Have you recently gone to the Dentist?
By wisconsin26
@wisconsin26 (3859)
United States
August 28, 2007 12:46am CST
Have you? If so what for and why? I did today I spent about 4 hours there geesh.. I got in late to see him and of course I had to wait a bit.. Well after about 20 minutes I got in and he numbed me up or at least he thought he did.. He went o start drilling and I pulled my head back it hurt and it was cold.. He asked if it did I was like yes... So he numbed me again.. He already put 4 tubes in me now he's got another two.. Oh boy I though I'm never going to get un numb now.. well about 15 minutes later after he was done with one of his other patients he came in to see how things were... I said I think I'm numb now (kinda smiling at the same time) how ever I couldn't cause my lip was huge.. The top one he had some work up there to do and also put in a root canal... I have taken my son to this dentist many times and after seeing what he does it scared me, Don't ask why I went there to be checked.. I mean when he is with his other patients he changed his gloves or my god I hope he does.. Today he went out of the room I believe went to go see one and came back with what looked to me clean gloves..(let me remind you i was on gas and totally numb I was in another world)lol I didn't see anything on them such as blood or anything as much as I could see.. so I thought he changed them cause I do remember him saying he does before he leaves the room or when he comes in.. I'm a little afraid cause now I am having the thoughts he might not have changed them and reached into my mouth and he wasn't done.. How would you feel about this and would you worry? Like I've said he's done this with my son before.. And says he does change them rather it's there or here.. Am I starting to freak out over nothing?
3 people like this
9 responses
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
28 Aug 07
lol yes i think so too... It's really not the grinding of the food it's more of the acids in the food that make your teeth go bad.. Cavities are the worse to get at least me for me they are.. I had a few in the front of my mouth that didn't hurt but once he put that needle in boy oh boy did it ever.. That is the most sensitive spot in your mouth for needles.. The back ones when they go in it's like they are going right into the jaw those hurt some but not as bad... Thanks for your reply!!
2 people like this
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
28 Aug 07
I was there today so yeah I guess so... I'm not looking forward to the next visit though that's for sure.. I don't know what he has planed to do next... lol
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
28 Aug 07
I think he should change the gloves when he comes back into the room. That way you can see that he really did in fact change them..I would be a nervouse wreck about it too. If I ever saw that he didn't change them in front of me I would say something.
My husband went to the dentist today to have 4 teeth on the left bottom side filled. He is in the process of getting dentures. With all the radiation he had during his chemotherapy, his teeth have been slowly breaking off and such. He will have to have all the ones left on the top totally removed.
I haven't been to the dentist in like 12 years. My teeth are in very good shape. I should make an appointment to at least get a cleaning. I don't have dental insurance, so that is one of the reasons I haven't gone for so long.
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
28 Aug 07
I totally agree, I really don't think I have anything to worry about though.. But yet I still do... I really couldn't say anything with my mouth wide open cause the assistant was doing something in there and being on that gas I'm in la la land.. lol Good thing that you have good teeth actually.. Ha I am still sitting here with my lip all swollen up and it's been almost 9 hours sense I've been numb I kinda still am.. The one assistant told me to put warm packs on it to bring the swollen down but it doesn't seem to be working very well...
1 person likes this
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
28 Aug 07
I don't know. I've noticed during the times when I worked in a lab, I often changed gloves without even thinking about it, if I was going from one task to a different one.
And when I'm at the dentist, and I've been to three different dentists, I've seen the dental assistants remove their gloves to write something down, so I assume they then put on fresh ones as they go into another patients' room.
If you're concerned, you should check. Can you see the outside of the examining rooms from the waiting rooms?
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
29 Aug 07
The more i think of what he told me one time the more at ease i am.. However it is a scare and i think anyone would be knowing a dentist comes in with gloves on right? I don't feel that i am over reacting sense the last thing i want is to catch something.. I think the dentist though is very careful with his practice of dentistry or at least i am thinking so.. I also see the assistants changing their gloves alot as well no matter what they are doing..
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
28 Aug 07
If you have seen him change them when he is with your son then changes are this is a policy he always enforces and you probably have nothing to worry about .
