The Root Canal Blues

[grizzlyzone]

The first day back from my vacation, I was scheduled for a root canal. The bonding done a year ago didn't quite seal and now, decay is marching on to the nerve. (I've got a new dentist, who does a painfree root canal. The painful part comes from my dental insurer. They only pay for half of one root canal per year and this would be my second for the year.)

The dentist tried out a new gizmo on me. A clear plastic combination multiport suction drain/fiber optic illuminator/dental block and whatnot. They call them "isolites". It's tolerable, but just a touch unsettling. Besides having this folded plastic doo-dad in your mouth, I had the strange sensation that I was about thisclose from getting a sink drain plug lodged in my throat. (I tried not to think about it, and concentrated on my slow deep breathing and relaxation exercises.)

With the added illumination, the dentist was able to see that I might not need a FULL root canal. Instead, he would do everything else BUT drill out the nerve and pack the tooth full of gutta percha. He put a temporary crown over the tooth and if there are no problems, I'll get my permanent crown in two weeks.

(There is just one small detail. The temporary crown is a bit rough and it feels like I have a chunk of roast beef stuck between my teeth. I know it's the temporary crown, but it's driving me nuts.)

Comments

[pigbear.livejournal.com]

root canal

dentist


I am a white knuckle guy at the dentist. To get anything done other than cleaning, I need gas and novicane.

Today's dentistry is nothing.

[grizzlyzone.livejournal.com]

After a particularly fierce cleaning when I was seventeen, I decided I was NEVER going back.

Decades later, I realized that I had a severe halitosis problem, and if I wanted to put a lip-lock on someone ever again, I'd better get some work done.

So, even though I was ashamed and scared-to-death, I went in. I needed a root planing (a type of thorough cleaning) so extensive that it had to be broken up over four visits.

Much to my surprise, I discovered that the procedures really weren't all that bad. I concentrated on deep breathing, relaxing, and not thinking about what they were doing, and I get through it.

Re: Today's dentistry is nothing.

[pigbear.livejournal.com]

Well I've had terrible experiences in the past, extraction with a dentist's knee on my chest, root canal with NO novicane, and others....

My dentist now seems good, and is willing to work with me. But still, I'm the biggest whimpy baby about it.

Yuck.

Re: Today's dentistry is nothing.

[grizzlyzone.livejournal.com]

But still, I'm the biggest whimpy baby about it.

No, you aren't. You go.

Re: Today's dentistry is nothing.

[truckerbear.livejournal.com]

Yeah and I wont! 10 years and counting!

Re: Today's dentistry is nothing.

[grizzlyzone.livejournal.com]

Case in point.

[fattastic.livejournal.com]

LOL, you crack me up. I say that because I am sitting here trying to get a piece of roast beef out from between my teeth. I feel your pain Grizz.

[grizzlyzone.livejournal.com]

In my case, the "roast beef" in question is hard, rough plastic. I'm going to wear a hole in my tongue before the two weeks are up.

[strongaxe.livejournal.com]

I absolutely LOVE root canals and extractions.

Because by the time I need them, they feel SO much better than the alternatives! :)