from dental dodger to nitrous napper

When I was 4 years old (or so) I had a horrible dentist experience. All I remember is that I must have swallowed the fluoride and threw up in the truck on the way home. Even worse? I threw up on my balloon, which promptly burst in the truck (can't even imagine the mess THAT made!).

This experience has created an intense fear of dentists and all things dental. Now, the question becomes, is my fear of dentists and all things dental the cause of my dental issues, or is that just an unfortunate twist of fate? Of course, I have to also be the person who needs cleanings every 3 months, alternating between periodontists and regular dentists. AND, while I've remained fairly cavity free most of my adult life, I have gum issues and crowns and all sorts of random stuff. I've even had 2 "gum grafts" to fill in my receding gums so that roots aren't exposed any more than they already are.

Needless to say - I'm a mess! Dental visits would come up and I would begin plotting reasons to cancel them weeks in advance. The day of the visit, I would have to come home, take pain meds and sleep it off b/c I would be so tense during the cleaning that literally every muscle in my body would hurt. We tried swishes that would numb my gums, but I could still feel the pain.

When I had a crown put on, I had to go under full sedation to do so. I HATE DENTISTS AND ALL THINGS DENTAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THEN, I discovered Nitrous Oxide! Yep - Laughing Gas! I finally found a dentist who will give me Nitrous Oxide for my cleanings and now I actually look forward to my quarterly visits! I just close my eyes and go to happy, tingly town while my teeth are being cleaned. Sure, it still hurts, but I just don't care! AND - the best part? Recovery is almost instantaneous and I can continue with my day with no ill effects of my "nitrous nap". I joked at my last cleaning that I want to come back weekly for these...but I was only half joking :) The hygienist calls it the "last legal high" and I totally agree! I LOVE NITROUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO - yesterday I have a dentist appt with my periodontist. Yes, it was a reschedule, but not because I was dental dodging, but because I was coughing so bad when I was supposed to go last time that there was no way on earth I could have made it through a cleaning. Anyway, I'm waiting to go in and they tell me the nitrous is not working. HUH???? I wait a few more minutes and they get it up and running - WHEW! SO, I head on in for my "Nitrous Nap". I'm in happy land while she checks recession and gums and does that number calling out thing. She does the sonic cleaning on the teeth and I'm happily zoning out in the chair. Then, the unthinkable happens...somewhere after the top teeth were cleaned and she started the bottom teeth - the tank ran out. Luckily she caught this happen before we continued and we decided to stop right there and reschedule for another day when the tank was up and running again. AND - she won't charge me for the nitrous today (there is a small fee for using nitrous, but SOOOOOO worth it!).

As I'm leaving to reschedule for another "Nitrous Nap", they give me a $10 gift card to Starbucks for my inconvenience. Seriously?

SO - to sum up... I got a Nitrous Nap for free, an appt for another Nitrous Nap in 2 weeks, AND a $10 gift card to Starbucks.

I'd say it's a good day for BJ!!!!!!!!