My cavity drilling went fine today because……
…I had it drilled without any anesthesia!
Call me crazy, but after hearing my dentist’s explanation on why he thought I could probably do without, I was convinced to at least give it a try without the giant probing needle that would have numbed my whole left side lower jaw for the rest of the day.
You see, he explained that a tooth is multilayered. And the nerves are in the inner core (the pink). The top layer is the enamel, which has no nerves so it can’t feel drilling. Then there’s a spongy looking inner layer called dentine that has SOME feeling – depending on the person – but not that much near the top where my cavity was (this was the scariest part – the “maybe” feeling.)
My dentist said he thought based on the x-rays that my cavity was right on the enamel – and I have such a fear of needles I was willing to let him try to drill without a shot. It ended up being totally fine (although I little scary at times!) and the worst part was an increased sensitivity to cold water when he had to clean it. Otherwise, I didn’t feel any pain. So glad!
I was home again (via bike!) within an hour.
Later in the afternoon I told Matt I was getting hungry for dinner and a sample of beer appeared at my desk! Beer makes such a good snack 
Dinner tonight was a simple soup blend (since I was expecting not to be able to chew!)
But since I could chew, I added more
The soup was a blend of broccoli, broth, greens and beans
The greens were a special pick-up from Whole Foods! The company saw that I had blogged about their frozen kale recently and sent me a coupon to get the newest newest frozen greens – kale, collards and mustard greens mixed! SOOOO convenient!! Not only would this have been a huge pain to clean and trim, but the cost of this bag was such much less than buying these individually.
Greens + Beans Soup
Serves 3
- 1 crown of broccoli
- 2 carrots
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 cups frozen greens
- 1 can white navy beans
- 2 cups veggie broth
- 1 tbsp kosher or herby salt
- Fresh rosemary for garnish
- Olive oil for veggie cooking
Cook carrot, broccoli and pepper in olive oil until soft and fragrant. Remove a few broccolis for garnish. Add garlic. Cook for 2 minutes. Add broth, drained beans, frozen greens, and salt. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer for 5 minutes. Blend everything up in a blender or with a stick blender. Pour into bowls. Garnish with cheddar cheese, chopped rosemary and reserved broccolis.
Serve with a gooey slice of pimento cheese toast!
I’ve been playing around on KERF and have a new design debut to do in the next few days. And a new giveaway tomorrow AM!
{ 85 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, you’re brave! And to bike there and back too. I’m an absolute wimp when I go to the dentist- I always have nightmares the day before.
kath,
can i ask how much the frozen greens cost? it sounds like a good idea if it is reasonably priced…although who knows at whole paycheck.
I’m pretty sure they were $1.99
haha, whole paycheck
That made me laugh!
I want that cheesy bread!
Awesome bowls—they look like perfect oatmeal or icecream bowls! Where are they from?
Haha! I used to get drilled without freezing as a child.. but that’s because my dentist was always in a hurry and said ‘ it will only hurt for a minute’ and boy did it ever!
Love the bag of greens!! and that soup sounds fantastic.
Wow. Way to go at the dentist! I saw you tweet about the no anesthesia, and I was afraid something had gone wrong. Man, no huge needle, AND cheesy bread with dinner. :-p
I’m excited to see the new design
One of my British friends was telling me that in England, they never use anethesia. He said that’s why Brits are notorious for bad teeth – they are afraid of the dentist. I have no idea if this is true, but it made sense.
It’s not true. Must be just the brave and/or crazy Brits!
You are a brave soul!! I could never go sans anesthesia, I would probably cry like a blubbering little baby.
Slash that is THE most gorgeous soup bowl I have ever seen! It plays eye games with the mirror effect, I luuurve
So excited to see the new design! I’m such a visual person so I love when people mix it up.
Couldn’t help but notice the Brooklyn Brewery glass! I’ve been there twice when visiting New York. I loooove their chocolate stout. It had me making “Mmmmmm” noises out loud whilst tasting
Oh, and COOL BOWL!
YUMM. Nice bravery-like I said, the dentist is always kinda fun for me
I’m glad your tooth drilling was such a breeze! I would have been SO scared!
That soup looks right up my alley!
Do you count Novocaine as anesthesia? If I was afraid of needles I would have a terrible time at the dentist. For any drilling they need to give me 2 -3 shots of novocaine because for some reason I have a high tolerance and the novocaine wears off way to0 fast.
I had a cavity drilled without anesthesia when I was 11 that hurt like hell!!!!!
What?/? I don’t think I would have been as brave. You rock!
You are far braver than I am – impressive!
Now THOSE greens sound like the beginning of a smoothie creation.
Have you heard that frozen can be better for you since often produce sits on shelves so long it loses nutritional value?
That soup looks delish!
