People who know me often laugh when they hear that I like the show Monk. I don’t think I am entirely obsessive compulsive…but I do have a few fears…one of my big ones is the dentist. I don’t like going to the dentist. I have a lot of really bad memories.
When I was a kid I heard that if novocaine was injected improperly it could damage your brain. So from about 9 to 16 years old, I had all of my cavities taken care of without novocaine. I have a pretty fair amount of fillings.
Then as an adult, I had a toothache, went to the dentist and he did something called a pulp test. I have dealt with a reasonable amount of pain in my life…I’ve even had a Cystoscopy (guys, I am warning you, do not click on that link…you do not want to have any idea of what a cystoscopy is…trust me). Anyways…the pulp test was the worst.
So for the past 3 months, I’ve had sore teeth, but the thought of a pulp test kept me from calling the dentist. Finally, I decided something could be seriously wrong so I go in today. Turns out, my dentist thinks the pulp test (which he describes as putting a cattle prod on your tooth) is the most pointless procedure in all of medicine.
Also, all he thinks I need is some fluoride on my teeth, some time to heal & oh yeah, the old Colgate, without all the extra stuff in it.
So, for the past 3 months…I’ve stressed, & worried & imagined all types of horrible stuff that were going to be done to my teeth…And I had fluoride applied to them…and he didn’t even charge me.
Fear isn’t really all that productive.