So, Today...

[rolanni]

...started 'way too early. Around 3:30 a.m. actually, when I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. Nestled companionably between kinzel and Mozart, I drowsed, forcibly not thinking about the 9:30 dental appointment, and eventually fell back to sleep around 5:30.

At 9:30, I arrived at the dentist's office, Valiumed to the eyebrows, and toting Toebear, whose job it was to protect the dentist's life. He accomplished his mission wonderfully; the root canal(s)and core buildup of the tooth that has been making my life a misery and burden for the past Really Long While was accomplished without loss of life. Half my head is still numb from the two shots of Novacaine (or whatever it is they use nowadays), and I am richer by an appointment for a crown fitting -- in two weeks -- and another -- to superglue the Actual Crown to the tooth -- in mid-June.

...and that should be that.

Have I mentioned that I hate and fear dentists? But let it be said that Peter Laliberte's staff is wonderful. Everyone seemed amused by the bear (one tech wanted to know if I change his tie for holidays/seasons), and at one point, when I was left alone while the second shot of anesthesia took effect, came by to offer a blanket. I don't think I've ever been offered a blanket in a dental office before. Certainly, I have never experienced such care that the procedure went forward with no unavoidable pain.

So -- not the Most Fun Day on record, but manymany times better than it could have been.

Comments

[schulman.livejournal.com]

Have you considered bringing a Walkman or mp3 player to listen to while you're in the chair? Listening to my iPod gives me something to concentrate on other than the smoke and whine and the needle that looks long enough to come out the other side of my cheek.

Not that I, um, have any dental phobias or anything.

[(Anonymous)]

My dentist has hired a few folks to give hand and arm massages while you are getting worked on. It's really difficult to pay attention to both people. Almost annoying, except that it feels good.

Jeff

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Don't got no Walkman. Don't got no MP3 player. I do have a boombox, but I don't have an earbud for it. This is why Ghod gave us Valium.

[schulman.livejournal.com]

Hey, if I had Valium (or, for that matter, arm and hand massages), I wouldn't need no iPod.