I just had a horrible dental experience and I don’t know if I can go back. I’d never had a cavity before, but at my last checkup my dentist found one. We scheduled a follow-up appointment for me to get a filling. I will admit to being nervous because it was my first dental procedure ever. Until then, I’d only had cleanings. For some reason, my tooth would NOT go numb. My dentist tried at least seven shots, but everything hurt so much. I was literally screaming. He finally gave up and said we’d try again next week. I don’t think I can do that again. Is there any other way to handle a cavity?
Meredith
Dear Meredith,
I am so sorry you had this experience. The good news is, I feel fairly confident that I know exactly what was going on and how to fix it. You actually named the problem when you said you were nervous. While anxiety is fairly normal, in some patients it causes them to metabolize the numbing medication so quickly that they actually never feel numb.
The solution to this is to make sure you are relaxed before your procedure. You’re probably thinking, “Not a chance after that last experience.” I completely understand. What you need is a sedation dentist. They will have medication you can take before your appointment that will put you in a completely relaxed state of mind. In fact, you’ll be so relaxed that you could sleep through your appointment if you wanted to.
Using dental sedation has changed the lives of many patients with dental anxiety. They’re able to get years of neglected dental work done without further trauma. The one thing to be aware of is that the medication is so strong you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment as well as stay with you for a few hours after your appointment. You’ll be a bit loopy, so having something able to care for you is a safety precaution. I’d plan on a day of relaxing on the couch and binge watching your favorite shows.
Take care of this as soon as possible. If your dentist doesn’t offer dental sedation, find one who does. The longer you put getting this dental filling done, the more you risk it turning into a dental emergency.
This blog is brought to you by Enfield Dentist Dr. William Cummiskey, a mercury-free dentist.