Going to the Dentist ~ My Day at the Beach ~ (sort of)
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
United States
February 13, 2009 7:17pm CST
I went to the dentist today to get a filling. Going to the dentist is no high on my list of fun things to do. But, the tooth I needed to have filled was causing some discomfort and I needed to have it attended to.
Upon arrival to the dentist I was whisked into the back and seated before I could even take a seat in the waiting room. The assistant placed a lovely paper bib around my neck and we chatted about the weather and the fact that she didn't think I looked old enough to have a thirty-year old daughter. Nice compliment!
The dentist numbed the gum area with a cotton swab. I stiffened just thinking of the next step. Needles aren't my cup of tea. To my surprise it didn't hurt a bit! We chatted about the kids (the dentist and I have children that went to school together). Once the area was numb he began the process of drilling out the cavity.
To drone out the sound I took myself to a warm and sunny beach. The sun was shining brightly, the waves of the ocean were lapping at the sand. It was blissful. The sound of a jackhammer rattled in my brain and brought me back to the reality of what was happening. I breathed deeply through my nose and drifted back to that place of warmth and joy. The beach always brings me peace.
I have to say this was one of the best experiences I have had at the dentist's office in a long time.
What do you do to take your mind off tense moments such as going to the dentist?
2 people like this
6 responses
@Grandmaof2 (7578)
• Canada
19 Feb 09
My dear friend you do have a wonderful sense of imagination. I hated having to go to a dentist and my teeth were very hard to pull. I hated that drill so bad. The needle to freeze the gums was nothing for me I am not at all worried about a needle. I had terrible teeth when I was young and no money to do much, which is probably why I had false teeth at age 24. I love my false teeth and everyone thinks I have such nice perfect white teeth.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
20 Feb 09
My son will soon be facing the loss of his upper teeth due to calcium deficiency. He will sport false teeth too. Not something he really wants to do, but would be better than not having any teeth.
@Grandmaof2 (7578)
• Canada
20 Feb 09
The top plate is very easy to adapt to being held on by suction. The bottom plate takes a bit to get used to sometimes but I would never ever trade my false teeth back to have my natural teeth back. I can eat corn on the cob, apples and even toffee. I sure couldn't do that with my own teeth.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
14 Feb 09
I hate going to the Dentist. It is the sound of the drill that really gets to me as I feel that it is going through my skull. 
I'm glad that you had a place to escape to - at least in your mind. I don't think that I could do that but perhaps it is a little like meditating. I have a sandy beach just minutes from my office where I now am - and I am inviting you to come. There is a slight breeze and the temp is about 85 degrees. The water is a stunning turquoise today and looks glorious. I do have some bottled water in my office fridge just in case you get too hot! I'm glad though that it was not a bad experience that you faced. Well ? Are you coming?
I'm glad that you had a place to escape to - at least in your mind. I don't think that I could do that but perhaps it is a little like meditating. I have a sandy beach just minutes from my office where I now am - and I am inviting you to come. There is a slight breeze and the temp is about 85 degrees. The water is a stunning turquoise today and looks glorious. I do have some bottled water in my office fridge just in case you get too hot! I'm glad though that it was not a bad experience that you faced. Well ? Are you coming?1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
20 Feb 09
The sound of the drill rattling inside the crater that was once a tooth is mind bending. It isn't as bad as the sound of a tooth being yanked from your mouth!
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
14 Feb 09
I am terrified of the Dentist
Once my Chest and that is better I have to go and I have to have a route canal treatment and they hurt
I am not looking forward to it
They can't do at the moment as my Lungs are in a bad way but I am not looking forward to it
I have tried to think of my favorite, swimming with Dolphins somewhere far away just them and me but it does not work lol
Hugs
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
20 Feb 09
I was really surprised when my thoughts brought me away from what was happening. I doubt it would have worked if I was having an extraction!
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
14 Feb 09
There is nothing I can do to take my mind off of what the dentist is doing. I usually end up gripping the armrest so tight from fear that my hands are numb by the time I'm done. My dentist is very kind, gentle, and good looking, with beautiful, dreamy blue eyes, but even that is not enough to take away the fear.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
20 Feb 09
I keep my eyes shut and hands clenched together. If I were to put my hands on the armrests I would probably shred them with my nails!
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
14 Feb 09
My dentist has a very cool picture right in front of the chair in all three rooms....so you can kind of get lost in them.....one is a picture he painted of his son in hockey...one is a sea picture and the other is like a Thomas Kincade...
so it does take your mind off what he's doing.....glad it came out all right for you!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
14 Feb 09
In the cubicles where you get your cleanings they have mobiles of butterflies or pelicans.
@qianlizhifeng (468)
• China
14 Feb 09
Well ,talking with the dentist is really a helpful way to eliminate tense.When it comes to me ,I have some similar feeling .Every time I go to have phycial,I will feel a little nervous although I'm confident that I am healthy.Especially when it comes to testing the heartbeat.Every time the number will be a little higher than normal.Later ,I find it quite helpful to talk with the doctor.The tense feeling is driven away unconsciously.
1 person likes this
