Must have missed this thread before. Good to hear your teeth are better, richard.
Next time perhaps you could ask for laughing gas, nitrous oxide. It doesn't eliminate the pain or discomfort, you just don't have a reaction or emotion to it. You don't laugh, much less hysterically, and can usually drive yourself home by the time you pay your bill.
One time as a kid, they forgot me on the gas. Long time, think they went to lunch. Couldn't walk for a bit afterwards.