teeth

I don’t hate the dentist, really I don’t. My dentist is gentle and kind. He seems to show honest concern about the care he provides and the patient.

When I was a little girl and my sister and I would go to the dentist, she always needed work done. I always got away without too many issues. Even when I had my wisdom teeth removed, I was out at a party later that same night.

I’ve blogged about my problem tooth a couple of times; most recently the wonderful news that I do not need a root canal. All I need is just a simple crown, quick and easy.

I saw the dentist on Friday afternoon. When he was injecting me with the Novocain he touched the nerve. Suddenly it was like a bolt of lightening from my jaw through my lip. This particular dentist has touched this same nerve 3 different times, 2 different appointments. One of the benefits of touching the nerve with the nerve blocker is that the nerve goes to sleep almost instantly.

The major numbness wore off by Friday evening. Saturday I noticed that my lip was still numb and I had the occasional sensation of a shooting tingle up my chin into my lip. This lip weirdness continued into Sunday and was still numb and tingly today, 3 days later. And when I talk on the phone I need to use my left side, cause my ear gets all tingly when I press the phone against my head. I called the dentist this morning and explained my symptoms. He hopes that I have a bruised nerve, but he would like me to see an oral surgeon. I see him tomorrow.

I am vaguely familiar with trigeminal neuralgia; we have a good friend who suffered with the disorder. All I can say is if those with TN have that lightening bolt pain all the time, how do they live? It would put me over the edge.

From what I’ve read online (is there a better world for a hypochondriac?) the lip weirdness may last for 6 months then go away on its own.

I’m sure after a while I won’t even notice that my lip is numb, right?