I really truly hate the dentist. Childhood trama, I swear. No, I didn't really have cavities (my mom was anal about brushing), but I did spend quite a few of my precious childhood days at the dentist because I thought my teeth hurt. After getting all of my teeth examined, drilled, and pulled, the dentists realized that perhaps I had an ear infection. AFTER I had no teeth left for them to pull out, of course. And yep, turns out, it was my ear, not my teeth. I was THREE okay?!
So needless to say, I hate the dentist. The sounds of drills just give me the heebie jeebies. Even the SMELL of the dentist (the smell of teeth being ground into powder) makes me gag. It takes all of my self control not to run out screaming. I am an adult. Get over your baseless fears, Cat!
Last year, I had a toothache. So I ignored it. And ignored it. Then it REALLY HURT. Even my best friend was getting sympathy pains. One day it hurt so bad that I was sitting at my desk at work just crying from the pain. I left early to go to any random dentist. Turns out, wisdom tooth. I was teething like a child. Ow ow ow! After removing said wisdom tooth, the homie charged me $300. Then he said that I'd need a root canal soon. How much? Oh, just $900. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!
Woe be us unfortunate people who aren't given dental insurance from their employers.
I said, "OH HELL NO!" and just left. I'll only get it if I was dying from excruciating pain.
The excruciating pain came, strangely on Memorial Day weekend, when everyone and their mamas were closed for business. Drat! So I doped myself up on Codeine and antibiotics (prescribed after my wisdom teeth removal), and moaned the fact that, come Tuesday, I'd have to fork over $900 just to stop my pain.
NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS! *sob sob*
Then best friend called. Turns out, her "sympathy pains" were actually real toothaches, and she had to get a root canal too. Yep, we're best friends. We do everything together (even get root canals together). Her dad had pointed her to a cheap dentist in the area, and next thing you know, I was at Carson Dentistry!
Strangely, this was my childhood dentist! No, not the one that pulled out all my teeth. That was in Korea. But Dr. Han was my dentist from Kindergarten straight on through high school. I didn't know he was still practicing! He must be a 100 years old by now!
Anyways, cool beans! I got the procedure done, and I was happy as a clam. No pain! Yayers! And the best part of all, he only charged like $300 or something. And even better? I got to divide the fees into several smaller increments (no kidding, stretching six months), so I left them 5 postdated checks for $50. They were totally cool with it! In fact, THEY asked ME first if I wanted to divide up the payments!
Now I can totally live with that! read more