A few weeks ago, I was flossing and managed to pop out a filling on a molar. Didn't hurt, but it was uncomfortable to chew. I put in some of that temporary filling stuff, but it only lasts a few days at best and food would constantly get jammed between the teeth, making the gum sore as hell.
The soonest I could get the appointment was today, which kind of sucked because at the time I made the appointment, I had insurance. Now, I'm temporarily self insured during my probationary period at he new job. "Worst case scenario" was described to me as being $100 less than what it really ended up costing. Apparently, she didn't think it'd be THAT worse case. Oh well, not the end of the world.
Appointment was for 4:30. At 5:30, I was still in the waiting room. Dr. didn't see me until around 6:15. He was very, very behind and even asked me if I really needed to get the tooth filled today, which I said yes. I don't waste wasted waiting times if I can help it.
Then comes the part I fear the most – Novocain. Or Xylocain, or whatever it's called these days. Hate the stuff. The shot doesn't bother me, but the numbness is unbearable for me. While the latest stuff is supposed to wear off in an hour, it never does for me. I always get to look for hours upon hours of disgusting numbness which tends to interfere with my ability to swallow. So, if at all possible, and tonight was possible, I skip the stuff.
I don't forgo anesthesia because I'm tough. In fact, it's almost the opposite. I cannot stand the numbness. I dislike that sensation more than I dislike the pain. And remember I told you it was $100 more than they thought it would be? That's because the filling was huge, and very near the nerve.
Let's just say there were quite a few "Wow. I almost shit myself" moments.
However, I applaud my dentist. He didn't screw around, stopping every 30 seconds to ask if I was ok. He just went in there, drilled out what he needed and got 'er dun. I know I flinched quite a few times and he backed off right as I did, however I wish he hadn't. The worst part is when it starts. Once it's hurting, I can deal with it by tuning it out. It's that jolt that gets you. When they'd hit it with air to dry out the hole, those were the times I was glad I was wearing pants because I truly thought I was going to need them for containment purposes.
But here's the rub. The instant the drill / air is removed, the pain is gone. I hopped out of the chair, came home, and ate. With whatever-a-cain, I'd have been able to eat around 2 AM. Worth the trade for me.
Of course, I could have used the shot in my wallet. That's where the real pain is.