i had my root canal this morning. or all day, rather. i spent over 3 hours in the dentist chair today, but i think it took care of my main problem. i don’t want to jump the gun and say it was a success yet, because i took 2 ibuprofen and my face is still slightly numb, but i’m hoping for the best.

the place i went to, charleston endodontics, was hands down–amazing. the dental assistant over there is so sweet and she’s probably about my mom’s age. she’s my height, and we wear the same size shoes. i say that because she wanted me to try on her sketcher shape-ups, but i’m really not a foot person. feet freak me out. i politely declined. she talked and talked and talked. i tried to talk but i had a bite guard in my mouth, along with a rubber thing covering half my face, and x-ray trays, and drills, and the whole 9-yards. it was a pretty 1-sided conversation.

anyway, the dentist came in and he’s a really young guy and he says he went to OSU to become a “root canal specialist”. and that is definitely what he is. because i didn’t feel a thing. except the novocaine needle. he actually waited a bit longer after applying the numbing gel, which i very much appreciate. usually they swab it on and then stick me with the needle without giving it any time to take effect. that is just mean.

it didn’t help a lot, though. he said part of it was because it’s so close to to my nose and upper lip (being the front tooth and all) and that area is really sensitive. i have to agree with that statement. my eyes welled up again, and i was holding back sneezes for all 3 injections. i did the like… half sneeze, where you kinda jerk a little bit and your face looks really weird, you know? so embarrassing. i also gagged on the x-ray trays–all of them. that was attractive.

at least they let me listen to rob zombie and wear sunglasses. actually, they made me wear the sunglasses. i don’t remember having to wear sunglasses during my last root canal. i also don’t remember them using a microscope. today was all new to me. either a lot has changed in a short amount of time, or i went to a much better endodontist this time.

i finally relaxed after about 45 minutes. the needles are what get me, which is weird because i don’t mind piercings or tattoos one bit. that makes no sense. but i relaxed, and laid there, and i didn’t feel any of it. except the drill. you can’t not feel that damn drill. the sound of any kind of drill will forever inflict painful memories and send goosebumps down my spine after the last 2 months.

after it was all said and done, she gave me ibuprofen and gave me the run-down on what to expect (pain, obviously, but not too much i hope). she said to avoid corn on the cob and apples. i told her that won’t be a problem. ever.

i have to go back to my regular dentist in 2-3 weeks to get my last filling fixed (the other one he botched up) and for him to replace the filling that’s in the root canal with some other substance. that sounds so gross. and then around may, i should think about getting a crown. depending on how much insurance covers, that may or may not be doable until later on down the line.

today cost me $250 out of pocket. the whole procedure was about $700. the moral of the story is don’t drink and puke. later, you will regret it with every fiber of your being. this i promise you.

i don’t even know how many times i’ve been to the dentist since november. i think i’m on visit 7 or 8 by now. you’d think, by now, that my teeth would be fixed. i went in for fillings. my cavities weren’t bothering me–i just needed to get them fixed so they wouldn’t get worse and bother me later.

recap of the last 2-ish months: i got them filled, and now they bother me.

today was my next dentist appointment since all i got thursday was the fluoride. today they were supposed to actually fix my teeth. after today, my teeth should not be hurting.

i got there early–the receptionist apologized for the power outage last week and thanked me for being patient. i decided that i will accept her apology only if they don’t insist that i pay the bill for the fillings that were complete and total failures. which is like, $150. not happening.

he got the novocaine needle (or whatever it is they use to numb mouths these days) and numbed my bottom teeth. then he numbed the top. while the needle was still in, i sneezed. which i’ve come close to doing before. it’s just so hard not to when that needle makes your eyes well up and your nose tingle. i tried so hard to hold it back but i sneezed.

today was the second time in my life that i’ve been accidentally jabbed with a novocaine needle. i wish i knew why crap like this always happens to me.

he fixed one filling (whoop dee do!) and started on another one–the one that has really been bothering me. he called it “number 9”. i called it, “my front freaking tooth that hits every substance that enters my mouth–it is painful, and i’d like it fixed, please.” i told him it is extremely sensitive. for god sake, i can’t even file my nails because the vibrations from the filing can be felt in my teeth and i am instantly covered in goosebumps.

so what did he do first? he took the air pick thing and aimed it right at my front tooth. COLD AIR. ON NUMBER 9. my eyes watered, one of my legs flew up in the air, and you better believe i made that man jump.

after that, he turned the lamp off, put my seat back in the upright position, and told me that he was sending me to a different dentist in west ashley (an endodontist) because he doesn’t know what’s wrong with it, and, get this–because he doesn’t want to screw it up.

DOESN’T WANT TO SCREW IT UP? dude, you already screwed it up!

so tomorrow, instead of going to jalapeno chicken day for lunch, i’ll be going to the dentist. again. i’m sure you all understand my enthusiasm.