TWO FILLINGS

My last visit to the dentist was not a good one. He found two cavities. Bummer! I hate it when I get cavities!! I grew up on a farm where their was no fluoride in the water. At that time, there was no fluoride rinse at school either and I probably wasn't that great of a brusher. It wasn't uncommon for me to have 5, 6 or 7 cavities when I went to the dentist. I know that is really sick and a bit embarrassing, but it is simply the truth. Needless to say, I am no stranger to Novocain and needles in my mouth. My dental hygiene has improved over the years and it has been quite a while since I have needed a "drilling". But my time had come. Yesterday was the day and I'd like to tell you about it.

I arrived a bit late because of a really slow car in front of me.

I walked into the front door and was immediately escorted to Room #2 and my special recliner.

They didn't waste any time putting my bib on and swabbing my mouth (which was fine with me).

I usually close my eyes when they ask me to open my mouth. I wonder if that is what everyone else does??? They have that nice seagull mobile hanging from the ceiling, but I prefer the darkness.

"This is going to pinch a little bit." That's my cue. Here come that GIANT needle. I try not to look, but usually peek just to see just how GIANT the needle really is. It's a wonder I don't pass out. And yes, it PINCHES, all right.

Somewhere in there, the cotton ball and a clamp is placed to keep my lip out of the way. It's humiliating and yet, necessary.

Next comes the drill...that high pitched noise that we all have nightmares about.
Drill, drill, drill.

"This will VIBRATE a bit." Thats an understatement! It's a nice way of telling me to prepare for the jackhammer. Whoa! The cavities must have been pretty big because the jackhammer part seemed kind of intense.

Oh- don't forget the water spray and vacuum tubes. The assistant operating these tubes was quite good. My cheek got sucked up in the tube only two times!!

Back to the drill. Drill, drill, drill. Jackhammer a bit more...drill, drill drill.

Finally, they start filling the tooth with that bad smelling stuff. Push, squeak, squeak, push, squeak, push again...harder.

I know that I am almost finished when the clamp and the cotton comes out. Yeah!!

"Gently bite and grind your teeth back and forth." At this point, I feel nothing on the left side of my face. It is totally numb...and I kind of like it! I'm always kind of sad when the feeling comes back.

It's over and time to get out of my recliner.

Last instructions: "Don't chew on the left side of your mouth for 24 hours or we could possibly have to go in and do it all over."
Yikes! You can bet that I followed instructions on that one to a tea. No way was I repeating that.

Not sure why I decided to blog about my trip to the dentist. Make no mistake, this little essay has nothing to do with my dentist. I'm perfectly happy with my dentist and I think he is a very nice guy. For those of you who have never had a filling...maybe this has shed some light on that matter. For the rest of you, I feel your pain.