Two-thirty

I went to the dentist for the 2nd time this month yesterday.

It's not normal for me at all—I'm normally in for a cleaning, then out again for another 6 months. But this last go, the dentist told me that I had a cavity in the 2nd to last molar on my right lower jaw. Between the teeth, only visible on x-ray.

"See this gray area over here?"

I squinted. "Um, maybe."

"That's a cavity."

The news sent me reeling. He wanted to fill it right then and there, but I didn't have the money with me (not that it was much—only $50 with my copay and such—but I'm used to paying nothing for my cleanings), and was about to cry, so I scheduled for yesterday.

Why all the fuss? Well, in my 36 years on Earth, I've never had a cavity. Ever.

Shut up.

I fussed and whined about it to my mother and Computerguy, both of which have mouths that are testimony to the history of modern dentistry. After I calmed down, I realized I'd already been through worse pain when I had all four of my wisdom teeth yanked from my gums sometime in high school or early college. That was something to fuss over!

So, at 2:30 pm yesterday (ha! What an appropriate time, no?), I had my first experience of filling a cavity (that I couldn't see, and was so small as to only be detectable on the x-ray... sheesh!). The drill sounded just like the stupid tool the dentist uses to clean between your teeth (which I hate with a passion of a thousand suns), but then he used some sandblaster-type tool and I heard some grinding noise. Weird (I felt nothing, as I had Novocaine). It was over fairly quickly, so then I spent a good part of the rest of the day waiting for my jaw to stop feeling like I was punched in the face, suffering from a fat lip.

Today I feel fine, save for a little soreness in the muscle on the right side of my jaw. You'd think with all the talking I do, I'd not feel sore from having my mouth open for 15 minutes or whatever, but there you have it. The tooth itself is fine, and I'm fascinated by the little white patch on it right now, which feels to my tongue like chalk. I'm told that will smooth out, too.

So, my record has been blemished. I still feel a little bit betrayed, or like I just got a C on my as-to-now straight A+ report card, but I'll get over it.

I still have never had braces!