Abscessed Tooth

4/19/11

• tooth #18
• crying all morning
• shaky hands and arms
• "This one?" (she pushes on my tooth)
• yelp-sink into the chair, hiding from her finger-big alligator tears
• 3 fast acting shots to my gum
• she placed her hand on my quivering cheek and said, "You were so pale - you look better already"
• explanation of extraction, and reasons to get an implant
• "I don't have any insurance"
• sympathetic eyes
• she takes her mask off to show that she is smiling

[6 of the worst sounds pressed into my deadened jaw]


*written in situ, and yes I did bring my moleskin to the dental chair with me