Dealing With Headaches

The Dentalwork Headache is a kind of tension headache brought on by anything remotely connected with going to the dentist. I currently have one now because I’ve gotten a reminder card that I’m overdue for a check up. With me, that’s all it takes to set me off into Dentalwork Headache, as well as spontaneously growing gray hairs and having my teeth ache. I don’t know of any official medical classification for this varaint of tension headache; this is just what I call it.

Why I Get It So Fast

If you guessed that I have a phobia about dentists, BINGO, you are right. I freely admit it. I also urge anyone reading this to get annual dental check ups, even if your teeth don’t hurt. There are low cost dental clinicls near universities and dental schools as well as coupons offered now by “Coupon Clipper”-type faux-magazine mailings. For example, if you live around the Philadelphia area, there is a low cost dental clinic at the University of Philadelphia (which I think has now changed it’s name to Philadelphia University). I live around the Philly area and have been avoiding this clinic all of my life.

I get Dentalwork Headache because my body involuntarily tenses up when anyone mentions the “d” word. This includes clenching my jaw. Tension headaches don’t necessarily have to be brought on by tense muscles, but mine certainly do. I have to yawn in order to relax my jaw. But, because I know the “d” work triggers a headache, I tend to just take an Excedrin or sinus relief pill (depending on the time of year) to try and prevent the inevitable fit of jaw-clenching that’s bound to occur sooner or later.

Why hasn’t Stephen King written a book about a dentist? Anyway…

The Drill

After dentalwork, I do get headaches. This is because of the drill. For God’s sake, your skull is vibrating for nearly an hour, of COURSE you’re going to get a headache. Try to take headache medicines before your dental appointment. I’d recommend a good tranqilizer as well, BUT they might conteract with any anesthesia you might be given. It’s not worth the risk.

If you can possibly help it, have the day off work when you get your teeth worked on. If you are they type that thinks sitting in the dentist’s chair is no big deal and never gets dizzy or shakey afterwards from the anesthesia, then you are safe to go back to work. Unfortunately, I am not that type. I need someone to drive me and drag me in through the front door and then escourt my limp shaking form back to the car.

Not everybody reacts badly to anesthesia such as novicane. Some people do really well on “laughing gas” and that can be a viable alternative.

Mercury Fumes Causing Headaches?

Some people report that they are really bothered by the smells of a dentist office. Me, I’m bothered by the smell of old blood and bruning bone (color me nutty). But some people get ill from the smell of mercury fillings. Some people just can’t handle mercury fillings and even show signs of mercury poisioning. The alternative is porcelain onlays, but they are a bit expensive. Sometimes your dentist can do what’s called white fillings insted of silver fillings. The white have much less mercury in them.

Going to the dentist does not mean that you are going to be poisioned by mercury. This is a very rare occurrance. I don’t mean to add yet another fear to the dental-phobic.

However, that sounds like a darn good excuse to put off my dental check up for another year…