The Dentist...

[orbsycli]

So I just got back from the dentist, and half of my face is numb.
They gave me 3x the amount of shots normally, because I could feel the pain of the drill.
And to be descriptive, they even injected me through the roof of my mouth.
Anyway, I was lying there with my eyes and fists clenched, thinking to myself.
Was the pain all in my head?
Another question.
I left, and got into my car.
Driving down a 1 lane road with no median, I found myself swirving, and losing my focus on the road.
Did the anestetics(sp?) themselves actually have an affect on me like that? Or was it just that I was shaken up from getting 3 fillings and being extremely uncalm for an hour and a half?
*sigh, flossing is so hard to get into.

[IrishEyes]

*sigh, flossing is so hard to get into.

it is one of the joys of my day now, mainly due to the hope that it will reduce any future time i may need to spend in the chair of my dentist. after watching some of my children go through seemingly endless dental visits while others endure little more than routine yearly exams, i am still at a loss. they have various dental hygiene programs, but it seems that the ones that are most concerned with their teeth, and spend the most time making sure their teeth are clean, are the ones that spend the most amount of time in the chair. the ones least interested in their dental health rarely need more than a fluoride treatment. not fair at all, i say! and further, the ones that eat the most candy are the ones with the best teeth. it makes no sense. in my family, it seems that every dental stereotype is opposite.
i think that trips to the dentist are little different than giving birth, in relation to pain. you will feel as much pain, or as little, as you expect to feel, and you will handle it accordingly. I have had the same procedure done on different sides of my mouth, one with one shot, one with 4 shots. the one shot filling was something that i was mentally prepared for, and was quite calm. the 4 shot procedure was another story. the same can be said for childbirth experiences. i have had a few of them with NO pain medication, a few with minimal meds, and one with demerol (ah, i can still remember the bliss of that one!). never had an epidural, too scared of needles near my spine. my pain tolerance is not necessarily 'high' though - i cry when i get splinters. i think most of it has to do with how much pain i am expecting, how much i am mentally prepared for, and how much i actually experience. does this make sense?

[IrishEyes]

by the by...
sorry to hear about the pain. it sucks, no matter what you were expecting, or prepared to deal with. dentists should have to endure at least one kick to the face with a steel-toed boot per year, just to keep them honest!

[orbsycli]

cheers to that one!!
i'm still curious about the anestetics though...

[IrishEyes]

depends on the drugs, but normally, no, they shouldn't have that sort of affect on you.
it is something you should mention the next time you visit your dentist. they should have a very localized affect, that should not include dizziness or blurred vision, unless they were administered incorrectly. of course, a dozen other factors come into play... how much sleep did you get? were you honest about your weight? did you have breakfast/lunch this morning? are you on any other medications? do you wear glasses? were you unusually stressed about the visit? any combination of these things could be responsible for your response...

[Fishteacher73]

Novacaine, lydocaine, xylocaine, etc. are local anesthetics and not narcotics and I do not believe have any other side effects. Possibly nitrous oxide could have some lingering effects or possibly blood loss durring the procedure could account for the loss of focus...but I'm not an MD...

[orbsycli]

ah, yes. that's what I was figuring. Thanks IrishEyes.

[orbsycli]

And fishteacher 73, didn't see your post there.

[Tormod]

Originally Posted by orbsycli

So I just got back from the dentist, and half of my face is numb.
They gave me 3x the amount of shots normally, because I could feel the pain of the drill.
And to be des##############

.............I *hate* the dentist!!!!

I had an experience once where they made all my fears come through...they injected so much stuff into my lower gums yet I could feel the drill all the time. I even hit the dentist so hard his drill fell on the floor!

*shudder*

[IrishEyes]

Originally Posted by Tormod

.............I *hate* the dentist!!!!

I had an experience once where they made all my fears come through...they injected so much stuff into my lower gums yet I could feel the drill all the time. I even hit the dentist so hard his drill fell on the floor!

*shudder*

you are such a baby.
either they didn't inject that much stuff, or you couldn't actually 'feel' the drill, but only imagined that you could feel it. imagination is a mighty powerful thing, or so I'm told...