My day was a bit al dente
Jun. 17th, 2004 05:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
weaktwosSo, I went to my “root canal consultation”. I envisioned that this would be a few minutes of probing and prodding followed up by an xray or two.
Instead, they were ready to do the root canal on the spot.
Apparently, my dentist conferred with the Endodontics doctor just before my appointment, and they freed up time for me to have it done right away.
What a surprise that was!
I was denied my opportunity of days of hand-wringing anxiety over the pending doom of being under the drill.
I guess that was a good thing.
It really wasn’t that bad. In fact, it was quite interesting.
The first thing about the root canal is that it’s best you don’t have some raging, puss-ridden infection beforehand. For they won’t do the root canal if you have a nasty infection. The second thing is that Novocaine is your friend. It’s a wonderful thing. Despite the fact that the needle inserted into your gum looks foreboding, it’s one big stainless steel injection of pain-hiding love. Everyone take a moment of silence to thank Alfred Einhorn, who brought Novocaine into the field of dentristry in 1905. It was originally intended for military use, but it took off in dentistry.
Once you’re numb, everything is like butta. The procedure takes about an hour and a half. The downside is that your jaw is open for all that time, but it’s okay, you’ll be too busy being fascinated with all the implements going into your mouth.
Drill bits. Magnificently menacing drill bits went into my mouth to ream out the four infected canals under tooth #30. Did I care? No! Novocaine saw me through. I was fascinated. I only wish I could have seen what my molar looked like with a whole in it. Throughout the drilling, which did not hurt; it was merely noisy, they put disinfectant in the canals. They then dry out the canals and fill it with a resin/rubber substance, and proceed to melt it with a little heating element. There are also miniscule files involved to shave down and shape the holes in your canal.
Then they take a few more xrays to make sure it looks kosher, and it’s time to seal the tooth with a temporary filling. Next week, I’ll make an appointment with my regular dentist to replace the filling with a more permanent one.
So, my day took an unexpected twist. I’m glad it is over. I just hope it heals it for good.
Instead, they were ready to do the root canal on the spot.
Apparently, my dentist conferred with the Endodontics doctor just before my appointment, and they freed up time for me to have it done right away.
What a surprise that was!
I was denied my opportunity of days of hand-wringing anxiety over the pending doom of being under the drill.
I guess that was a good thing.
It really wasn’t that bad. In fact, it was quite interesting.
The first thing about the root canal is that it’s best you don’t have some raging, puss-ridden infection beforehand. For they won’t do the root canal if you have a nasty infection. The second thing is that Novocaine is your friend. It’s a wonderful thing. Despite the fact that the needle inserted into your gum looks foreboding, it’s one big stainless steel injection of pain-hiding love. Everyone take a moment of silence to thank Alfred Einhorn, who brought Novocaine into the field of dentristry in 1905. It was originally intended for military use, but it took off in dentistry.
Once you’re numb, everything is like butta. The procedure takes about an hour and a half. The downside is that your jaw is open for all that time, but it’s okay, you’ll be too busy being fascinated with all the implements going into your mouth.
Drill bits. Magnificently menacing drill bits went into my mouth to ream out the four infected canals under tooth #30. Did I care? No! Novocaine saw me through. I was fascinated. I only wish I could have seen what my molar looked like with a whole in it. Throughout the drilling, which did not hurt; it was merely noisy, they put disinfectant in the canals. They then dry out the canals and fill it with a resin/rubber substance, and proceed to melt it with a little heating element. There are also miniscule files involved to shave down and shape the holes in your canal.
Then they take a few more xrays to make sure it looks kosher, and it’s time to seal the tooth with a temporary filling. Next week, I’ll make an appointment with my regular dentist to replace the filling with a more permanent one.
So, my day took an unexpected twist. I’m glad it is over. I just hope it heals it for good.
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Date: 2004-06-17 05:26 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2004-06-17 09:20 pm (UTC)well, the not having to agonize is awesome, that is always the worst part for me. i get myself worked up and scared. so yay it is over!
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