Valium. Um. Let's just say that I grew up in a family that thought Hardship built Character. But I did not try to kill anyone (this is Toebear's function -- hands on the bear, not on the dentist), and my mouth only aches a very little today. Win-win.

Phew.

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

I'm very much a dentist wimp. I was so scared of having the root canal that biking there (and home) was my form, I guess, of taking a teddy bear instead. I do'nt recommend it to everyone. And I swear half my face was numb for the rest of the day afterward.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

As someone who fears dentistry and as someone who had to have six months and three thousand dollars of remedial dentistry as a result of putting it off, you have my sympathy and my admiration for not killing anyone. A good dentist is worth his or her weight in cantra.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear that the dentist and his staff took such good care of you. And kudos to Toebear for a fine job.

[schulman.livejournal.com]

Have you considered bringing a Walkman or mp3 player to listen to while you're in the chair? Listening to my iPod gives me something to concentrate on other than the smoke and whine and the needle that looks long enough to come out the other side of my cheek.

Not that I, um, have any dental phobias or anything.

[(Anonymous)]

My dentist has hired a few folks to give hand and arm massages while you are getting worked on. It's really difficult to pay attention to both people. Almost annoying, except that it feels good.

Jeff

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Don't got no Walkman. Don't got no MP3 player. I do have a boombox, but I don't have an earbud for it. This is why Ghod gave us Valium.

[schulman.livejournal.com]

Hey, if I had Valium (or, for that matter, arm and hand massages), I wouldn't need no iPod.

[jennifer-dunne.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear that the the procedure went well, and the most difficult part is now behind you. And congratulations to Toebear, on a job well done.

[ellayn.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you have a wonderful staff. Have we seen a photo of the intrepid Toebear?

My dentist's assistant massages your shoulder during Novacaine shots. As previously mentioned, this distracts the brain and makes it less stressful. (While I don't enjoy shots in general, I have no problem with the run-of-the-mill injections as long as I don't watch. I loathe dental shots with a passion.)

I also second the suggestion to listen to music. My dentist used to offer the use of a portable tape player and headphones, with a range of music types available. I was known for bringing my own tape. In his new office, there are televisions mounted on the ceiling. One can watch from a selection of channels, including the Discovery channel, or a movie. Again, I brought my own DVD -- which pleased the young girl being seen at the same time, as she also got to watch Ice Age.

I just hope I can find as good a dentist here in Georgia. One of the worst things about moving is finding new professionals, when one has spent years finding just the right match in the previous locale.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to do a stuffie pix page, so ya'll can see Toebear and Hassan the Assassin and Tatsuko the dragon and the rest of them. Soon....

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Glad it went smoothly, and hope there are NO problems along the way. My dentist also has blankets, a joy most days.

Getting massaged during a dental visit would probably annoy me--I'd be grading the technique, no way around it.

I'm still having trouble with my last one. The one before was built too high and cracked, causing months of pain. But I'm not allowed to hate dentists--my dad was one.

Just BAD dentists.

Those of you with good root canal experiences--treasure them!