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Friday, July 30, 2010

Are You Afraid of the Dentist?

Anyone who has had any extensive dental work done is familiar with all the hoopla that patients are subjected to.  So many precision tools and dental accessories for even the most basic restoration.

So being someone who is no stranger to dental procedures, I got over any fear I had of going to the dentist back in my late teens.  Before that, trips to the dentist were brutal with the old techniques of drilling out huge holes in teeth for even the tiniest imperfection or blemish.

Many years and countless dental procedures later, I'm lucky to be one of the few who can easily fall asleep in the dentist chair, even during root canals.  I hadn't really thought of anything to be frightened of during my semi-annual check up now that science and new technology have made dentistry practically pain free.

That is until my current dentist shared a few mishaps that she's heard of that are more common than we might want to think.

If you have a fear of going to the dentist, be warned, this post is NOT for you!


Decided to read on?  Well here are just a couple of things you might find creeping into your mind the next time you're propped up in that dental chair with your mouth hanging open.

My dentist told me of a case where the drill bur broke off during a routine filling and could NOT be located either in the patient's mouth or anywhere on the floor, on the patient, or on the chair.  That patient had a quick trip to the nearest hospital with a duplicate bur in his pocket so the radiologist would know what to look for in his lungs and abdomen during his x-ray.

My own dentist had just hired a new assistant who was a little too aggressive with the suction and accidentally pushed a patient's tongue right into the spinning drill.  That patient ended up with a stitch in her tongue to control the bleeding so my dentist could finish the filling.

Luckily she hasn't heard of anyone swallowing a wad of cotton or any other dental accessory that gets shoved into our mouths but I bet it's happened!

So next time you're at the dentist, take it from me and just close your eyes, relax and don't chat with your dentist!!  No telling what other mishaps you might hear about!!

Any of you have any dental horror stories to share?  

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48 comments:

Buckeroomama said...

I'm pretty okay with dentists, but then I've never had a root canal before...

Nakamuras on Saipan said...

SHEESH...!!!! That sounds like a nightmare !!!!

jules said...

I have to admit that I am one of the most scared of the dentist person there is. I don't know why. I have never had a bad experience. I need the numbing, the gas, the ipod, you name it I need it to make it through. My dentist is gentle, calm, and wonderful. It's just me......

Everly said...

I have never been afraid of the dentist, even tho i had one giveme 4 fillings I didn't even need thanks to a chart mix up.

Angie said...

Eeeek...Petrified of the dentist...Thanks alot! ;-)

sitting on the mood swing at the playground said...

I wasn't scared of the dentist...but I am now!

Actually, I like my dentist and once he even taped a Springsteen concert for me to watch while I had a cleaning.

LakeMom said...

Yikes, I am terrified of the dentist! (I "jumped" once when my dentist was "just looking" in my mouth! He said I needed the gas just for the exam! I agreed!)
Following you from Follow Friday. Can't wait to explore your blog!

LakeMom
www.SurvivingMotherhoodwithHumor.com
www.GuidetoCollegeLife.com

Simply Suthern said...

I grew up in the days of no novacaine or laughing gas. You just grabbed the handles and hung on. My dentist was in his late 70's and had the drills that were powered with pulleys and belts. You can believe I brushed well back then. Oh I remeber it well. I was an early teen when mom changed us to a bit more modern practice. "Practice" What a bad word for a doctor working on you. So when I learned you could do it pain free I was excited. I have been lucky since. Mostly just replacing the ones Methusaleh put in.

Leigh said...

Ugh, Dentists... When they were pulling my wisdom teeth, the dentist crushed one and I swallowed a piece after nearly choking on it. But I still go to the same dentist, hey, stuff happens!

Caroline said...

ugh. this post just reminded me that i'm long overdue for a trip to the dentist. a trip i'm avoiding like the plague. i'm afraid i'm in for some major dental work (bridge replacement? eek!) and i'm not looking forward to it. i do love my dentist though. she's my cousin!

http://thetimmyboytimes.blogspot.com

(found you through follow me chickadee)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this haha!!! I was actually going to do a post on dentists/doctors because I refuse to go!!! Unless Im pregnant, cant breath or something falls out of my mouth Im staying home. Luckily I was blessed with good teeth, never had a cavity in my life, knock on wood!!!!!

Now Im reminded why I stay away from those offices! haha

Hope your doing well!

Merri Ann said...

I just this year had my first "major" dental procedure ever. It was a gum graft ... they take the graft from the roof of your mouth. But it was all good ... they gave me some drug that made me forgt and basically knocked me out.

But I'm not sure if they did something weird to me ... I keep thinking that they could have posed me in weird positions and posted pics on You Tube ... I would never have known. :))

Tanyia said...

I am following you from Friendly Friday! :)
http://xsurvivingmotherhoodx.blogspot.com/

Donna @ The House on the Corner said...

Scared to death of the dentist - and do not go unless I absolutely have no other choice. I blame it on the dentist I saw as a young child, who we heard a couple of years after we stopped going to him - lost is license because of cruelty to his child patients!!!!

Love your blog - love it if you stopped by to visit me!!

Shannon K. said...

This is a very timely post, considering I just spent two hours in the dentist's chair yesterday. I thought about how tired I was...but there is no way I could fall asleep with my mouth that open. I could barely hold it open while wide awake!

Mama-Face said...

Oh gosh, I just went to the Dentist this past week. TORTURE. The hygienist was a beast. Several times she jabbed my gums and would never give me a break to swallow and I was gagging and then when she did let me swallow, she didn't rinse my mouth and I had to swallow all the crap she cleaned off my teeth....


grossed out yet?

