Do dentists enjoy making you suffer?

[SecondMonkey]

So I just had my wisdom teeth pulled and some other work done. Been a long time since I've been to the dentist, and now I remember why - it's horrible! Ok, they gave me some shots, and some nitrous, but all together a VERY unpleasant experience and a bad memory for a long time to come.

On the other hand, last year I had to go in and have a camera shoved down my throat into my stomach. They hooked me up to an IV, which I never felt, gave me some happy juice, and honestly I fell asleep and thought I was in my own bed while they were shoving a camera down my face. No pain. No unpleasant memories.

Why, oh why, oh why, can't the dentist just hook me up to an IV and dump some happy juice in there while he's working? The shots cover up the pain, but they hurt to begin with....and they don't cover up the large russian man with pliers in your mouth.

Seriously, is there a reason they can't do this, or it isn't standard practice? I've seen commercials for "sleep dentistry", but that seems like a pretty new thing and I know my insurance won't pay for it. All together I think having teeth ripped out of your face is far more unpleasant than a camera going in somewhere. It just seems like shots in the gums and being awake for such procedures is a very outdated way of doing things...

On that note, anybody wanna buy my air compressor and all my air tools for cheap? I'll never be able to use them again...

 

[d00df00d]

I have a feeling they just stop caring after a certain point and just try to get the job done quickly so you're not in there too long. There's only so much anesthesia they can give you just to pull some teeth, and many people will hate/fear their visits even if the dentist does everything perfectly.

 

[Falcon_LS]

Depends on the dentist, the technique and experience. I had all four wisdom teeth extracted, with general anaesthetic, and I didn't feel a thing during the extraction. The only pain I felt was afterwards, because they had to drill my jaw to get one of them out.

 

[hate2work]

Back when I had my wisdom teeth out ( 35 years ago ), all they did was numb me up and use a chisel ( I'm not kidding ) to break the teeth apart and then pulled them out. Told me to go home, rinse with saltwater and take aspirin if I needed it. I definitely hear you about the bad memory, I will never forget that day. I realized later why they did all 4 teeth the same day, it was because if they would have only taken out 2 the first trip, I WOULDN'T HAVE GONE BACK TO HAVE THE LAST 2 TAKEN OUT.

By the time it came for my children to have the same procedure, they went to an oral surgeon, who put them in LaLa land with an IV drip, and none of them remembered a thing. I wonder why your regular dentist didn't talk to you about going to an OS?

Sorry that you had such a bad experience, I thought those days of dentistry we're all gone, guess not

 

[mpvue]

last time I went to a dentist (about 4-5yrs ago) the CLEANING was so bad I stopped her in the middle of it. I just said, done, I've had enough. I had to have my wife come and pick me up, I was so shook up I coudn't drive.
too many dentists are horribly antiquated; seriously, you walk in some of them it's like taking a step back to 1973. I don't trust any dr. that can't be bothered to redecorate his office; if it has paneling and olive green drapes, I'm outta there (my point being, if he doesn't even bother w/ the decor, how do I know he's kept up w. best medical practices?)

 

[Pablo]

Dentists have boat payments.

 

[Not the Autorx Frank]

I really really really dont go cheap on dental work. I have a talk with the Dr or Nurse and say look: give me the good stuff. If you dont and I feel pain I will react with an involuntary right hook.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
Dentists have boat payments.


And kids at private collleges.

 

[JHZR2]

anesthesia is not good for you. There is also significant risk related to going in and out.

Look at MJ, this may well be a reason for his death.

It isnt pleasant because it is your head, lots of nerves there, etc.

It also likely may be better for you to complain than for something to go real wrong, as you likely cant well fix or remove a jaw, a piece of skull, etc. without severe risk.

 

[Oilpants]

I jsut cant go to the dentist!!! My Wife says theres tartar's on my teeth but they look clean to me any way. My plan is to not get any caviteis and I hope I wont crack a tooht. My last tooth cleaning was a horrable experience I cried like a littel girl!!! The noise of the tool they used made my hair stand on end's!!! Ironicly i got excellant dental insurance at least the Wife and kid's make use off it.

 

[MarkC]

I'm glad that my wisdom teeth do not require removal.

 

[Virtuoso]

When I had the reamining three of my wisdom teeth removed, I had them knock me clean out. Forty-five minutes later, they were done and I was missing three teeth.

Our old dentist in Bellevue had a laser system he used for cavities. As long as you didn't have a prior metal filling in the tooth, he could use this laser drill to 'drill' out your cavities without using novicane. It did get a little 'cold' sometimes, but otherwise, was great, all things considered.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Dentists have boat payments.


And kids at private colleges.


And large homes and frivolous musical instruments.

 

[levi]

Frivolous musical instruments? I can't stop laughing!

 

[andyd]

I havent been to a dentist in over 10 yrs. Last guy was a butcher. He pulled out a wisdom tooth that had a cavity in it. It was durned painful when the novacain wore off. I was gonna see one this fall, I need a couple molars crowned. Tooth picks will suffice for a bit longer.

 

[Gary Allan]

I had to talk my former dentist into taking my wisdom teeth out. They wanted to refer me to an oral surgeon. I explained that that would include payment in full and a whole separate relationship being formed. They reluctantly agreed. It was almost like the dentist (he had a partner) was violating some sacred oath for not referring me elsewhere. We were the only two in the office ..and he offered to call it off if I happened to change my mind. I said, "Let's do it". He did the usual numbing with 'cane.

Side note: This guy was an artist at painless needle insertion. One former dentist appeared to be skewering a roast in the injection of some marinade or tenderizer)

Anyway...he grabbed this thing that looked more like a bottle opener than a pliers ..went in there ..some crunching ...put his knee on my chest ..and pulled.

Nothing to it. It sure appeared to give him a work out.

Dental discomfort is my greatest example of the endless trials of faith. It may not be pleasant ..but you know in advance that you will come out alive and usually better off for it.

 

[benjamming]

I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth cut out but was not put under, just some gas. Not really all that bad. Shop around for your dentist as there are differences. Some use worse hygiene practices that I do at home! I'm still at the one that did my wisdom teeth.

 

[Shannow]

Look at where dentist came from originally.

Blacksmiths and barbers were the historical dentists in the town my parents grew up - they were a seperate profession by the time my folks arrived 'though.

Better half had wisdom teeth out quite a few years ago, by the dentist with the biggest sausage fingers I've ever seen. He was going to knock her out, but didn't.

In the wrap up, he explained that although she was sore, at least concious, she could resist his efforts to remove the tooth and brace herself. Unconscuious they would have to strap her head down, and had little to no control of levels of force and direction.

As to boat payments, when he saw I was paying cash (credit/debit card), rather then sending him to an insurer, he dropped the bill by 30%...then two weeks later told me "no pay" after a checkup.

 

[Mamala Bay]

Better getting the wisdom out when they are small. Wisdom tooth is from the roots...Had all four done before they grew a problem.

 

[opus1]

There are "sedation dentists", for regular dental visits not the heavy-duty extractions, but like JHZR2 said, anesthesia is not good for you.