I confess to being the biggest wimp on earth when it comes to, even just the thought, of someone reaching into my mouth with a metal tool that has a demonic hook on the end for prodding into my molars. We're talking "through-the-roof" anxiety-ridden fear. I'd rather get in the ring and deal with the ferocious right hook of young Mike Tyson, than to see that diabolical dental hook coming towards my mouth.
A recent visit to my dentist resulted in them scheduling an appointment for me with something called an endodontics office, where I would experience my worst nightmare -- the dreaded root canal. For the days leading up to the appointment I couldn't get the image out of my head of Moe Howard reaching into Curly's mouth with pliers and pulling with all his might. I didn't sleep for days.
When I arrived, the staff was terrific at easing my obvious anxiety as best they could. They informed me that Dr. Susie Koagel would be handling the procedure. When she entered the treatment room she was wearing a Florida Gators dental cap. I should mention here that I am a diehard Georgia Bulldog. So the cap was not a good omen. In my mind she obviously knew I was Dawg and was here to inflict as much extra pain as possible upon me. Anxiety levels went nuclear, and procedure began.
I will never say a poor word about her Gators ever again.
I realize this sounds ridiculously improbable, but on a scale of 1-10 the pain level was a "0". Even when she was giving the local anesthetic I didn't feel a thing. I think it was because she was spraying air (water?) in the area of the tooth while simultaneously injecting the local. However she did it, it was amazing, zero pain.
They slapped a set of headphones on me, turned on the TV, turned it up loud at my fear-driven request for drowning out any noise, and got to work. I hung out watching/listening to Field of Dreams. The local had been delivered perfectly because that side of my mouth was completely numb throughout the entire procedure. Again, absolutely no pain at all. I never felt a damn thing.
Dr. Koagel is the sole reason I will never fear a dentist or endodontist office again. That's something I never even remotely thought could be possible. For that reason alone, I will forever owe her a debt of gratitude.
If you need an endodontist, look no further than Crabapple Endodontics and Dr. Susie Koagel. read more