For some reason, I often shy away from blending soups. I always eat them chunky. I think I need to give up that fear.
I can’t wait to see the design and giveaway!
I am so glad I’ve never had cavities. I don’t think I could handle the drills and needles. Although I’ll probably have to get my wisdom teeth taken out.
I love the green’s in your post today!
New layout? Your’s is already amazing
I absolutely love your header.
But I can’t wait to see the new one. And the giveaway!
Best thing I ever did at the dentist was to do the fillings without getting numbed up. My teeth always seem to hurt for days when I get the anestetics. Probably because the Dentist can be a little more rough if you can’t fee it!
I had all four wisdom teeth pulled without any anesthesia! I was so nervous – I kept asking them to numb me even more. I obviously couldn’t feel anything, but I could hear it and “feel” pressure, so I was numb for HOURS!
Mine today was without ANY numbing! My wisdom tooth experience was similar – lots of crunching noises
I don’t care for the dentist. But no shot, I’m not sure that I could brave the other option. I would be scared.
Kudos on the whole dentist experience, riding your bike and being able to eat tasty stuff afterwards! I have a fun dentist experience too: I had 3 wisdom teeth pulled withOUT anasthesia, and then rode my bike home as well afterwards (the only option, as I didn t own a car at the time, and no public transportation existed where I lived) … by the time I got home the blood had started pumping out of the holes in my jaw leaving blood dripping down my chin. My husband saw me in that condition and has REFUSED to have his wisdom teeth pulled ever since
Yep, women can be hardcore 
Ahhhh!!! I can’t believe your dentist let you bike home after that!
Congrats on surviving the dentists, sans numbing! You are ready for natural childbirth one day
The soup…looks delish! You are quite the star after a day in the dentist chair to be cooking (and blogging!)
I always get cavities done without any anesthesia as well!! The dull pain of drilling is so much better than the sharp pain of that needle! plus you don’t get the fat lip feeling afterwards! I thought I was the only one!
When I got my cavity filled my dentist convinced my I didnt need anesthesia as well..it wasnt too bad! Glad you had a good experience!
If anyone is daring enough to try, there’s a similar soup to this that is one of the traditional foods of the Black Sea part of Turkey. It is basically the same recipe and procedure. The ingredients are: collard greens, tomatoes, corn meal, salt and your favorite spices and herbs.
Just the noise of the drill sends me into a panic. No anesthesia? You are one brave cookie!
i am SO impressed with your bravery at the dentist.
Oh my heavens, I could never do that! My teeth are so sensitive I almost always have to get two shots of anaesthesia!
Wow Kath! You’re one tough gal! way to go
I’m glad the dentist wasn’t traumatizing. I can’t even imagine not getting my mouth numbed with a drill coming at me!!
I always keep a couple bags of those frozen greens on hand for soups and quick dishes. I’m not a huge fan of them just cooked as a side dish (I think they are chopped too small) but they really do come in handy.
That soup looks delish! It is great having frozen veggies on hand, so convenient.
Dentist is not fun : p Im glad you made it out ok ; ) never a fun thing!
Love the bowl the soup is in, and the soup sounds really good !
Cant wait to see the new design!!!!!!
Glad to hear the drilling went better than expected. That soup looks fantastic. I’ve been craving broccoli soup for awhile now.
Have a great day Kath!
I used to get my cavities filled without anesthesia. I discovered that the dentist goes and gets a sharper drill, is more careful and finishes more quickly if you don’t use novacaine. When they think you are numb they can use a duller needle, dig around all they want and don’t need to be quick. Also, I founding that humming while they are drilling produces an anesthetic effect through the vibrations.
wow, that really s brave!
That soup looks delicious!
What a tough woman! You earned that beer!
You are braver than me! I am just so nervous at the dentist that I don’t think I could pass up the numbing “just in case” I needed it.
Dude, you are hardcore. I never would have been so brave! Needles don’t bother me as much as drilling, though.
Your soup looks so good, too! I don’t like greens – it’s a texture thing, I think, and also I’m not southern so I never ate them growing up – but pureeing them in a soup sounds like a great idea. Definitely trying it!
You are one brave, brave woman. I can’t imagine not getting numbed. I’m so afraid of dentists and teeth pain.
You must really trust your dentist! In my experience, when someone says “Oh it won’t hurt”, it does. A lot!
You are so brave! Once I went without being numbed and it was not good… at all. I’m glad you had a good experience! Dinner looks great.. especially the cheese toast
That soup looks so good! I love that Whole Foods now sells frozen kale! That would make things so much easier having it frozen.
You are a brave soul Kath! I buy my spinach frozen but haven’t managed to find other frozen greens like kale and collard greens. I’m not sure if they have them at the Whole Foods near me but I’m gonna check it out next time because I love not having the hassle of washing them up!
