Sleep Dentistry

"We now offer Sleep Dentistry under the supervision of a specialist anaesthetist trained in anaesthesia and intensive care.
Sleep Dentistry is the use of medically administered and supervised intravenous ("IV") sedation and is often referred to as "Conscious Sedation" or "Twighlight Sleep". It is the most advanced form of dental sedation available and uses a combination of sedative and pain relieving drugs to create a drowsy and dream like state of deep, calming relaxation for the entire duration of your dental procedure.
When you wake up you will have no memory or recollection of the noises, smells needles or drilling and usually there is no unpleasant side effects, in fact you feel like you have woken from a very satisfying sleep. No pain, no discomfort and no fear. "

I saw this ad in a website .I only wish if I had known about 'Sleep dentistry ' earlier.It would have spared me the agony.My mother told me I had started teething very late.She used to tell me 'To get your teeth to look how they are now ,I had to take so much pains, you know. When you were almost two years old,you had only two or three teeth in the upper jaw and four teeth in the lower. By that age Raji, Viji, Poorni,Vaasu,Ramesh[my cousins] all had gleaming teeth.The doctor had told her it is a calcium deficiency and prescribed some medication,give her this for two months and all her teeth will grow.She had patiently waited for my canines, molars and premolars. She would pray 'oh god,let her get all her teeth and I will make silver dentures[exaggeration].Now my appa looked at her' why does god need dentures,he only smiles,he does not show his teeth'.To this she would say, 'Don't make fun of it'. She asked friends.She was not very educated but some friend told her give more calcium rich foods.She asked Dad, referred to magazines,and any food which had a trace of calcium in it, I had to eat or I had it. There would be spinach at home every day for 2 months .I started to hate spinach.After umpteen cups of spinach and yogurt,and dosages of calcium intakes my mother was relieved to see my sparkling teeth.

But mother's joy was often interrupted by my 'teething problems'. Often in school, I would have terrible toothaches .Once,I couldnot eat,cried in pain ,holding my jaws all night. She had rushed me to the dentist.He had told her' she is having sensitive tooth'.He gave some medication and added "don't give her sweets. That was like a 'bolt of lightning' , how could I not eat sweets.I had a "sweet tooth". My mother looked at me "hmmmm,I will warn Kanna Mama [my uncle] not to bring any more chocolates. He pampers you and now I have to make rounds to the dentist. Even last evening,I had munched a bar mama had given and had three spoonsful of Bournvita powder".

My teeth continued to trouble me from time to time. I was attending college.I still loved sweets but was more health conscious now.So I ate sweets but in 'moderation',if you may say so.My mom's friend told her "a new dentist has opened her clinic at Royal Plaza. Why don't you take her there?".I didnot like the idea as the long ago unpleasant memories loomed large in the form of spinach,yogurt,dangerous looking dentist's instruments etc .

We got an appointment.Her name was Dr. Mrs. Lobo.Her clinic looked like a 'Hitech movie' set.The consultation she charged could make us feel like we were in 'Hollywood' .She was a large,stout woman. Every time she would bring some 'god knows what instruments' near me ,I would have a queazy stomach.

I had been alone to her consultation room.My mother waited outside.I had bravely told her "Please,I'll go by myself".When Mrs. Lobo asked me to sit and the chair reclined I wondered if I were on a space ship going on an expedition to outer space.I could see stars everywhere.She gently pushed my forehead to rest, saying "relax". How could I 'relax'!She started examining my teeth,knocking them,dug into my molars,with a sharp instrument.I squeezed my eyes.I was literally holding to the sides of the chair. She looked at me and said 'easy',it was not so easy for me. I immediately, shut my eyes.She said'hmmmm,your wisdom tooth has come out" I thought I heard only "wisdom" .Then she added "but is growing slightly out of its position and it is pushing the next tooth".I asked her perplexed "what will happen now?', she said "nothing it may displace the other tooth ". I thought who cares about the second last tooth at the back of my mouth as long as my front teeth are okay.Then she came over to the other side and said "this molar is decaying.We have to do a root canal"What is a root canal?I had only heard of canals on the Nile river in my geography books. She explained 'It is a treatment where by the pulp is extracted. I said " What ?holding my cheek with a perplexed expression. The pulp of your tooth has decayed.The pulp is in the centre of your tooth and has nerves, blood vessels .............
My head was swirling. Such a small teeth,with so much 'pulp' sorry 'problem '.I should have gone easy on the sweets .My thoughts came back to Dr. Lobo. I said " ok,doctor".And closed my eyes again. I could not hear anything for a few seconds. So I opened my eyes.She came back ,her mouth covered,gloves in her huge hands carrying some instrument,which resembled a small but deadly weapon.Phew! it was only the dental mirror.She put it back after examining. "This means, my other teeth are fine, thank god" I thought.She used some pincers with cotton swab and dipped it into a solution and applied it to the molar.Then she switched on some instrument which looked and sounded like a mini drilling machine.I knew it was a drilling machine for sure. Yes, she was drilling my molar.I shut my eyes tight and held the chair even tighter. the noise was so ..... I wanted to shut my ears too but .. I wished I had two more hands.I couldnot leave my hands which were holding the chair tightly.
Then she stopped and said " spit" pointing to the small basin,I spat and when I saw blood in the basin, it brought my heart to my mouth. She coolly said 'don't worry,nothing. Nothing!!!!so much blood is 'nothing '. "ok ready" she said,I said 'Yes'.In my mind that was a No!!! I swallowed and took a deep breath ...

