The other day I went in to have a filling redone and decided to try something different. I turned down the Novocaine and used self hypnosis to put myself in a light trance while the dentist drilled out the old filling. I raised my hand a couple of times to let the dentist know I needed him to stop for a moment while I got back on top of the pain. I was able to spend 20+ min. while he drilled riding the pain just barely above it. Endorphins were kicking in after a bit and it was a blast. Kinda blew the dentist and his assist away but totally changed my perspective on dental work.
Anyone ever try this?
Anyone ever try this?
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Portland
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Re: Dental work
Sat, March 8, 2008 - 1:02 PMAll the time. I hate novocain, and it only goes into my mouth for things like extractions and root canals.
Most dental pain really isn't that bad, but people are afraid of it and so they overreact. The only thing that drives me crazy is the low-speed drill, and that's not because it hurts-- it's because I hate feeling like there's a jackhammer in my mouth. -
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Re: Dental work
Sat, March 8, 2008 - 3:11 PMI hate the sound of the drill, and the sound of it cutting into my tooth. The novocaine doesn't do anything for that.
It sounds like a bone saw. *shudder*
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Unsu...
Re: Dental work
Sat, March 8, 2008 - 6:04 PM<<it's because I hate feeling like there's a jackhammer in my mouth.>> Well, that rules me out! :) -
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Re: Dental work
Sun, March 9, 2008 - 10:27 AMI don't know you, but if your dick vibrates and bangs into teeth like that then yes, yes it does. -
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Re: Dental work
Mon, March 10, 2008 - 2:44 AM>> I don't know you, but if your dick vibrates and bangs into teeth like that then yes, yes it does. <<
<LOL>!
Oh, God, Patti, I needed that laugh! Thanks ;->
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Re: Dental work
Sun, March 9, 2008 - 2:13 PMI agree that most dental pain is pain partly because it's unfamiliar, partly because of fear and overreaction, and partly because of the way it's treated by the dental industry. But I've also fallen into it.
Simple tooth numbing doesn't work for me. I've been trained to remind the dentist that I have nerves splayed out between my teeth. So pretty much anything at all needs to be done by hitting the nerves at the back of the jaw and taking out the whole side of my mouth.
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Re: Dental work
Mon, March 10, 2008 - 12:49 AM
I'm with Patti. I hate Novocain so much that it takes a very high amount of pain to convince me to use it. I typically ask if we can start without it, and when things hurt, I say to myself, "is this worse than a whole afternoon of Novocain?". Usually it isn't, but every now and then I do end up giving in.
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Re: Dental work
Mon, March 10, 2008 - 1:17 AMmm, this is interesting to read.
Me too, I dont use pain numbers unless its a major extraction or such.. and being a smallish woman I often have to argue with the dentist to get him to go without Novocaine..
I totally inderstand what you describe, that the first moments are the worst,- and then then my own endorphines kick in..
I always leave the dentist feeling great and elevated!
-rather than down and doughy,- like with Novocaine..
Until reading this thread I hadn't encountered anyone else who deliberately avoids Novocaine. Fancy meeting you all In Here! .. makes me think..
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Re: Dental work
Sun, March 9, 2008 - 1:46 PMI hate the smell of the smoke from the drill. But I'm a total wuss when it comes to dental pain too, and novacaine doesn't work well on me so I ask for the hard stuff. -
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Re: Dental work
Mon, March 10, 2008 - 6:57 PMI think I could probably handle the dental pain without the novacain, running just on endorphines. I just don't know who would give me the light flogging in the beginning to get me warmed up, my dentist or her assistant. :-) -
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Re: Dental work
Tue, March 11, 2008 - 8:06 AMYeah, I'm kind of an all or nothing girl (gee, what a surprise to those who know me.) Either tough it out on endorphins, or ask to be out cold. Of course, that's taking into account that the last two years have involved removing a fair chunk of my maxilla along with 6 teeth, and doing some major reconstruction. So, yeah, for the stuff involving removing bits of my skull, I did ask to be completely under. After that, though, little things like cavities just don't seem like such a big deal!
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Re: Dental work
Thu, April 10, 2008 - 3:43 PMAs children we all took the pain of dental work, since our parents were on the poor side after 9 kids. It cost x-tra for Novocaine, so we endured! -
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Re: Dental work
Thu, April 10, 2008 - 4:10 PMI had a dentist years ago that claimed that the way he drilled meant no need for pain killers. he said it was the high speed drill that created heat that caused pain. I was young and tried it once Then it was back to Novocaine
I do use a form of self hypnosis when I get a Brazilian wax. I do the breathing and relaxing, like i learned for needle play. About once during a session i would ask her to stop so I could re adjust. She was surprised the first time and said she wished all her clients could do that. I always get a chuckle about using a kinky pain trick in my vanilla world.
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Re: Dental work
Thu, April 10, 2008 - 4:28 PMI'm one of those people that even with the max amount of whatever pain killer they give me i still have to breath through it. It's bad enough feeling my lips get punctured by my teeth as they try to wedge 3 hands into my mouth and a drill. My teeth face weird angles in the back and I have a very small mouth. Please bring on the pain killers at that point. I also run through the medications very quickly so about 1/2 through a set of fillings i am normally starting to feel what they are doing. hopefully they are past the drilling portion by then. i will have to say that i almost fell asleep in the dentist chair this last time even with the pain killers wearing off. The pain was very relaxing. But that was after they had filled the worst one. -
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Re: Dental work
Thu, April 10, 2008 - 6:09 PMI had an interesting conversation with a young and inexperienced dentist once. After I'd finally convinced him NOT to shoot me up with Novocaine, he said, "OK but I don't like it because I have to be more careful. " I thought, aha. They like to numb you up so if the drill slips and hits your gum, you won't feel it. I decided that having him be more careful was an added bonus as far as I was concerned.
And to the original question, yes, I have done self-hypnosis at the dentist quite successfully. Background music helps, if you have a choice.
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