They're coming at me with sharp things...

[teeebeee]

...eeeek!!

Tomorrow I am having a frenectomy. Firstly, they will attempt to numb me (which invariably takes several goes before anything works - it's horrendous. In the past, dentists have simply not believed that it wasn't working, especially when I was a child, one of the reasons I hated them and never went!) I haven't had an injection for decades, just had whatever done without but, as they're cutting lumps of me away (!), I think I'd better be a bit numb!

Then, they're going to gouge great lumps out of me. With sharp knives!! I realise that that's possibly not quite how it will be but, that's what it seems like to me! Oh, this really is eeek-city. I'm trying to be brave and I know how necessary it is but, tbh, I'm slightly freaking out about it now.

*off to pull myself together*

Kind thoughts gratefully received!

T xx

[djspeece]

Kind thoughts and good wishes sent your way! Stand your ground on getting numbed up -- they can do it! Hopefully you have already expressed your concern on this issue. Best of luck to you and let us know how it goes!

[Beetles]

Good luck, I'm sure you are in good hands! :)

Let us know how it goes!

[teeebeee]

Hopefully you have already expressed your concern on this issue.

Since the day I started treatment! lol...

thanks for the kind wishes, hopefully it'll all be over by this time tomorrow. (except for the appalling pain and suffering afterwards! )

T xx

[djspeece]

It will be a character-building experience, for sure!

[sirwired]

I have the same problem. Whenever I get numbed for something at the dentist, it always takes a 2nd carpule from the Mad-Scientist syringe. I always tell the dentist this, yet they persist in only using a single carpule. This means that I don't get the 2nd one until after they've started work (and it hurts) and then I have to wait another 10 minutes for the 2nd shot to soak in.

And that nasty anesthetic gel they give you that's supposed to numb the pain from the shot? Never works.

[teeebeee]

Thanks for the kind (and very true, sirwired!) words...I'm holding the thought it's nearly tomorrow!

Oh, I wish it were done!

T xx

[NeilH]

Good luck for tomorrow, I'm sure it will go well. I've never had a dental injection and to be perfectly honest the thought terrifies me. When I was younger, my dentist, a fearsom man, didn't use pain relief on children and all fillings etc were performed without any numbing. He also kept an old fashioned dental drill set (the one with the foot plate and wheel) in his office and threatened to use it on any unruly children! Quite how I ever stepped back in a dental surgery as an adult I will never know! Hope that makes you feel better.

[Felina Grimm]

It seems pretty common for dentists not to numb children for some reason although they would need it the most. I was numbed as a kid for fillings, but I always needed more than one injection. As an adult, one seems to be enough for the most part. I read that children's mouths are more sensitive than adult's. I think you'll be fine. I've feared the dentist for a long time but ended up sucking it up as an adult if I ever wanted my teeth to be fixed.

[MissBear]

Good luck for tomorrow and sending positive vibes your way :)

[teeebeee]

Thank you all, I survived!!

It was as good as it could be. The numbing gel tasted nice (though I like TCP so I find the oddest things tasty) and the nurse let me hold her hand when it got a bit much. They were absolutely great, though and there was even some laughter! I had a few injections but they really made sure I couldn't feel a thing and was completely happy before they went in.

I've 4 dissolvable stitches and a bit of a dig in my inner top lip but, other than that, it's pretty ok. In fact, I keep hurting more from outside (like scratching my nose as it's in my mouth right up by it) than inside! I am a cack-handed little madam at times!

I am pathetically proud of myself and am still sporting 'big, brave girl' stickers!

On the home stretch now!

T xx

[djspeece]

Well done and congratulations! Wishing you an uneventful and speedy recovery!

[teeebeee]

uneventful

Truly, the best we can hope for in this process!

I've not taken any ibuprofen this morning so I'll see how it goes!

T xx

[IrishSmiles]

Well done on getting through it TeeBee!

I had a frenectomy (for all the good it did! ) when I was about 16, and was absolutely terrified before going (and I don't really have a dental phobia or anything).

But, as you've found, once they have you numbed up, it's actually not half as bad as you'd expect, and the pain afterwards isn't horrendous either.

I had like an absorbant pad stitched in to the roof of my mouth as well, to stop it bleeding profusely. It fell out a few hours afterwards and I was terrified I was going to bleed out or something, but it actually didn't hurt, or bleed at all. The stitches dissolved in about a week. Its really surprising how fast the mouth tissue heals.

The only thing I'd say is make sure you keep it ultra clean, rinse with water everytime you eat or drink etc, but I'm sure the oral surgeon already told you all this

[teeebeee]

Fortunately I drink loads of water anyway so I can just sloosh easily. However, I've not braved a full monty elec toothbrush clean yet. I did waterpik last night and am using salt water and mouthwash (not together!) so hopefully I'm good and clean.

Tbh, I'd rather sloosh with TCP as I love the taste but I'm not sure if that's appropriate!

Still no ibuprofen and, at the moment, the only thing that's really a problem is if I blow my nose.

Mouths are wonderful things!

T xx