Again she went,and again asked me to spit. After a few rounds. She went away and I had a break.I wiped the sweat in my forehead even though it was an airconditioned clinic. She removed the ' instrument 'again and started 'drilling' my teeth again,it felt so sensitive that my mouth started to water.I signalled her to stop,'ok spit' she said once again. She removed the attachment from the machine and fixed another disc like thing .And she started it again.It was like a 'sudarshan chakra' Oh my god!the instrument...I thought my tongue would be cut now.'drink water ,spit ". I repeated as I was told.

She pressed some filling into my teeth.This felt better. I thought ' It is over,I can go now'.Finally,after what seemes like eternity on that chair, she tapped my shoulder and she smiled. "It's over".

It's over,it's over ,it echoed in my ears. It was like god's verdict to my ears.

Then my mother was called in,Dr.Lobo told her "one more sitting, aunty," I was about to stand up but the word 'one more sitting' made me 'sit' again. "Today I have just put a temporary filling". TEMPORARY FILLING! "I will examine the tooth next time and I will fill it." My heart sank.I had thought, this ordeal would be over today.

So "I will fix the time for Tuesday 'is it okay?" My mother said "yes,doctor"."And just avoid cold stuff"she added.My mother looked at me. When we came out,amma said 'and sweets ,heard what she said?'. I had no mood to say anything,not that I was in a position to open my mouth.

The whole week I was thinking about Tuesday, I was glum.My best friend asked me 'so you went to the dentist',I gave her a dirty look.That Sunday,a relative visited us with his family. He told my mother "She is my eldest daughter Sheela,she is studying BDS,she will be a DENTIST soon'.My mother said to him"You all don't need to worry about your teeth ,Sheela is there for you".Now hearing this,I quietly receeded to my room .I didnot come out till it was time for them to leave.

Our next door neighbour's house had carpentary work going on.The drilling machine sound would pierce my ears and my mind would go back to Dr. Lobo's clinic. I would look at the calendar on the wall every one hour or so.'Tuesday'...My sister asked me 'Hey, what are you looking at it again and again for....'. I didnot say anything.

Then 'Tuesday' arrived and I prayed before going to the clinic.Dr. Lobo began "here let me check".Once again the dreadful procedure began and finally Dr. Lobo gave the finishing touches.She said "It was not that bad,was it".I managed to give her a smile. "But..........." she said. Dr. Lobo had a way of creating suspense. Now what again.. I almost jumped from the chair. She said 'Atleast once in a year,have your teeth checked. I said 'ya,sure ,I will".....and left the clinic.I do have regular dental checkups ,but.....still not very comfortable with the idea !

[fiction]

 

Dear Kamalji,

Thank you for appreciating the story and your first comments

I had problematic teeth during childhood and think the dental procedures are nightmarish.And like many of us,I too hate going to a dentist.This story I made up in around my experience and called it a fiction ,but I didnot trigger any funny vein I think seeing the first comment from you bonklet me read on and find out.Big Laughsorry Kamalji I am laughing at myself

regards

meera

 

Balajee

Yes I deserve a bravery award for enduring the dental procedures which give me phoebiasBig Laugh

regards

meera

 

Dear Kanaka,

Thanks for steppin in

But please don't remind me of the drilling equipment and its sound .It is irritating and thank god ,I am fortunate that I have not seen, anything like the your wash basin experience.It must have been very nauseatic for you.

regards

meera

 

Bhau saheb,

I think inspite of technology,even now the dental equipments look deadly to me:shaking:
sleep dentistry is a better solution.

thanks for appreciating the write up.

regards

meera