D (Dentist) Day: Toothache Pain and Root Canal Anxiety

Well, today's the day, and I'm so nervous about the whole root canal adventure! I go in at noon today to have this procedure done, but I'm literally having to fight the internal anxiety I'm feeling.

One of my molars cracked a while back, and about a month ago, it abscessed. My lower jaw began hurting tremendously, as the swelling and infection took over.

The pain was incredibly intolerable, mind-numbing . . . just awful! I have birthed four children, including twins, and child birth is a cake walk compared to this pain!

I went to see my dentist a few weeks ago, and was placed on antibiotics at that time. He also gave me Tylenol III for the pain, which did nothing but make me dizzy yet still in pain.

The area continued to swell, and became even more excruciating after being on the antibiotics for five days. So, I ended up going to the ER.

I was already suffering tremendously, with tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. The ER doc walked into the room with a 15 gauge needle, and said, "We need to lance that abscess!"

"WHAT? You're going to stab my mouth with that yarn darning needle?!?"

"Yes, Ma'am"

"Where's the novacaine?"

"The infection is too severe, Ma'am, and the novacaine won't help. It will hurt really bad at first, then you will feel so much better as the infection drains out."

Stupid me!

I opened my mouth and squeezed the armrests on the chair as tightly as I could.

"Here we go! Be as still as you can!"

I think I scared the kid in the next room when I let out the most painful scream! He kept pushing the needle in, and I swear it hit my jawbone. I couldn't take it anymore!

I pushed his arm back and jumped up out of the chair! I was surprise to discover his family jewels were not harmed in the process.

I was trembling as the pain overtook my body, and was crying like a baby! It was awful!

They sent me home with stronger antibiotics and Vicodin for the pain.

Two days later, I was scheduled to go back to my dentist for the root canal. However, I had to cancel because I had picked up some virus at the ER, and couldn't keep anything down. Go figure, right?

The more powerful antibiotics ended up wiping out about 80% of the infection, the swelling went way down, and the pain is very minimal, now.

However, knowing that I'll be in the dentist chair again in a little under two hours, has my anxiety level at its peak.

The dentist had said I needed a root canal and a crown. I had asked him if he would settle for a lifetime supply of novacaine and a tiara, but it was a no go.


My husband keeps reassuring me that all I'll feel is a pinch when they inject the novacaine, but I'm still scared I'll feel the pain.

I know . . . I know . . . I'm a baby! But, I just can't help the anxiety I'm feeling.











"This won't hurt a bit!"

"Yah, right! I'm still scared!"