The last time I went to the dentist was two and a half years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter . I was having a lot of pain with one of my back teeth but no dentist wanted to touch me because I was pregnant . Finally we were able to find one but after hearing I was pregnant still insisted on doint x-rays . He informed me at the time that this was the only way to find out what the problem was and that it wouldn't harm my baby in any way . He did the x-rays and then told me when to come back saying he was going to pull the tooth and that I would have to go back in after I had the baby to do more work on my teeth . When I went back the next time , the nurse was horrified that he had performed x-rays on me even though I was pregnant as she said they could tell weather or not to pull a tooth with our without an x-ray and that there was a risk to my unbron child . I had the work done but have not gone back as I couldn't believe he was willing to risk my child after me expalining to him that I wouldn't do this if there was any risk to my child . I was also told this was just a way for dentist to charge more even though they know what the problem is . I don't trust this guy because of what I found out but if I had been able to see the dentist that my children had went to I wouldn't have the same fears as I know he would never have done anything to put my child at risk .
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
28 Aug 07
Yes i did see him change them twice in front of me but the 3rd time i just didn't and that's what just scares me... thats all... I didn't you could have such things done when your pregnant.. My doctor told me not to go to them and told me to take a certain pill for the pain and it wouldn't hurt the baby So i basically suffered it out until after he was born.. Every doctor/dentist is different that i do know..
@mari_skye (1637)
• Philippines
29 Aug 07
I've just gone to the dentist last saturday. It was my second visit. One of my molars had to undergo root canal and my second visit was to have it 'permanent' I'm not quite sure what he meant but being the obedient person that I am and wanting to have my teeth fixed the soonest, I went on the second visit. I was the only patient scheduled that time so I was quite sure that his gloves were clean since I saw him get a pair from the box next to the dental chair.
What I liked about the procedure was that I felt only minor pain and not the excruciating pain I was told about by those who have undergone root canal procedures.
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
29 Aug 07
well yes they are clean if you seen him pull them from the box.. He had gloves on already when he came in.. is what i am saying.. If he would have pulled them from the box i wouldn't be worried.. I too had a root canal and boy does it hurt..
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
28 Aug 07
Those tools are scary looking actually... I always look straight up the the celling so that I don't have to look at them.. lol I think thought the needles are the worse for me.. I hate them and just don't like them.. Thanks for your reply!
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
28 Aug 07
No, you're not freaking out over nothing; you have a fear of dentists which is totally normal. I used to have an anxiety attack every time I went to the dentist. I'd get the wierdest sensation in my jaw, my shoulders. my back and chest, I thought I was having a heart attack. I was treated really roughly by a dentist and his nurse when I was real little, so I think that stuck with me. Anyway, I wound up having to get all my teeth pulled and I have dentures. They can be a pain in the butt, but I don't miss the toothaches OR the drills. By the way, I'm quite sure he changed his gloves. I think everyone's really careful about that stuff these days. Just be glad it's over.
Annie
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
28 Aug 07
Thank you, you made me feel more relaxed after that statement.. I can breathe a little better... You are righ alot of dentists are more careful or at least I hope so.. I think the last thing they want is to be sued for giving their patients something from another person.. Thank you so much for your reply!
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
28 Aug 07
Some people have a phobia about visiting the dentist. I used to have this phobia when I was a teenager, but not anymore. And unlike you, I never have to freak out when visiting my dentist, which incidentally is once every six months. Mostly, my regular visits are for scaling and cleaning only, as my dentist says that my teeth is healthy and only need regular upkeep. My dentist believes in preserving teeth, so his philosophy is not to extract any tooth unless it is absolutely necessary. Where possible, he will try and save a tooth if there is a problem. So he always advises me to come for regular preventive checkups and to brush my teeth the proper way with a good toothbrush.
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
28 Aug 07
This dentist is the same way if it can be fixed he will fix it, He won't pull it unless it's a must.. My son did have one pulled not that long ago and it was a must or he would have done something to it so he could keep it.. Not that it was a huge deal cause his teeth are in good shape but he'd rather see him keep them these are still his baby teeth..
@angel_of_charm (4134)
• Philippines
29 Aug 07
i always go to the dentist for regular check up every 6 months..i am not the type of person who just come to the dentist clinic when i had a bad tooth ache..i care so much for my teeth coz i strongly believe teeth had important role in our body too..i don't wanna have dentures you know, i want my original teeth..
when i go to dentist i have my teeth check if i had captured cavities for the last 6 months..have them filled and clean..aside from brushing our teeth, regular check up is a must because we still get cavities even how much we brush everyday..regular check up can make cavities away..
