Teef

Okay, true confession #263: I'm terrified of dentists.

And not just a little nervous. Not sort of apprehensive. I want to be under complete and total sedation before getting an x-ray, and don't discuss the details with me, just fix it before I come to.

My cousin Robert, who is here from Texas as I type, is a dentist...true story. I try not to hold it against him, but we don't talk about humorous stories from the office, if you know what I mean. Sorta like being related to a mortician, in my book. Someone has to do it, I just don't want to know about it.






And a couple of days ago, a temporary filling fell out of one of my molars. First, I was in denial. Then I had a cold drink and acknowledged the truth of the matter! Keep in mind the "temporary" filling had been put in when I was pregnant with Angus...2 1/2 years ago. Pretty good for temporary, huh? I wish I had been able to baby it along until he graduated from high school, but I got careless and ate some Grapenuts. Drats!

So I called a dentist this morning, after taking 3 Exedrine Migraines (not in denial anymore...) and they said I should be there by 1:30 p.m. for an x-ray. That's NOT enough time to work through all my issues! But I thought, "I'm a big girl. I can do this. I'm a grown woman. I can do this. I need a bottle of wine. I can do this." Then I called my mother-in-law to see if she could please watch the kids, (bear in mind this is the woman who went to Mexico to get her teeth done a couple of weeks ago, FOR VACATION) and the conversation went something like this:

• Mary: A filling fell out of one of my teeth and I managed to get an appointment tomorrow afternoon with that new dentist, so would it be possible for you to watch the kids while I do that?
• M.I.L.: I hope it isn't the guy that used to be with M--------. You won't like him, if it is.
• Mary: (Praying frantically, feverishly, fervently...) I think his name is Williams.
• M.I.L.: (Sensitively) Yeah, I think that was the one!
• Mary: (On the verge of swooning) Did you go to him? What was he like? (PLEASE say he was TOO nice....)
• M.I.L.: Yeah, I didn't like him. He was pretty rough and didn't use enough deadening. It hurt.
• Mary: (Head in hands, thinking of the rum in the cupboard, definitely woozy) Maybe that's why I got in so fast. Maybe he can just do something....temporary. Maybe it's not as dire as I think. There's a dentist in Billings that does sedation. Maybe I can be referred there. Maybe I should cancel.
• M.I.L.:(Compassionately) Oh, no. You'll be fine. Just tell him to give you the full deadening. I used to be just like you are, but after sitting hour after hour in the dentist's chair I got over it. I think it's just psychological.

That's about all I remember of the conversation. So I'm writing this post so that 14 followers will know what a chicken I am, and hopefully keep me accountable. I found this little advertisement for cocaine tooth drops, guaranteed to work. A bit drastic, but I can see how one might be tempted.

PRAY FOR ME, please. This is a heartfelt plea. And pray the dentist isn't the same one. And pray that if he IS the same one, that he does really good temporary fillings. With copious deadening. I don't care if I can't feel my face for 3 days. Or that I pass out when he shows me the x-ray and wake up after the root canal....God can do MIRACLES!!!! Hold me tight in your prayers.