Sillygirl - how was the dentist?

[pb&j]

How'd it go? Feeling good about your pearly-whites?


-Ry,
mom to Emma, stillborn 11/04/04
and Max, 01/05/06

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/32244.gif
http://b1.lilypie.com/aKGqm5/.png[/img] ([img)

[boogiemom]

I've been thinking about you too! Please let us know how you are doing.

[mommy_someday]

Katie, I hope it was a bearable experience for you - if not a good one! Thinking of you,

[mudder17]

I hope you were able to make it through the dental appointment okay! Thinking of you!

Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif for Leah
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif

http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_-6_Kaya+is.png
Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[Sillygirl]

Heh. Y'all are awesome. I knew if I bolted out of the chair I'd have to fess up about it here, so I stayed put.

My brain did try, though. I "forgot" my insurance card in my other wallet. Turns out I can print myself a new one online, though. So I showed up on time and insured.

Everyone there was very nice and understanding. I had a little bit of panic while they were taking the X-rays - having to bite down on the film caused me to feel like I was choking - but I took some deep breaths.

I was so stressed looking, though, that they sent in a dentist to talk to me about conscious sedation options. And here's where the perfect storm hit. I'm dental phobic, true. But I'm also frugal, cheap, tight with a dime - whatever epithet my family prefers. So when they offered me drug-induced know-nothing sleep, but mentioned it would cost me $250 out of pocket, I had some tough choices to make.

Turns out my teeth and gums are in pretty good shape, even though I haven't seen a dentist in (shhh) five years. All I need is a cleaning, two fillings replaced, and a tiny little cavity filled. I think a big portion of my anxiety was that I was sure I was going to need gum surgery or root canals. They promised me lots of numbing spray and lidocaine.

What with everyone being so solicitous, and nobody using that sharp little poking thing to do more than touch my teeth, I felt much better. Unfortunately, all that talking took all my appointment time. So I have an appointment to go back for the cleaning and the fillings. Truly, I feel so much better. I'll never enjoy the dentist, and appointment day is always going to be the worst day of the month, but I know I can head back in two weeks with no problem.

I promised them I'd floss every day, and I truly will try to acquire this habit. Thanks to everyone for all your support! It really did mean a lot. I realize this is kind of anticlimactic, since I haven't actually had the procedure yet. But I feel 100% better - the hardest part was getting there and hearing the verdict.

[mudder17]

Yay!!! Good for you Katie!!! I have to admit, I'm on the frugal side to, so you're not alone! :)


Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif for Leah
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif

http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_-6_Kaya+is.png
Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[pb&j]

Hooray!! Did they give you a free toothbrush? My DH also went to the dentist today, and they gave him a whole baggie full of stuff. Boy am I jealous. ;)



-Ry,
mom to Emma, stillborn 11/04/04
and Max, 01/05/06

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/32812.gif
http://b1.lilypie.com/aKGqm5/.png[/img] ([img)

[Sillygirl]

Toothbrush AND floss! Score!

[psophia17]

Thanks to your good influence, I flossed both yesterday AND today...we can start a trend ;)

[hez]

I'm so glad it went as well as it could-- and I wish you well when you go back for the cleaning & fillings.

[Sillygirl]

My updated siggie, inspired by Petra.

[Saartje]

I'm glad it went well. Good for you for facing your fear and coming out all right on the other side.

[KBecks]

Yay, so proud of you for making it through the appointment! Good going!

Are you splitting up the cleaning and the fillings? Just wanted to suggest that if you can do them separate, it might be helpful to do a few shorter appointments than one big session all at once. It depends on your schedule and how you prefer to do it, but I tend to think that a few shorter appointments will allow you to escape faster and also to have more positive experiences. Anway, I like going to the dentist just fine, but spending an hour or more in the chair gets to be draining, sometimes it's hard to have someone in your mouth for that long, KWIM? I don't know how long it takes in total, I'm guessing 1/2 hourish for the cleaning, and 1/2 hourish for each filling, but maybe it goes faster than that, I haven't had a filling in a while, and don't remember all the specifics.

ETA: Even though they cost more, I tend to like the white fillings rather than silver. Lots of opinions out there on what's best and what's most eco-human-friendly, you may want to look into it, but please, stay calm!!

Anyway, kudos to you for taking care of your teeth, and for flossing!

[Sillygirl]

I have to find a friend to cover my pager any time I'm out during the day, so I'd rather get it all done at once. Apparently this dentist is quite speedy and I'm slated for no more than an hour's worth of work.

It's so strange; compared to how nervous I was yesterday, I feel completely calm contemplating this upcoming appointment. They really were very understanding and gentle. There probably will be some pain but I know I'll be able to handle it. They've really won my confidence that they'll take care of me. So different from my last dentist visit!

[proggoddess]

The biggest plus for me was getting a free Sonicare electric toothbrush from the dentist. (Well, he gave it to DH, but we just use our own individual toothbrush heads on the same handle.) I had chronic gingivitis since I was 7 until I started using this toothbrush. (Even flossing didn't help me much.) Now the hygenist compliments me on how little work she has to do.

I hear that the Crest spinbrush and similar inexpensive electric toothbrushes have been clinically shown to reduce gingivitis and plaque. And they're only like $6.

The other thing my dentist did for me was seal all my back teeth. Insurance covered it because my dentist marked them down as "fillings." Normally insurance only covers sealants for kids. Now I don't have to worry about my back teeth getting cavities for 5-10 years!

I'm glad your dentist visit went much better than you were expecting!

[psophia17]

If you ever move to upstate NY, I have a dentist referral for you...I am waiting to go to the dentist until I go back for a visit, he's that good :)

[KBecks]

So you're probably in good shape. Do ask for a break if you need one though! I was thinking of you today at the beginning of my appt. the hygenist and I had a great discussion about parenting little boys, in between the work being done.

[MommyAllison]

I just wanted to mention an amazing floss product! My dentist gave me one w/my toothbrush a few years ago and I went from never flossing to flossing every day! (Could have been partly inspired by my embarassing number of cavities found at that visit, but we won't talk about that :) ) It looks like a toothbrush with a little flosser head, made by Reach. The flosser heads are disposable, but the handle makes flossing sooo simple. You can find them w/the toothbrushes in any grocery/drugstore. Between that and my Sonicare, I have had happy dentist visits. :) Here's a picture of what it looks like:

http://www.reachaccess.com/images/home/home_13.jpg

Here is a link for a free sample starter pack:
http://www.reachaccess.com/sample_accept_decline.htm

HTH any reluctant flossers out there!

Allison
http://b1.lilypie.com/XvRAm8/.png (http://lilypie.com)