D Day (Dentist Day) Monday Morning.

You might remember my panicky post a couple weeks ago when I developed an infection near a tooth with a temporary filling. I'm still on the antibiotics from my doctor. Tomorrow, Monday morning, at 8:30 am I see the dentist.

I have no idea if the dragonlady booked enough time to actually work on the crown preparation, or just what he'll do, but I really hope he'll get on with it, because this waiting is killing me.

Positive: I'm getting to see him.

Negative: 8:30 a.m. appointment. Mornings are just the absolute WORST. (I'm sure most of you understand this.)

Positive: I was able to buy some dental insurance, an indemnity plan, that starts August 1st. That will help with the second broken molar - which also needs a crown, and the two fillings that he said I'd need (20 months ago.)

Negative: I have a childhood fear of dentists due to a frightening dentist I saw as a child.

Negative: Major fear of medicines including novacaine etc since I'm so allergic to so much and also get chronic hives. I don't think the pain worries me nearly as much as the prospect of swelling up and dying. *eye roll* I really would like to shed that phobia!

Positive: I am doing fairly well keeping my conscious mind calm.

Negative: However, my subconscious is whammy-ing me about it by giving me flare symptoms that I haven't experienced for at least a year. Muscle twitches all over, vague pains, joint pains, light headedness ... in addition to my standard stuff Geez. How I could do without stress.

Any happy thoughts you could send my way for tomorrow morning would be greatly appreciated.

My dentist naked? Ack! LOL

Thanks, Shirley. I appreciate that.

Changing negatives to positives.

 

Since you have a morning appointment, you don't have to think about it all day long.  You will be home before lunchtime and it will be over for you.

 

Dentistry has improved by leaps and bounds over the years.  What happened to you as a child would probably not happen today.  Dentistry is practically painless.

 

I don't take novocaine.  I request a non-allergentic form and it works just as good as novocaine but I don't get the heart palpitations.

 

You shouldn't get a flare from a dental visit.  I've got more crowns than Queen Elizabeth and have never gotten a flare from dental work so don't accept that negative thought.  YOU be in control.

 

I'm sure your appointment will go far better than you can imagine.  I'm really happy that you were able to get some dental insurance.  I will help take the "sting" out of the bill.  Be sure to let us know how things went for you.

 

Sherrine

Thank you, Minny. Sorry to hear you had similar issues lately. Knee replacement? You're a real trooper. LOL @ the famiily secrets. :D

Thanks, Sherrine. That helped, too! I'll be sure to check in when I'm finished.

Thanks, Dagger, those are good suggestions.

Guess I better try for some sleep pretty soon. 'Night everyone.

Hi everyone, I'm home already and it is only 9:30 a.m. He put a temporary filling on again and took x-rays. He said there is no infection that he can see in there now, nor on the x-rays. However, he wants me to finish my antibiotics (end Wednesday night I think?) and see what happens in the days following. He said if the infection comes back, it might mean the root would be infected or dead. If it doesn't, it means it was just food getting caught under the gum causing a lesser infection. If it is the root - well - that's root canal AND crown (VERY expensive he said) or extraction because it isn't a vital tooth. If it doesn't get re-infected, we can go ahead with just the crown safely. So I have to play wait and see a while yet.

Things I don't know: I don't know how to decide about extraction vs root canal. I also better call and find out what I should do if I have a problem when he's closed. He is close Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Part of me is happy I didn't have to go through it today, the other part of me is sad that I'll have to get ready all over again. But - it is what it is - and I'll try to just roll with it.

The dragonlady was actually friendly toward me. I just rolled with that. I didn't expect it.

Livenlaugh - I'll be thinking of you Thursday. Give us all a shout if you want some encouragement. You see how nice everyone was for me. :)

I'm glad your appointment went as well as it did. Like you, my fear of dentists goes way beyond the norm; so much so that I waited literally years before finding one that would both listen and serve my needs concerning this nearly paralyzing fear I have. Now, having had more work done on my mouth than I care to remember, I will offer you this; like your dentist said, "it isn't a vital tooth." And, as long as it isn't located in the front, I would suggest an extraction and no, not because of the cost, as much as this would solve the dilemma of yours ie., having to go to the dentist/specialist (for this problem) at least two more times; the time involved with healing (much shorter than a root canal), the extra pain medication you'll find you need to take (and who really wants to swallow more pills than they have to), and lastly because you would be less-likely to find yourself in this same predicament somewhere down the road, (another infection).

So, there's my two-cents worth of advice, and I hope it's been of some value to you. I'm thinking of you, AKMamaBear

When I had the abcess in my wisdom tooth my dentist said that it needed to be pulled.  I told him I spent all of my life saving my teeth and that I was afraid they could shift on me if he pulled it, since I knew what happened to my mother.  He did agree with me and we did the root canal and the crown.  I think dentists are so used to having to pull wisdom teeth that he wasn't thinking.  I have a small mouth and had teeth pulled for braces so I wanted to hang on to my teeth.  I do have all four wisdom teeth and glad of it.

 

Sherrine