metrocake

Just drag me out by the hair and shoot my ass in the backyard. >:/

I need to have a root canal done on a back molar. It’s a pretty big filling, it’s a pain in the butt, and I’ve been avoiding dealing with it for about a year now, but it just has to get done. I’ve been to my dentist for other things on a regular basis…I’ve just totally avoided this one!

So, two weeks ago, the time came. I flat-out told my dentist I was terrified; was there anything she could provide for anxiety? (I’ve been seeing her for the past two years, and this is the first time I’ve ever outright asked for “help.” It was necessary, though!) She prescribed some Valium, to take 30 minutes before I arrived. The day came, I took the Valium, arrived at her office still in a state of complete terror — Valium didn’t do a THING — she hit me with about 10-12 Novacaine injections, and basically my entire face got numb…everywhere EXCEPT the tooth she needed to work on.

Crap.

I was also PMS’ing, which didn’t help — sometimes you’re more sensitive to pain then, and I was certainly more emotional — and my dentist suspected an infection in the nerve, which would make it “hot’ and prevent it from getting numb. So: medicated temporary filling, scrip for antibiotics, and another office visit.

I went back yesterday, and tried to have a much better attitude about it. Frankly, I’ve been so crazy busy this week, I haven’t even had time to think about it. Also, the valium kicked in this time! :D So I arrived at her office a little chill, a little “duh,” in a much better mood. And she noticed; she said to me, “Oh, I think it’ll happen today.” Positive vibes!

Except…this time around? I didn’t get numb. ANYWHERE. 12 shots of Novacaine and part of my face got tingly, my tongue got tingly, but I didn’t even get a fat lip. My dentist looked at me, tapped on the tooth, and said, “Do you feel that?” “Um…yeah.” “We’re not drilling you today. I can’t give you any more Novacaine.”

Neither one of us has any idea what’s up. She’s drilled the tooth next to it with no issues. She’s drilled various spots in my mouth with no issues. I’ve never had numbing issues at any time in my life, ever. My dentist has also never heard of Valium blocking Novacaine; it’s different mechanisms of action and just shouldn’t be an issue. Another potential issue is my Pierre Robin Syndrome and my cleft palate — because my jaw isn’t quite right, maybe it’s somehow messing things up. Again, never been an issue before, but this is me, so who knows?

So….I’m off to a specialist! I’m seeing an endodontist. My dentist made the appointment for me, even. :) I’m not being knocked out (yet); she feels that trying someone else — and a root canal specialist — might help in my case. We’ll see how it goes… I’ve only got two Valium left, so something has to work soon! XD