(no subject)

[corilannam]

Remember the guy on Alias, the small Asian man with the round glasses who likes torturing people by wrenching out their teeth in creative ways? He's apparently gone into private practice in Maryland, and today I got to play the role of Sydney Bristow this afternoon when I went in to find out why I was in constant agony from my back molar.

Turns out the thing had cracked right in half, necessitating its removal. The dentist (who did not change facial expression the entire time) asked me if I'd like to go ahead and do that now. Why no, said I, I was really just curious, and I'd much rather go home and savor the agony for a few more days.

No, actually, once I made sure he wasn't kidding, I said, yes, please, go ahead and do it now. So he squirted a very nasty-tasting liquid onto the tooth to numb the area and then went in with a crow bar.

Now, it might seem to those of you who have had, say, any kind of dental procedure at all, that a mild topical anaesthetic would not be sufficient for the extraction of an actual tooth. You would be correct, though the point seemed lost on my dentist until I started screaming. "Oh, you can feel that?" he says.

"Er, yes, sort of," I choke out.

So he squirts a little more nasty stuff on my gums, waits a few minutes, then goes in with the crowbar again. "You can still feel it?" he says when I scream again.

"Ayup," I say, and realize that I'm shaking and tears are running down my face, and remember why I've avoided dentists since I got my braces off when I was 14.

The third time wasn't much better, but I just squeezed my eyes shut and let him get on with it. The pain was pretty bad, but I think the worst part was the sound of the roots ripping out of the gum. Shudder.

Fortunately, chelseafrew was there to soothe me and take me to shop for applesauce and mac 'n' cheese afterward. Now I've had a nap and comfort food and a two-year-old Vicodin, and I'm feeling much better as I chill out with Stargate Monday. The icon is in honor of the current episode, which marks the beginning of Thor's ongoing courtship of Jack O'Neill. The little grey guy is so cute when he comes a-wooin'.

Comments

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

Oh, OW. Poor you. *pets*

Stay home tomorrow if you need to, okay?

-J

[widget285.livejournal.com]

/pets you and sends you a virtual bottle of vicodin

Sorry about the tooth pain but at least you've got Stargate--and Jack/Thor goodness, no less--to distract you. Hope yopu feel better soon.

[mrshamill.livejournal.com]

Jesus God. That guy sounds like a sadist of the first stripe. And I can relate -- I went to the dentist twice as a kid (last time at about 12), and the second time the guy punctured my soft palate with the needle because he was so ticked - how DARE I scream and cry when all he was doing was excavating a filling!

Took me 17 years to face a dentist again, and then I went for referrals from friends and found one who 'catered to cowards' and was willing to give me gas to clean my teeth. Honest.

They're out there... find a good one and report that jackass to the ADA for being unnecessarily rough on you! Meanwhile, enjoy the drugs and videos and pamper yourself, you deserve it after that.

[epeeblade]

What the hell? He removed an infected tooth with only a topical? That's insane!!!! WTF was wrong with that guy?

I've been going to the same Dentist since I was a little kid and I love him. I've had quite a few teeth extracted (wisdom teeth, a baby tooth that wouldn't leave) and they've always used a shot of novicane.

I am so sorry. *hugs*

[minnaleigh.livejournal.com]

Ouch! That sounds awful! Take care of yourself.

[thalia]

My sympathies on the dentist. My dentist knows better than to do *anything* to me without both novocaine and laughing gas. I'm a total wuss. Hope your mouth is better soon.

Thor's ongoing courtship of Jack O'Neill

Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!! You have seen Carol S.'s "Something to Talk About" vid, right?

[noelql.livejournal.com]

***HUGS***

Seriously, you need a new dentist. While I hate the dentist completely, my dentist here gave me novacaine just to clean my teeth earlier this year. I can't believe your guy didn't at least do that! Bad dentist! No biscuit!!

***HUGS***

[astolat]

Holy $@#%!!!! Dude, that is one seriously sick and/or incompetent guy. Not to mention that these days there are often ways for an endodontic specialist to repair a cracked tooth. :( Er, not that that's comforting to hear right now -- but seriously, once the pain wears off, shop around and find yourself a good dentist instead. It's worth the minor pains of cleaning every six months to have someone you know and trust and who knows you when something major hits.

[vickita.livejournal.com]

Eep. When I was about eleven, I had to lose two permanent teeth (long story short: my eye teeth did not develop, so to keep my bite in balance, two teeth on the bottom had to be extracted, and then there was orthodontia). Thank God I had a good dentist, and I was thoroughly anesthetized, but I remember that sound still to this day. Gaaaaaaaah.

::sends healing vibes::

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon. I didn't stay home, though I'm beginning to realize that I probably should have. Story of my life. *g*

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Thanks! The Jack/Thor happiness makes me feel much less pain -- not as much less as the vicodin, but still. It helps. *g*

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Ack! That sounds like a horrible experience. No wonder so many of us can't stand to see dentists as adults, when they're so cruel to children.

I've been hearing radio ads for a practice that does "sedation dentistry," where they just knock you out and then take care of everything while you're unconscious. This is sounding like the kind of dentistry I'm interested in. *g*

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the hugs. I have no idea what was wrong with this guy, but clearly you've had way better luck on the dentist front than I have! *g*

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm just glad to have it done with, mostly.

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, of course. That's a classic. *g*

And I'm a totaly dental wuss, too. I just need to find a dentist who's willing to indulge me. *g*

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this dentist was kind of a jackass. Was not impressed with him at all. Must find guy who will give me novacaine just to talk to me, if necessary. *g*

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm definitely going to look around for someone competent. My coworkers have been clamoring all morning to give me recommendations. I figure, if I start looking now, I'll have found the perfect guy by the time I have the next emergency. *g*

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that sound is just unforgettable, isn't it. Ugh. Never want to hear that again.

Thanks for the good vibes!