D Day II: I think I've mentioned how much I hate going to the dentist?

I had to go back to the dentist last Friday to be fit for a crown and get a temporary crown after the huge root canal surgery. Everyone I know, first, has been super supportive over my dental drama and about my fears. (Thanks you!) I also like the fact that it's called a crown... though I would prefer the term "tiara"... my dentist thought that was hilarious!

And everyone I know who has ever had a crown put on told me getting fit for said crown is as easy as pie. No need to worry because it doesn't hurt, it's a super short visit, no pain, no reason to get a shot in the mouth, just a really simple thing.

So I about had a heart attack in the dentist chair when she said I would need to be numb for what she had to do. I think I had a REAL panic attack: black spots before my eyes, chest pains, hyperventilating breathing, sweaty palms... but I didn't cry this time.

After I finally got calmed down, I explained what everyone had been telling me and then asked in a nice, terrified, meek voice why I had to be different. Because. Well, there was more to it than that, but the easy reason is 'because.'

The harder reason is that since my dentist didn't do the actual root canal, another dental surgeon did, she had to do some stuff that she would normally do if she had to perform the root canal herself. The specialist guy just did the root canal and then filled my tooth with sterile cotton and a temporary putty stuff. MY dentist had to take out all the stuff he did, fill it herself, smooth down the filling, then make the mold for my tooth and then put the temporary crown on. Apparently, somewhere in there, something was going to hurt.

My dentist is an awesome woman so we talked this through and finally decided that she would use topical numbing stuff and if I was uncomfortable or in pain she could actually give me a numbing shot. So she would work on me and then numb me with topical and then work and numb, etc. I didn't move a muscle because she was working near the gum line and that's apparently where the pain would be.

So, the miracle of all miracles is that I got through the entire procedure without crying (panic attack not withstanding) and without having to get a shot in the mouth. She told me she was really proud of me and I was so much better than I was the last time. The dentist herself promised the next time I went back to get the real crown, it would be about a 20 minute visit and a piece of cake. She said it should NOT hurt; it might be uncomfortable. She also said NO SHOTS, and she promised.

Then I went to pay and the panic attack happened again and...

Mags, conquering fear through dentistry...