True Story
Have I ever told you about the time that I went for a dental visit in Hell (Japan)? It was very traumatic. Iwakuni is a remote installation with a small medical and dental CLINIC, being they are not an emergency facility. So, that being said there is not an anesthesiologist at either facility. Both places are for your basic care type needs. If you need anything major done you either have it taken care of in the Japanese hospital or at another military base 500 miles north or south. Fine whatever... Not a big deal unless you need surgery for something in which case they fly your ass to another base. Not necessarily convenient but it's better than dying or dealing with some sort of medical pain.
You really wouldn't think of a dental clinic not having an anesthesiologist as a big deal UNLESS you are getting your wisdom teeth taken out. One might say "Why didn't you wait until you were state side again to get it done?" Good question... Because my insurance would not cover it 100 percent as they would in Japan. I only get free dental when in Japan. Getting one extraction by an American civilian dentist can be around 2 thousand a tooth if not more. You do the math. So, we planned to get my teeth extracted in Japan since it was for free. That was all fine and dandy until I was informed that I would have to be awake for the whole procedure and was having all 4 done at once. Every single person I know who has had there wisdom teeth taken out has been in a nice long drug induced nap except myself. People, there is a reason why they put you out. After getting several shots in my mouth the naval dentist informed that they had to give me one last shot in the center of the roof of my mouth. This was his exact words " I am not going to lie, this is really going to hurt." People, I have had a boob job, had a child ripped out of my stomach, and a bone broken on the top of my foot... NOTHING compares to the pain as getting a needle shoved in the roof of your mouth! NOTHING!!! People, I don't mind telling you that I balled like a baby and not only had the dentist hugging me but several dental assistants were holding my hands, wiping my tears, and patting my hair. I shit you not that the dentist called in for reinforcement to help wipe away my tears... After all that excitement I got to hear my teeth being ripped out of my head. People, again, I can not stress to you the amount of fun times I had while in Iwakuni Japan...
So, fast forward to now. Not thrilled about going to the dentist. Can you blame me? I had my teeth cleaned a few weeks ago and they informed that I had to have a "cap" replaced on my tooth. I informed them I didn't know what the hell they were talking about as I didn't remember ever having a cap put on my tooth. But whatever... Not a big deal, I would be back to have it done. So, today comes along and I go to sit in the big chair when out of the corner of my eye I see the big long ass needle they plan on shoving in my mouth... Can you say freak out? The dentist comes in and says "How are ya" I told him not so good, I was nervous. He asked why and I told him because he was about to shove a needle in my mouth... he then laughs and says he didn't have to give me the needle but then I would feel a lot of pain while he was drilling my tooth. I then blurted out that I would indeed not feel any pain and that I didn't want the needle. He thought I was joking, I was not. He explained to me that where my previous cap was there was tooth decay and he needed to drill my tooth...That it would hurt. I told him no, it would not and I didn't want the needle. He and the dental assistant exchanged looks and then both looked at me like I was crazy. He paused for a moment and stated that he could not force me to get the needle but that I was going to be in a lot of pain and he would have to stop to give it to me anyway... I told him to do it anyway. The dental assistant just kept looking at me like my third head was sticking it's tongue out at her. So, he picked up the drill and started his drilling... People, I don't know if I willed the pain away or what have you... I felt no pain. He did the whole procedure and I didn't feel a damn thing. NOTHING. After all was said and done the dentist told me that it was not common for people to get procedures done without anesthesia and that I should not think of doing that again because it is painful. I then explained to him that I just did and it was not painful at all... I felt nothing. The whole staff kept looking at me, staring. I am pretty sure they were talking about me when I left
Anyway.... I am a happy camper not having that big numb face feeling. I came home and ate a cookie!
One of these days I will have to tell you some more HELL (Japan) stories. Like the time Keith said we were going for a "Nature walk" and brought me to a mountain to climb. Or... About the time that Keith and I went out drinking, walked home, and before returning home fell asleep on a playground slide until the sun came up. Fun times people...
Later
You really wouldn't think of a dental clinic not having an anesthesiologist as a big deal UNLESS you are getting your wisdom teeth taken out. One might say "Why didn't you wait until you were state side again to get it done?" Good question... Because my insurance would not cover it 100 percent as they would in Japan. I only get free dental when in Japan. Getting one extraction by an American civilian dentist can be around 2 thousand a tooth if not more. You do the math. So, we planned to get my teeth extracted in Japan since it was for free. That was all fine and dandy until I was informed that I would have to be awake for the whole procedure and was having all 4 done at once. Every single person I know who has had there wisdom teeth taken out has been in a nice long drug induced nap except myself. People, there is a reason why they put you out. After getting several shots in my mouth the naval dentist informed that they had to give me one last shot in the center of the roof of my mouth. This was his exact words " I am not going to lie, this is really going to hurt." People, I have had a boob job, had a child ripped out of my stomach, and a bone broken on the top of my foot... NOTHING compares to the pain as getting a needle shoved in the roof of your mouth! NOTHING!!! People, I don't mind telling you that I balled like a baby and not only had the dentist hugging me but several dental assistants were holding my hands, wiping my tears, and patting my hair. I shit you not that the dentist called in for reinforcement to help wipe away my tears... After all that excitement I got to hear my teeth being ripped out of my head. People, again, I can not stress to you the amount of fun times I had while in Iwakuni Japan...
So, fast forward to now. Not thrilled about going to the dentist. Can you blame me? I had my teeth cleaned a few weeks ago and they informed that I had to have a "cap" replaced on my tooth. I informed them I didn't know what the hell they were talking about as I didn't remember ever having a cap put on my tooth. But whatever... Not a big deal, I would be back to have it done. So, today comes along and I go to sit in the big chair when out of the corner of my eye I see the big long ass needle they plan on shoving in my mouth... Can you say freak out? The dentist comes in and says "How are ya" I told him not so good, I was nervous. He asked why and I told him because he was about to shove a needle in my mouth... he then laughs and says he didn't have to give me the needle but then I would feel a lot of pain while he was drilling my tooth. I then blurted out that I would indeed not feel any pain and that I didn't want the needle. He thought I was joking, I was not. He explained to me that where my previous cap was there was tooth decay and he needed to drill my tooth...That it would hurt. I told him no, it would not and I didn't want the needle. He and the dental assistant exchanged looks and then both looked at me like I was crazy. He paused for a moment and stated that he could not force me to get the needle but that I was going to be in a lot of pain and he would have to stop to give it to me anyway... I told him to do it anyway. The dental assistant just kept looking at me like my third head was sticking it's tongue out at her. So, he picked up the drill and started his drilling... People, I don't know if I willed the pain away or what have you... I felt no pain. He did the whole procedure and I didn't feel a damn thing. NOTHING. After all was said and done the dentist told me that it was not common for people to get procedures done without anesthesia and that I should not think of doing that again because it is painful. I then explained to him that I just did and it was not painful at all... I felt nothing. The whole staff kept looking at me, staring. I am pretty sure they were talking about me when I left
Anyway.... I am a happy camper not having that big numb face feeling. I came home and ate a cookie!
One of these days I will have to tell you some more HELL (Japan) stories. Like the time Keith said we were going for a "Nature walk" and brought me to a mountain to climb. Or... About the time that Keith and I went out drinking, walked home, and before returning home fell asleep on a playground slide until the sun came up. Fun times people...
Later