Three weeks after he’d routed out my left mandibular first molar and packed the empty space with medicated goo, I returned to my endodontist today to finish the procedure. As relatively easy as my Round 1 was, today’s Round 2 was difficult. As painful an experience as I’ve ever had. I’m sure he’s a fine endodontist—he was recommended by my regular dentist (he’s his own personal endodontist) and I have every confidence in him. After he’d zinged me the second time he said “You just respond differently” to which I wisecracked (as well as you can wisecrack with a spacer in your mouth “I’ve heard that before”.
After he’d zinged me the third time and both of us were covered with perspiration, he said “I think this is almost as hard on me as it is on you. My heart is pounding as though it’s going to jump out of my chest. You are really different.”
When he had finished filling up the empty spaces left by removing the pulp from my tooth with gutta percha, a natural bio-inert sort of rubbery substance and put a temporary filling over the hole he’d dug, I said “What do you want me to do if gutta percha starts coming out of my toes?” to which he responded “That would probably be a good time to call me.”
As I left he said “You’re the happiest chronic pain patient I’ve ever treated and I’ve treated a lot of them” which I took as a compliment.
On the positive side when he examined the tooth and adjacent gum he noted that it was healing up nicely.
Have you always had problems with your teeth?
In my entire life I’ve only had a handful of cavities until now.
I’m not sure which would be more frustrating: having trouble your entire life or having very little and then suddenly a major problem. This last round should be the end, yes?
That’s what they tell me.
Act prophylactically………….chew on golf balls for your gutta percha.
Conversation I’ve had with many dentists over the past several decades:
Dentist: You should be numb.
Me: I’m not.
Dentist: Are you anxious?
Me: Yes, because I’m not numb.
Dentist: Let’s just try a little. . . Oh, did you feel that?
Me: Yes, I did. Hence the cursing. remember when I told you I wasn’t numb? Remember when I told you I would need novocaine on the lingual of that tooth? That’s because I’ve been through this nine times before.
Dentist: Okay, if you insist I’ll give you more novocaine. (Shot. Shot.)
Me: See how I’m not screaming now? Notice how I’m just lying here listening to a podcast on my iPhone?
For years dentists refused to believe that I was wired differently. Only recently have I found dentists who understand that we are biological, not mechanical creations and are not actually identical.
Dentists, like physicians, treat the average patient. It’s a pretty good bet but in reality there are no average patients.
Members of my family are predisposed to paradoxical reactions. You know that little warning in small type at the bottom of the instructions for pharmaceuticals that begins “In very rare cases…”? We’re the very rare cases.