The soup looks really yummy, do you approve of the new frozen veggie blend? Hopefully my WF has it to try
Recipe looks fantastic. Whole Foods is a 35min drive from me, but I think you inspired me enough to make the drive today. Thanks!
You are definitely brave! I had a bad experience as a child where the area wasn’t completely numb and I could feel the drilling in a bad way! Now I would be too afraid to get a cavity filled without a shot.
Good for you! I hate needles as well and the past two cavities (I’ve only ever had three in my whole life), I decided to forgo the shots as well. Giant needles are way worse than the pinch you feel when they drill on such a shallow level. Rawr!
Wow.. I’m glad the filling went well.. i had a horrific experience over the summer of not being able to get numb and drilling hell. I had over 20 shots in my mouth.
the soup looks so good!
Kath, I wish that I had skipped the novicaine when I got a tooth filled last month. My mouth was so numb after the procedure that I could only lift one side of my lips (making me look a bit like the Joker from the Dark Knight, haha).
Congrats on getting your cavity drilled without numbing it! Also that soup looks delicious
OMG, you are so much braver than me! I hate, hate those needles, but the drill is even worse if I’m waiting for the pain!
I think you officially a badass
I can’t believe you had it done without the pain meds. If I ever have to go to the doctor or dentist, I want them to give me all the drugs they have.
love the bowl! i love the new navigation bar. it’s so clean!
i dislike going to the dentist too. but that’s because i have a really bad relationship with pain. i mean really bad.
I have had it drilled a few times without anesthesia and I prefer it! It goes much faster, and if there’s a little pain, I agree that it’s better than the icky needle.
Wow, you are one BRAVE girl!!! Having just gotten some fillings done in the past few weeks, I couldn’t imagine not getting any freezing done. The last time I went, I had to get 2 needles!!
Yikes! No anesthesia?! I would faint at the idea hehe
I’m glad you were able to eat solid food afterward! I’m so jealous that you can bike everywhere 
It’s good you take advantage of CVille’s walkability (or BIKEability!) 
Glad your dentist appointment went well. I need to make one today becauses yesterday one of my fiilings cracked and I ended up swallowing a peices of it. Now there feels like there’s a hole where food could get stuck in. Blah. Your soup looks tasty!
Gah! I just had a cavity drilled this morning (with the novacain!) I’ve been drooling on myself for an hour; but hopefully it’ll stop soon
You’re brave!
ugh…I hate numb face!
Oh my gooosh! I must try those greens.
There was this dentist I went to as a child that used to drill without anesthesia. He always told us to “raise our arm” if it started to hurt.
It ALWAYS hurt. Stupid dentist..
Wow what a brave lady. Those greens look so good and simple and cheap! Might be picking them up next time I’m at the whole foods
The pimento bread looks so yummy! Glad the dentist appt went well. I couldn’t go through drilling without the needle. No way
I would have been so scared to do that without any numbing!! But it definitely would make it much more pleasant afterward. Going through the day without a half numb mouth is so annoying.
Would love to hear about your decision to keep your maiden name!
There is absolutely no way I would do it without numbing. I have the most sensitive teeth ever! I’m a little strange though because my favorite time at the dentist ever was when I had my four wisdom teeth pulled at once. I was numb and had laughing gas and I was sooo comfortable.
Glad it didn’t hurt! I ALWAYS request fillings without the Novocaine. The dentists look at me like I’m crazy, but the needle and the de-numbing are far more unpleasant than the drilling!
I am SO impressed with your decision! I am so afraid of any form of pain I don’t think I can say I’d be able to make the same decision as you, even with the reassurance from the dentist! You go, girl!
You are so brave. My first cavity the dentist convinced me not to get the Novocaine and it turns out I have really sensitive teeth, so it was awful. And I was only a kid! Nowadays I even have to get double the amount because I can still feel the pain.
Long time reader, first time commenter
After reading, i thought I’d comment. I went to the dentist yesterday to get a cavity (two actually) filled too! weird! I’ve never had a dentist tell me that i probably wouldn’t need any novocaine when getting a tooth drilled for a cavity, but i still don’t think I’d be brave enough to not be numbed up first. I don’t know how you did it. I spent the whole time being scared i might feel something anyway, even though i got about six shots of novocaine.
You’re right though, the lower half of my face was numb for at least four hours which made for some really awkward conversations and it’s been about a day and a half since i got the shots in my jaw and it still feels like someone punched me if i open my mouth up too far. I’d say you did the smart thing
I had a final crown done today…definitely with anesthesia…took a few hours to wear off. SOOOO expensive.
Your are a much braver woman than me! Theres no way I would have let my dentist anywhere close to my teeth without being numb. I get the chills just thinking about it!