1. WIMPINESS - When I go to the dentist, I am always terrified. To the point of reheasing conversations that I might have with the dentist, before I arrive. Well before I arrive, in fact, as soon as I make the appointment (well, Cam did) - I start to practice what i might say to the dentist. 'Sorry, I haven't been for so long', 'sorry that filling's a bit broken', 'sorry i hate spending money on my teeth', 'sorry going to the dentist reduces me to a blubbering mess'.
2. AVOIDANCE - On the day of the dentist, the tooth doesn't hurt when I wake up - a ray of hope - i lie in bed thinking.. 'Cool, I can put this off or a while.. yippeee'. But then of course, it gets worse and worse, i'm gulping painkillers and lukewarm water.. and all this culminates in a very painful drive to the surgery. I think the vibrations of the car on the road tweak the nerves or something - most unkind. When I finally get there, I'm choking back sobs of pain and would be happy to sell my soul to the person that can fix my soreness.
3. SCRIBBLINESS - In the rather plush waiting room (see above) I mean to fill out the form neatly - but it always starts off neat and gets scribblier and scribblier to the point where you'd think Edward Scissorhands filled in my form. I actually have quite nice handwriting - but on a form, my writing turns into some strange sort of code that no one will ever understand. I think I just can't bare the structure of forms.. and the predictability. As I fill it out, I am thinking very hard about the poor nurse that has to update my details - and I try to write nicely for her, but it is always MESSY.
4. BRAVADO and BLABBING - I go in all nervous smiles and chatty. And then the dentist says... 'hmmm.. it's a wisdom tooth, usually we'd just take it out' (teeth are not take-out, Mr Dentist).. i know you mean PULL it out! I then reply, a little inappropriately 'I'm up for that!'- followed by 'Please don't hurt me'. A simple OK would have been better.
5. RELIEF - The dentist was really nice though, and i didn't feel any pain - except for a split lip from all the PULLING. (The sounds are another thing - i needed an i-pod, because the cracking noises were most peculiar). And anyway, after they had talked about take-out and roots and bones a lot - it was all over. I got 3 tissues, 2 prescriptions and a cotton-wool thing to bite down on and $82 later i was driving back home down Canterbury Road, noticing how many op-shops I couldn't stop and go into due to my diminished ability to say a cheery hello. Sigh.
Thanks for all your nice wishes and esp-ing.
xx
pip
ooh.. a bit late for esping.. but glad it turn out ok!
ReplyDeleteMy dentist loves to have very one sided conversations - He asks questions which all answers to are ... arggh, ummgh, oogog... he is either brilliant at deciphering answers or doesn't really care what you have to say!
ReplyDeleteOh Pip you poor thing at least it's all over now.
ReplyDeleteLove Kirsty
Thinking of you as I am avoiding the dentist too. Not because of any dental type issues, but because he has obviously done many, many upselling seminars and spends the entire consultation trying to sell me add-on treatments. The repeated "no thanks", "perhaps next time", gets a bit embarrasing after a while.
ReplyDeleteHope the teeth are okay and you are off the hook for another 12 months.
Guess where I have to go tomorrow? Only it's much worse. I have to sit and watch while Miss B has a filling! And she is soooo brave. Apparantly she has a "crease" in the two mirror image teeth, which is like a fault, and all of a sudden it has given way and leaves what I can only describe as a crater in the teeth. She has had one filled and we are back for the other tomorrow. Because it is so deep, she has the works. Anaesthetic and drilling followed by droopy dribbling mouth. The only thing more painfull than having it done yourself is sitting watching one of your children having it done. But I hope your visit today sees an end to the horrible pain and that the drugs are good ones.
ReplyDeleteOh! Glad that it is all over for you already! Hope you are feeling better!
ReplyDeletei was cringing while i read of your dentist visit. thank goodness that's over! hope you are feeling yourself again soon.
ReplyDeleteAaargh, I so understand Pip, I had a wisdom tooth yanked out of my poor old mouth not long ago and it is indeed a bizarre and nerve-rattling experience. It's hard to shriek, "what's that noise?!" ina screechy, panicky voice when you have had 6 needles and there are seven gloved fingers and some strange tools in your mouth. I do empathise! x
ReplyDeletePS Icy-poles are good for afterwards!
ouch!
ReplyDeletepod brings too many cupcakes and strokes your hair
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