Until a couple of years ago, I haven't been to the dentist in a while.
A long while.
A long since high school while.
At the time, I didn't think it would matter. Even after I started getting cavities and I got decent dental insurance, I didn't go. Frankly, I didn't care.
Then my wisdom teeth kicked in with the pain - and it was the worse pain I ever had in a while. Within a couple of days, I could barely eat anything harder than a noodle. So afterwards, I tried one of the places that my co-worker went to, but I couldn't get surgery until I go through a dentist first.
So I called JR (it's was the closest near by apartment at the time), and despite being book, I was able to get an appointment the next day (or was it the day after?).
The day of the appointment - I went to the office (got lost a bit), filled out my insurance info and then headed over to the chair.
At that point, they took X-rays and confirm that I do need to take out my wisdom teeth and gave me a referral. Since it's been a while since I been to the dentists, at this point I decided to go all out and have them work my cavities.
Of course, I forgot all about the needles, though, which I realized just as they put the first one into my mouth.
And the second.
And the third.
And the fourth.
I think there was a fifth one too, but I forget.
After it was all done, Jerry looked at me and said, "You are a very brave man."
I think I said something back. I don't remember, since I could barely talk.
Then I had my first dental cleaning in a while with Cindy (she was fun to work with) getting all those food particles that have accumulated over the years. . . all that food I ate. . . the tommy burgers. . . . the in-n-outs. . . Kusimbos. . . all that was in my mouth since the Clinton Administration. . . gone.
And so I went out there with shiny, clean teeth, with all the cavities filled in - I felt like a new man.
New man that was still in pain, though, since I still need oral surgery. Fortunately, the penicillin that was perscribed to me fixed the infection - that was gone in a couple of days.
Funny thing is that I never went to that referral - too chicken to go. But after that experience, I have been going to this dentist ever since. Kudos to them for putting up with me. :D read more