Unknown said...

The dentist doesn't bother me, but wads of cotton in there do. Thankfully I haven't had to suffer that very often. Otherwise, the only other thing that was bad was having my impacted wisdom teeth removed. awful. ugh.

Nesty Girl said...

You were right...I shouldn't have read that! Eeek! Great read, though!

I'm visiting (a little late) from FMIC. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog the other day. Have a great weekend!

Linda Medrano said...

Oh God Deb! Why did I read on?

Unknown said...

New follower from Thirsty Thursday!

WinItMama WINS
http://winitmama.blogspot.com

TheFitHousewife said...

Nope, no dental horror stories. I don't mind the dentist at all. I mean, after giving birth to 3 nine pounders, bring it on!!!

Peggy said...

Call me white knuckle mama!!
I am now following you through
Follow Friday 40+!!
Peggy Gorman
http://pegsplay.blogspot.com/

Jeannette said...

Thank you so much for linking up to my third edition of Friday Party Hop!

I found a dentist in my hometown that is amazing! But I live 3,000 miles away now and have a tooth that needs a new seal put on... it hurts but I'm afraid to look for a new dentist here. :( I really need to get on top of that before a cavity sets in.

Pumpkin Tart said...

I honestly don't remember how I found your blog, but I'm now following!

The only dental horror story I have is from when I got my one and only crown. Not 2 minutes after the dentist put it in/on, the hygentist took an impression of my teeth. The plaster pulled on the crown just slightly and it hurt like crazy but I thought the pain would subside.
This was 2 days before Christmas and the Dentist left town that afternoon. I spent Christmas Eve, Day and the following 2 days in agony!

gayle said...

I'm ok with the dentist. I hated it as a child!!

Alisha K said...

Following you from FFF. Hope you will follow me back at http://megankayden.blogspot.com/

Liz Mays said...

I literally clench my fists every time I am at the dentist. I absolutely despise it! Thanks for making it worse, lol!

Stephanie said...

Yep! Afraid so had to skip most of this post:) I will just say have a fabulous weekend!

Rebecca Dot Com said...

Happy Saturday! proud follower now! come follow me back! enjoy your day and weekend! lets keep in touch!

www.justcherishtoday.com

Pamela Scott said...

I really dislike the dentist..yikes but go yearly thats enough!!!

I am now following you from Friday Follow over 40...
love your blog...isn't this a great bunch of girls to belong to there are more 40+ bloggers than I realized..
age is just a number..

http://www.livelaughlovewiththeponderingprincess.com/2010/07/follow-friday-40-and-over.html

Looking for Blue Sky said...

Well I was nearly on Christmas Card terms with my dentist for a few years! The worst thing that ever happened to me was when I had an abscess and was given meds to tide me over the weekend and they made me fall asleep....in the daytime: not good when you are a single mum with two kids with special needs. I had to scream for help, luckily it arrived and friends saved the day yet again :)

Kel said...

Not fun! I don't like the dentist at all. But I have to hide my fear from my kids. Thanks for joining us for Spotlight Saturday! I'm now following! :) I hope you join us again next week!

Anonymous said...

Hi there, I'm your newest follower from Spotlight Saturday. Loving your blog. I hate dentists...they arent any fun at all. Look forward to reading more from you. Hoping you'll drop me a visit sometime.

http://thethingswefindinside.blogspot.com/

Rose said...

i avoid going to the dentist. i hate the shots he gives.

Kelsey said...

Yikes!! That's scary. I've never been afraid of the dentist, but now I am! Now following you back, thanks so much for visting my blog and being my 350th follower, wish I had a prize for you!!;)
Kelsey
www.courageousmother.blogspot.com

Sandra said...

Chatting...ya, right. I'm too busy drooling, and trying to look pretty as I'm doing so. It doesn't work, but it distracts me!

honeypiehorse said...

Not horror stories per se but my teeth are more sensitive than they used to be and that ultrasonic water pick thing they use is very unpleasant.

Nicki Woo said...

No horror stories here! I actually love going to the dentist to get some peace and quiet, pretty pathetic!!!. But the technition does kinda talk a lot, that is pretty horrific!

Nikki Joy said...

Thanks so much for following my blog! I absolutely hate the dentist. He drugged me up something wonderful to pull out my wisdom teeth. But he killed a nerve while doing the surgery and I still feel the tingling numbness every once in a while on the right side...it's so annoying!!!

BrettBMartin said...

i'm not a fan of dentists at all


i'm also following you late (had a wedding yesterday) from the spotlight saturday hop!

http://thismamalovesherbargains.blogspot.com

L Howard said...

Hello,
I am a new follower from Sunday Summer Social Blog Hop. I found you on the linky list from Having Fun Blogging. Please check out my blog at
http://thecouponqueenbee.blogspot.com/

Kate said...

I just stumbled across your blog. I love it! I'm going to poke around, I promise to put everything back where I found it!

Anita said...

Sounds like good material for a TV show or movie. But, the Association of Dentists, or whatever their organization is called, may have a little beef with it. :)

I'm in the "good teeth" category, and after reading this, I pray that I stay there!

Michelle @Flying Giggles said...

Why did I read this post, even after the warning...lol. Time to get over my fear of dentists...again!

Leslie said...

Don't.like.the.dentist. Just getting my teeth cleaned is like fingernails on a chalkboard for me.

Heather said...

Looks like a dentist visit is coming real soon. Thanks for scaring me more than I already am! LOL!

Organic Motherhood with Cool Whip said...

YIKES!!!! I'm going to the dentist next Tuesday. Now I am more petrified than usual. Help! (LOL)

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