Growing up I hated the family dentist… Actually, I don’t think that hate is a strong enough word in this scenario – I
abominated the dentist!!!
He had an identical twin brother and I never knew which one I was going to see, not that it really mattered because they looked exactly the same! The only difference was one would talk to me about wanting to set me up with his son who was my age – I was like 8-9!? Seriously, who wanted to be set-up at that age anyway!
Random note: Okay, so maybe he knew me a little bit better than the other one… I was in kindergarten when I had my first “boyfriend’ and never thought that boys had cooties. Also, had I seen a picture of his son I would have immediately jumped at the chance! I met his son a few years later when my family moved and I transferred schools… He was a hottie!
Let’s see…. Where was I? Oh yes… The dentist!
My mother would force me into the car for a trip to Vernal and I dreaded every passing mile that brought me closer to their office. As soon as the door was opened, you would smell laughing gas. To this day, I can still smell it… Ick!
He would check things out and then if there was work to be done he would put on the gas. I hated that stuff – really hated it! He would always ask if I wanted it and I would always say NO! His reply was always that kids loved this stuff and I should just let him give it to me anyway… It really didn’t matter what I thought or said he would put the mask on anyway! Then for the next what felt like hours I would be breathing this nasty gas that made me feel like I was leaving my body behind – I never felt like laughing, I felt like crying! It was awful!!!
Fast Forward to college….
I went to my cousin’s husband who was a dentist in the area and he checked things out and I had to have a cavity filled. He proceeded to give me a shot and while the needle was in my mouth I felt a crazy shock go from my mouth to my head. I could literally trace its path with my finger. I jumped and he asked if I felt a shock, I told him yes. He asked that I trace it with my finger and when I did he left. He came back with another dentist and had me trace the path again – at this point I was SUPER nervous! I thought that I was going to have a blood clot and it would follow that path to my brain and I would be dead within the hour. I never understood what exactly happened that day – all I know is that literally half of my entire head was numb. There was a definite line on the left side starting at the top of my head all the way down my neck that was completely numb! I never went back!
Fast forward to today almost 10 years later…
Went to the dentist for the first time after having paid for dental insurance for the past four years. I tried, made appointments, couldn’t get my hands to let go of my steering wheel when I needed to go inside. But, I am almost 30! I am suppose to be a big girl and be able to go to the dentist by myself.
So, I made an appointment and actually went inside! I told myself that I would buy a new outfit complete with shoes if I would just go! Rewards really work for me! ;)
Three dentists and about six months later – I am starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I have experienced infections, abscessed teeth, root canals, crowns, bridges – and sadly I am not even done.
If I could go back right now and change anything – I would definitely have changed my dental hygiene habit to make it even better. I always brushed, but am terrible with flossing! Well, that has changed….
For the next little while I will be nursing not only my mouth, but also my pocketbook back to health… Good grief dental work is expensive!!!
