Dental Dilemma

Within the past couple of weeks, I have had some insanely bizarre dental encounters. What sparked everything is something got stuck in my teeth one night so I decided to floss, which is an activity I very rarely participate in. While flossing something violent happened in my mouth and a tooth felt really funny. I learned the next day that if I chewed on that side, I would know what excruciating pain really feels like. For a solid five days I just chewed on the other side. I hate going to the dentist... if I could just be a unilateral chewer, that was a fine enough solution for me. However, I kept forgetting, and even brushing my teeth was uncomfortable, so I decided that since I have the insurance (even though I've learned that it's CRAP) I might as well use it and get this taken care of.

I looked up a dentist on 1800-dentist and made sure he was covered by my insurance. I was particularly drawn to this DDS because it had a blurb about how they're good with "high anxiety patients." I think I mentioned I hate the dentist, and I get VERY anxious when I'm there. This guy sounded like a good fit. I called and was surprised they could see me the very next day. I went to their website to print off the new patient paperwork, and microscopic part of me felt good about going.

I walked in at 8:18am and was quickly whisked to the back where they started x-raying (EACH INDIVIDUAL TOOTH!!! talk about extensive...). Then the lady said "I'll go get the dentist." I waited patiently and within a minute or two, in walked a younger middle aged Asian woman with poorly applied lipstick. This was shocking to me. On the website, the dentist I made an appointment with was pictured as an old balding white man. Who was this impostor? There were no other dentists listed at the practice. Baldy was IT. The website is even http://www.baldy'sname.com! Being non-confrontational, I rolled with it and just kept thinking 'You'd better be covered by my insurance!' She found the filling that I had shattered with my flossing escapade and fixed it. They even gave me the laughing gas so it wasn't too bad. Among the top 5 things I hate in life are those oral Novocaine shots. MAN they HURT! She finished and told me there was another cavity they found on the bottom that needed to be filled a different day. She started motioning for me to go to the front desk to get it scheduled, but I thought I was getting a teeth cleaning out of this deal too. Afterall, when I called to set up the appointment I didn't really mention the immense pain that I was in... I just asked for a new patient appointment and I assumed that a teeth cleaning would be part of that. However, I was wrong. Lipstick then informed that I would have to schedule the cleaning as a separate appointment and that the hygienist is very busy, so it might be awhile.

I think that's bizarre. In my short 24 (almost 25 thank you very much) years, every time I've gone to the dentist they clean first, fix second. They never just bypass the cleaning. I shrugged my shoulders, kind of eager to leave anyway, so I scheduled the cavity for early the next week and left.

Bizarre #2: I was still weirded out by the whole first visit. Strange dentists... no cleaning... just an off feeling. My mom suggested I just get this whole shenanigan taken care of, then the next time I need a dentist I look elsewhere. Good advice. I walked in and got situated in the same dentist chair only to be greeted by Baldy! I felt a small sense of relief. Phew, this is how it was supposed to be. He started getting situated and made some small talk. Seemed like a nice old man. He asked me to open my mouth and he put his thumb on my bottom teeth and I felt it. A very strong tremor. My dentist has a shaky hand. The man who would be drilling into my molar was unable to control his fine motor movements. Then I remembered that huge Novocaine needle. His hand was still in my mouth and my eyes BUGGED out as I frantically searched for a fire escape or something to get me OUT. It was a very small little room and there was no escape! My heart rate increased and I'm positive my blood pressure was through the roof. I was sweating. Tears formed in my eyes. I pleaded with God to send Lipstick back. There was nothing I could do. He swabbed the topical numbing stuff on a Q-tip and put it where the deadly needle would be. No assistant was in sight. Maybe someone with a steady hand would rescue me and do the injection. Within seconds that torture device was ready and he even SQUIRTED IT INTO THE AIR BEFORE COMING AT ME WITH IT! I hoped I was having a nightmare. I couldn't breathe. Tears were streaming down my face at this point (so much for handling the anxious patient, eh??? I didn't even get gas this time!! I needed a stiff drink...) He started moving towards my mouth in what felt like uber slow motion and the needle went closer and closer to my teeth. I heard it clink against my pearly whites as he shook. I felt faint. It went in my gums and it hurt like nothing I've ever felt before. It went deeper and deeper and as sharp white pains went from all different directions in my face. As he worked he mumbled "there are several nerves that connect to this tooth... so we'll have to go from three different angles..." That meant two more injections. He finally pulled the first needle out and I felt like I had run a marathon. I was panting, my hoodie concealed the sweat drenched t-shirt underneath it. I felt pale and kind of shaky myself at that point! The same thing happened TWO MORE TIMES.
I eventually surrendered to my fate and that I might have to sacrifice a molar. At least it was in the back and wouldn't be too obvious.

After what felt like eternity, he was finishing up. At this point, Baldy told me that my back teeth are moving and that there is space between my molars that will allow food to get stuck and cavities to form. He said he wants to "bulk those teeth up" to prevent it. I looked at him with the fear of God in my bloodshot eyes and feebly asked "when does that need to happen?" He told me he took care of one already (I am 90% sure I blacked out during that filling...) and that I needed to come back for the other side. I must have replied... a gurgle of some sort came from my throat. My whole face was numb. Not just one side, the entire thing. On the right side of my face it went all the way to my ear. I was certain I would never regain feeling in part or all of my face ever again and I entertained ideas of what to do with the $$$ from the law suit settlement.

I reluctantly scheduled a "buffering" appointment. I felt a teensy ray of hope when she said it would be with Lipstick, but still vowed to never return to that place again.

Bizarre #3: At 9:50pm that same night, Baldy called me. I didn't recognize the number, so I let it go to voicemail. His message sounded so creepy. His purpose was just to follow up to make sure that as the Novocaine wore off (twelve hours later...) that my bite felt okay blah blah blah. On the surface his intentions seem quite noble, but I just think it is SO WEIRD to call that late at night if it isn't... emergent.

Bizarre #4 (YES THERE IS MORE!): At work one day I noticed I had a voicemail so I listened to while eating lunch. Lo and behold it was the dentist's office. The receptionist (who is so nice, by the way) said that Baldy wanted to be the one to do the buffering so I needed to reschedule for a time that he would be in the office. Hell no. I didn't call back until the day before the scheduled appointment. I just called to confirm that I wasn't going to show up and that I would call later to reschedule. I have no intention of rescheduling.

While I want to swear off dentists, I know they're necessary. The original filling that Lipstick fixed still hurts. Not nearly as bad, but it's far from comfortable. Anyone know of a good dentist in Seattle???