All I Want For Christmas......

Sharon Bryant

 

A month ago one of my front teeth started hurting and I noticed a little pimple on the gum.   Years ago, more than 30 in fact, I had root canals done on both front teeth. 

One recently became infected with a bacterial infection.  I was sent to an oral surgeon for a consultation to see if they could go inside and clean the infection out and I'd be good as new.  I wasn't that lucky.  The infection was growing and I had to go on antibiotics.  Plus I was told even if I had the surgery to clean the infection out, they would not give me more than a year to two years that I would eventually lose the tooth anyways.  It was suggested from looking at the x-rays, that I have both front teeth removed as the other one was showing signs of getting infection at the root also.  (Just what I wanted to hear).

 Today was the day to have both of my front teeth removed.  A little partial was made three weeks ago so I wouldn't walk around singing, "All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth."

My dentist knew I'd had a terrible experience when I had the original root canals done years back by another dentist and I dreaded the shots that would be going into the roof of my mouth.  Gas was suggested, to "relax me" they said.  I'd never had gas before but I was willing to try anything to avoid the pain of those shots in the roof of my mouth.

 

When I got to the dentist office this morning, my nerves were tied in knots.  My stomach was churning.

My dentist told me everything was going to be ok.  The x-rays showed that my roots were very short and he said it would only take a matter of 3 to 4 minutes to get both teeth removed.  I thought to myself, "Yeah right."

 Into the chair I went.  The smiling nurse was cheery but she knew how tensed up I was.  "You ready for your gas?" she asked.  "Well, sure, but I doubt this will work on me," I told her.  "Oh, you're going to feel just fine," she replied.

 

They put the little cup over my nose.  I felt no difference.  The television was on in the room and it wasn't getting blurry, which I thought it would.  So I told myself, "This gas is not going to work on me, I'm going to feel those dreaded shots."

 

A few minutes went by and one of my nurses came into the room.  "How do you feel?" she asked.  "I feel fine, the gas is a waste on me," I replied.  She just smiled and walked away. 

I'm not sure what I was thinking of doing, but I think I went to cross my legs in the chair, and my left leg just fell off the chair then my right one did.  In walked my dentist.  I was sort of slid down in the seat at this point actually thinking of taking a quick nap, something I never do. 

"You ready for your shots?" he asked.

"Not yet, the stuff isn't working," I said.  He smiled and said, "Oh, I think it's working."  I thought he was nuts at that point.

Then I said to him, "Hey doc, you know I've always trusted you and liked you so if this gas ever kicks in and I call you a nasty name, I don't really mean it."  He laughed and said, "That's ok, I'll understand."

 

He got the needle ready and said, "Ok, we're going for the first shot now."  I remember opening my mouth and saying, "Go on, hurt me, I know you can't help it."  He started laughing.  He was sitting there on his stool and I said, "DO IT NOW!"  He laughed again and said, "I already did it."  I didn't believe him.

"You comfortable in the chair?" he asked.  "Sure," I said.  Then I realized my legs weren't even ON the chair so I tried to pull both up and that was hard to do.

 

Suddenly I started laughing.  Doc asked what I was laughing at.  I said, "That I'm at the age I can just go in and buy my body parts.  You got any leg legs around here, I could use a new left one." I said.  He started laughing and then, (and I still can't believe I said this) I said, "Hey, you got a set of boobs somewhere in here, I'd like to buy a set."  Everyone started laughing.  They had called my husband in the room and I remember him saying, "I wish I'd have brought the camera with me today."

 

I guess I wanted to sing so I started singing "All I want for Christmas......" because I could hear others laughing.  My husband was trying to tell me to keep it low, and I told him I WANTED to sing.  So, I sang my song.  Too bad this wasn't December, it would have been a fit number for the season and reason!

 

The shots didn't hurt, which really surprised me.  The gas was wonderful.  I guess I asked everyone there to have a wine and cheese party because I felt like I'd had 3 rum and cokes already.  My husband was laughing.  (I've never been to a wine and cheese party, so I have no idea where that thought came from).

 

Being a bleeder, I'm packed good tonight, I have a tiny partial, and when the numbness wore off, an Advil was all I needed for the throbbing.  Back to the dentist in the morning to check me out.  Guess I'll have to apologize for acting like a nut today.

And I'm happy that I WILL have my two front teeth for Christmas!!

Sharon Bryant

Choklite@bellsouth.net