anything once: getting a cavity filled

My first two cavities were discovered last week by my friend Stefanie. (Don't worry, she's a dentist.) I was super nervous to get them filled because I've seen Little Shop of Horrors too many times, and I can't help but think of the patients screaming in that film while Steve Martin gleefully drills them. With actual drills. I knew that wasn't what it was like in real life, mostly because I can't picture Stefanie torturing people daily because she's one of the nicest people of ever. But I was still slightly concerned.


I arrived ten minutes late, already a little stressed from hitting every. red. light. on the way to her office. Edwin, Stefanie's husband who also works at the office/assists (and who you may remember from the wedgie post), showed me to a chair. And we dove right into the process. 


Stefanie numbed my gums, then I closed my eyes because I didn't want to see a needle coming at my face since she had to shoot some Novocaine in there too. Let me tell you - I am a great wimp when it comes to being poked and prodded, but I took this like a champ because Stefanie did such a great job of wiggling her finger around in my mouth. I'm really not sure if that's a distraction technique or if she had to do that to find the right place to jab me, but it worked. After that, she got to work drilling, but I seriously didn't feel a thing. 

Where the magic happens
Photo stolen borrowed from Facebook

Okay, it wasn't all light and happiness. I was getting cavities filled, after all. My three complaints: 
1. The buzzing sound of whatever she was using to drill was rather unpleasant. Slightly more annoying than Janice's voice on Friends, and slightly less annoying than Arabella's dachshund when she really wants something.
2. Stefanie had to put pressure on the filling at one point. I experienced discomfort akin to a small child poking me to get my attention.
3. When the procedure ended, I stood up to go home and nailed my head on the light over the chair. This was, by far, the most painful portion of the visit. Coincidentally, it was also the most embarrassing.


In conclusion, I obviously don't want to repeat this first, but if I do, I'd want to repeat it with Stefanie. She's good. If you need a dentist in the Tidewater area, check her out: http://www.wongandyungdds.com/.

(And if you need a dentist in the California Bay area, go to Mark Nadler. He's awesome. I just couldn't write a dentisty post without mentioning him.)