Dentist

[growler_south]

Visited the dentist last night to have 2 small fillings. My dentist is lovely, we get along really well- she realises Im not squeamish and I like to know whats going on, so while she's drilling and prodding she's talking about what she's doing, stream-of-consciousness like. Its not so great when I hear crunch "Fuck." but otherwise its neat...

She was telling me about how most of her patients ask for local anaesthetic for any sort of filling work. My fillings involved maybe 5 minutes of drilling, with a couple of mild twinges that felt like a momentary icecream headache- I cant imagine why I would want to bother with anaesthetic for such a minor twinge. Am I some sort of freak who feels less pain in my teeth than everyone else? or are the general population unable/unwilling to move on from their childhood fear of dentists?

Comments

[pa747sp.livejournal.com]

My Dentist used a high pressure sand blasting thingy instead of a drill - no pain at all , and no need for anesthetics.

Interestingly, I concur with you on the pain thing - I have had dental work done without the help of drugs, and the pain isnt that bad. You just have to tell yourself that it isnt real, but merely a signal in your brain.

Another bit of trivia. Seems I am very resistant to anesthetics. When I had my tonsils out, the anesthetist did the usual - inject, get the sap to count to 10, proceed when they drop off somewhere about 4. Except I didnt. At 20 I asked if I should keep going. Err, no. Lets just give you a little bit more. 20 came round again, and Im still clearly in this world. Another little injection, and oblivion descended. Afterwards the nurse said the anesthetis had said he had never had to use 3 doses before.